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Generate QuizEnvironment – Medium Level – GK Questions
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La Niña is generally associated with increased monsoon rainfall in India.
- True
- False
Answer: True
La Niña, characterized by cooler Pacific waters, often strengthens the Indian monsoon, while El Niño tends to weaken it.
Which of the following sectors is the largest contributor to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions?
- Agriculture
- Transportation
- Energy (Electricity and Heat Production)
- Industrial Processes
Answer: Energy (Electricity and Heat Production)
Burning fossil fuels for electricity and heat accounts for the largest share of global GHG emissions, primarily CO2.
Which of the following is a key objective of India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)?
- Promoting fossil fuel subsidies
- Enhancing energy efficiency through the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
- Increasing coal production
- Reducing forest cover
Answer: Enhancing energy efficiency through the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
NAPCC includes eight missions; NMEEE aims to reduce energy intensity of the economy through market-based mechanisms.
Ocean acidification is primarily caused by the absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide by seawater.
- True
- False
Answer: True
CO2 dissolves in seawater forming carbonic acid, lowering pH and threatening marine organisms with calcium carbonate shells.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the _____ in 1988.
- World Bank
- World Meteorological Organization
- UNESCO
- WHO
Answer: World Meteorological Organization
IPCC assesses scientific information on climate change and provides policymakers with regular assessments to inform climate policy.
Which of the following is a direct consequence of climate change?
- Increased seismic activity
- Rising sea levels due to thermal expansion and ice melt
- Decreased solar radiation
- Reduced volcanic eruptions
Answer: Rising sea levels due to thermal expansion and ice melt
Warming oceans expand and melting glaciers/ice sheets add water, causing sea levels to rise and threaten coastal areas.
Which of the following is a common indicator organism for fecal contamination of water?
- E. coli
- Salmonella
- Vibrio cholerae
- Streptococcus
Answer: E. coli
E. coli is used as an indicator because its presence suggests recent fecal contamination and potential presence of other pathogens.
Ozone at ground level is beneficial for human health as it protects against UV radiation.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant causing respiratory problems; stratospheric ozone protects against UV radiation.
The phenomenon where pollutants become more concentrated at higher trophic levels in a food chain is called biological _____.
- Degradation
- Magnification
- Dilution
- Accumulation
Answer: Magnification
Biomagnification causes toxins like DDT or mercury to increase in concentration as they move up the food chain, affecting top predators most.
Which of the following is a primary source of indoor air pollution in rural India?
- Vehicle exhaust
- Burning of biomass fuels for cooking
- Industrial emissions
- Construction dust
Answer: Burning of biomass fuels for cooking
Use of firewood, dung cakes, and crop residues in traditional chulhas releases harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide and particulate matter indoors.
Thermal pollution of water bodies can reduce the dissolved oxygen content, harming aquatic life.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen; thermal discharge from industries can stress or kill fish and other aquatic organisms.
Which of the following pollutants is primarily responsible for the formation of photochemical smog?
- Sulphur dioxide and particulate matter
- Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
- Carbon monoxide and lead
- Methane and carbon dioxide
Answer: Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
Photochemical smog forms when sunlight triggers reactions between NOx and VOCs, producing ozone and other secondary pollutants.
Which of the following is a flagship species for conservation in the Western Ghats?
- Bengal Tiger
- Lion-tailed Macaque
- Snow Leopard
- Gharial
Answer: Lion-tailed Macaque
The Lion-tailed Macaque is endemic to the Western Ghats and serves as an umbrella species; protecting it conserves the entire rainforest ecosystem.
Which of the following is a major threat to biodiversity in India?
- Afforestation
- Habitat fragmentation
- Organic farming
- Eco-tourism
Answer: Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation due to roads, dams, and urbanization isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and increasing extinction risk.
The IUCN Red List category 'Critically Endangered' indicates a species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by IUCN for wild species before Extinct in the Wild and Extinct.
The practice of protecting species by conserving their natural habitats is known as _____ conservation.
- Ex-situ
- In-situ
- Cryo
- Captive
Answer: In-situ
In-situ conservation protects species within their natural ecosystems, such as through national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Which of the following Indian states has the highest number of endemic plant species?
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu, particularly the Western Ghats region, harbors a high number of endemic plant species due to its unique topography and climate.
Which biome is characterized by permafrost, low-growing vegetation, and extremely cold temperatures?
- Taiga
- Tundra
- Temperate Grassland
- Alpine
Answer: Tundra
The tundra biome has permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost), short growing seasons, and supports mosses, lichens, and small shrubs.
Symbiosis is a relationship where both organisms involved are always benefited.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Symbiosis includes mutualism (both benefit), commensalism (one benefits, other unaffected), and parasitism (one benefits, other harmed).
The process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy is called _____.
- Respiration
- Photosynthesis
- Transpiration
- Fermentation
Answer: Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis uses sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen, forming the base of most food chains.