Q1. What defines an invasive species?
(a) Species that naturally belong and coexist within an ecosystem, maintaining its ecological balance.
(b) Organisms that have been introduced, deliberately or accidentally, into a new environment and cause ecological or economic harm.
(c) Wildlife species that migrate seasonally across different ecosystems without causing any disturbance.
(d) Native species that adapt to changing environmental conditions by evolving rapidly within their existing habitat.
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- Context: Climate change is having alarming effects on ecosystems and native species, according to a recent analysis published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Key findings of the Study:
- Non-native species tend to fare better than Native species under extreme weather events such as heat waves, cold spells, droughts, and floods.
- Reason: This is because they often have high reproduction rates, adaptable behavior, and physiology, and a higher tolerance for disturbances. They can rapidly establish populations in new environments and thrive when native species are adversely affected.
- Significance: Findings emphasize the need to protect and support the recovery of vulnerable native species in the face of climate-driven extreme events, esp. due to the significant economic and ecological impact of invasive species on ecosystems worldwide.
- Invasive species are non-native organisms that have been introduced, intentionally or accidentally, into an ecosystem where they do not naturally occur. These species have the potential to cause ecological, economic, or even health-related harm to the new environment. They often outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems, and can lead to the extinction or reduction of local species’ populations.
Q2. Consider the following statements about Subansiri River:
- It originates in the Tibet Plateau and enters India through Miri hills in Arunachal Pradesh.
- It is the largest tributary of Brahmaputra River.
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:
- Subansiri (518km) (also called “Gold River”) is a trans-Himalayan river and the largest tributary of the Upper Brahmaputra River. It flows into India through the Miri Hills of Arunachal Pradesh.
Q3. Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
(a) Congress grass
(a) Congress grass
(c) Lemongrass
(d) Nut grass
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- Lemongrass is a natural mosquito repellent.
Q4. Which one of the following is a filter feeder?
(a) Catfish
(b) Octopus
(c) Oyster
(d) Pelican
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- As filter feeders, oysters obtain their food by forcing copious amounts of water through their bodies. The beating of cilia pumps water through the oyster’s gills. Particles such as algae and plankton get stuck in the gill mucus. These particles are subsequently carried to the oyster’s mouth and esophagus for consumption, and finally to the stomach for digestion.
Q5. Consider the following statements:
- The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.
- The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature.
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:
- When Britain gave women who owned property the right to vote in 1918, the law did not apply to British residents living in other areas of the Empire. Women’s requests were disregarded in the Montague–Chelmsford Reforms, despite their petitions. The Government of India Act 1919 gave Provincial Councils the authority to decide whether or not women may vote, even though they were not given the ability to vote or run for office. This was possible as long as they fulfilled certain requirements related to property, income, or education.
- Between 1919 and 1929, all of the British Provinces, as well as most of the Princely states granted women the right to vote and, in some cases, allowed them to stand in local elections.
- With limited input from women, the report from the three Round Tables was sent to the Joint Committee of the British Parliament recommending lowering the voting age to 21, but retaining property and literacy restrictions, as well as basing women’s eligibility on their marital status. It also provided special quotas for women and ethnic groups in provincial legislatures. These provisions were incorporated into the Government of India Act 1935. Though it extended electoral eligibility, the Act still allowed only 2.5% of the women in India to vote