வேதநதி

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

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Section-A

1.Which of the following statement is not correct?

Ozone layer do not allow UV-B to reach the earth surface
Ozone hole is an actual hole over Antarctica
Halogens are ozone depleting substances
The active chlorine destroys ozone and convent it into $O_2$
Ozone hole is not an actual hole but an area of extreme reduction in ozone concentration in the ozone layer in stratosphere

2.Decibel (dB) is a standard abbreviation used for the quantitative expression of

The density of bacteria in a medium
A particular pollutant
The dominant Bacillus in a culture
A certain pesticide
Noise pollution is a physical form of pollution that affects the receiver directly. dB (decibel) is a standard abbreviation used for the quantitative expression of noise.

3.Acid rain is due to

$CO_2$ and $H_2 O$
$CO_2$ and $NO_2$
$SO_2$ and $NO_2$
$SO_2$ and $N_2 O$
Acid rain is result of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ pollution in atmosphere, $SO_2$ causes formation of $H_2 SO_4$ and $NO_2$ causes formation of $HNO_3$.Both are strong acids.

4.CFCs are responsible for

Ozone layer depletion
Global warming
Acid rain
None of these
CFCs(Chlorofluorocarbons) are mainly responsible for ozone layer depletion.
CFCs are used as cooling materials in refrigerators and air conditioners, propel aerosol sprays, etc. UV ray breaks CFC molecules and release chlorine molecules, which reduce the ozone content in the atmosphere. One chlorine free radical is sufficient to destroy a lac of ozone molecules.

5.Domestic sewage contains nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus which favours the excessive growth of planktonic (free floating) algae which can accelerate which of the following phenomenon?

Algal bloom
Biomagnification
Eutrophication
Both Algal bloom and Eutrophication
Eutrophication is the phenomenon of nutrient enrichment of a water body that initially support a dense growth of plants and animal life
Extensive increase of these algae is called water bloom. In many cases blooms are formed by blue-green algae. They are toxic to animals and humans

6.Air pollutants
I. cause injury to all living organism
II. reduce growth and yield of crops and causes premature death of plants
III. affects the respiratory system of humans and animals
Which of the statements given above are correct?

I and II
I and III
II and III
I, II and III
Air pollution has several effects on all living organism and on climate. Diseases like bronchitis, lung cancer and emphysema are caused by air pollution
(i) $NO_2$ causes bronchitis and lowers the resistance to influenza
(ii) $SO_2$ obstructs breathing and irritates eyes
(iii) Nitric acid, nitrous acid and sulphuric acid causes respiratory diseases
Air pollutants reduce growth and yield of crops and cause premature death of plants

7.Checking of re-radiating heat by atmospheric dust $O_3,CO_2$ and water vapours is

Green house effect
Solar effect
Ozone layer effect
Radioactive effect
The main gases responsible for green house effect are $CO_2,CH_4,CFCs,O_3,$ etc.

8.Cigarette smoking causes

Skin cancer
Blood cancer
Bone cancer
Lung cancer
Carcinogen Cancer tissue
Cigarette smoke - lungs
Soot, coal tar - Skin
Leukamemia is blood cancer resulted due to unchecked proliferation of White Blood Cells(WBCs).

9.Which of the following are advantages of ecological sanitation?
I. It is a practical, hygienic and efficient method of waste disposal
II. It is cost effective
III. Human excreta can be recycled into natural fertilisers, to replace chemical fertilisers

I and II
I and III
II and III
I, II and III
An ecologically compatible system of disposal of human excreta is the use of dry composting toilets called ecosan toilets. No water is required. Human excreta is converted into a resource as it forms natural fertilizer. Ecosan toilets are already working in many parts of Kerala and Sri Lanka

10.Global agreement in specific control strategies to reduce the release of ozone depleting substances, was adopted by

Rio de Janerio Conference
Montreal Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
Vienna Convention
The Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer is a landmark international agreement designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. The treaty was originally signed in 1987 (effected in 1989) and substantially amended in 1990 and 1992. The Montreal protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere-chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform-are to be phased out by 2000(2005 for methyl chloroform).

11.Which of the following is not an air pollutant?

$NO_3$
$SO_2$
Hydrocarbons
$CO_2$
$CO_2$ is normally not an air pollutant. It is necessary for photosynthesis. Its rise has been due to large scale deforestation and large scale combustion of fossil fuels. When $CO_2$ goes to high concentration, it causes global warming.

12.UV-rays are non-ionizing type and are lethal due to inactivation of

Proteins
Pigments
Nucleic acid
All of these
Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light but longer than X-rays. It is classified as non-ionising radiation, and can cause inactivation of protein, pigments and nucleic acids.

13.The oxygen concentration at the floor of the deep ponds and lakes is very low because of the

Over-hanging column of water
Lesser amount of sunlight
Decomposers
Large number of annual inhabitants
The oxygen concentration at the floor of the deep ponds and lakes is very low because of the lesser amount of sunlight.

14.Three mile island and chernobyl disasters are associated with accidental leakage of

Radioactive wastes
Industrial wastes
Municipal wastes
Hospital wastes
Radioactive wastes.
Nuclear energy was assumed to be a natural, non-polluting way of electricity generation till the incidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. It is now considered as the most potent pollutant
Leakage of radioactive materials from thermal power plants and unsafe disposal of radioactive wastes are the main causes of radioactive pollution

15.Which are the primary constituent of photochemical smog?

$CO_2$ and $NO_2$
Hydrocarbons and CFCs
$SO_2$ and $CO$
$NO_2$ and hydrocarbons
Photochemical smog is highly oxidizing polluted atmosphere comprising largely of nitrogen oxides $(NO_x),$ ozone $(O_3), H_2 O_2,$ organic peroxides and PAN. This is produced as a result of photochemical reaction among primary constituents like nitrogen oxides $(NO_x)$, hydrocarbons and ozone $(O_3)$.

16.Which of the following is non-biodegradable?

Sewage
DDT
Livestock waste
Market garbage
The materials and poison such as aluminium ions, mercurial salts and DDT that either do not degrade or degrade only extremely slowly in the natural environment are called non-biodegradable pollutants.

17.Eutrophication is excessive growth of algae, plants and animals in water-bodies due to nutrient enrichment particularly with

Nitrogen and phosphorus
Calcium and phosphorus
Sodium and calcium
Nitrogen and calcium
Eutrophication is excessive growth of algae, plants and animals in water-bodies due to nutrient enrichment particularly with nitrogen and phosphorus

18.Read the following statements carefully and select the correct ones
I. UV rays essential for the production as well as degradation of ozone gas
II. Ozone present in ionosphere acts as a shield absorbing UV radiation coming from the sun
III. One fourth of the incoming solar radiation is reflected by the atmospheric gases and clouds and only half of the incoming solar radiation falls on the earth’s surface, heating it. Of this only a small portion is reflected back

I and II
I and III
II and III
I, II and III
All of the given statements are correct except II
Ozone present in stratosphere acts as a shield absorbing UV radiation coming from the sun

19.Limit of BOD prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board for the discharge of industrial and municipal waste water into natural surface water, is

$<$3.0 ppm
$<$10 ppm
$<$100 ppm
$<$30 ppm
The Central Pollution Control Board prescribed the BOD limit for the discharge of industrial and municipal waste water as $<$ 10 ppm.

20.$CO_2,CH_4,N_2 O$ and CFCs are called green house gases, because they can absorb

Ultraviolet radiation
Long wave infra-red radiation
Visible light radiation
X-rays radiation
Green house gases are those gases, which are transparent to solar radiations but retain and partially reflect back long wave heat radiations, i.e., infra red radiations. The various green house gases are $CO_2,CH_4,CFCs,N_2 O,O_3$ and water vapours.

21.The Montreal protocol refers to

Persistent organic pollutants
Global warming and climate change
Substances that deplete the ozone layer
Biosafety of genetically modified organisms
Montreal protocol refers to the substances such as CFCs, (chlorofluorocarbons), methane that deplete the ozone layer.

22.According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), particles that are responsible for causing great harm to human health are of diameter

2.50 micrometers
5.00 micrometers
10.00 micrometers
7.5 micrometers
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), particulates size 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (PM 2.5) are responsible for causing the greatest harm to human health.
These fine particulates can be inhaled deep into the lungs and can cause breathing and respiratory symptoms, irritation inflammations and damage to the lungs and premature deaths. Failure of testosterone secretion causes eunuchoidism

23.$SO_2$ pollution is indicated by

Desmodium (grasses)
Sphagnum (mosses)
Usnea (lichens)
Cucurbita (climbers)
Lichens (Usnea) are the indicator of air pollution, as these are very sensitive to air pollution (particularly $SO_2$ pollution).

24.The ultraviolet radiations in the stratosphere are absorbed by

$O_3$
$O_2$
$CO_2$
$H_2 SO_4$
Ozone layer is confined to the stratosphere. It is formed when sunlight reacts with $O_2$ molecules. The ozone protects the earth from harmful UV-rays by absorbing them.

25.Which of the following toxic materials was present in Minamata bay of Japan?

Cd
Pb
Mg
Hg
Minamata bay of Japan was polluted by mercury (Hg), which resulted into Minamata disease.

26.In an area where DDT had been used extensively, the population of birds declined significantly because

Snake were feeding exclusively on birds
Many of the birds eggs laid, did not hatch
Bird stopped laying eggs
None of the above
In an area where DDT had been used extensively, the population of birds declined significantly because many of the birds eggs laid, did not hatch

27.Catalytic converters
I. These are fitted into automobiles for reducing emission of poisonous gases like $NO_2$ and $CO$
II. They have expensive metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium as catalysts
III. As the exhaust emission passes through catalytic converter nitric oxide splits into nitrogen and oxygen: carbon monoxide is oxidized to carbon dioxide and unburnt hydrocarbons get burnt completely into $CO_2$ and $H_2 O$
IV. Motor vehicles fitted with catalytic converter should use unleaded petrol because lead in the petrol inactivates the catalyst
Which of the statements given above are correct about catalytic converters?

I, II and III
II, III and IV
I, III and IV
I, II, III and IV
Catalytic converters are fitted into automobiles for reducing emission of poisonous gases like $NO_2$ and $CO$. Catalytic converters have costly metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium as catalysts. Exhaust gases first pass through catalytic converter
Hydrocarbons which have been left unburnt are oxidised to produce carbon dioxide and water. Carbon monoxide is also oxidised to form carbon dioxide. However, nitrogen oxide splits up to form nitrogen gas. Auto mobiles fitted with catalytic converter should not use leaded petrol because lead inactivates the catalyst of the converter

28.Nutrient enrichment of a lake will cause

Eutrophication
Stratification
Biomagnifications
Bioaccumulation
Eutrophication is increased in amount of nutrients in water due to detergents, pesticides, etc, and it leads to organic loading, depletion of $O_2,$ etc.

29.Green house effect is the cumulative result of the influences of certain gases. Identify the gas, which is not involved in this influence?

Methane
Chlorofluorocarbons
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
‘Green house effect’ refers to selective energy absorption by green house gases(e.g., carbon dioxide, methane , nitrogen oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and water vapour) in the atmosphere, which allows short wavelength energy to pass through but absorbs longer wavelength and reflect heat back to earth.

30.Which of the following are correctly matched?
I. Arsenic poisoning - Black foot disease
II. Secondary effluent
treatment - Biological process
III. Pyrolysis - Solid soil waste disposal
IV. Tubifex - Water pollution indicator
V. Biomagnification - Degradable pollutants

I,II,III and V
I,III,IV and V
II,III,IV and V
I,II,III and IV
Biomagnification or biological amplification is the passing of non-degradable pollutants like pesticides (DDT), etc, into the food chain and increase in amount per unit weight of organisms with the rise in trophic level due to accumulation in the body.

31.Ozone depletion in stratosphere shall result in

Forest fires
Green house effect
Global warming
Increased incidence of skin cancer
Ozone depletion in stratosphere shall result in increased incidence of skin cancer and cataract.

32.Which method is used for the removal of sulphur dioxide and ammonia from the polluted air?

Electrostatic precipitator
Wet scrubbers
Gravitational method
Absorption
A scrubber can remove gases like sulphur dioxide. In a scrubber, the exhaust is passed through a spray of water or lime

33.In India, Jhum cultivation is practiced mainly in

North eastern states of India
Western ghats of India
Gangetic plains
Deccan plateau
North eastern states of India.
Jhum cultivation, commonly called as slash and burn agriculture in the north eastern states of India, has also contributed to deforestation. In jhum cultivation, the farmers cut down the trees of the forest and burn the plant remains. The ash is used as a fertiliser and the land is then used for farming or cattle grazing. After cultivation, the area is left for several years so as to allow its recovery. The farmers then move on to other areas and repeat this process

34.Increase in concentration of a toxicant at successive trophic levels is called

Eutrophication
Accelerated eutrophication
biomagnification
Cultural eutrophication
Biomagnification refers to increase in concentration of the toxicant at successive trophic levels. This happen because a toxic substance accumulated by an organism cannot be metabolized or excreted and is thus, passed on to the next higher trophic level. This phenomenon is well known for mercury and DDT.

35.Which of the following is not used for disinfection of drinking water?

Phenyl
Chloramines
Chlorine
Ozone
Phenyl is not used for disinfection of drinking water.

Section-B

36.One of the human disease due to biomagnifications of heavy metals is

Minamata
Asthma
Tuberculosis
Elephantiasis
Minamata is a disease, which is caused by the biomagnifications of heavy metal. It is caused by the excess of mercury. It affects different tissues and physiology.

37.Which one among the following is likely to have the highest level of DDT deposition in its body?

Phytoplanktons
Sea gull
Crab
Eel fish
The increase in the concentration of a non-biodegradable pollutant through successive trophic levels is called biological magnification. Sea gull is the top consumer in the food chain therefore, highest concentration of DDT will be deposited in it. Phytoplanktons are producers in the water bodies therefore, they have least concentration of DDT.

38.Which of the following is a major source of radioactive pollution?

Leakage of radioactive materials from power plants
Unsafe disposal radioactive wastes
Leakage of radioactive materials from power plants and Unsafe disposal radioactive wastes
Solid waste disposal sites
Nuclear energy was assumed to be a natural, non-polluting way of electricity generation till the incidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. It is now considered as the most potent pollutant
Leakage of radioactive materials from thermal power plants and unsafe disposal of radioactive wastes are the main causes of radioactive pollution

39.In India almost 40% forest have been lost in the _A_ and 1% forest in the _B_ region
Here A and B refers to

A-gangetic plains; B-deccan plateau
A-tropics; B-temperate
A-temperate; B-tropics
A-western ghats; B-gangetic plains
Almost 40% forest have been lost in the tropics and 1% forest in the temperate region

40.In plants, air pollution causes

Reduced growth and yield
Leads to premature death
Both Reduced growth and yield & Leads to premature death
Wilting
Air pollutants reduces the growth and yield of crops and causes premature death of plants

41.Foul smell in the water bodies of tanks, ponds ,etc, is due to

Aerobiosis
Anaerobiosis
Psammophytes
Biological magnification
Entrophication is natural state in many lakes and ponds, which have a rich supply of nutrients, this leads to decomposition of nutrients through bacteria and other decomposers by the process of anaerobic respiration. This causes foul smell.

42.Most hazardous metal pollutant of automobile exhaust is

Cadmium
Lead
Mercury
Copper
Automobiles burn petroleum inefficiently causing 80% of air pollution and 75% of noise pollution. Automobile exhausts consists of hydrocarbon (13.7%), carbon monoxide (77.2%), nitrogen oxides (7.7%), sulphur oxides, ammonia, aldehydes and lead (90% of total lead poisoning). Lead is present in the form of $Pb (CH_3 )_4$ and $(C_2 H_5 )_4$ as anti-knock agent in automobiles exhaust. It interferes with oxygen and glucose metabolism, haeme synthesis and damages the vital organs of body.

43.High amount of Escherichia coli in water indicates

Hardness of water
Industrial pollution
Sewage pollution
Pollution due to electromagnetic radiation
The presence of E. coli bacteria indicates possible sewage contamination of water because E. coli is found only in the mammalian intestinal tract including that of humans. E. coli bacteria belong to the coliform bacteria group. Coliforms found in mammals are called faecal coliforms. Most coliforms are E. coli. So, E. coli tests are used as indicator of faecal coliforms

44.Forests in India, according to Central Forestry Commission (1980) are about

19.4%
18.3%
30%
14.0%
Forests in India according to central Forestry commission (1980) are about 19.4%

45.Kyoto protocol has specified the commitments of different countries

To mitigate climate changes
Limit production of chlorofluorocarbons
Both of the above
None of the above
Kyoto protocol has specified the commitments of different countries to mitigate climate changes

46.Which of the following statement is correct about DDT?

It is a biomagnifying biodegradable pollutant
It is non-biomagnifying biodegradable pollutant
It is biomagnifying non-biodegradable pollutant
It is not a pollutant
DDT has been recently banned because it is non-biodegradable and biomagnifying pollutant. Biomagnifications means the increase in amount of DDT in the body of organism alongwith the trophic level. Hence, the amount of DDT in first trophic level will be minimum and in top consumer will be maximum.

47.Which of the following is a point source of pollution

Mining area
Industrial estate
Chimney
All of these
Chimney is a main source of pollution where pollutants are released from a single point. Mining areas and industrial estate are area source of pollution

48.Eutrophication is often seen in

Fresh water lakes
Ocean
Mountains
Deserts
Eutrophication is nutrient enrichment of water body resulting in increased growth of algae ,other plants and animals. It is often seen in fresh water lakes. Actually it is the natural ageing of a lake by biological enrichment of its water.

49.Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
I. Is an electrical device to remove particulate matter present in the exhaust of thermal power plant
II. More than 99% particulate matter can be removed by this method
III. ESP has electrode wires and a stage of collecting plates
Which of the statements given above are correct?

I and II
I and III
II and III
I, II and III
Electrostatic precipitator is used to remove particulate matter present in the exhaust of thermal power plant. More than 99% particulate matter can be removed by this method. It has electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts which produces a corona that releases electrons

50.Jhum cultivation
I. Also called as slash and burn agriculture, is the farming practice in North Eastern states of India
II. Farmers cut down the trees of forest and burn the plant remains
III. The ash is used as a fertilizer and the land is then used for farming or cattle grazing
IV. After cultivation, the land is left for several years, so as to allow its recovery
Which of the statements given above are correct about Jhum cultivation

I, II and III
II, III and IV
I, III and IV
I, II, III and IV
Jhum cultivation or slash and burn agriculture is the farming practice in North-Eastern states of India. In this process the farmers cut the forest trees and burn the plant remains. The land is then used for farming cattle grazing and the ash is used as a fertiliser. After cultivation, the land is left barren for years