SawaalBoxसवाल बॉक्स

Science & Technology

923 questions asked in UPSC Prelims.

Chlorination is a process used for water purification. The disinfecting action of chlorine is mainly due to

  1. (a)The formation of hydrochloric acid when chlorine is added to water
  2. (b)The formation of hypochlorous acid when chlorine is added to water
  3. (c)The formation of nascent oxygen when chlorine is added to water
  4. (d)The formation of hydrogen when chlorine is added to water
Show answerHide answer

Official answer(b) The formation of hypochlorous acid when chlorine is added to water

Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine ?

  1. (a)Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium
  2. (b)Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection
  3. (c)Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria
  4. (d)Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host
Show answerHide answer

Official answer(b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection

India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the Planning Commission as a mega science project under the 11th Five-Year Plan. In this context, consider the following statements: 1. Neutrinos are chargeless elementary particles that travel close to the speed of light. 2. Neutrinos are created in nuclear reactions of beta decay. 3. Neutrinos have a negligible, but non-zero mass. 4. Trillions of Neutrinos pass through human body every second. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. (a)1 and 3 only
  2. (b)1, 2 and 3 only
  3. (c)2, 3 and 4
  4. (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answerHide answer

Official answer(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Recently, LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) procedure is being made popular for vision correction. Which one of the following statements in this context is not correct?

  1. (a)LASIK procedure is used to correct refractive errors of the eye
  2. (b)It is a procedure that permanently changes the shapes of the cornea
  3. (c)It reduces a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses
  4. (d)It is a procedure that can be done on the person of any age
Show answerHide answer

Official answer(d) It is a procedure that can be done on the person of any age

Which feature of some species of blue-green algae helps promote them as bio-fertilizers ?

  1. (a)They convert atmospheric methane into ammonia which the crop plants can absorb readily.
  2. (b)They induce the crop plants to produce the enzymes which help convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates.
  3. (c)They have the mechanism to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the crop plants can absorb readily.
  4. (d)They induce the roots of the crop plants to absorb the soil nitrates in larger quantities.
Show answerHide answer

Official answer(c) They have the mechanism to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the crop plants can absorb readily.

Half of the villagers of a certain village have their own houses. One-fifth of the villagers cultivate paddy. One-third of the villagers are literate. Four-fifth of the villagers are below twenty-five. Then, which one of the following is certainly true?

  1. (a)All the villagers who have their own houses are literate
  2. (b)Some villagers under twenty-five are literate
  3. (c)A quarter of the villagers who have their own houses cultivate paddy
  4. (d)Half of the villagers who cultivate paddy are literate
Show answerHide answer

Official answer(b) Some villagers under twenty-five are literate

With reference to the treatment of cancerous tumours, a tool called cyberknife has been making the news. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. (a)It is a robotic image guided system
  2. (b)It delivers an extremely precise dose of radiation
  3. (c)It has the capability of achieving sub-millimetre accuracy
  4. (d)It can map the spread of tumour in the body
Show answerHide answer

Official answer(d) It can map the spread of tumour in the body