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Generate QuizEnvironment – GK Questions
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World Environment Day is globally celebrated every year on which date?
- April 22
- June 5
- September 16
- December 11
Answer: June 5
Established by the UN in 1973, World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5 to raise awareness of environmental issues.
Extensive deforestation is a primary anthropogenic cause of severe soil erosion.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Tree roots bind the soil and the canopy breaks the force of rain; removing trees exposes topsoil to wind and water erosion.
Which of the following natural resources is strictly classified as non-renewable?
- Wind
- Tidal power
- Natural Gas
- Solar radiation
Answer: Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that takes millions of years to form and depletes much faster than it can be naturally replenished.
The dark, organic material in soils that forms from the decay of plant and animal matter is known as _____.
- Loam
- Humus
- Clay
- Silt
Answer: Humus
Humus improves soil fertility, structure, and its ability to retain moisture and nutrients.
The fundamental principle of modern waste management is often summarized by the '3 R's'. What are they?
- Read, Register, Remember
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Run, Rest, Recover
- Restore, Replenish, Renew
Answer: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The 3 R's represent a hierarchy designed to minimize waste generation and maximize resource efficiency.
E-waste refers to discarded, broken, or obsolete electronic devices and their components.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Electronic waste includes old computers, phones, and appliances, which often contain hazardous materials like lead and mercury.
Which of the following is considered a completely biodegradable waste material?
- Plastic bottles
- Glass shards
- Cow dung
- Aluminium cans
Answer: Cow dung
Organic matter like cow dung is readily broken down by microorganisms into simpler, non-toxic substances.
The process of establishing a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover is called _____.
- Deforestation
- Reforestation
- Afforestation
- Silviculture
Answer: Afforestation
Afforestation is the planting of trees in areas that have not recently been forested, whereas reforestation is replanting in depleted forests.
The term 'Smog' was originally coined to describe a combination of smoke and fog.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Smog is a portmanteau of 'smoke' and 'fog', describing severe air pollution that reduces visibility and harms respiratory health.
Vermicomposting is an efficient method of organic waste management that primarily involves the use of:
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Earthworms
- Insects
Answer: Earthworms
Vermicomposting uses various species of earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable waste and soil.
Which UN body serves as the primary forum for international climate change negotiations?
- UNEP
- UNFCCC
- IPCC
- WMO
Answer: UNFCCC
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) organizes the annual COP conferences to negotiate climate agreements.
The Appiko movement, launched in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, is considered the southern equivalent of the Chipko movement.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Appiko (meaning 'hug' in Kannada) was inspired by Chipko and aimed to save the natural forests of the Western Ghats from clear-felling.
The famous Silent Valley movement in Kerala was primarily a successful campaign against:
- Bauxite mining
- A proposed hydroelectric project
- Commercial logging
- A nuclear power plant
Answer: A proposed hydroelectric project
The movement successfully opposed a dam on the Kunthipuzha River that would have submerged the pristine Silent Valley evergreen forest.
The apex national body in India responsible for monitoring pollution standards is the Central _____ Control Board (CPCB).
- Environmental
- Pollution
- Ecology
- Resource
Answer: Pollution
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Medha Patkar is a prominent Indian social activist most closely associated with which environmental movement?
- Chipko Movement
- Appiko Movement
- Narmada Bachao Andolan
- Silent Valley Movement
Answer: Narmada Bachao Andolan
Medha Patkar led the Narmada Bachao Andolan, protesting against the large dam projects across the Narmada river and displacement of tribals.
The Chipko Movement of the 1970s in India was primarily associated with forest conservation and preventing tree felling.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Villagers, particularly women, hugged trees to prevent contractors from cutting them down, making it a landmark eco-social movement.
Which of the following international organizations publishes the biennial 'Living Planet Report'?
- UNEP
- WWF
- Greenpeace
- IUCN
Answer: WWF
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) publishes the Living Planet Report, measuring the state of global biological diversity.
The headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is located in _____, Switzerland.
- Zurich
- Geneva
- Bern
- Gland
Answer: Gland
IUCN, the global authority on the environment and sustainable development, has its secretariat in Gland, Switzerland.
Greenpeace, the well-known non-governmental environmental organization, was founded in 1971.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver, Canada, in 1971 by activists protesting US nuclear testing at Amchitka.
Where is the global headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) located?
- Geneva, Switzerland
- New York, USA
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Paris, France
Answer: Nairobi, Kenya
UNEP is the only UN headquarters located in a developing country, situated in Nairobi, Kenya.