Daily Static Quiz – 31st January, 2023

Correct Answer: D
Explanation
• Both the statements are incorrect.
• The objective of the formation of National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries are different. National Park is associated with the habitat of wild animal species like rhino, tiger, lion etc. The wildlife sanctuaries are species oriented as pitcher plant, Great Indian Bustard etc. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems which are internationally recognized within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme of the UNESCO and are not formed according to the guidelines of the Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972 and may have one more national parks or wildlife sanctuaries in it.
• Under the MAB programme there is a World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) and within this network, exchange of information, experience and personnel is allowed. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation
• Option C is correct.
• The schedule VI of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 contains the plants, which are prohibited from cultivation and planting. Hence, option C is correct.
• This schedule was added through the Amendment Act of 1991.
• Licence from Chief Wild Life Warden is required for dealing in specified plants. Thus, cultivation also requires a licence. These plants are as follows:
1. Beddomes’ cycad (Cycas beddomei)
2. Blue Vanda (Vanda soerulec)
3. Kuth (Saussurea lappa)
4. Ladies slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp.)
5. Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana)
6. Red Vanda (Rananthera imschootiana)

Correct Answer: D
Explanation
• Ecological balance is a state of dynamic equilibrium within a community of organisms in a habitat or ecosystem. It can happen when the diversity of the living organisms remains relatively stable. Gradual changes do take place but that happens only through natural succession.
• A stable balance in the numbers of each species in an ecosystem occurs through competition and cooperation between different organisms where population remains stable. This balance is brought about by the fact that certain species compete with one another determined by the environment in
which they grow. This balance is also attained by the fact that some species depend on others for their food and sustenance.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation
Adaptation is not a part of it hence, option1 is INCORRECT, and options 2, 3 and 4 are CORRECT. natural selection is one of the basic mechanisms of evolution, along with mutation, migration, and genetic drift. Charles Darwin popularised the term “natural selection”, contrasting it with artificial selection.
Darwin’s process of natural selection has four components
1. Variation: Organisms (within populations) exhibit individual variation in appearance and behavior. These variations may involve body size, hair color, facial markings, voice properties, or number of offspring
2. Inheritence: Some traits are consistently passed on from parent to offspring. Such traits are heritable, whereas other traits are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and show weak heritability.
3. High rate of population growth: Most populations have more offspring each year than local resources can support leading to a struggle for resources.
4. Differential survival and reproduction: – Individuals possessing traits well suited for the struggle for local resources will contribute more offspring to the next generation.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation
Pairs 1 and 2 are incorrectly matched. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Competition —when two or more organisms rely on the same environmental resource
Predation – behavior of one animal feeding on another.
Symbiosis – the close relationship of two dissimilar organisms.
Mutualism – a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.
Commensalism – a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and one does not benefit but is unharmed.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation
• Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect.
• Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4. It is the simplest alkane, and the principal component of natural gas, about 87% by volume. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Methane is a relatively potent greenhouse gas. Compared with carbon dioxide, it has a high global warming potential of 72 (calculated over a period of 20 years) or 25 (for a time period of 100 years). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Methane has a net lifetime of about 10 years; it also affects the degradation of the ozone layer. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Methane is used for illuminating and domestic fuel and also for the production of other organic compounds such as haloalkanes, methanol, formaldehyde and acetylene.
• Coal is a fossil fuel. In ancient times, coal has been formed millions of years after the big trees and plants were buried in the earth. Due to high pressure and high temperature inside the earth, coal was slowly formed from the plant. This coal is hard and black solid. It mainly consists of carbon. Apart from carbon, it also contains many other compound substances.
• Hydrogen and Oxygen is also there. In our country coal is found in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Orissa etc. Coal is used in homes and industries.

Correct Answer: C
Explanation
• Option C is correct.
• Green chemistry is a science-based philosophy of designing chemicals, products, and processes with the intention of making them less hazardous and more sustainable. It applies to the life cycle of a product, from creation to disposal.
• When put into practice, green chemistry can:
1. Prevent pollution at the source by making safer chemicals.
2. Reduce or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals—which protects workers, consumers, and the environment.
3. Reduce energy and material use, while increasing use of renewable materials. Examples of green chemistry innovations:
• Some manufacturers use supercritical carbon dioxide or water to remove caffeine from coffee beans. These decaffeination methods are much safer than solvents like benzene, which manufacturers used to use, or methylene chloride, which some manufacturers still use.
• Packing peanuts made from starch are an alternative to polystyrene packing peanuts. Unlike polystyrene, which comes from oil, starch peanuts are made from renewable plant starch. Instead of going into the trash, starch peanuts can be composted after use. Starch is also much less hazardous than styrene.
• Scientists can also copy natural processes to create new innovations, an approach called biomimicry. For example, researchers can study how mussels and barnacles attach to wet rocks in order to develop new, safer adhesives for surgery and other uses.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation
• All the options are correct.
• Protection of the Ozone Layer: The phasing out of CFCs will help tremendously in the recovery of the ozone layer. As a result of the phasing out, lesser amounts of CFCs will accumulate in the atmosphere, thereby leading to the less depletion of ozone. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Reduced Health Risks: The phase out of CFCs will have a positive impact on health risks posed by the depleting of the ozone layer. These health benefits include reduced incidence of skin cancer and cataracts, decreased risks to human immune systems, and increased protection of plant and animal life from excessive UV exposure. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) study shows that a sustained 1 percent decrease in stratospheric ozone will result in about a 2 percent increase in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer, which can be fatal. With the successful phase out of CFCs, fewer instances of this fatal cancer are expected.
• New Technologies: Phasing out of CFCs is prompting research and development of alternative technologies specially for cleaning applications in electronic assemblies and precision parts.
• Energy Savings: As a consequence of CFC phase out, there has been considerable effort in many countries to develop and invest in a new generation of energy efficient air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. This also impacts positively on global warming and climate change. Hence, statement 4 is correct.
• Pollution Prevention: The energy savings from equipment upgrades mean that less fossil fuel are burned at the power plant, leading to reduced emissions of air pollutants including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). These pollutants are responsible for global warming and acid rain. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation
• Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect.
• Synthetic greenhouse gases are artificial chemicals commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, fire extinguishing, foam production and in medical aerosols. They were introduced as replacements for ozone depleting substances as they do not damage the ozone layer. However, synthetic greenhouse gases generally have high global warming potential; when they are released, they trap heat in the atmosphere. Because of their stability and long life they can remain in the atmosphere for a long time, increasing their contribution to climate change. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Most greenhouse gases are naturally occurring, but are also emitted as a result of industrial processes and other human activity. Synthetic greenhouse gases are man-made chemicals that do not occur in nature and generally have a much higher global warming potential than other greenhouse gases. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Correct Answer: B
Explanation
• Only one pair is correctly matched.
• The sources of Carbon dioxide (CO2) are burning of fossil fuels, deforestation.
• The sources of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are Refrigeration, solvents, insulation foams, aero propellants, industrial and commercial uses. Hence, pair 1 is incorrectly matched.
• The source of Methane (CH4) are growing paddy, excreta of cattle and other livestock, termites, burning of fossil fuel, wood, landfills. Hence, pair 2 is incorrectly matched.
• The source of Nitrogen oxides (N2O) are burning of fossil fuels, fertilizers; burning of wood and crop residue. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.
• The green-house effect is a natural phenomenon and has been occurring for millions of years on the earth. Life on the earth has been possible because of this natural green-house effect which is due to water vapour and small particles of water present in the atmosphere. Together, these produce more than 95 percent of total green-house warming.
• Before industrialization, simple human activity did not cause any significant increase in the atmospheric temperature. What is particularly worrisome is the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases due to urbanization and industrialization. These greenhouse gases have increased significantly in the atmosphere in recent years.