Q.1. Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the
nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both?
(a) State Forest Department
(b) District Collector/Deputy Commissioner
(c) Tahsildar/Block Development Officer/Mandal Revenue Officer
(d) Gram Sabha
Answer. (d)
Explanation
As per Forest Rights Act 2006, Gram Sabha plays pivotal role in ensuring the rights of the
forest dwellers, decision making, planning and management for Joint Forest Management
Q.2. Acid rain is caused by the pollution of environment by
(a) Carbon dioxide and nitrogen
(b) Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
(c) Ozone and carbon dioxide
(d) Nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide
Answer. (d)
Explanation
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides both combine with water in the atmosphere to create
acid rain.
Q.3. With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements:
1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other
2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species
3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
Also Read: UPSC Prelims 2017 Solved Questions on Environment & Ecology Topic
Answer. (a)
Statement 1 is correct: A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which
nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
• Statement 2 is wrong: Food chains are found across different species (NOT within the
population of same species), because one species eats another.
Statement 3 is wrong: A food chain does not illustrate the “number” of organisms eaten.
Q. 4. In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat?
1. Tamil Nadu
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Andhra Pradesh
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer. (a)
Explanation
The lion-tailed macaque is confined in distribution to the rain-forests of southern Western
Ghats.
They are found in the evergreen environments available in the south Indian states of Kerala,
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Q. 5. Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an
organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms?
(a) Ecotone
(b) Ecological niche
(c) Habitat
(d) Home range
Answer. (b)
The ecological niche is the ecological role and space that an organism fills in an ecosystem.
The ecological niche involves both the place where an organism lives and the roles that an
organism does in its habitat.
Q.6. Photochemical smog is a resultant of the reaction among
(a) NO2, O3 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight
(b) CO, O2 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight
(c) CO, CO2 and NO2 at low temperature
(d) High concentration of NO2, O3 and CO in the evening
Answer. (a)
Explanation
Photochemical Smog:
Occurs in warm, dry & sunny climate. Results from the action of sunlight on unsaturated HC
& NOx produced by factories & automobile.
Chemically oxidising hence called oxidizing smog.
Ozone + Acrolein + Formaldehyde + Peroxyacetyl Nitrate (PAN) are produced which cause
serious health problems, severe plant damage, cracking of rubber & corrosion.
Q. 7. Consider the following:
1. Star tortoise
2. Monitor lizard
3. Pygmy hog
4. Spider monkey
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer.(a)
Explanation
Spider Monkeys live in tropical climates, specifically the evergreen forests of Central and
South America. They can also be found as far north as Mexico but not in India.
Also Read:Solved UPSC Prelims 2018 Questions : Environment and Ecology Subject
Q. 8. Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of
India?
1. Arsenic
2. Sorbitol
3. Fluoride
4. Formaldehyde
5. Uranium
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 3 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer. (c)
Explanation
(2) is wrong: Sorbitol is an artificial sweetener and food additive.
(4) is wrong: Formaldehyde is a colourless, flammable gas at room temperature. It is toxic,
potentially carcinogenic and water-soluble. While water pollution due to formaldehyde is
possible, it is not widely prevalent in India.
Arsenic, Fluoride and Uranium are common
water pollutants in India.
Q. 9. In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological
succession because of
(a) Insects and fungi
(b) Limited sunlight and paucity of nutrients
(c) Water limits and fire
(d) None of the above
Answer. (c)
Explanation
In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession
because water availability and fire are the limiting factors.
Question: 14. Consider the following international agreements:
1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
3. The World Heritage Convention.
Which of the above has/have a bearing on biodiversity?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Ans: [D]
Statement 2 is correct
As per United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) website – ‘dynamics
of land,
climate and biodiversity are intimately connected, the UNCCD collaborates closely with the
other two Rio Conventions, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to meet these complex
challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources.’
Rest of the two are also associated with biodiversity.
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