Mission IAS Prelim 2017(Day -1)

Q.1) Consider the following statements in regard with 'European Southern Observatory' (ESO).
1. The 'European Southern Observatory' is the pre-eminent UN's intergovernmental science and technologyorganisation in astronomy.
2. ESO discovered a rocky, Earth-sized planet orbiting around Proxima Centauri, the smallest star within the
system and the closest one to Earth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans.(b)
Explanation: The European Southern Observatory (ESO), the astronomical research organization which houses the Very Large Telescope(VLT), announced this week that it was transforming the telescope into a
planet hunter by improving its detection of mid-infrared wavelengths of light. This update is crucial becauseAlpha Centauri stars are so bright that normal telescopes can’t detect the dimmer planets around them.

Q.2) Consider the following sanctuaries which were sometimes in the news.
1. Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary : Andhra Pradesh
2. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary: Odisha
3. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary : Kerala
Which of the pairs given above correctly matched?
a) 1 and 2
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3
d) 1,2 and 3
Ans. (b)
Explanation: Recently, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary was in the news for breeding area for a few hundred OliveRidley turtles every year. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary situated in AndhraPradesh, India. It is the second largest stretch of mangrove forests in India with 24 mangrove tree speciesand more than 120 bird species. It is home to the critically endangered white-backed vulture and the long
billed vulture.

Q.3) Consider the following statements in regard with Injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine(IPV).
1. IPV is produced from wild-type poliovirus strains of each serotype that have been inactivated (killed) withformalin.
2. India became the first country globally to introduce fractional doses of IPV in childhood immunisationprogramme in early 2016.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (c)
Explanation: According to a latest report by WHO, amid a global shortage of injectable inactivated poliovaccine (IPV) polio vaccine, countries in the South East Asian region have now opted for fractional doses ofIPV, first adopted by India, to tackle these “challenging conditions”. WHO also observed that by introducingfractional doses of IPV, nations are not only saving vaccine cost but also not compromising on the protection
that it provides to the children against polio.

Q.4) Consider the following statements in regard with 'Asian Waterbird Census' (AWC).
1. AWC aims to create public awareness on various issues concerning wetlands and waterbird conservation.
2. The AWC is part of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) of Wetlands International.
3. In 2016, it has become the world’s longest running biodiversity monitoring programme.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
Ans. (d)

Q.5) Recently, Hope Island was in the news. It is situated off the coast of
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Kerala
c) Goa
d) Karnataka
Ans. (a)
Explanation: Hope Island Hope Island is a small tadpole shaped Island situated off the coast of Kakinada,India, in Bay of Bengal. A relatively young island, it formed in the last 200 years into a 16-kilometre-long (9.9mi) sand spit from the sand carried by the waters of Godavari delta.

Q.6) In the 'Index of Eight Core Industries', which one of the following is given the highest weight?
(CSP-2015)
A. Coal production
B. Electricity generation
C. Fertilizer production
D. Steel production
Answer: Option B
Electricity has 10.32% weightage; steel 4.9%; coal 4.38%; fertilizers 1.25%.
Q.7) Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supportsa rich biodiversity? (CSP-2015)
A. Bhitarkanika National Park
B. Keibul Lamjao National Park'
C. Keoladeo Ghana National Park
D. Sultanpur National Park
Answer: Option B
It is the only floating park in the world, located in Manipur, North East India, and an integral part of Loktak
Lake.The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdis.The park is a swamp established by Mann Sharma with floating mass of vegetation (created by accrual of
organic garbage and biomass with soil particles that has been thickened into a solid form called phumdis, atthe south–eastern side of the Loktak Lake, which has been declared a Ramsar site. Two third’s to threefourth’s of the total park area is formed by phumdis.