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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

1) Which of the following are the outstanding features of India‟s freedom struggle?

1. The movement popularized democratic ideas and institutions in India


2. The Indian National Congress was organized on a democratic basis and in the
form of a parliament
3. The freedom struggle was also a struggle for economic development
4. The National movement failed to defend civil liberties of group affiliated to
different political ideologies

Choose the correct answer using the codes below


a. 1,2 and 4 Only
b. 1,3 and 4 Only
c. 1,2 and 3 Only
d. All are correct

2) Consider the following statements with reference to initial days of 1857 Revolt
1. Bahadur Shah II readily accepted the appeal of rebels to lead their mutiny
against the British
2. Only about twenty per cent of the Company‟s army rebelled against the British

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

3) Consider the following statements with reference to leadership role played by


prominent personalities during the 1857 Revolt

1. Nana Saheb led the rebels in Kanpur


2. Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of Jagdishpur, led the revolt in Barielly

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 2 Only

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

b. 1 Only
c. None
d. Both

4) Consider the following statements


1. Both Bombay and Madras remained totally loyal to the British during the 1857
Revolt
2. The annexation of Jhansi state by the application of the Subsidiary Alliance by
Lord Dalhousie was the major reason for Rani of Jhansi to revolt against the
British during 1857 Revolt

Which of the above statements is/are INCORRECT?


a. None
b. Both
c. 1 Only
d. 2 Only

5) It is said that the 1857 Revolt was, literally, started over a gun i.e. Enfield rifle. With
reference to this, consider the following statements
1. The sepoys had to bite cartridges open to empty the gunpowder present inside
into the rifle‟s muzzle
2. It was alleged that the cartridges were greased with both cow and pork fat

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 2 Only
b. None
c. 1 Only
d. Both

6) Give are the reasons below why rebels failed in attaining their goal during the 1857
revolt. Which of them are correct?
1. They were poorly served by their leaders with the exception of few
2. The rebels had no political perspective or a definite vision of the future

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

3. Almost half the Indian soldiers fought against their own countrymen

Choose the correct answer using the codes below


a. 1 and 3 Only
b. 2 and 3 Only
c. 1 and 2 Only
d. All Three

7) During the first hundred years of the British rule in India, they faced series of
rebellions from Indians. Consider the nature of these rebellions in the following
statements:
1. They were often led by deposed rajas and nawabs and other such erstwhile
powerful persons
2. They were sudden and localized
3. They were mostly reactions to the rapid changes the British introduced in the
economy, administration and land revenue system

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 3 and 2 Only
b. 2 and 1 Only
c. 1 and 3 Only
d. All Three

8) Daman-i-koh, in modern Indian history is known for


a. It is a region where Santhal rebellion took place against the British
b. It is a region where the Mughals established their supremacy over Eastern India
c. It is a region where the British executed last living Mughal lineage
d. None of the above

9) The Santhal insurrection against the mighty British in 1854 was immensely helped
by Gwalas and Lohars. Who were these?
a. Milkmen and Blacksmith respectively
b. Oppressed farmers

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

c. Artisans and craftsmen


d. None of the above

10) Consider the following statements with reference to Santhal insurrection


1. The Santhals believed that their actions had the blessings of God
2. The British could not succeed completely in crushing the Santhal rebellion

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 1 Only
b. Both
c. None
d. 2 Only

11) With reference to the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60, consider the following statements
1. The peasants were forced to cultivate indigo through meagre forced contracts
2. The peasant was forced to grow indigo on any land of his choice, but he had to
cultivate it at any cost
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 Only
b. None
c. 2 Only
d. Both

12) In just 50 years, the Aral Sea - once the fourth largest inland water body - has
turned into world's newest desert. The main reason for this disaster is:
a. High amount of surface heat in the region caused complete evaporation
b. The sea‟s water supply was diverted for irrigation purpose
c. The sea was unscientifically used for fishing and mining
d. None of the above

13) Recently, a drug named „Teixobactin’ was in news. Why?


a. It is a first antibiotic which treats malaria

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

b. It is a first antibiotic which treats tuberculosis successfully


c. It is a first antibiotic announced in decades which treats AIDS effectively
d. None of the above

14) With reference to fungi, consider the following statements


1. Saprotrophs recycle the nitrogen in dead plant matter and release it back into the
atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2)
2. “Ecto-mycorrhizal” (EcM) fungi are classic symbionts, exchanging nitrogen for
carbohydrates manufactured by plants through photosynthesis

Which of the above statements is/are INCORRECT?


a. 1 Only
b. None
c. Both
d. 2 Only

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/peek-world-fungi

15) Consider the following statements with reference to zebra‟s stripes


1. Stripes help the zebra regulate its body temperature
2. Zebras in areas with lower temperature have fewer and fainter stripes
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

16) Numerous parasites can be transmitted by food including many protozoa and
helminths. Which of the following parasite is NOT one of them?
1. Giardia intestinalis
2. Cyclospora cayetanensis,
3. Toxoplasma gondii
4. Sarcoptes scabiei
Choose the correct answer using the codes below

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. 3 Only
d. 4 Only

17) With reference to the Indigo revolt, consider the following statements
1. The intelligentsia of Bengal opposed the revolt and expressed sympathy with the
British planters
2. Din Bandhu Mitra‟s play, Neel Darpan, was inspired by the plight of indigo
growers
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

18) With reference to the Holocene epoch, a part of geological timescale, consider the
following statements
1. This epoch‟s primary characteristic is the global changes caused by human
activity
2. First humans appeared during this epoch
3. The Holocene extinction caused the extinction of dinosaurs from earth

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 3 and 1 Only
b. 2 and 3 Only
c. All Three
d. 1 Only

19) Anand Mohan Bose and Dwarkanath Ganguli were famous in the early days of
national movement mainly because
a. They wrote books highlighting the difficulties faced by the artisans of Bengal
b. They helped farmers form unions and campaigned for the rights of tenants
c. They organized first violent rebellion of ryots against zamindars in Bengal

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

d. None of the above

20) In 1875, the peasants in other Ryotwari areas faced major agrarian outbreak.
Following are some of the causes:
1. The end of the Civil War in 1864 in America brought about an acute depression
in cotton exports and a crash in prices
2. In 1867, the Government raised land revenue by nearly 50 per cent

Which of the above is/are correct?


a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

21) Following are some of the revelations of Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO)'s new report, “World Fertilizer Trends And Outlook to 2018”. Which of the
following is/are NOT correct?
1. Africa is the largest consumer of fertilizers in the world
2. Europe has surplus of all three nutrient based fertilizers
3. In coming years, the demand for fertilizers will surpass the supply

Choose the correct answer using the codes below


a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. 1 and 3 Only
d. 3 Only

22) Recently a research paper called for dingoes of Australia to “rewild” a National
Park in far northwest New South Wales by altering the so-called “Dingo Fence”.
What are these dingoes?
a. A sub-species of Kangaroos
b. A species of a free-ranging dog found mainly in Australia
c. A species of bird which helps in the growth of forest cover
d. None of the above

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

23) National De-worming Day was observed on 10th February 2015 in India. With
reference to de-worming, consider the following statements
1. It is a spraying of anti-parasitic sprays in and around schools and village houses
to rid them of parasites, such as roundworm, hookworms, flukes and tapeworm
2. It is part of National Rural Health Mission

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

24) With reference to features of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana,
consider the following statements
1. Demand led skill training at no cost to the rural poor
2. Guaranteed Placement for at least 75% trained candidates
3. Mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups

Which of the above is/are features of the above mentioned scheme?


a. 1 and 3 Only
b. 2 and 3 Only
c. 1 and 3 Only
d. All

25) The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is part of which of


the following ministry?
a. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
b. Ministry of Human Resource Development
c. Ministry of Labour and Employment
d. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

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Insights Prelims Test Series -2015: Test – 14

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

1) Which of the following are the outstanding features of India‟s freedom struggle?

1. The movement popularized democratic ideas and institutions in India


2. The Indian National Congress was organized on a democratic basis and in the
form of a parliament
3. The freedom struggle was also a struggle for economic development
4. The National movement failed to defend civil liberties of group affiliated to
different political ideologies
Choose the correct answer using the codes below
a. 1,2 and 4 Only
b. 1,3 and 4 Only
c. 1,2 and 3 Only
d. All are correct

Solutions: c)

What are the outstanding features of the freedom struggle? A major aspect is the values
and modern ideals on which the movement itself was based and the broad socio-
economic and political vision of its leadership (this vision was that of a democratic, civil
libertarian and secular India, based on a selfreliant, egalitarian social order and an
independent foreign policy).The movement popularized democratic ideas and
institutions in India. The nationalists fought for the introduction of a representative
government on the basis of popular elections and demanded that elections be based on
adult franchise. The Indian National Congress was organized on a democratic basis and
in the form of a parliament. It not only permitted but encouraged free expression of
opinion within the party and the movement; some of the most important decisions in its
history were taken after heated debates and on the basis of open voting.

From the beginning the nationalists fought against attacks by the State on the freedoms
of the Press, expression and association, and made the struggle for these freedoms an
integral part of the national movement. During their brief spell in power, from 1937-39,
the Congress ministries greatly extended the scope of civil liberties. The defence of civil
liberties was not narrowly conceived in terms of one political group, but was extended
to include the defence of other groups whose views were politically and ideologically
different. The Moderates defended Tilak, the Extremist, and non-violent Congressmen
passionately defended revolutionary terrorists and communists alike during their trials.
In 1928, the Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes‟ Bill were opposed not only by Motilal

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

Nehru but also by conservatives like Madan Mohan Malaviya and M.R. Jayakar. It was
this strong civil libertarian and democratic tradition of the national movement which
was reflected in the Constitution of independent India.

2) Consider the following statements with reference to initial days of 1857 Revolt
1. Bahadur Shah II readily accepted the appeal of rebels to lead their mutiny
against the British
2. Only about twenty percent of the Company‟s army rebelled against the British
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

Solution: d)

It was the morning of 11 May 1857. The city of De1h had not yet woken up when a band
of Sepoys from Meerut, who had defied and killed the European officers the previous
day, crossed the Jamuna, set the toll house on fire and marched to the Red Fort. They
entered the Red Fort through the Raj Ghat gate, followed by an excited crowd, to appeal
to Bahadur Shah II, the Moghul Emperor— a pensioner of the British East India
Company, who possessed nothing but the name of the mighty Mughals — to become
their leader, thus, give legitimacy to their cause. Bahadur Shah vacillated as he was
neither sure of the intentions of the sepoys nor of his own ability to play an effective
role. He was however persuaded, if not coerced, to give in and was proclaimed the
Shahenshah-e-Hindustan.

The sepoys, then, set out to capture and control the imperial city of Delhi. Simon Fraser,
the Political Agent and several other Englishmen were killed; the public offices were
either occupied or destroyed. The Revolt of an unsuccessful but heroic effort to
eliminate foreign rule, had begun. The capture of Delhi and the proclamation of
Bahadur Shah as the Emperor of Hindustan gave a positive political meaning to the
revolt and provided a rallying point for the rebels by recalling the past glory of the
imperial city. The Revolt at Meerut and the capture of Delhi was the precursor to a
widespread mutiny by the sepoys and rebellion almost all over North India, as well as

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

Central and Western India. South India remained quiet and Punjab and Bengal were
only marginally affected. Almost half the Company‟s sepoy strength of 2,32,224 opted
out of their loyalty to their regimental colors and overcame the ideology of the army,
meticulously constructed over a period of time through training and discipline.

3) Consider the following statements with reference to leadership role played by


prominet personalities during the 1857 Revolt

1. Nana Saheb led the rebels in Kanpur


2. Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of Jagdishpur, led the revolt in Barielly
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 2 Only
b. 1 Only
c. None
d. Both

Solution: b)

At Kanpur, the natural choice was Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the last Peshwa,Baji
Rao II. He had refused the family title and, banished from Poona, was living near
Kanpur. Begum Hazrat Mahal took over the reigns where popular sympathy was
overwhelmingly in favour of the deposed Nawab. Her son, Birjis Qadir, was
proclaimed the Nawab and a regular administration was organized with important
offices shared equally by Muslims and Hindus.

At Barielly, Khan Bahadur, a descendant of the former ruler of Rohilkhand was placed
in command. Living on a pension granted by the British, he was not too enthusiastic
about this and had in fact, warned the Commissioner of the impending mutiny. Yet,
once the Revolt broke out, he assumed the administration, organized an army of 40,000
soldiers and offered stiff resistance to the British.

In Bihar the Revolt was led by Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of Jagdishpur,a 70 year-old
man on the brink of bankruptcy. He nursed a grudge against the British. He had been
deprived of his estates by them and his repeated appeals to be entrusted with their
management again fell on deaf ears. Even though he had not planned an uprising, he
unhesitatingly joined the sepoys when they reached Arrah from Dinapore.

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

4) Consider the following statements


1. Both Bombay and Madras remained totally loyal to the British during the 1857
Revolt
2. The annexation of Jhansi state by the application of the Subsidiary Alliance by
Lord Dalhousie was the major reason for Rani of Jhansi to revolt against the
British during 1857 Revolt
Which of the above statements is/are INCORRECT?
a. None
b. Both
c. 1 Only
d. 2 Only

Solution: b)

The most outstanding leader of the Revolt was Rani Lakshmibai, who assumed the
leadership of the sepoys at Jhansi. Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General, had refused
to allow her adopted son to succeed to the throne after her husband died and had
annexed the state by the application of the Doctrine of Lapse. The Rani had tried
everything to reverse the decision. She even offered to keep Jhansi „safe‟ for the British
if they would grant her wishes. When it was clear nothing was working she joined the
sepoys and, in time, became one of the most formidable enemies the British had to
contend with. The Revolt was not confined to these major centres. It had embraced
almost every cantonment in the Bengal and a few in Bombay. Only the Madras army
remained totally loyal.

5) It is said that the 1857 Revolt was, literally, started over a gun i.e. enfield rifle. With
reference to this, consider the following statements
1. The sepoys had to bite cartridges open to empty the gunpowder present inside
into the rifle‟s muzzle
2. It was alleged that the cartridges were greased with both cow and pork fat
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 2 Only
b. None
c. 1 Only
d. Both

Solution: d)

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

The rebellion was, literally, started over a gun. Sepoys throughout India were issued
with a new rifle, the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifled musket—a more powerful and accurate
weapon than the old but smoothbore Brown Bess they had been using for the previous
decades. The rifling inside the musket barrel ensured accuracy at much greater
distances than was possible with old muskets. One thing did not change in this new
weapon — the loading process, which did not improve significantly until the
introduction of breech loaders and metallic, one-piece cartridges a few decades later.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/Pattern1853Rifle.jpg

To load both the old musket and the new rifle, soldiers had to bite the cartridge open
and pour the gunpowder it contained into the rifle's muzzle, then stuff the cartridge
case, which was typically paper coated with some kind of grease to make it waterproof,
into the musket aswadding, before loading it with a ball.

It was believed that the cartridges that were standard issue with this rifle were greased
with lard (pork fat) which was regarded as unclean by Muslims and tallow (cow fat)
which angered the Hindus as cows were sacred to them. The sepoys' British officers
dismissed these claims as rumours, and suggested that the sepoys make a batch of fresh
cartridges, and grease these with beeswax or mutton fat. This reinforced the belief that
the original issue cartridges were indeed greased with lard and tallow.

Another suggestion they put forward was to introduce a new drill, in which the
cartridge was not bitten with the teeth but torn open with the hand. The sepoys rejected
this, pointing out that they might very well forget and bite the cartridge, not surprising
given the extensive drilling that allowed 19th century British troops to fire three to four
rounds per minute. An integral part of the loading procedure involved biting off the
bullet from the cartridge so that one hand could hold the musket steady while the other
hand poured the charge of powder into the barrel. This meant that biting a musket

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

cartridge was second nature to the Sepoys, some of whom had decades of service in the
Company's army, and who had been doing musket drill for every day of their service.

6) Give are the reasons below why rebels failed in attaining their goal during the 1857
revolt. Which of them are correct?
1. They were poorly served by their leaders with the exception of few
2. The rebels had no political perspective or a definite vision of the future
3. Almost half the Indian soldiers fought against their own countrymen
Choose the correct answer using the codes below
a. 1 and 3 Only
b. 2 and 3 Only
c. 1 and 2 Only
d. All Three

Solution: d)

Although the rebels received the sympathy of the people, the country as a whole was
not behind them. The merchants, intelligentsia and Indian rulers not only kept aloof,
but actively supported the British. Meetings were organized in Calcutta and Bombay by
them to pray for the success of the British. Despite the Doctrine of Lapse, the Indian
rulers who expected their future to be safer with the British liberally provided them
with men and materials. Indeed, the sepoys might have made a better fight of it if they
had received their support. Almost half the Indian soldiers not only did not Revolt but
fought against their own countrymen. The recapture of Delhi was effected by five
columns consisting of 1700 British troops and 3200 Indians. The blowing up of
Kashmere Gate was conducted by six British officers and NCOs and twenty-four
Indians, of whom ten were Punjabis and fourteen were from Agra and Oudh. Apart
from some honourable exceptions like the Rani of Thansi, Kunwar Singh and Maulvi
Ahmadullah, the rebels were poorly served by their leaders. Most of them failed to
realize the significance of the Revolt and simply did not do enough. Bahadur Shah and
Zeenat Mahal had no faith in the sepoys and negotiated with the British to secure their
safety. Most of the taluqdars tried only to protect their own interests. Some of them,

like Man Singh, changed sides several times depending on which side had the upper
hand. Apart from a commonly shared hatred for alien rule, the rebels had no political

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

perspective or a definite vision of the future. They were all prisoners of their own past,
fighting primarily to regain their lost privileges. Unsurprisingly, they proved incapable
of ushering in a new political order. John Lawrence rightly remarked that had a single
leader of ability arisen among them (the rebels) we must have been lost beyond
redemption.‟

7) During the first hundred years of the British rule in India, they faced series of
rebellions from Indians. Consider the nature of these rebellions in the following
statements:
1. They were often led by deposed rajas and nawabs and other such erstwhile
powerful persons
2. They were sudden and localized
3. They were mostly reactions to the rapid changes the British introduced in the
economy, administration and land revenue system
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 3 and 2 Only
b. 2 and 1 Only
c. 1 and 3 Only
d. All Three

Solution: d)

The series of civil rebellions, which run like a thread through the first 100 years of
British rule, were often led by deposed rajas and nawabs or their descendants, uprooted
and impoverished zamindars, landlords and poligars (landed military magnates in
South India), and ex-retainers and officials of the conquered Indian states. The
backbone of the rebellions, their mass base and striking power came from the rack-
rented peasants, ruined artisans and demobilized soldiers. These sudden, localized
revolts often took place because of local grievances although for short periods they
acquired a broad sweep, involving armed bands of a few hundreds to several
thousands.

The major cause of all these civil rebellions taken as a whole was the rapid changes the
British introduced in the economy, administration and land revenue system. These
changes led to the disruption of the agrarian society, causing prolonged and
widespread suffering among its constituents Above all, the colonial policy of

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

intensifying demands for land revenue and extracting as large an amount as possible
produced a veritable upheaval in Indian villages. In Bengal, for example, in less than
thirty years land revenue collection was raised to nearly double the amount collected
under the Mughals. The pattern was repeated in other us of the country as British rule
spread. And aggravating the unhappiness of the farmers was the fact that not even a
part of the enhanced revenue was spent on the development of agriculture or the
welfare of the cultivator.

8) Daman-i-koh, in modern Indian history is known for


a. It is a region where Santhal rebellion took place against the British
b. It is a region where the Mughals established their supremacy over Eastern India
c. It is a region where the British executed last living Mughal lineage
d. None of the above

Solution: a)

Among the numerous tribal revolts, the Santhal hool or uprising was the most massive.
The Santhals, who live in the area between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal, known as Daman-
i-koh, rose in revolt; made a determined attempt to expel the outsiders — the dikus —
and proclaimed the complete „annihilation‟ of the alien regime.
The Damin-i-koh was a densely forested and hilly area. Even in the valleys there was
hardly any human interference except for an occasional Paharia village. That was the
situation for centuries. There were two groups of Paharia primitive tribes, namely the
Sauria Paharias and the Mal Paharias. They had been living in the Rajmahal Hills, since
when it is difficult to trace. They lived mostly in hill tracts. Prior to the arrival of the
British, the Paharias lead a life undisturbed by the mighty empires reigning in the
region. That was mostly the result of their geographical isolation. The Mughals never
seems to have conquered the area, possibly because they failed to penetrate into the
deeply forested hilly tracts. They were hill locked and were completely isolated from
the outside world. They were also never in any way subordinate to the British Raj till
around the end of eighteenth century.

The main problem that faced the British in the early years of their rule in the area was
that the Paharias had become bandits and dacoits in the declining years of Muslim rule

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

and lawlessness prevailed in the region. The pacification of the Paharias and their
conversion into a law-abiding people was a major achievement of the early British
administration under such people as Captain Brooke, Captain Browne and Augustus
Cleveland. The Santals first began to move into the hills and forests of what was later
called Santhal Parganas, towards the end of the 18th century.

The Santals are the most numerous tribe in eastern India. According to their traditions,
they were a wandering tribe until they settled down in Chhotanagpur and the adjacent
districts. That was around the middle of the 18th century. Towards the end of the
century, as the pressure of population was keenly felt and the jungles were being
cleared, they moved up towards the virgin forests in and around the Rajmahal Hills.
The Permanent Settlement of 1793 forced the landlords to improve productivity of the
land. The Santals were increasingly used for land reclamation and improvement. In
1832 the government set apart a large area in Damin-i-Koh for the settlement of the
Santal. The population in this tract increased from 3,000 in 1838 to 82,795 in 1851. The
intention of the British administration in permanently settling the Santals in Damin-i-
koh was to reclaim the dense forested region. The industrious Santal was accorded a
warm welcome to carry out the arduous task.

The Santhal rebellion of 1855, lead to the formation of Santhal Parganas, which till then
was administratively under Birbhum district.

9) The Santhal insurrection against the mighty British in 1854 was immensely helped
by Gwalas and Lohars. Who were these?
a. Milkmen and Blacksmith respectively
b. Oppressed farmers
c. Artisans and craftsmen
d. None of the above

Solution: a)

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

The Santhal insurrection was helped by a large number of non-tribal and poor dikus.
Gwalas (milkmen) and others helped the rebels with provisions and services; lohars
(blacksmiths) accompanied the rebel bands, keeping their weapons in good shape.

10) Consider the following statements with reference to Santhal insurrection


1. The Santhals believed that their actions had the blessings of God
2. The British could not succeed completely in crushing the Santhal rebellion
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 Only
b. Both
c. None
d. 2 Only

Solution: a)

The Santhals believed that their actions had the blessings of God. Sido and Kanhu, the
principal rebel leaders, claimed that Thakur (God) had communicated with them and
told them to take up arms and fight for independence. Sido told the authorities in a
proclamation: „The Thacoor has ordered me saying that the country is not Sahibs . . .
The Thacoor himself will fight. Therefore, you Sahibs and Soldiers (will) fight the
Thacoor himself.‟

The rebellion was crushed ruthlessly. More than 15,000 Santhals were killed while tens
of villages were destroyed. Sido was betrayed and captured and killed in August 1855
while Kanhu was arrested by accident at the tail-end of the rebellion in February 1866.

11) With reference to the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60, consider the following statements
1. The peasants were forced to cultivate indigo through meager forced contracts
2. The peasant was forced to grow indigo on any land of his choice, but he had to
cultivate it at any cost
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 Only
b. None
c. 2 Only
d. Both

Solution: a)

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

The most militant and widespread of the peasant movements was the Indigo Revolt of
1859-60. The indigo planters, nearly all Europeans, compelled the tenants to grow
indigo which they processed in factories set up in rural (mofussil) areas. From the
beginning, indigo was grown under an extremely oppressive system which involved
great loss to the cultivators. The planters forced the peasants to take a meager amount
as advance and enter into fraudulent contracts. The price paid for the indigo plants was
far below the market price. The comment of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, J.B.
Grant, was that „the root of the whole question is the struggle to make the raiyats grow
indigo plant, without paying them the price of it.‟ The peasant was forced to grow
indigo on the best land he had whether or not he wanted to devote his land and labour
to more paying crops like rice. At the time of delivery, he was cheated even of the due
low price. He also had to pay regular bribes to the planter‟s officials. He was forced to
accept an advance. Often he was not in a position to repay it, but even if he could he
was not allowed to do so. The advance was used by the planters to compel him to go on
cultivating indigo.

12) In just 50 years, the Aral Sea - once the fourth largest inland water body - has
turned into world's newest desert. The main reason for this disaster is:
a. High amount of surface heat in the region caused complete evaporation
b. The sea‟s water supply was diverted for irrigation purpose
c. The sea was unscientifically used for fishing and mining
d. None of the above

Solution: b)

The Aral Sea is an endorheic lake, which means that although it has surface inflow,
there is no surface outflow of water. The inflow into the sea is because of two rivers, the
Amu Darya and Syr Darya.

The sea started to shrink because of the ambitious economic plans of Soviet leader
Joseph Stalin. In 1929, he ordered collectivisation of farms in Central Asia to achieve
cotton independence. The lasting legacy of this social and economic transformation was
destruction of traditional irrigation in the Aral Sea basin. In the 1940s, under Stalin‟s
Great Plan for the Transformation of Nature, construction of irrigation canals was

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

started on a large scale. Many of the canals were poorly built, allowing water to leak or
evaporate.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/sea-isnt

13) Recently, a drug named „Teixobactin’ was in news. Why?


a. It is a first antibiotic which treats malaria
b. It is a first antibiotic which treats tuberculosis successfully
c. It is a first antibiotic announced in decades which treats AIDS effectively
d. None of the above

Solution: d)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/antibiotic-superbugs

14) With reference to fungi, consider the following statements


1. Saprotrophs recycle the nitrogen in dead plant matter and release it back into the
atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2)
2. “Ecto-mycorrhizal” (EcM) fungi are classic symbionts, exchanging nitrogen for
carbohydrates manufactured by plants through photosynthesis
Which of the above statements is/are INCORRECT?
a. 1 Only
b. None
c. Both
d. 2 Only

Solution: b)

Both are correct.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/peek-world-fungi

15) Consider the following statements with reference to zebra‟s stripes


1. Stripes help the zebra regulate its body temperature
2. Zebras in areas with lower temperature have fewer and fainter stripes
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

Solution: c)

THERE HAVE been various theories on how the zebra got its stripes, ranging from
those which say that the stripes make it difficult for predators to spot it to those which
say they help ward off biting flies. A study whichanalysed the impact of 29
environmental factors, such as heat, flies and predators, on zebras across 16 locations in
Africa found that temperature was the only variable with which zebra stripes had a
correlation. Stripes help the zebra regulate its body temperature as they heat up at
different rates and create "eddies of air" that have a cooling effect. This mechanism
works best when stripes are bold. As a result zebras in areas with lower temperature
have fewer and fainter stripes.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/science-technology-bytes-3

16) Numerous parasites can be transmitted by food including many protozoa and
helminths. Which of the following parasite is NOT one of them?
1. Giardia intestinalis
2. Cyclospora cayetanensis,
3. Toxoplasma gondii
4. Sarcoptes scabiei
Choose the correct answer using the codes below
a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. 3 Only
d. 4 Only

Solution: d)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/science-technology-bytes-3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scabies#Cause

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/food.html

17) With reference to the Indigo revolt, consider the following statements
1. The intelligentsia of Bengal opposed the revolt and expressed sympathy with the
British planters
2. Din Bandhu Mitra‟s play, Neel Darpan, was inspired by the plight of indigo
growers
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

Solution: b)

A significant feature of the Indigo Revolt was the role of the intelligentsia of Bengal
which organized a powerful campaign in support of the rebellious peasantry. It carried
on newspaper campaigns, organized mass meetings, prepared memoranda on peasants‟
grievances and supported them in their legal battles.

Din Bandhu Mitra‟s play, Neel Darpan, was to gain great fame for vividly portraying
the oppression by the planters.

18) With reference to the Holocene epoch, a part of geological timescale, consider the
following statements
1. This epoch‟s primary characteristic is the global changes caused by human
activity
2. First humans appeared during this epoch
3. The Holocene extinction caused the extinction of dinosaurs from earth

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 3 and 1 Only
b. 2 and 3 Only
c. All Three
d. 1 Only

Solution: d)

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

The Holocene Epoch is the current period of geologic time. Another term that is
sometimes used is the Anthropocene Epoch, because its primary characteristic is the
global changes caused by human activity. This term can be misleading, though; modern
humans were already well established long before the epoch began. The Holocene
Epoch began 12,000 to 11,500 years ago at the close of the Paleolithic Ice Age and
continues through today.
As Earth entered a warming trend, the glaciers of the late Paleolithic retreated. Tundra
gave way to forest. As the climate changed, the very large mammals that had adapted
to extreme cold, like mammoth and wooly rhinoceros, became extinct. Humans, once
dependent on these “mega mammals” for much of their food, switched to smaller game
and increased their gathering of plant materials to supplement their diet.
Evidence indicates that about 10,800 years ago, the climate underwent a sharp cold turn
lasting for several years. The glaciers did not return, but game and plant materials
would have been scarce. As temperatures began to rebound, human population began
to increase and we began inventing the processes that would change the planet forever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/science-technology-bytes-3

19) Anand Mohan Bose and Dwarkanath Ganguli were famous in the early days of
national movement mainly because
a. They wrote books highlighting the difficulties faced by the artisans of Bengal
b. They helped farmers form unions and campaigned for the rights of tenants
c. They organized first violent rebellion of ryots against zamindars in Bengal
d. None of the above

Solution: b)

A number of young Indian intellectuals supported the peasants‟ cause. These included
Bankim Chandra Chatterjea and R.C. Dutt. Later, in the early I 880s, during the
discussion of the Bengal Tenancy Bill, the Indian Association, led by Surendranath
Banerjee, Anand Mohan Bose and Dwarkanath Ganguli, campaigned for the rights of

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

tenants, helped form ryot‟ unions, and organized huge meetings of upto 20,000 peasants
in the districts in support of the Rent Bill.

20) In 1875, the peasants in other Ryotwari areas faced major agrarian outbreak.
Following are some of the causes:
1. The end of the Civil War in 1864 in America brought about an acute depression
in cotton exports and a crash in prices
2. In 1867, the Government raised land revenue by nearly 50 per cent

Which of the above is/are correct?


a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both
d. None

Solution: c)

A major agrarian outbreak occurred in the Poona and Ahmednagar districts of


Maharashtra in 1875. Here, as part of the Ryotwari system, land revenue was settled
directly with the peasant who was also recognized as the owner of his land. Like the
peasants in other Ryotwari areas, the Deccan peasant also found it difficult to pay land
revenue without getting into the clutches of the moneylender and increasingly losing
his land. This led to growing tension between the peasants and the moneylenders most
of whom were outsiders — Marwaris or Gujaratis. Three other developments occurred
at this time. During the early I 860s, the American Civil War had led to a rise in cotton
exports which had pushed up prices. The end of the Civil War in 1864 brought about an
acute depression in cotton exports and a crash in prices. The ground slipped from under
the peasants‟ feet. Simultaneously, in 1867, „the Government raised land revenue by
nearly 50 per cent. The situation was worsened by a succession of bad harvests.

21) Following are some of the revelations of Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO)'s new report, “World Fertilizer Trends And Outlook to 2018”. Which of the
following is/are NOT correct?
1. Africa is the largest consumer of fertilizers in the world
2. Europe has surplus of all three nutrient based fertilizers
3. In coming years, the demand for fertilizers will surpass the supply

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

Choose the correct answer using the codes below


a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. 1 and 3 Only
d. 3 Only

Solution: c)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/global-fertiliser-use-surpass-200-million-
tonnes-2018-fao-report

22) Recently a research paper called for dingoes of Australia to “rewild” a National
Park in far northwest New South Wales by altering the so-called “Dingo Fence”.
What are these dingoes?
a. A sub-species of Kangaroos
b. A species of a free-ranging dog found mainly in Australia
c. A species of bird which helps in the growth of forest cover
d. None of the above

Solution: b)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/dingoes-could-help-saving-australia-s-
native-wildlife-conservationists

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingo

23) National De-worming Day was observed on 10th February 2015 in India. With
reference to de-worming, consider the following statements
1. It is a spraying of anti-parasitic sprays in and around schools and village houses
to rid them of parasites, such as roundworm, hookworms, flukes and tapeworm
2. It is part of National Rural Health Mission

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

d. None

Solution: b)

De-worming
It is administering an antihelmintic drug to a human or animal to rid them of parasites,
such as roundworm, hookworms, flukes and tapeworm. Mass deworming campaigns
of school children have been used both as a preventive as well as a treatment method
for helminthiasis which includes soil transmitted helminthiasis in children. Children
can be treated by administering for example Mebendazole and Albendazole. The cost is
relatively low. One tablet of Albendazole rids the child of parasitic worms which live in
the child‟s intestines and eat the nutrients the child needs for healthy mental and
physical development. This tablet is safe for both infected and non-infected children
and has a pleasant flavor.
Helminths
They are a group of parasites commonly referred to as worms and include
schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths. Such infections are among the most
common infections in developing countries.While mild infections often go unnoticed,
more severe worm infections can lead to abdominal pain, listlessness, iron-deficiency
anemia, malnutrition, stunting, and wasting.. Infections can also cause cognitive
impairment as well as tissue damage that may require corrective surgery

WHO recommendations
To reduce the worm burden, WHO recommends periodic drug treatment (De-
worming) of all school-age children living in endemic areas. WHO is of the view that
treating children for worms—which affect an estimated 600 million school-aged
children worldwide—improves school attendance, health, and long-run productivity.
Oral de-worming drugs are extremely effective at killing most varieties of worms with a
single dose, at negligible cost.

So, de-worming treatment is not only highly effective and inexpensive, it is easy to
administer through public schools and brings benefits to children years after treatment.
With hundreds of millions of children still at risk of worm infection worldwide,
providing free school-based de-worming treatment is an easy policy “win” for health,
education, and development.
Government Initiatives

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

School Health program under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), provides for
De-worming as per national guidelines on bi-annually supervised schedule. In the state
of Bihar world‟s largest school-based de-worming initiative was taken up earlier and
also the Delhi government had conducted such campaigns. According to WHO
estimates, nearly 24 crore children in the age group of 1-14 years are at risk of intestinal
parasitic worm infestation.

24) With reference to features of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana,
consider the following statements
1. Demand led skill training at no cost to the rural poor
2. Guaranteed Placement for at least 75% trained candidates
3. Mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups

Which of the above is/are features of the above mentioned scheme?


a. 1 and 3 Only
b. 2 and 3 Only
c. 1 and 3 Only
d. All

Solution: d)

Features of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana

· Enable Poor and Marginalized to Access Benefits


Demand led skill training at no cost to the rural poor

· Inclusive Program Design


Mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups (SC/ST 50%; Minority 15%;
Women 33%)

· Shifting Emphasis from Training to Career Progression


Pioneers in providing incentives for job retention, career progression and foreign
placements

· Greater Support for Placed Candidates


Post-placement support, migration support and alumni network

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Insights Mock Test - 14: 25 Questions and Solutions

· Proactive Approach to Build Placement Partnerships


Guaranteed Placement for at least 75% trained candidates

· Enhancing the Capacity of Implementation Partners


Nurturing new training service providers and developing their skills
· Regional Focus
Greater emphasis on projects for poor rural youth in Jammu and Kashmir (HIMAYAT),
the North-East region and 27 Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) districts (ROSHINI)
· Standards-led Delivery
All program activities are subject to Standard Operating Procedures that are not
open to interpretation by local inspectors. All inspections are supported by geo-tagged,
time stamped videos/photographs

25) The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is part of which of


the following ministry?
a. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
b. Ministry of Human Resource Development
c. Ministry of Labour and Employment
d. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Solution: d)

The Department of Disability Affairs was created in the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment on May 12,2012 to ensure greater focus on policy matters to effectively
address disability issues and to act as a nodal Department for greater coordination
among stakeholders, organizations, State Governments and related Central Ministries.
According to the Notification dated December9, 2014 the Department has been renamed
as Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

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