SOLVED PAPER 2024 (CDS) (I) (General Knowledge)

Total Questions: 120

81. Which of the following statements regarding the Industrial Revolution is/are correct?

1. It was change of a society from a rural and agricultural lifestyle to one in which most people earned their living in the industrial or secondary sector of the economy.

2. The first Industrial Revolution began in Germany in the early eighteenth century.

3. During Industrial Revolution, technological advances in iron smelting and later steel production, were accompanied by the invention of steam engine.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3
Solution:Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The Industrial Revolution transitioned societies from agrarian to industrial, with people working more in factories. The Industrial Revolution was marked by advancements in iron and steel production and the invention of the steam engine, revolutionising industry and transportation.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Industrial Revolution started in Britain in the mid-18th century, not Germany, due to factors like coal, capital and market growth.

82. Which of the following statements regarding insolation is/are correct?

1. Insolation is predominantly short-wave radiation, with wavelengths in the range of 0.39 micrometre to 0.76 micrometre.

2. Insolation is evenly distributed across the Earth because of the Earth's curved surface.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (a) Only 1
Solution:Insolation refers to the incoming solar radiation received at Earth's surface. Here's a breakdown of the statements about insolation

Predominantly Short-Wave Radiation (Correct): Insolation is indeed primarily composed of short-wave radiation, ranging from ultraviolet to visible and near-infrared wavelengths (0.39 -0.76 micrometers). This aligns with statement (a).

Even Distribution (Incorrect): Earth's curved surface and tilt on its axis lead to uneven insolation across the globe. Areas closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight and thus, higher insolation compared to higher latitudes. So, statement (b) is incorrect.

83. Which of the following statements regarding river meanders is/are correct?

1. It is a U-shaped bend in a river.
2. An extremely tight meander is called a gooseneck; it is likely to become a cutoff or oxbow lake, after a flood.
3. Tectonic uplift can cause a river to continue downcutting along its meandering course, producing incised or entrenched meanders.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (d) 1,2 and 3
Solution:All the statements are correct. River meander is a U-shaped bend in a river. Meanders exhibit a distinctive winding curve or bend in the river. They are typically found at the middle and lower courses of a river. A gooseneck is indeed an exceptionally tight meander in a river.

After a flood or prolonged erosion, the outer bank of the meander (the cut bank) may collapse, causing the river to take a shortcut across the neck of the meander. Incised meanders or entrenched meanders are found in areas where rivers have downcut into the landscape, forming narrow, steep-sided valleys.

These meanders are characterised by their deep, V-shaped valleys and are often found in regions with tectonic uplift or where the base level of the river has dropped. The meanders are tightly curved and the river flows at the bottom of the incised valley.

84. How can one determine the relative humidity on a particular day at a given place?

Correct Answer: (c) If both temperature and absolute humidity are given.
Solution:Relative humidity is determined by if both temperature and absolute humidity are given. It is a measure of how moist the air is. It represents the actual amount of water vapour (moisture) present in the air compared to the total amount of water vapour that the air can hold at a given temperature.

85. Which greenhouse gas has maximum average residence time in the atmosphere?

Correct Answer: (a) CFC
Solution:Different green house gases have different average residence time in the atmosphere. Water vapour has least average residence time i.e. approx nine days. N₂O average residence time is 121 year, CH₄ has approx 9 years residence time and CFC 55 year.

86. What does BW stand for as per the Koeppen climate classifications?

Correct Answer: (b) Desert climate
Solution:BW stand for as desert climate in Koeppen climate classifications. This type of climate is more dependent upon the nature of the precipitation rather than the temperature and evaporation. This type of climate can be found in the range of 20 deg to 35 deg from the North and South of the equator. It has further four subdivisions as BSh, BWh, BSk and BWk. Basically, two major types here are BS and BW.

87. Which organisation publishes worldwide list of endangered species?

Correct Answer: (a) The internatioal Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Solution:The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) publishes worldwide list of endangered species. The (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book. It was founded in 1964. The List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world's most comprehensive information source on the global conservation.

88. On which among the following is National Waterway No. 2 Situated?

Correct Answer: (c) The Brahmaputra, Sadiya - Dhubri
Solution:National Waterway-2 is situated on Brahmaputra River, Sadiya-Dhubri. The Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of the Brahmaputra river (891Km) declared as National Waterway-2 in 1988, is located in the state of Assam.

89. What is culturable wasteland?

Correct Answer: (d) Land that has been left fallow for more than five years.
Solution:Culturable wasteland is the land that has been left uncultivated for more than five years but can potentially be reclaimed for cultivation.

90. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Angular velocity for all locations on the Earth's surface is the same while linear velocity varies.
2. Linear velocity is maximum at the equator and minimum at the poles.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:Both statements 1 and 2 are correct. Angular velocity of the Earth is approximately constant for all locations on its surface, while the linear velocity varies depending on the distances from the Earth's axis of rotation. At the equator linear speed is maximum due to larger radius and at poles minimum due to smaller radius.