UGC NTA NET/JRF Exam, Environmental Sciences, September-2022

Total Questions: 100

41. Who among the following received Noble Prize for peace and started the Green Belt Movement?

Correct Answer: B. Wagai M. Matthai
Solution:

In the mid-1970s, Maathai, in an effort to meet the basic needs of rural women, began to plant trees with them. Her nongovernmental Green Belt Movement has planted 30 million trees across Kenya, many of which still stand. In 2004 her work was internationally recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Wangari Maathai has always had an affinity for trees. As a child, she learned from her grandmother that a large fig tree near her family home in central Kenya was sacred and not to be disturbed. She gathered water for her mother at springs protected by the roots of trees.

42. Genetic Engineering is possible because:

Correct Answer: A. Restriction endonucleases purified from bacteria can be used in vitro.
Solution:

Genetic engineering is the science of gene manipulation. Genetic engineering, genetic modification (GM) and gene splicing are terms for the process of manipulating genes, generally implying that the process is outside the organism's natural reproductive process.

It involves the isolation, manipulation, transfer, and reintroduction of DNA into cells or model organisms usually to express a protein.

The aim is to introduce new characteristics or attributes physiologically or physically, such as making a crop resistant to a herbicide, introducing a novel trait, or producing a new protein or enzyme, along with altering the organism to produce more of certain traits.

43. LEED, one of the Sustainable Habitat green rating systems, refers to:

Correct Answer: C. Leadership in Energy and Environment Design
Solution:

India's version of LEED, which was based on the similar guidelines as US based LEED but with few changes with regards to Indian construction scenario. According to research conducted by IGBC on the executed projects in India, green buildings can be constructed with an incremental cost of 1 - 6% and there is no much-cost difference between normal buildings.

LEED-INDIA promotes a whole building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in the following five key areas:
• Sustainable site development;
• Water savings;
• Energy Efficiency;
• Material selection; and
• Indoor environmental quality.

44. 'Prerak Dauur Samman', the annual award given under which of the following scheme of Government of India?

Correct Answer: C. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Solution:

Recently, a new category of awards titled 'Prerak Dauur Samman' has been announced as part of Swachh Survekshan 2021.

• The Prerak Dauur Samman has a total of five additional subcategories namely, Divya (Platinum), Anиpam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze) and Aarohi (Aspiring).

• In Swachh Survekshan 2020, cities are evaluated on the criteria of 'population category' but for 2021, they will be categorised on the basis of six select indicator wise performance criteria.

• Segregation of waste into Wet, Dry and Hazard categories.
• Processing capacity against wet waste generated.
• Processing and recycling of wet and dry waste.
• Construction and Demolition waste processing.
• Percentage of waste going to landfills.
• Sanitation status of cities.

45. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R):

Assertion (A): Active ingredient in most pesticides are organic chlorine compounds.
Reason (R): Organo chlorines have low solubility in water, high solubility in hydrocarbon like environment and have relatively high toxicity to insects and low toxicity to humans.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:

Organochlorines (OC) are a group of chlorinated compounds widely used as pesticides. These chemicals belong to the class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with high persistence in the environment.

Organo-Chlorine Pesticides (OCPs) are a major contributor to aquatic pollution and are amongst the most serious global contaminants. In addition, organochlorine pesticides have a tendency to accumulate in aquatic biota; they also undergo food chain amplification.

The chemical stability of these compounds, their high lipid solubility, and their toxicity to human beings and animals has led government and researchers to feel concerned about their presence in the environment.
Here, Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

46. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Temperature of large waterbody varies more slowly than that of the land of comparable size.
Reason (R): Specific heat of water is high i.e., about five times of soil.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:

Because of its high heat capacity, water can minimize changes in temperature. For instance, the specific heat capacity of water is about five times greater than that of sand. The land cools faster than the sea once the sun goes down, and the slow-cooling water can release heat to nearby land during the night.

Water is also used by warm-blooded animals to distribute heat through their bodies: it acts similarly to a car's cooling system, moving heat from warm places to cool places, helping the body keep an even temperature.

Specific heat is the amount of heat energy it takes to raise or lower the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°Celsius. The specific heat of liquid water is 1 calorie per gram per 1 degree C (cal/g/°C).

The specific heat of water is greater than that of dry soil, therefore water both absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land.

47. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Small increase in wind velocity and height of turbine produces a large increase in energy yield.
Reason (R): Energy yield from wind is proportional to third power of wind speed and wind speed increases with height above ground.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:

Wind power is proportional to wind speed cubed. Wind energy is the kinetic energy of the moving air. The wind power is given as
The wind power increases with the cube of the wind speed. In other words: doubling the wind speed gives eight times the wind power.

Therefore, the selection of a "windy" location is very important for a wind turbine. Therefore Small increase in wind velocity and height of turbine produces a large increase in energy yield.

48. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): α and ẞ particles, emitted during a radioactive decay of a nucleus are simply nucleus of Helium and electron and are called as ionizing radiations.

Reason (R) : α and ẞ particles produced in the radioactive decay are ejected with an incredible amount of energy of motion. When this energy is absorbed by matter encountered by the particle, it often ionises atoms and molecules.

In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:

Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.

Alpha decay by a nucleus emits an alpha particle of two neutrons and two protons; also known as a helium nucleus. α and ẞ particles produced in the Radioactive decay are ejected with an incredible amount of energy of motion When this energy is absorbed by matter encountered by the particle, it often ionises atoms and molecules.

Here, Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

49. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A) : Cool pavements are generally composed of light coloured material with high permeability.
Reason (R) : Lighter coloured pavements reflect more light and absorb less heat. High permeability allow water to percolate and evaporate, thereby cooling pavement and surrounding air.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

 

Correct Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:

Cool pavement materials usually require more energy and carbon to manufacture than conventional pavement materials. An exception is concrete with substantially reduced levels of energy- and carbonintensive ordinary Portland cement.

Cool pavements can be made from traditional paving materials, such as cement concrete.

New cement concrete has a solar reflectance (SR) of 30-50%. There are also novel coolcolored coatings for asphalt concrete pavements that reflect about 50% of sunlight. Another approach is to use a clear binder that reveals highly reflective (light-colored) aggregate.

As with all materials exposed to the atmosphere and use, the solar reflectance of pavement can change over time.

50. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A) : Dematerialization, the progressive decrease in size and weight of a product as a result of technological improvement is an example of source reduction.

Reason (R) : New product is more durable than the one being replaced.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:

Dematerialization, the progressive decrease in the size and weight of a product as a result of technological improvements, is an example of source reduction only if the new product is at least as durable as the one it replaces. Smaller, lighter products that have shorter life spans or must be replaced more often may not achieve source reduction. Here, Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).