Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Black corals:
- Black corals are located in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.
- They are filter feeders and eat tiny zooplankton that are abundant in deep waters.
- They are found only in deep waters and they cannot survive in shallow waters.
- They act as important habitats where fish and invertebrates feed and hide from predators.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct.
- Using a remote-controlled submarine, researchers at Smithsonian Institution, Washington, discovered five new species of black corals living as deep as 2,500 feet (760 metres) below the surface in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.
- Black corals can be found growing both in shallow waters and down to depths of over 26,000 feet (8,000 metres), and some individual corals can live for over 4,000 years.
- Unlike their colourful, shallow-water cousins that rely on the sun and photosynthesis for energy, black corals are filter feeders and eat tiny zooplankton that are abundant in deep waters.
- Similarly to shallow-water corals that build colourful reefs full of fish, black corals act as important habitats where fish and invertebrates feed and hide from predators in what is otherwise a mostly barren sea floor.
Q2. ‘Green Energy Corridor’ (GEC) initiative is implemented by the:
(a) NITI Aayog
(b) Rural Electrification Corporation
(c) National Highways Authority of India
(d) Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- Green Energy Corridor (GEC) is an initiative aimed at integrating and evacuating renewable energy into India’s power grid, promoting sustainable growth, and enhancing energy security. It has two phases.
- Implementing Agency: Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)
Q3. What is Niemann-Pick disease?
(a) A rare genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system.
(b) A type of bacterial infection caused by exposure to contaminated water.
(c) A metabolic disorder related to the improper breakdown of lipids in the body.
(d) A disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in the diet.
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- Niemann-Pick disease refers to a group of inherited metabolic disorders in which abnormal amounts of lipids (fatty materials such as waxes, oils, and cholesterol) build up in the brain, spleen, liver, lungs, and bone marrow.
- Symptoms: Enlarged liver and spleen, difficulty in coordinating movement, frequent respiratory infections, slurred speech among others.
- Causes: This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, where both gene copies must be faulty to manifest the disease.
- Occurrences: Niemann-Pick disease affects one in 250,000 individuals and is expensive to treat.
Q4. Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
(a) Indigenous stealth guided missile destroyer
(b) Nuclear-powered submarine
(c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
(d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- Context: INS Imphal, India’s third indigenous stealth destroyer of the Project 15B class, was delivered to the Indian Navy four months ahead of schedule by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
Features:
- It’s the first warship with accommodation for women officers and sailors, can carry 312 crew, has a 4,000 nautical mile range, and is armed with Brahmos missiles, Barak-8 missiles, and anti-submarine weapons. This class of destroyers is more versatile than previous ones and capable of various maritime missions.
Q5. Consider the following statements about the FIDE World Cup:
- The FIDE World Cup is a single-elimination chess tournament held every two years.
- The top two finishers in the FIDE World Cup qualify for the Candidates Tournament, which is the qualifying tournament for the World Chess Championship.
- The FIDE World Cup is open to all chess players with a FIDE rating of 2500 or above.
- The FIDE World Cup is organized by FIDE, the international governing body for chess.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- All four statements are correct. The FIDE World Cup is a single-elimination chess tournament held every two years. The top two finishers in the FIDE World Cup qualify for the Candidates Tournament, which is the qualifying tournament for the World Chess Championship. The FIDE World Cup is open to all chess players with a FIDE rating of 2500 or above. The FIDE World Cup is organized by FIDE, the international governing body for chess.
About FIDE:
- The International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation, commonly referred to by its French acronym FIDE, is an international organization (HQ: Lausanne (Switzerland); Founded 1924) that connects the various national chess federations and acts as the governing body of international chess competition. It was
- FIDE was constituted as a non-governmental institution. It is the governing body of the sport of chess and regulates all international chess competitions. It was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999. It has 199 countries as affiliate members (including India), in the form of National Chess Federations
