2015 - Test - 1 Solutions

INSIGHTS ON INDIA TEST SERIES - 2015
INSIGHTS ON INDIA MOCK PRELIMINARY EXAM 2015

INSIGHTS ON INDIA MOCK TEST - 1
GENERAL STUDIES
PAPER-I
SOLUTIONS
http://insightsonindia.com
INSIGHTS ON INDIA MOCK TEST SERIES FOR CIVIL SERVICES PRELIMINARY EXAM
1. Solution: b)
In the world due to technical and user base reasons the mobile numbers at present varied
from 10 to 11 digits. Due to technical reasons two countries, UK and China moved to 11
digits in mobile phone numbers. In India all mobile numbers have 10 digits under the
governments National Numbering Plan (NNP).
The number of digits in a mobile phone number describe the maximum mobile phones we
can have without dialling the country code, that is 91 (for India). If we had a 9 digit cell
number, the maximum number of cell numbers possible would have been 109, ie. a
maximum of 1000 million or 100 crore subscribers. Since our population is close to 125 crore,
obviously we cannot have a 9- digit cell phone number. Adopting a 10 digits cell number
offers a capacity to have 10 billion or 1000 crore subscribers and the total population would
get at least one mobile number each.
In 2003, the Department of Telecommunication ( DoT) In India had implemented the 10
digit mobile numbers which will meet the needs for 30 long years. On February 2009, India
registered a user base of 375.74 million wireless subscribers. 10-digit numbers can cater to an
additional 250 million users. Under the current 10-digit numbering scheme, only a
maximum of 1 billion mobile numbers can be issued and the mobile phone connections in
India would cross this mark in the next couple of years. DoT had previously proposed a
transfer of numbers from10 -digits to 11- digits in January 2010.
At present all mobile phone numbers are 10 digits long and the way to split the numbers is
defined in the National Numbering Plan 2003 as XXXX NNNNNN where XXXX is the
Network operator, NNNNNN is the subscriber numbers.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/question-corner/article6398015.ece
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2. Solution: d)
The Garo Hills) are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya, India. They are inhabited
mainly by tribal dwellers, the majority of whom are Garo people. It is one of the wettest
places in the world. The chief meals of the Garos consist of rice with onions, capsicum and
salt thrice a day.
The society is matrilineal like the Khasis and the Jaintias. Till death, the new-born baby
belongs to the mother's family, irrespective of sex, even after marriage. Marriage within the
clan is completely prohibited and severely punishable for both the Khasis and the Garos. Till
now, the institution of Bachelors Dormitories which is gradually disappearing amongst the
tribes of North Eastern Region, are found in the Garo villages. In such dormitories young
people stay and live together till they are married. They receive various training in the
dormitories like protection of crops, construction of roads, organising festivals, sports and
ceremonies. This institution is similar to ancient agoges of Sparta.
3. Solution: d)
The Iranians and the Greeks who came through the northwest about 2500 years ago and
were familiar with the Indus, called it the Hindos or the Indos, and the land to the east of the
river was called India. The name Bharata was used for a group of people who lived in the
north-west, and who are mentioned in the Rigveda, the earliest composition in Sanskrit
(dated to about 3500 years ago). Later it was used for the country.
4. Solution: b)
Asoka's edicts are to be found scattered in more than thirty places throughout India, Nepal,
Pakistan and Afghanistan. Most of them are written in Brahmi script from which all Indian
scripts and many of those used in Southeast Asia later developed. The language used in the
edicts found in the eastern part of the sub-continent is a type of Magadhi, probably the
official language of Asoka's court. The language used in the edicts found in the western part
of India is closer to Sanskrit although one bilingual edict in Afghanistan is written in
Aramaic and Greek. Asoka's edicts, which comprise the earliest decipherable corpus of
written documents from India, have survived throughout the centuries because they are
written on rocks and stone pillars.
5. Solution: d)
There are at least four reasons why hunter-gatherers moved from place to place.
First, if they had stayed at one place for a long time, they would have eaten up all the
available plant and animal resources. Therefore, they would have had to go elsewhere in
search of food.
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Second, animals move from place to place either in search of smaller prey, or, in the case of
deer and wild cattle, in search of grass and leaves. That is why those who hunted them had
to follow their movements.
Third, plants and trees bear fruit in different seasons. So, people may have moved from
season to season in search of different kinds of plants.
Fourth, people, plants and animals need water to survive. Water is found in lakes, streams
and rivers. While many rivers and lakes are perennial (with water throughout the year)
others are seasonal. People living on their banks would have had to go in search of water
during the dry seasons (winter and summer). Besides, people may have travelled to meet
their friends and relatives.
6. Solution: a)
Neolithic archaeological site in Uttar Pradesh state of northern India, dated between 40001200 BC. Koldihwa was an agricultural village of circular uts, with stone axes, bone and
stone tools, pottery, and cattle pens; and early evidence of rice cultivation, found as
impressions in ceramic vessels.
7. Solution: b)
Catal Huyuk was a very large Neolithic and Chalcolithic proto-city settlement in
southern Anatolia, which existed from approximately 7500 BC to 5700 BC, and flourished
around 7000BC.[1] It is the largest and best-preserved Neolithic site found to date. In July
2012, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
atalhyk is located overlooking the Konya Plain, southeast of the present-day city
of Konya (ancient Iconium) in Turkey, approximately 140 km (87 mi) from the twin-coned
volcano of Mount Hasan. The eastern settlement forms a mound which would have risen
about 20 m (66 ft) above the plain at the time of the latest Neolithic occupation. There is also
a smaller settlement mound to the west and a Byzantine settlement a few hundred meters to
the east. The prehistoric mound settlements were abandoned before the Bronze Age. A
channel of the aramba river once flowed between the two mounds, and the settlement
was built on alluvial clay which may have been favourable for early agriculture.
http://www.catalhoyuk.com/history.html
8. Solution: a)
Many of these cities were divided into two or more parts. Usually, the part to the west was
smaller but higher. Archaeologists describe this as the citadel. Generally, the part to the east
was larger but lower. This is called the lower town. Very often walls of baked brick were
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built around each part. The bricks were so well made that they have lasted for thousands of
years. The bricks were laid in an interlocking pattern and that made the walls strong.
In some cities, special buildings were constructed on the citadel. For example, in
Mohenjodaro, a very special tank, which archaeologists call the Great Bath, was built in this
area. This was lined with bricks, coated with plaster, and made water-tight with a layer of
natural tar. There were steps leading down to it from two sides, while there were rooms on
all sides. Water was probably brought in from a well, and drained out after use. Perhaps
important people took a dip in this tank on special occasions.
9. Solution: c)
Most of the things that have been found by archaeologists in Harappa are made of stone,
shell and metal, including copper, bronze, gold and silver. Copper and bronze were used to
make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments
and vessels. Perhaps the most striking finds are those of beads, weights, and blades.
10. Solution: c)
Ghod River is located in Pune District, Maharashtra, western India.[1] It is a tributary of
the Bhima River.The Ghod originates on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats at 1,090
metres (3,580 ft) above sea level. It flows in an east-southeast direction for approximately 200
kilometres (120 mi) before its confluence with the Bhima. It flows from the northern side of
the Bhimashankar hills.
The Kukadi River is one of the tributaries of the Ghod. Inamgaon, a post-Harappan agrarian
village located along the Ghod, has been studied for its archaeological finds.The river is
dammed by the Ghod Dam.
11. Solution: a)
Choosing leaders or rulers by voting is something that has become common during the last
fifty years or so. But, around 3000 years ago, we find some changes taking place in the ways
in which rajas were chosen. Some men now became recognised as rajas by performing very
big sacrifices. The ashvamedha or horse sacrifice was one such ritual. A horse was let loose
to wander freely and it was guarded by the rajas men. If the horse wandered into the
kingdoms of other rajas and they stopped it, they had to fight. If they allowed the horse to
pass, it meant that they accepted that the raja who wanted to perform the sacrifice was
stronger than them. These rajas were then invited to the sacrifice, which was performed by
specially trained priests, who were rewarded with gifts. The raja who organised the sacrifice
was recognised as being very powerful, and all those who came brought gifts for him.
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12. Solution: c)
There were two major changes in agriculture around Mahajanapada period. One was the
growing use of iron ploughshares. This meant that heavy, clayey soil could be turned over
better than with a wooden ploughshare, so that more grain could be produced. Second,
people began transplanting paddy. This meant that instead of scattering seed on the ground,
from which plants would sprout, saplings were grown and then planted in the fields. This
led to increased production, as many more plants survived. However, it was back breaking
work. Generally, slave men and women, (dasas and dasis) and landless agricultural
labourers (kammakaras) had to do this work.
13. Solution: b)
Siddhartha, also known as Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born about 2500 years
ago. This was a time of rapid change in the lives of people. As you saw in Chapter 6, some
kings in the mahajanapadas were growing more powerful. New cities were developing, and
life was changing in the villages as well .Many thinkers were trying to understand these
changes in society. They also wanted to try and find out the true meaning of life.
The Buddha belonged to a small gana known as the Sakya gana, and was a kshatriya. When
he was a young man, he left the comforts of his home in search of knowledge. He wandered
for several years, meeting and holding discussions with other thinkers. He finally decided to
find his own path to realisation, and meditated for days on end under a peepal tree at Bodh
Gaya in Bihar, where he attained enlightenment. After that, he was known as the Buddha or
the Wise One. He then went to Sarnath, near Varanasi, where he taught for the first time. He
spent the rest of his life travelling on foot, going from place to place, teaching people, till he
passed away at Kusinara.
Regarding Gana and Sangha
While Magadha became a powerful kingdom, Vajji, with its capital at Vaishali (Bihar), was
under a different form of government, known as gana o sangha.
In a gana or a sangha there were not one, but many rulers. Sometimes, even when thousands
of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja. These rajas performed rituals together.
They also met in assemblies, and decided what had to be done and how, through discussion
and debate. For example, if they were attacked by an enemy, they met to discuss what
should be done to meet the threat. However, women, dasas and kammakaras could not
participate in these assemblies.
Both the Buddha and Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas. Some of the most vivid
descriptions of life in the sanghas can be found in Buddhist books.
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Mahavira belonged to Vajji sangha.
14. Solution: a)
Around the time that the Buddha was preaching and perhaps a little earlier, other thinkers
also tried to find answers to difficult questions. Some of them wanted to know about life
after death, others wanted to know why sacrifices should be performed. Many of these
thinkers felt that there was something permanent in the universe that would last even after
death. They described this as the atman or the individual soul and the brahman or the
universal soul. They believed that ultimately, both the atman and the brahman were one.
Many of their ideas were recorded in the Upanishads. These were part of the later Vedic
texts. Upanishad literally means approaching and sitting near and the texts contain
conversations between teachers and students. Often, ideas were presented through simple
dialogues.
15. Solution: c)
The most famous thinker of the Jainas, Vardhamana Mahavira, also spread his message
around this time, i.e. 2500 years ago. He was a kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group
that was part of the Vajji sangha, about which you read in Chapter 6. At the age of thirty, he
left home and went to live in a forest. For twelve years he led a hard and lonely life, at the
end of which he attained enlightenment.
He taught a simple doctrine: men and women who wished to know the truth must leave
their homes. They must follow very strictly the rules of ahimsa, which means not hurting or
killing living beings. All beings, said Mahavira long to live. To all things life is dear.
Ordinary people could understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers, because
they used Prakrit. There were several forms of Prakrit, used in different parts of the country,
and named after the regions in which they were used. For example, the Prakrit spoken in
Magadha was known as Magadhi.
16. Solution: b)
Zoroaster was an Iranian prophet. His teachings are contained in a book called the Avesta.
The language of the Avesta, and the practices described in it are very similar to those of the
Vedas. The basic teachings of Zoroaster are contained in the maxim Good thoughts, Good
Words and Good Deeds. Here is a verse from the Zend Avesta:
Lord, grant strength and the rule of truth and good thinking, by means of which one shall
create peace and tranquillity.
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For more than a thousand years, Zoroastrianism was a major religion in Iran. Later, some
Zoroastrians migrated from Iran and settled down in the coastal towns of Gujarat and
Maharashtra. They were the ancestors of todays Parsis.
Today, Shia Islam dominates religion in Iran.
17. Solution: d)
Accountability of the government is basically answerability for its deeds. If the activities of
the government can be communicated and questioned by the people, it shows that there is a
sense of answerability. Finally it is upto the people to decide the fate of the government by
voting.
All these are ways in which the government can be made accountable. You can also see
several rallies, marches and protests that keep the government of the day at its toe.
18. Solution: d)
Autocracy and Monarchy are two different political systems. An autocrat is an absolute
dictator for e.g. in Syria.
A democracy is termed as monarchy when the head of state is chosen on the hereditary
basis. Republic form of democracy is when the head of state is either directly or indirectly
elected.
19. Solution: d)
Women suffrage movement dates back to the First world war days (not the 1857 revolt). The
Women's Indian Association (WIA) was founded in 1917. It sought votes for women and the
right to hold legislative office on the same basis as men. These positions were endorsed by
the main political groupings, the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim
League. British and Indian feminists combined in 1918 to publish a magazine Stri
Dharma that featured international news from a feminist perspective. In 1919 in
the MontaguChelmsford Reforms, the British set up provincial legislatures which had the
power to grant women's suffrage. Madras in 1921 granted votes to wealthy and educated
women, under the same terms that applied to men. The other provinces followed, but not
the princely states (which did not have votes for men either).
20. Solution: a)
There is no term like Judicial sovereignty. In India no organ is supreme. There is separation
of powers between different organs. So even the Parliament is not supreme or sovereign. Its
authority is restricted by Fundamental rights and Judicial oversight.
21. Solution: d)
Ladakh is a desert in the mountains in the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir. Very little
agriculture is possible here since this region does not receive any rain and is covered in
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snow for a large part of the year. There are very few trees that can grow in the region. For
drinking water, people depend on the melting snow during the summer months. So, people
here keep sheep and the sheep in this region are special because they produce pashmina
wool. This wool is prized and pashmina shawls cost a lot of money. The people in Ladakh
carefully collect the wool of the sheep and sell this to traders from Kashmir. Pashmina
shawls are chiefly woven in Kashmir.
Ladakh is also called Little Tibet. Islam was introduced in this region more than four
hundred years ago and there is a significant Muslim population here. Ladakh has a very rich
oral tradition of songs and poems. Local versions of the Tibetan national epic the Kesar Saga
are performed and sung by both Muslims and Buddhists.
22. Solution: b)
Any one who has the right to vote and lives in the premises if a Panchayat is a member of
the Gram Sabha. Panchayat is elected by it. The Sarpanch is usually elected by the Panchayat
it depends from state to state.
The Gram Sabha keeps a track of the work of Gram Panchayat and prevents misuse of
money. Some of the works by Gram Panchayat has to be approved by the Gram Sabha.
23. Solution: a)
The constitution via the 73rd amendment provides the skeleton for rural government. The
rest is decided by the states by laws enacted in the legislature.
The District Panchayat is the at the top of the hierarchy in rural government. It prepares
plan for the whole district with the help of Panchayat samitits and municipalities. In this
way it regulates the sanctioning of money to the gram Panchayats.
Panchayat secretary is a bureaucrat and selected by the Civil Services examination of the
concerned state. The state government appoints the Panchayat secretary.
24. Solution: d)
He provides all this information to the government thus keeping it up to date. He is
supervised by senior bureaucrats in the revenue department. He is also under the control of
District collector.
25. Solution: a)
The District collector or the BDO issues such important certificates. The only duty of the
Tehsildar is to make sure that these certificates are disbursed to the needy properly.
26. Solution: b)
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Option A is a consequence of seasonal income, not a reason. Not having agricultural land is
evident from them being called landless in the first place. That is not the cause of seasonal
income.
Policies for landless labourers do exist. But they do not have to do with their income except
schemes like MGNREGA.
The correct reason is that agriculture is seasonal in nature. So they do no get employment
throughout the year.
27. Solution: d)
The fact that unemployment and low skill labour are found easily in India leads to the easy
availability of casual labour.
The law does not regulate the hiring and firing of the casual labourers as they are part of the
informal economy.
28. Solution: d)
The Mid Day Meal Scheme is a programme of the Government of India designed to improve
the nutritional status of school-age children nation wide. The programme supplies free
lunches on working days for children in Primary and Upper Primary Classes in
Government, Government Aided, Local Body, Education Guarantee Scheme, and Alternate
Innovative Education Centres, Madarsa and Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan, and National Child Labour Project schools run by the Ministry of Labour. Serving
120,000,000 children in over 1,265,000 schools and Education Guarantee Scheme centres, it is
the largest such programme in the world.
It has also helped fight caste prejudice in rural areas as all students eat together. It has
generated kitchen employment for women and farmers.
29. Solution: c)
While tribals are socio-economically weaker than mainstream community, there is no
specific evidence that this inequality can also be seen across several tribal groups in India.
There are strong evidences for the other options like Sachar committee for Muslims
(religion).
30. Solution: d)
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The constitution of India prescribes in Directive principles of State policies that it shall be the
states endeavour to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living and to improve public
health.
The National health policy 2002 prescribes the role of government in public health.
Several laws related to health in India are:
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and Rules

The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act and Rules
Acts in Disability
Insecticides Act and Rules
Maternity Benefit Act and Rules
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Rules
The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
The Pharmacy Act, 1948
The Transplantation of Human Organs Act and Rules
Environmental Acts and Rules
Consumer Protection Act and Medical Profession
Mental Health Act, 1987
Food Safety and Standards Regulations
The Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act, 2005
The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010
The Prohibition Of Sexual Harassment Of Women At Workplace Bill, 2010
Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011
Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011
31. Solution: b)
Sub-centre is the first point of contact between the community an public health system. For
every 3000-4000 of population there is a sub-centre. For every 4-5 sub-centres, there is a
primary health centre. And for every 4-5 primary health centres, there is a community health
centre.
32. Solution: d)
All states do not have the same number of constituencies. India being a federal nation has
nothing to with the number of assembly seats in a state. The federal character of india has
more to do with the representation of states in the Rajya Sabha.
33. Solution: d)
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Government is formed from the legislature. So the whole legislature can NOT be called the
governemt. State judiciary and human rights commission keep a check on the activities of
the government. They can not be a part of the state government.
34. Solution: d)
The Prevention of Sexual harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 was recently enacted. Domestic
violence act is in place since 2005.
35. Solution: a)
Large bourses who control the money flow to media can prevent unbiased reporting from
media. They further may have connection with the political class and this may encourage
selective and distorted reporting.
Option 3 is in fact a way to make the functioning of media transparent and unbiased.
36. Solution: d)
In India, production of sugar from Sugarcane mostly takes place at Cooperative Sugar Mills
owned by local Farmers The Shareholders include all farmers, small and large,
supplying sugarcane to the mill.
Amul is an Indian dairy cooperative, based at Anand in the state of Gujarat, India. Amul
spurred India's White Revolution, which made the country the world's largest producer of
milk and milk products. In the process Amul became the largest food brand in India and has
ventured into markets overseas.
Both rural and urban cooperative banks exist which help the marginalized sections.
37. Solution: a)
Most planets also rotate on their axes (as well as revolve) in an anti-clockwise direction, but
Venus rotates clockwise (called "retrograde" rotation) once every 243 Earth days.
38. Solution: a)
Comet
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A comet is a relatively small solar system body that orbits the Sun. When close
enough to the Sun they display a visible coma (a fuzzy outline or atmosphere due to
solar radiation) and sometimes a tail.
Asteroid
Asteroids are small solar system bodies that orbit the Sun. Made of rock and metal,
they can also contain organic compounds. Asteroids are similar to comets but do not
have a visible coma (fuzzy outline and tail) like comets do.
Meteoroid
A meteoroid is a small rock or particle of debris in our solar system. They range in
size from dust to around 10 metres in diameter (larger objects are usually referred to
as asteroids).
Meteor
A meteoroid that burns up as it passes through the Earths atmosphere is known as

a meteor. If youve ever looked up at the sky at night and seen a streak of light or
shooting star what you are actually seeing is a meteor.
Meteorite
A meteoroid that survives falling through the Earths atmosphere and colliding with
the Earths surface is known as a meteorite.
39. Solution: d)
The mid-day sun is exactly overhead at least once a year on all latitudes in between the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area, therefore, receives the maximum
heat and is called the Torrid Zone. The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude
beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The angle of the suns rays goes
on decreasing towards the poles. As such, the areas bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and
the Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic
Circle in the Southern Hemisphere, have moderate temperatures. These are, therefore, called
Temperate Zones.
The distance between latitudes keep increasing as one moves from equator to the poles. The
same between longitudes is constant at the same latitude.
40. Solution: a)
Options 1 and 2 can be logically deduced. Option 3 may be possible if Earth stops revolving
around the Sun. Stopping rotation would not affect its elliptical orbit.
41. Solution: a)
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Self-explanatory. However, at the equator the level of water is a little higher by 8cm. This is
because of greater solar insolation received at the equator. More heat causes expansion in
the sea water volume.
42. Solution: c)
The Atacama Desert is a plateau in South America, covering a 1,000-kilometre strip of land
on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes mountains. It is the driest non-polar desert in the
world.
The Great Victoria Desert, an interim Australian bioregion, is a sparsely populated desert
area in Western Australia and South Australia.
43. Solution: a)
The indented coastline as given in the figure below helps in two ways. One, it provides
natural sideways protection for the ships if they harbor there. And two, due to its shape, less
cost would have to be incurred even if artificial ports are to made there.
44. Solution: c)
There are three types of mountains- Fold Mountains, Block Mountains and the Volcanic
Mountains. The Himalayan Mountains and the Alps are young fold mountains with rugged
relief and high conical peaks. The Aravali range in India is one of the oldest fold mountain
systems in the world. The range has considerably worn down due to the processes of
erosion. The Appalachians in North America and the Ural mountains in Russia have
rounded features and low elevation. They are very old fold mountains.
45. Solution: a)
Self-explanatory.
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46. Solution: b)
The Vindhyas and the Satpuras are the important ranges in the Pennisular plateau. The
rivers Narmada and Tapi flow through these ranges. These are west-flowing rivers that
drain into the Arabian Sea.
The Western Ghats or Sahyadris border the plateau in the west and the Eastern Ghats
provide the eastern boundary. While the Western Ghats are almost continuous, the Eastern
Ghats are broken and uneven (Figure 7.3). The plateau is rich in minerals like coal and ironore. To the West of the Western Ghats and the East of Eastern Ghats lie the Coastal plains.
The western coastal plains are very narrow. The eastern Coastal plains are much broader.
47. Solution: b)
Continentality means that the more a place is surrounded by land, the more extreme its
weather will be .Because land heats faster as compared to sea.
Opposed to this, closeness to the sea moderates weather. Because in the day the sea heats
slower than land. This cool sea breeze blows across the land thus reducing the day
temperatures.
In the night the sea cools down slower. And the exact opposite happens.
This keeps the temperature moderate.
48. Solution: c)
Lakshadweep is a coral island. The Sundarbans is a natural region in Bengal. It is the largest
single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
49. Solution: d)
Sundarbans house littoral and swamp forests. Mangroves are found here, not evergreen
forests. However, the area surrounding Sundarbans have tropical evergreen forests.
Other places (except Andaman and Nicobar) have mangroves, but not evergreen forests.
50. Solution: d)
Continental crust is less denser than ocean crust as the later is made of basaltic rocks.
The main constituents of the former are Silica and Aluminium; and that of the later are Silica
and Magnesium.
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51. Solution: b)
Sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments (broken from a rock) are deposited and
consolidated under pressure or temperature or in other ways. Only igneous rocks can be
directly formed from magma, not sedimentary rocks.
52. Solution: c)
Sediment load has to do with formation of floodplains and levees.
This is how an ox-bow lake is formed.
As the river enters the plain it twists and turns forming large bends known as meanders.
Due to continuous erosion and deposition along the sides of the meander, the ends of the
meander loop come closer and closer. In due course of time the meander loop cuts off from
the river and forms a cut-off lake, also called an ox-bow lake.
53. Solution: d)
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54. Solution: c)
Albedo is the reflectivity of a surface. The more ice is there on the earth, the more it will
reflect sunrays as white ice is a good reflector. Therefore, albedo will decrease. So the
temperature of the earth will increase.
This and the melting of the snow will cause an expansion in the volume of sea water leading
to the flooding of the coastal areas.
Floods and drought will become more severe and frequent in certain pockets of the world.
This is because some regions will become hotter than usual. They will experience either
more intense rain leading to floods or more intense evaporation leading to hydrological
drought.
Such disturbance in the local weather, and climate later on, will disturb the local
environment. This will create problems for the species which will find it tough to adapt to
the sudden changing environment; flood; drought; high temperature; changing flora etc.
Some of them may go extinct too.
55. Solution: a)
While nitrogen is used by plants for making food, they do not obtain it directly from
atmosphere. Certain bacteria fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it available to the
plants in the form of nitrate etc.
Hydrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere are not used in making food.
56. Solution: c)
Self-explanatory. Refer to page no. 22 Structure of atmosphere Chapter 4- NCERT Geo
class 7th for more related details.
57. Solution: d)
Winds can be broadly divided into three types.
1. Permanent winds The trade winds, westerlies and easterlies are the permanent
winds.These blow constantly throughout the year in a particular direction.
2. Seasonal winds These winds change their direction in different seasons. For example
monsoons in India.
3. Local winds These blow only during a particular period of the day or year in a small area.
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58. Solution: d)
All are true. Jet planes flying in the sky leave a white trail behind them. The moisture from
their engines condenses. We see trails of this condensed moisture for some time when there
is no air movement to disturb it.
59. Solution: d)
During a storm, the winds blowing at very high speed form huge waves. These may cause
tremendous destruction. An earthquake, a volcanic eruption or underwater landslides can
shift large amounts of ocean water. As a result a huge tidal wave called tsunami, that may
be as high as 15m., is formed. The largest tsunami ever measured was 150m. high. These
waves travel at a speed of more than 700 km. per hour. The tsunami of 2004 caused wide
spread damage in the coastal areas of India. The Indira point in the Andaman and Nicobar
islands got submerged after the tsunami.
60. Solution: d)
The strong gravitational pull exerted by the sun and the moon on the earths surface causes
the tides. The water of the earth closer to the moon gets pulled under the influence of the
moons gravitational force and causes high tide. During the full moon and new moon days,
the sun, the moon and the earth are in the same line and the tides are highest. These tides are
called spring tides. But when the moon is in its first and last quarter, the ocean waters get
drawn in diagonally opposite directions by the gravitational pull of sun and earth resulting
in low tides. These tides are called neap tides.
61. Solution: a)
High tides help in navigation. They raise the water level close to the shores. This helps the
ships to arrive at the harbour more easily. The high tides also help in fishing. Many more
fish come closer to the shore during the high tide. This enables fishermen to get a plentiful
catch. The rise and fall of water due to tides is being used to generate electricity in some
places.
Marine upwelling is a different phenomen altogether.
Winds blowing across the ocean surface push water away. Water then rises up from beneath
the surface to replace the water that was pushed away. This process is known as
upwelling.
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Upwelling occurs in the open ocean and along coastlines. The reverse process, called
downwelling, also occurs when wind causes surface water to build up along a coastline
and the surface water eventually sinks toward the bottom.
Water that rises to the surface as a result of upwelling is typically colder and is rich in
nutrients. These nutrients fertilize surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often
have high biological productivity. Therefore, good fishing grounds typically are found
where upwelling is common.
62. Solution: d)
Self-explanatory. Refer to the last two pages of chapter 5 for more information on warm and
old currents.
63. Solution: a)
They are also found in large parts of India.
Mediterranean vegetation is mostly found in the areas around the Mediterranean sea in
Europe, Africa and Asia, hence the name.
Boreal forests are cold forests which have mostly coniferous trees.
64. Solution: d)
There most important difference between a steppe and a savanna is where it is located.
Savannas lie nearer the equator and are warmer than steppes. Being nearer the rainforest
means they have two major seasons: a hot, wet summer and a marginally cooler, but much
drier winter. Steppes, by contrast, lie further from the equator and in sheltered areas. This
means the precipitation they get is dispersed evenly throughout the year. Fewer large plants
can take root under such dry conditions. Being further from the equator also means colder
conditions, and in some northern steppes, snow, rather than rain, is common.
Read more at : http://www.ehow.com/info_8468978_differences-between-steppessavannas.html
65. Solution: a)
If you reach the polar region (Tundra type of vegetation) you will find the place extremely
cold. The growth of natural vegetation is very limited here. Only mosses, lichens and very
small shrubs are found here. It grows during the very short summer.
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66. Solution: d)
Waterways are the cheapest for carrying heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They
are mainly of two types inland waterways and sea routes. Navigable rivers, canals and
lakes are used as inland waterways. Some of the important inland waterways are the GangaBrahmaputra river system, the Great Lakes in North America and the river Nile in Africa.
Sea routes and oceanic routes are mostly used for transporting merchandise and goods from
one country to another. These routes are connected with the ports.
67. Solution: d)
Arikamedu is an archaeological site in Kakkayanthope, Ariyankuppam
Commune, Puducherry. It is located at a distance 7 km from its capital Pondicherry, in the
Indian territory of Puducherry, where Mortimer Wheeler conducted his best-known
excavation in the 1940s. Arikamedu - 'Arikan-medu or Poduke' which literally means,
'eroding mound'. Roman lamps, glassware and gems have also been found at the site.
For Map, refer to NCERT Class VI History - Page No. 85.
68. Solution: b)
In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the grama bhojaka.
Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations. In other words, the
post was hereditary. The grama bhojaka was often the largest landowner. Generally, he had
slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land. Besides, as he was powerful, the king often
used him to collect taxes from the village. He also functioned as a judge, and sometimes as a
policeman.
Apart from the gramabhojaka, there were other independent farmers, known as grihapatis,
most of whom were smaller landowners. And then there were men and women such as the
dasa karmakara, who did not own land, and had to earn a living working on the fields
owned by others. In most villages there were also some crafts persons such as the
blacksmith, potter, carpenter and weaver.
69. Solution: c)
Refer page 107, NCERT Class VI History Book.
70. Solution: b)
A famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named Ilango, around
1800 years ago. It is the story of a merchant named Kovalan, who lived in Puhar and fell in
love with a courtesan named Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi. Later, he and Kannagi
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left Puhar and went to Madurai, where he was wrongly accused of theft by the court
jeweller of the Pandya king. The king sentenced Kovalan to death. Kannagi, who still loved
him, was full of grief and anger at this injustice, and destroyed the entire city of Madurai.
Another Tamil epic, the Manimekalai was composed by Sattanar around 1400 years ago.
This describes the story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi. These beautiful
compositions were lost to scholars for many centuries, till their manuscripts were
rediscovered, about a hundred years ago.
71. Solution: d)
Both are correct.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/super-cyber-intelligence-body-soon-announces-itminister/article6408263.ece
72. Solution: c)
It is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of
the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a
unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.
The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waistdeep pool. A large rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers,
who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be
moving over the water. When the rice fields would flood, the villagers would entertain each
other using this form of puppet play.
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/india-vietnam-to-sign-key-oil-searchpact/article6410313.ece (see the emage)
73. Solution: a)
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, is a space transport services
company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by
former PayPal entrepreneur and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk. SpaceX was founded with
the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. It has
developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles, both of which were designed from
conception to eventually become reusable. SpaceX also developed the Dragon spacecraft,
which are flown into orbit by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, initially transporting cargo and
later planned to carry humans to the International Space Station and other destinations.
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In 2006, NASA awarded the company a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)
contract to design and demonstrate a launch system to resupply cargo to the International
Space Station (ISS). SpaceX has since flown four missions to the ISS.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/nasa-fourth-spacex-cargo-mission-will-carryfirst-3d-printer-to-the-international-space-station/article6410118.ece
74. Solution: c)
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed regional free-trade agreement. As of
2014 twelve countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region have participated in negotiations
on the TPP: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New
Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam.
India is not involved in its negotiations.
http://www.ustr.gov/tpp
75. Solution: a)
The deployment of IndARC, the countrys first underwater moored observatory in the
Kongsfjorden fjord, half way between Norway and the North Pole, represents a major
milestone in Indias scientific endeavours in the Arctic region.
Designed and developed by scientists from the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO),
National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), National Institute of Ocean
Technology (NIOT) and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS),
IndARC was deployed from RV Lance, a research vessel belonging to the Norwegian Polar
Institute on July 23.
The observatory is anchored at a depth of 192 m and has an array of 10 state-of-the-art
oceanographic sensors strategically positioned at various depths in the water.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/indias-arctic-observatoryto-aid-climate-change-studies/article6405727.ece
76. Solution: c)
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/spinosaurus-aegyptiacus-alienlike-giantwaterliving-dinosaur-unveiled/article6403739.ece
77. Solution: d)
Both are wrong.
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The Jaipur Foot, also known as the Jaipur Leg, is a rubber-based prosthetic leg for people
with below-knee amputations. Although inferior in many ways to the composite carbon
fibre variants, its variable applicability and cost efficiency make it an acceptable choice for
prosthesis. Ram Chander Sharma designed and developed it in 1968.
The Jaipur Foot is made of polyurethane, which at the time was the new material used in the
production of the prostheses. The material increases the durability and the convenience of
use. Now the government of India supports Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahyata Samiti with
financial aid to carry out the work done by the organization.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jaipur-foot-to-help-cowsnow/article6405736.ece
78. Solution: c)
At about 31 per cent of the world total, Australia has the largest known reserves of uranium.
Just before concluding the civil nuclear agreement with India, Australia had drawn the
curtain on its uranium trade with Russia, which is one of the largest suppliers of uranium to
India.
India is the only non-NPT signatory to which Australia will be supplying uranium. Besides
Russia, India imports most of its uranium from Kazakhstan and France.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/australiabanking-on-uranium-pact-to-gainedge-over-eurasian-rivals/article6401600.ece
79. Solution: c)
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-to-fund-swachh-vidyalayacampaign/article6401957.ece
80. Solution: a)
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/nasa-to-map-earth-forests-in-3d/article6397048.ece
81. Solution: b)
Self-explanatory. Refer to the the section Life in Ganga-Brahmaputra basin- Chapter 8 7th
Geo NCERT
82. Solution: a)
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The main crop is paddy since cultivation of paddy requires sufficient water, it is grown in
the areas where the amount of rainfall is high. Wheat, maize, sorghum, gram and millets are
the other crops that are grown. Cash crops like sugarcane and jute are also grown. Banana
plantations are seen in some areas of the plain. In West Bengal and Assam tea is grown in
plantations (Fig. 8.10). Silk is produced through the cultivation of silk worms in parts of
Bihar and Assam.
83. Solution: b)
84. Solution: a)
Refer to sec 1.2 chapter 1 class 7th Science NCERT
85. Solution: a)
Normally bacteria are present in our mouth but they are not harmful to us. However, if we
do not clean our teeth and mouth after eating, many harmful bacteria also begin to live and
grow in it. These bacteria break down the sugars present from the leftover food and release
acids. The acids gradually damage the teeth. This is called tooth decay.
86. Solution: a)
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Refer to http://www.instructables.com/id/Oral-Rehydration-Salts-ORS/
87. Solution: a)
Refer to the link for more information on disease causing bacteria in humans
http://www.biotechnologyforums.com/thread-1945.html
88. Solution: a)
We often use electricity and fuels like coal and wood to keep our houses cool or warm. It is
possible to construct buildings, that are not affected much by heat and cold outside. This can
be done by constructing outer walls of buildings so that they have trapped layers of air. One
way of doing this is to use hollow bricks, which are available these days.
89. Solution: a)
The most commonly used natural indicator is litmus. It is extracted from lichens . It has a
mauve (purple) colour in distilled water. When added to an acidic solution, it turns red and
when added to a basic solution, it turns blue. It is available in the form of a solution, or in
the form of strips of paper, known as litmus paper. Generally, it is available as red and blue
litmus paper.
90. Solution: d)
The rain becomes acidic because carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide
(which are released into the air as pollutants) dissolve in rain drops to form carbonic acid,
sulphuric acid and nitric acid respectively. Acid rain can cause damage to buildings,
historical monuments, plants and animals.
91. Solution: a)
Self-explnatory. The effect of an acid can be neutralized using a base.
92. Solution: b)
Self-explanatory.
93. Solution: d)
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94. Solution: d)
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/fungi/yeast-info.htm
95. Solution: a)
Plants absorb mineral nutrients and water from the soil. Not all the water absorbed is
utilised by the plant. The water evaporates through the stomata present on the surface of the
leaves by the process of transpiration. The evaporation of water from leaves generates a
suction pull (the same that you produce when you suck water through a straw) which can
pull water to great heights in the tall trees. Transpiration also cools the plant.
96. Solution: d)
Refer to http://www.biology-resources.com/plants-vegetative-reproduction-01.html
97. Solution: a)
The images reflected in a convex mirror, then, look smaller than they are -- they're
compressed. This is why convex mirrors are used on cars: They reflect more in a smaller
space. In other words, a convex mirror has a wider field of view than a flat one, which can
only reflect the area right in front of it. With a wider field of view, the driver has more
information about the area to the right of the car.
98. Solution: d)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollution_in_India#Other_problems
99. Solution: a)
Refer to http://www.botanical-online.com/english/eucalyptus.htm
100.
Solution: a)
http://donateeyes.org/what-is-eye-donation/
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