Test 9 Solutions

Insights Mock tests 2015: test 9 Solutions

http://insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 1

1. Solution: c)

As can be clearly seen agriculture had developed and spread long back. It was a not a cause

for the rise in population. Low death rates due to better sanitation facilities; and

industrialization increased economic wealth that led to better living standards and a rise in

population.

2. Solution: b)

The rock shelters on banks of the River Suyal at Lakhudiyar, about twenty kilometres on the

Almora-Barechina road (Uttarkhand), bear these prehistoric paintings. Lakhudiyar literally

means one lakh caves. The paintings here can be divided into three categories: man, animal

and geometric patterns in white, black and red ochre. Humans are represented in stick-like

forms. A long-snouted animal, a fox and a multiple legged lizard are the main animal

motifs. Wavy lines, rectangle-filled geometric designs, and groups of dots can also be seen

here. One of the interesting scenes depicted here is of hand-linked dancing human figures.

There is some superimposition of paintings. The earliest are in black; over these are red

ochre paintings and the last group comprises white paintings.

The richest paintings are reported from the Vindhya ranges of Madhya Pradesh and their

Kaimurean extensions into Uttar Pradesh. These hill ranges are full of Palaeolithic and

Mesolithic remains, and they are also full of forests, wild plants, fruits, streams and creeks,

thus a perfect place for Stone Age people to live. Among these the largest and most

spectacular rock-shelter is located in the Vindhya hills at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh.

Bhimbetka is located fortyfive kilometres south of Bhopal, in an area of ten square

kilometres, having about eight hundred rock shelters, five hundred of which bear paintings.

3. Solution: d)

An important characteristic of all communities is that composition and structure constantly

change in response to the changing environmental conditions. This change is orderly and

sequential, parallel with the changes in the physical environment. These changes lead finally



to a community that is in near equilibrium with the environment and that is called a climax

community.

The gradual and fairly predictable change in the species composition of a given area is called

ecological succession. During succession some species colonise an area and their populations

become more numerous, whereas populations of other species decline and even disappear.

The entire sequence of communities that successively change in a given area are called

sere(s).

The individual transitional communities are termed seral stages or seral communities. In the

successive seral stages there is a change in the diversity of species of organisms, increase in

the number of species and organisms as well as an increase in the total biomass. The present

day communities in the world have come to be because of succession that has occurred over

millions of years since life started on earth.

Actually succession and evolution would have been parallel processes at that time.

Succession is hence a process that starts where no living organisms are there these could be

areas where no living organisms ever existed, say bare rock; or in areas that somehow, lost

all the living organisms that existed there. The former is called primary succession, while the

latter is termed secondary succession.

Pioneer species:

The species that invade a bare area are called pioneer species. In primary succession on

rocks these are usually lichens which are able to secrete acids to dissolve rock, helping in

weathering and soil formation. These later pave way to some very small plants like

bryophytes, which are able to take hold in the small amount of soil. They are, with time,

succeeded by bigger plants, and after several more stages, ultimately a stable climax forest

community is formed. The climax community remains stable as long as the environment

remains unchanged. With time the xerophytic habitat gets converted into a mesophytic one.

4. Solution: a)

Self-explanatory. As the level of prosperity increases among nations; an increase in

awareness and a desire to have lesser off-springs leads to a lower growth rate of population.

5. Solution: c)

Narrow top means high death rates as the base is broad (which means the birth rates are

high). High death rate and high birth rate can be easily correlated with the demography of a

developing country. It leads to an increase in the population.

6. Solution: c)

The two major sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation, along the Indus riverthe cities of

Harappa in the north and Mohenjodaro in the southshowcase one of earliest examples of

civic planning. Other markers were houses, markets, storage facilities, offices, public baths,

etc., arranged in a grid-like pattern. There was also a highly developed drainage system.



While Harappa and Mohenjodaro are situated in Pakistan, the important sites excavated in

India are Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat, Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Ropar in the Punjab,

Kalibangan and Balathal in Rajasthan, etc.

7. Solution: d)

The division of population into rural and urban is based on the residence. This division is

necessary because rural and urban life styles differ from each other in terms of their

livelihood and social conditions. The age-sex-occupational structure, density of population

(higher in urban) and level of development vary between rural and urban areas.

The criteria for differentiating rural and urban population varies from country to country. In

general terms rural areas are those where people are engaged in primary activities and

urban areas are those when majority of the working population is engaged in non-primary

activities.

8. Solution: d)

Just as any building is supported by pillars, the idea of human development is supported by

the concepts of equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment.

Equity refers to making equal access to opportunities available to everybody. The

opportunities available to people must be equal irrespective of their gender, race, income

and in the Indian case, caste.

Sustainability means continuity in the availability of opportunities. To have sustainable

human development, each generation must have the same opportunities.

Empowerment means to have the power to make choices. Such power comes from

increasing freedom and capability. Good governance and people-oriented policies are

required to empower people. The empowerment of socially and economically

disadvantaged groups is of special importance.

9. Solution: d)

The Lion Capital discovered more than a hundred years ago at Sarnath, near Varanasi, is

generally referred to as Sarnath Lion Capital. This is one of the finest examples of sculpture

from the Mauryan period. Built in commemoration of the historical event of the first sermon

or the Dhammachakrapravartana by the Buddha at Sarnath, the capital was built by Ashoka.

The capital originally consisted of five component parts: (i) the shaft (which is broken in

many parts now), (ii) a lotus bell base, (iii) a drum on the bell base with four animals

proceeding clockwise, (iv) the figures of four majestic addorsed lions, and (v) the crowning

element, Dharamchakra, a large wheel, was also a part of this pillar. However, this wheel is

lying in a broken condition and is displayed in the site museum at Sarnath. The capital

without the crowning wheel and the lotus base has been adopted as the National Emblem of

Independent India.



10. Solution: d)

http://www.gnhbhutan.org/about/

11. Solution: d)

Refer to the section JUDICIARY AND PARLIAMENT 11the NCERT Polity for a detailed

discussion on the Basic Structure Doctrine and its evolution.

12. Solution: c)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrying_capacity

Below carrying capacity, populations typically increase, while above, they typically

decrease. A factor that keeps population size at equilibrium is known as a regulating factor.

Population size decreases above carrying capacity due to a range of factors depending on

thespecies concerned, but can include insufficient space, food supply, or sunlight. The

carrying capacity of an environment may vary for different species and may change over

time due to a variety of factors, including: food availability, water supply, environmental

conditions and living space.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/earth-carrying-

capacity1.htm



13. Solution: a)

As many as 32 countries record low levels of human development. A large proportion of

these are small countries which have been going through political turmoil and social

instability in the form of civil war, famine or a high incidence of diseases. There is an urgent

need to address the human development requirements of this group through well thought

out policies.

International comparisons of human development can show some very interesting results.

Often people tend to blame low levels of human development on the culture of the people.

For example, X country has lower human development because its people follow Y religion,

or belong to Z community. Such statements are misleading.

To understand why a particular region keeps reporting low or high levels of human

development it is important to look at the pattern of government expenditure on the social

sector. The political environment of the country and the amount of freedom people have is

also important. Countries with high levels of human development invest more in the social

sectors and are generally free from political turmoil and instability. Distribution of the

countrys resources is also far more equitable.

14. Solution: d)

Mixed Farming is found in the highly developed parts of the world, e.g. North-western

Europe, Eastern North America, parts of Eurasia and the temperate latitudes of Southern

continents.

Mixed farms are moderate in size and usually the crops associated with it are wheat, barley,

oats, rye, maize, fodder and root crops.

Fodder crops are an important component of mixed farming. Crop rotation and

intercropping play an important role in maintaining soil fertility. Equal emphasis is laid on

crop cultivation and animal husbandry. Animals like cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry provide

the main income along with crops.

Mixed farming is characterised by high capital expenditure on farm machinery and

building, extensive use of chemical fertilisers and green manures and also by the skill and

expertise of the farmers.

15. Solution: b)

Truck farming is a horticultural practice of growing one or more vegetable crops on a large

scale for shipment to distant markets. It is usually less intensive and diversified than market

gardening. At first this type of farming depended entirely on local or regional markets. As

the use of railroads and large-capacity trucks expanded and refrigerated carriers were

introduce.



16. Solution: d)

The first century CE onwards, Gandhara (now in Pakistan), Mathura in northern India and

Vengi in Andhra Pradesh emerged as important centres of art production. Buddha in the

symbolic form got a human form in Mathura and Gandhara. The sculptural tradition in

Gandhara had the confluence of Bactria, Parthia and the local Gandhara tradition. The local

sculptural tradition at Mathura became so strong that the tradition spread to other parts of

northern India. The best example in this regard is the stupa sculptures found at Sanghol in

the Punjab. The Buddha image at Mathura is modelled on the lines of earlier Yaksha images

whereas in Gandhara it has Hellenistic features.

Images of Vaishnava (mainly Vishnu and his various forms) and Shaiva (mainly the lingas

and mukhalingas) faiths are also found at Mathura but Buddhist images are found in large

numbers. It may be noted that the images of Vishnu and Shiva are represented by their

ayudhas (weapons). There is boldness in carving the large images, the volume of the images

is projected out of the picture plane, the faces are round and smiling, heaviness in the

sculptural volume is reduced to relaxed flesh. The garments of the body are clearly visible

and they cover the left shoulder. Images of the Buddha, Yakshas, Yakshinis, Shaivite and

Vaishnavite deities and portrait statues are profusely sculpted. In the second century CE,

images in Mathura get sensual, rotundity increases, they become fleshier. In the third

century CE, treatment of sculptural volume changes by reducing the extreme fleshiness,

movement in the posture is shown by increasing distance.

between the two legs as well as by using bents in the body posture. Softness in the surface

continues to get refined. The trend continues in the fourth century CE but in the late fourth

century CE, the massiveness and fleshiness is reduced further and the flesh becomes more

tightened, the volume of the drapery also gets reduced and in the fifth and sixth centuries

CE, the drapery is integrated into the sculptural mass. Transparent quality in the robes of

the Buddha images is evident. In this period, two important schools of sculptures in

northern India are worth noting. The traditional centre, Mathura, remained the main art

production site whereas Sarnath and Kosambi also emerged as important centres of art

production. Many Buddha images in Sarnath have plain transparent drapery covering both

shoulders, and the halo around the head has very little ornamentation whereas the Mathura

Buddha images continue to depict folds of the drapery in the Buddha images and the halo

around the head is profusely decorated. One can visit museums at Mathura, Sarnath,

Varanasi, New Delhi, Chennai, Amaravati, etc. to study the features of early sculptures.

17. Solution: a)

Decision-making

Cooperatives: Most cooperatives require simple-majority to pass a vote. That is, only over

50% of workers have to approve a motion for it to be passed.

Collectives: Collectives, however, use a consensus model: this means that every worker

must vote yes in order to make a decision.



Hierarchies

While both cooperatives and collectives reject the hierarchical structure of typical

corporations (top-down, in which owners have authority over workers), the two take

different approaches to their structures.

Cooperatives: Every worker in a cooperative is also an owner. However, in some larger

cooperatives, there exists a form of hierarchy. This might mean that there is a president

(elected by the workers), a board of directors (also elected), and so on. However, all major

decisions are still made by votes taken in worker assemblies. Yet, most of the time, the

smaller the cooperative is the less formal its hierarchy will be if it has one at all.

Collectives: Collectives tend to strive to abolish any form of hierarchy. This means that no

one worker in the collective has any more authority than another worker.

18. Solution: a)

Raw material used by industries should be cheap and easy to transport. Industries based on

cheap, bulky and weight-losing material (ores) are located close to the sources of raw

material such as steel, sugar, and cement industries. Perishability is a vital factor for the

industry to be located closer to the source of the raw material. Agro-processing and dairy

products are processed close to the sources of farm produce or milk supply respectively.

Processing cost will be the same whether it is processed at the site of off the site.

19. Solution: a)

Foot loose industries can be located in a wide variety of places. They are not dependent on

any specific raw material, weight losing or otherwise. They largely depend on component

parts which can be obtained anywhere. They produce in small quantity and also employ a

small labour force. These are generally not polluting industries. The important factor in their

location is accessibility by road network.

20. Solution: d)

Agro based Industries

Agro processing involves the processing of raw materials from the field and the farm into

finished products for rural and urban markets. Major agro-processing industries are food

processing, sugar, pickles, fruits juices, beverages (tea, coffee and cocoa), spices and oils fats

and textiles (cotton, jute, silk), rubber, etc.

Agri-business is commercial farming on an industrial scale often financed by business

whose main interests lie outside agriculture, for example, large corporations in tea

plantation business. Agri-business farms are mechanised, large in size, highly structured,

reliant on chemicals, and may be described as agro-factories.



21. Solution: d)

The highest level of decision makers or policy makers perform quinary activities. These are

subtly different from the knowledge based industries that the quinary sector in general deals

with.

Quinary activities are services that focus on the creation, re-arrangement and interpretation

of new and existing ideas; data interpretation and the use and evaluation of new

technologies. Often referred to as gold collar professions, they represent another

subdivision of the tertiary sector representing special and highly paid skills of senior

business executives, government officials, research scientists, financial and legal consultants,

etc. Their importance in the structure of advanced economies far outweighs their numbers.

22. Solution: a)

Typhoid fever also known simply as typhoid is a common worldwide bacterial disease

transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected

person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica,serovar Typhi.

The disease has received various names, such as gastric fever, enteric fever, abdominal

typhus, infantile remittant fever, slow fever, nervous fever and pythogenic fever. The

name typhoid means "resembling typhus" and comes from the neuropsychiatric symptoms

common to typhoid and typhus. Despite this similarity of their names, typhoid fever and

typhus are distinct diseases and are caused by different species of bacteria.

23. Solution: c)

Commensalism: This is the interaction in which one species benefits and the other is neither

harmed nor benefited. An orchid growing as an epiphyte on a mango branch, and barnacles

growing on the back of a whale benefit while neither the mango tree nor the whale derives

any apparent benefit. The cattle egret and grazing cattle in close association, a sight you are

most likely to catch if you live in farmed rural areas, is a classic example of commensalism.

The egrets always forage close to where the cattle are grazing because the cattle, as they

move, stir up and flush out from the vegetation insects that otherwise might be difficult for

the egrets to find and catch. Another example of commensalism is the interaction between

sea anemone that has stinging tentacles and the clown fish that lives among them. The fish

gets protection from predators which stay away from the stinging tentacles. The anemone

does not appear to derive any benefit by hosting the clown fish.

24. Solution: b)

Outsourcing or contracting out is giving work to an outside agency to improve efficiency

and reduce costs. When outsourcing involves transferring work to overseas locations, it is

described by the term off - shoring, although both off - shoring and outsourcing are used

together. Business activities that are outsourced include information technology (IT), human

resources, customer support and call centre services and at times also manufacturing and

engineering.



Data processing is an IT related service easily be carried out in Asian, East European and

African countries, In these countries IT skilled staff with good English language skills are

available at lower wages than those in the developed countries. Thus, a company in

Hyderabad or Manila does work on a project based on GIS techniques for a country like

U.S.A or Japan. Overhead costs are also much lower making it profitable to get job-work

carried out overseas, whether it is in India, China or even a less populous country like

Botswana in Africa.

25. Solution: a)

In Russia, a dense highway network is developed in the industrialised region west of the

Urals with Moscow as the hub. The important Moscow-Vladivostok Highway serves the

region to the east. Due to the vast geographical area, highways in Russia are not as

important as railways.

26. Solution: a)

The MediterraneanIndian Ocean Route is a trade route that connects the highly

industrialised Western European region with West Africa, South Africa, South-east Asia and

the commercial agriculture and livestock economies of Australia and New Zealand. Before

the construction of the Suez Canal this was the route connecting Liverpool and Colombo

which was 6,400 km longer than the Suez Canal route. The volume of trade and traffic

between both East and West Africa is on the increase due to the development of the rich

natural resources such as gold, diamond, copper, tin, groundnut, oil palm, coffee and fruits.

27. Solution: d)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_waterways_of_India

The significance of rivers as inland waterways for domestic and international transport and

trade has been recognised throughout the developed world. Despite inherent limitations,

many rivers have been modified to enhance their navigability by dredging, stabilising river

banks, and building dams and barrages for regulating the flow of water.

28. Solution: a)

Silk Road

More than 2,000 years ago trade passed through Silk Road between Europe and

China, through India

New route to cover China to South Asia, Central Asia and Europe

Infrastructural development to boost regional connectivity

Maritime connectivity

Ecological cooperation



Establishing special economic zones and industrial parks in the areas connected by

Silk Road

Routes - Yunnan (South western province China) - Myanmar - Kolkata - "Silk Road

economic belt." The BCIM will play a key role in this economic corridor.

South-eastern Chinese province Fujian to Chennai through littoral countries in the

region - Maritime Silk Road

Funding expected to come by BRICS New Development Bank and proposed Asian

Infrastructural Investment bank

29. Solution: a)

International trade is the result of specialisation in production. It benefits the world

economy if different countries practise specialisation and division of labour in the

production of commodities or provision of services. Each kind of specialisation can give rise

to trade. Thus, international trade is based on the principle of comparative advantage,

complimentarity and transferability of goods and services and in principle, should be

mutually beneficial to the trading partners. In modern times, trade is the basis of the worlds

economic organisation and is related to the foreign policy of nations. With well developed

transportation and communication systems, no country is willing to forego the benefits

derived from participation in international trade.

The principle of Sovereignty is in fact eroded by international trade.

30. Solution: d)

Look for the explanation in the next question.

31. Solution: d)

Age structure represents the number of people of different age groups. This is an important

indicator of population composition, since a large size of population in the age group of 15-

59 indicates a large working population. A greater proportion of population above 60

years represents an ageing population which requires more expenditure on health care

facilities. Similarly high proportion of young population would mean that the region has a

high birth rate and the population is youthful.

32. Solution: a)

The basic form of the Hindu temple comprises the following: (i) a cave-like sanctum

(garbhagriha literally womb-house), which, in the early temples, was a small cubicle with a

single entrance and grew into a larger chamber in time. The garbhagriha is made to house

the main icon which is itself the focus of much ritual attention; (ii) the entrance to the temple

which may be a portico or colonnaded hall that incorporates space for a large number of

worshippers and is known as a mandapa; (iii) from the fifth century CE onwards,

freestanding temples tend to have a mountain- like spire, which can take the shape of a



curving shikhar in North India and a pyramidal tower, called a vimana, in South India; (iv)

the vahan, i.e., the mount or vehicle of the temples main deity along with a standard pillar

or dhvaj is placed axially before the sanctum. Two broad orders of temples in the country

are known Nagara in the north and Dravida in the south. At times, the Vesar style of

temples as an independent style created through the selective mixing of the Nagara and

Dravida orders is mentioned by some scholars.

33. Solution: c)

34. Solution: d)

Population ageing is the process by which the share of the older population becomes

proportionally larger. This is a new phenomenon of the twentieth century. In most of the

developed countries of the world, population in higher age groups has increased due to

increased life expectancy. With a reduction in birth rates, the proportion of children in the

population has declined.

35. Solution: a)

Most-favoured-nation (MFN): treating other people equally - Under the WTO agreements,

countries cannot normally discriminate between their trading partners. Grant someone a



special favour (such as a lower customs duty rate for one of their products) and you have to

do the same for all other WTO members.

This principle is known as most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment. It is so important that it

is the first article of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which governs

trade in goods. MFN is also a priority in the General Agreement on Trade in Services

(GATS) (Article 2) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property

Rights (TRIPS) (Article 4), although in each agreement the principle is handled slightly

differently. Together, those three agreements cover all three main areas of trade handled by

the WTO.

Some exceptions are allowed. For example, countries can set up a free trade agreement that

applies only to goods traded within the group discriminating against goods from

outside. Or they can give developing countries special access to their markets. Or a country

can raise barriers against products that are considered to be traded unfairly from specific

countries. And in services, countries are allowed, in limited circumstances, to discriminate.

But the agreements only permit these exceptions under strict conditions. In general, MFN

means that every time a country lowers a trade barrier or opens up a market, it has to do so

for the same goods or services from all its trading partners whether rich or poor, weak or

strong.

36. Solution: c)

The practice of selling a commodity in two countries at a price that differs for reasons not

related to costs is called dumping.

In international trade, the export by a country or company of a product at a price that is

lower in the foreign market than the price charged in the domestic market. As dumping

usually involves substantial export volumes of the product, it often has the effect of

endangering the financial viability of manufacturers or producers of the product in the

importing nation.

37. Solution: d)

WTO is the only international organisation dealing with the global rules of trade between

nations. It sets the rules for the global trading system and resolves disputes between its

member nations. WTO also covers trade in services, such as telecommunication and

banking, and others issues such as intellectual rights.

The WTO has however been criticised and opposed by those who are worried about the

effects of free trade and economic globalisation.

38. Solution: a)

World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that, among other things, a healthy city must

have:

A Clean and Safe environment.



Meets the Basic Needs of All its inhabitants.

Involves the Community in local government.

Provides easily accessible Health service

39. Solution: b)

It's the acid in the ant's bite that cause the itch and sometimes more severe reactions.

Applying an antacid neutralizes the harmful acid effects.

Over production of acid in the stomach causes irritation and pain. In severe cases, ulcers are

developed in the stomach. Until 1970, only treatment for acidity was administration of

antacids, such as sodium hydrogencarbonate or a mixture of aluminium and magnesium

hydroxide. However, excessive hydrogencarbonate can make the stomach alkaline and

trigger the production of even more acid. Metal hydroxides are better alternatives because of

being insoluble, these do not increase the pH above neutrality. These treatments control only

symptoms, and not the cause. Therefore, with these metal salts, the patients cannot be

treated easily. In advanced stages, ulcers become life threatening and its only treatment is

removal of the affected part of the stomach.

40. Solution: a)

Histamine is a potent vasodilator. It has various functions. It contracts the smooth muscles

in the bronchi and gut and relaxes other muscles, such as those in the walls of fine blood

vessels. Histamine is also responsible for the nasal congestion associated with common cold

and allergic response to pollen. Synthetic drugs, brompheniramine (Dimetapp) and

terfenadine (Seldane), act as antihistamines. They interfere with the natural action of

histamine by competing with histamine for binding sites of receptor where histamine exerts

its effect.

41. Solution: d)

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/602263/tranquilizer

42. Solution: d)

The chief instrument through which judicial activism has flourished in India is Public

Interest Litigation (PIL) or Social Action Litigation (SAL).

In normal course of law, an individual can approach the courts only if he/she has been

personally aggrieved. That is to say, a person whose rights have been violated, or who is

involved in a dispute, could move the court of law. This concept underwent a change

around 1979. In 1979, the Court set the trend when it decided to hear a case where the case

was filed not by the aggrieved persons but by others on their behalf. As this case involved a

consideration of an issue of public interest, it and such other cases came to be known as

public interest litigations. Around the same time, the Supreme Court also took up the case

about rights of prisoners.

This opened the gates for large number of cases where public spirited citizens and voluntary

organisations sought judicial intervention for protection of existing rights, betterment of life



conditions of the poor, protection of the environment, and many other issues in the interest

of the public. PIL has become the most important vehicle of judicial activism. Judiciary,

which is an institution that traditionally confined to responding to cases brought before it,

began considering many cases merely on the basis of newspaper reports and postal

complaints received by the court. Therefore, the term judicial activism became the more

popular description of the role of the judiciary.

43. Solution: b)

Chikungunya is an infection caused by the Chikungunya virus. It features sudden onset

fever usually lasting two to seven days, and joint pains typically lasting weeks or months

but sometimes years.

The virus is passed to humans by two species of mosquito of the genus Aedes: A.

albopictus and A. aegypti. The strain of chikungunya spreading to the US from the Caribbean

is most easily spread by A. aegypti. Concern exists that this strain of chikungunya could

mutate to make the A. albopictus vector more efficient. If this mutation were to occur,

chikungunya would be more of a public health concern to the US because the A. albopictus or

Asian tiger mosquito is more widespread in the US and is more aggressive than the A.

aegypti. Animal reservoirs of the virus include monkeys, birds, cattle, and rodents. This is in

contrast to dengue, for which only humans and primates are hosts.

44. Solution: d)

Analgesics reduce or abolish pain without causing impairment of consciousness, mental

confusion, incoordination or paralysis or some other disturbances of nervous system. These

are classified as follows:

(i) Non-narcotic (non-addictive) analgesics

(ii) Narcotic drugs

(i) Non-narcotic (non-addictive) analgesics: Aspirin and paracetamol belong to the class of non-

narcotic analgesics. Aspirin is the most familiar example. Aspirin inhibits the synthesis of

chemicals known as prostaglandins which stimulate inflammation in the tissue and cause

pain.

(ii) Narcotic analgesics: Morphine and many of its homologues, when administered in

medicinal doses, relieve pain and produce sleep. In poisonous doses, these produce stupor,

coma, convulsions and ultimately death. Morphine narcotics are sometimes referred to as

opiates, since they are obtained from the opium poppy. These analgesics are chiefly used for

the relief of postoperative pain, cardiac pain and pains of terminal cancer, and in child birth.

45. Solution: a)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_resistance#Cause



Natural selection is basically the Darwinian Principle. The bacteria that do not die after the

application of anti-biotics breed among themselves and form huge colonies later.

46. Solution: c)

http://www.cbd.int/abs/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioprospecting#Convention_on_Biological_Diversity_.28CB

D.29

Biopiracy is the term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies

and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and people

concerned without compensatory payment. Most of the industrialised nations are rich

financially but poor in biodiversity and traditional knowledge. In contrast the developing

and the underdeveloped world is rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge related to

bio-resources. Traditional knowledge related to bio-resources can be exploited to develop

modern applications and can also be used to save time, effort and expenditure during their

commercialisation.

47. Solution: a)

The removal of judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts is also extremely difficult.

A judge of the Supreme Court or High Court can be removed only on the ground of proven

misbehaviour or incapacity. A motion containing the charges against the judge must be

approved by special majority in both Houses of the Parliament.

It is clear from this procedure that removal of a judge is a very difficult procedure and

unless there is a general consensus among Members of the Parliament, a judge cannot be

removed. It should also be noted that while in making appointments, the executive plays a

crucial role; the legislature has the powers of removal. This has ensured both balance of

power and independence of the judiciary. So far, only one case of removal of a judge of the

Supreme Court came up for consideration before the Parliament. In that case, though the

motion got two-thirds majority, it did not have the support of the majority of the total

strength of the House and therefore, the judge was not removed.

48. Solution: b)

Antiseptics and disinfectants are also the chemicals which either kill or prevent the growth

of microorganisms. Antiseptics are applied to the living tissues such as wounds, cuts, ulcers

and diseased skin surfaces. Examples are furacine, soframicine, etc. These are not ingested

like antibiotics. Commonly used antiseptic, dettol is a mixture of chloroxylenol and

terpineol. Bithionol (the compound is also called bithional) is added to soaps to impart

antiseptic properties. Iodine is a powerful antiseptic. Its 2-3 per cent solution in alcohol

water mixture is known as tincture of iodine. It is applied on wounds. Iodoform is also used

as an antiseptic for wounds. Boric acid in dilute aqueous solution is weak antiseptic for eyes.

Disinfectants are applied to inanimate objects such as floors, drainage system, instruments,

etc. Same substances can act as an antiseptic as well as disinfectant by varying the



concentration. For example, 0.2 per cent solution of phenol is an antiseptic while its one

percent solution is disinfectant. Chlorine in the concentration of 0.2 to 0.4 ppm in aqueous

solution and sulphur dioxide in very low concentrations, are disinfectants.

49. Solution: b)

Antibiotic revolution has provided long and healthy life to people. The life expectancy has

almost doubled. The increased population has caused many social problems in terms of food

resources, environmental issues, employment, etc. To control these problems, population is

required to be controlled. This has lead to the concept of family planning. Antifertility drugs

are of use in this direction. Birth control pills essentially contain a mixture of synthetic

estrogen and progesterone derivatives. Both of these compounds are hormones. It is known

that progesterone suppresses ovulation. Synthetic progesterone derivatives are more potent

than progesterone. Norethindrone is an example of synthetic progesterone derivative most

widely used as antifertility drug. The estrogen derivative which is used in combination with

progesterone derivative is ethynylestradiol (novestrol).

50. Solution: d)

International comparisons of human development are interesting. Size of the territory and

per capita income are not directly related to human development. Often smaller countries

have done better than larger ones in human development. Similarly, relatively poorer

nations have been ranked higher than richer neighbours in terms of human development.

For example, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago have a higher rank than India in the human

development index despite having smaller economies. Similarly, within India, Kerala

performs much better than Punjab and Gujarat in human development despite having lower

per capita income.

51. Solution: d)

Chemicals are added to food for (i) their preservation, (ii) enhancing their appeal, and (iii)

adding nutritive value in them. Main categories of food additives are as follows:

(i) Food colours

(ii) Flavours and sweeteners

(iii) Fat emulsifiers and stabilising agents

(iv) Flour improvers - antistaling agents and bleaches

(v) Antioxidants

(vi) Preservatives

(vii) Nutritional supplements such as minerals, vitamins and amino acids.

Except for chemicals of category (vii), none of the above additives have nutritive value.

These are added either to increase the shelf life of stored food or for cosmetic purposes.



52. Solution: d)

Federalism does not consist of a set of fixed principles, which are applied, to different

historical situations. Rather, federalism as a principle of government has evolved differently

in different situations. American federalism one of the first major attempts to build a

federal polity is different from German or Indian federalism. But there are also a few key

ideas and concepts associated with federalism.

Essentially, federalism is an institutional mechanism to accommodate two sets of

politiesone at the regional level and the other at the national level. Each

government is autonomous in its own sphere. In some federal countries, there is

even a system of dual citizenship. India has only a single citizenship.

The people likewise, have two sets of identities and loyaltiesthey belong to the

region as well as the nation, for example we are Gujaratis or Jharkhandis as well as

Indians. Each level of the polity has distinct powers and responsibilities and has a

separate system of government.

The details of this dual system of government are generally spelt out in a written

constitution, which is considered to be supreme and which is also the source of the

power of both sets of government. Certain subjects, which concern the nation as a

whole, for example, defence or currency, are the responsibility of the union or central

government. Regional or local matters are the responsibility of the regional or State

government.

To prevent conflicts between the centre and the State, there is an independent judiciary

to settle disputes. The judiciary has the powers to resolve disputes between the central

government and the States on legal matters about the division of power.

53. Solution: d)

Aspartame is the most successful and widely used artificial sweetener. It is roughly 100

times as sweet as cane sugar. It is methyl ester of dipeptide formed from aspartic acid and

phenylalanine. Use of aspartame is limited to cold foods and soft drinks because it is

unstable at cooking temperature.

Alitame is high potency sweetener, although it is more stable than aspartame, the control of

sweetness of food is difficult while using it.

Sucrolose is trichloro derivative of sucrose. Its appearance and taste are like sugar. It is

stable at cooking temperature. It does not provide calories.

54. Solution: d)

Food preservatives prevent spoilage of food due to microbial growth. The most commonly

used preservatives include table salt, sugar, vegetable oils and sodium benzoate,

C6H5COONa. Sodium benzoate is used in limited quantities and is metabolised in the body.

Salts of sorbic acid and propanoic acid are also used as preservatives.



55. Solution: d)

Basically all soaps are made by boiling fats or oils with suitable soluble hydroxide.

Variations are made by using different raw materials.

Toilet soaps are prepared by using better grades of fats and oils and care is taken to remove

excess alkali. Colour and perfumes are added to make these more attractive.

Soaps that float in water are made by beating tiny air bubbles before their hardening.

Transparent soaps are made by dissolving the soap in ethanol and then evaporating the excess

solvent.

In medicated soaps, substances of medicinal value are added. In some soaps, deodorants are

added. Shaving soaps contain glycerol to prevent rapid drying. A gum called, rosin is added

while making them.

It forms sodium rosinate which lathers well. Laundry soaps contain fillers like sodium

rosinate, sodium silicate, borax and sodium carbonate.

56. Solution: b)

The cutting of DNA by restriction endonucleases results in the fragmentes of DNA. These

fragments can be separated by a technique known as gel electrophoresis. Since DNA

fragments are negatively charged molecules they can be separated by forcing them to move

towards the anode under an electric field through a medium/matrix. Nowadays the most

commonly used matrix is agarose which is a natural polymer extracted from sea weeds. The

DNA fragments separate (resolve) according to their size through sieving effect provided by

the agarose gel. Hence, the smaller the fragment size, the farther it moves.

57. Solution: d)

The Constitution of India provides for a single integrated judicial system. This means that

unlike some other federal countries of the world, India does not have separate State courts.

The structure of the judiciary in India is pyramidal with the Supreme Court at the top, High

Courts below them and district and subordinate courts at the lowest level (see the diagram

below). The lower courts function under the direct superintendence of the higher courts.



58. Solution: b)

Hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions. These ions form insoluble calcium and

magnesium soaps respectively when sodium or potassium soaps are dissolved in hard

water.

These insoluble soaps separate as scum in water and are useless as cleansing agent. In fact

these are hinderance to good washing, because the precipitate adheres onto the fibre of the

cloth as gummy mass. Hair washed with hard water looks dull because of this sticky

precipitate. Dye does not absorb evenly on cloth washed with soap using hard water,

because of this gummy mass.

59. Solution: a)

The need to have a sustainable energy supply necessitates the exploration of available

energy resources. Among these, renewable energy resources are in the forefront. It is now an

established fact that renewable energy can be an integral part of sustainable development

because of its inexhaustible nature and environment friendly features. Renewable energy

can also play an important role in resolving the energy crisis in urban areas to a great

extend. So far , renewable energy projects with an aggregate capacity of about 33,200 MW

have been installed in the country which includes 22,168 MW of wind power, 2870 MW of

solar power, 4225 MW of bio power and 3938 MW of small hydro power.



http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx

60. Solution: d)

The decision of the Government to approve the North Eastern Region Power System

Improvement Project (NERPSIP) is in tune with its commitment for the economic

development of north eastern States. As the Intra State Transmission and Distribution

systems in the north eastern states have remained very weak; the Central Electricity

Authority developed a comprehensive scheme for the North East Region (NER) in

consultation with the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).

It is for the six States of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland.

The main aim of the project is to address the lacuna in the Intra-State Transmission &

Distribution Infrastructure in the north east region. A similar scheme was earlier approved

for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs 4754.42 crore.

The Scheme is to be taken up under a new Central Sector Plan Scheme of Ministry of Power

and will be implemented with the assistance of World Bank loan and by the Government of

India. The NERPSIP will be funded on 50:50 (World Bank: GoI) basis except the component

of capacity building for Rs 89 crore, which will be fully funded by the Government of India.

This project is the first phase of the three phased development, for which the World Bank

will be extending loan in three tranches of US $ 500 million each.

61. Solution: a)

is located a hundred kilometres from Ajanta and has thirty-two Buddhist, Brahmanical and

Jain caves. It is a unique art-historical site in the country as it has monastries associated with

the three religions dating from the fifth century CE onwards to the eleventh century CE.

It is also unique in terms of stylistic eclecticism, i.e., confluence of many styles at one place.

The caves of Ellora and Aurangabad show the ongoing differences between the two

religionsBuddhism and Brahmanical. There are twelve Buddhist caves having many

images belonging to Vajrayana Buddhism like Tara, Mahamayuri, Akshobhya,

Avalokiteshwara, Maitrya, Amitabha, etc. Buddhist caves are big in size and are of single,

double and triple storeys. Their pillars are massive. Ajanta also has excavated double-

storeyed caves but at Ellora, the triple storey is a unique achievement. All the caves were

plastered and painted but nothing visible is left. The shrine Buddha images are big in size;

they are generally guarded by the images of Padmapani and Vajrapani. Cave No. 12, which

is a triple-storey excavation, has images of Tara, Avalokiteshwara, Manushi Buddhas and

the images of Vairochana, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghsiddhi,

Vajrasatva and Vajraraja. On the other hand, the only double-storey cave of the Brahmanical

faith is Cave No. 14. Pillar designs grow from the Buddhist caves and when they reach the



Jain caves belonging to the ninth century CE, they become very ornate and the decorative

forms gain heavy protrusion.

62. Solution: d)

http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/human-development-index-hdi

There is a separate Gender Index to capture female labour participation rates.

63. Solution: d)

On the manufacturing front, the Government launched a Make in India programme so

that the Indian products would get a leg-up in terms of being competitive both in price and

quality not only within the country but also abroad. In order to enable domestic

manufacturing to gain cost advantage in local production, the authorities took several steps

to improve the doing business ethos within the country through administrative actions so

that the pronounced pro-growth and pro-business approach is understood and used up by

entrepreneurial forces. In fact, the Union Finance Minister Mr. Jaitely has time and again

stated that pro-growth and pro-business approach does not stand in conflict with pro-poor

policies as the resultant gains accruing from higher growth would level the field by making

the government to increase its outlays on public programmes, including genuine welfare

measures that help poverty elimination. The government also opened up important sectors

like defense and railways for overseas investment and increasing the FDI cap in the

insurance segment and the foreign direct investment into these fields would definitely go a

long way in improving these sectors in terms of transfer of technology and best managerial

practices, besides bolstering their capital base for further expansion and modernization in

the short to medium-term. As manufacturing requires the motor of power, the government

swiftly took initiatives to improve the power situation for domestic users, both individuals

and industry.

Following a Supreme Court ruling invalidating the allocation of over 200 coal blocs since

1993 that left dozens of private companies in uncertainty over their power supplies, the

government came out with an Ordinance to sort out the mess on October 20. The

government can now reassign these blocs through a transparent, online auction than an

earlier practice that led to sordid happenings and allegations of corruption in allocations.

The latest action on the coal front would help the power, steel and cement companies that

rely on these coal supplies, besides benefitting the coal-rich States to get the revenue from

auctions directly instead through the Centre. The new Ordinance also contains an enabling

provision that recognizes the need to open up coal mining to private companies. All these

measures for revival of activities across a broad range of industries through swift

administrative action duly backed up by political class to secure the requisite seal of

approval from Parliament meant the restoration of the much-needed investors confidence.

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx



64. Solution: d)

Key facts about Thatheras

The craft of the Thatheras constitutes the traditional techniques of

manufacturing brass, copper and kansa (an alloy of copper, zinc and tin) utensils.

They have a unique ethnic and historical identity with an oral tradition that

underpins their skill.

The name of the community Thatheras is identical with the name of the element.

These craft utensils of Thatheras have both utilitarian and ritualistic value.

The tradition of using the metals is recommended by the ancient Indian school of

medicine, Ayurveda.

Skills of the Thatheras have been orally transmitted from one generation to other

generations.

During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1883) the great 19thCentury Sikh

Monarch, the Thatheras crafts colony was established in Jandiala Guru, Punjab.

Thus, Jandiala Guru became an area of repute due to the skill of the Thatheras.

65. Solution: a)

Beijing Protocol: This Protocol has brought out new principal offences in hijacking. This

protocol is combined with ancillary offences, enlarged the scope of hijacking, expanded

jurisdiction and strengthened extradition and mutual assistance regimes in case hijacking.

The government has recently given nod to for introduction of the comprehensive Anti-

Hijacking Bill, 2014 in the Parliament. The Cabinet has also given its approval to

ratify Beijing Protocol, 2010 of the UN body International Civil Aviation Organisation

(ICAO) to which India is a signatory.

66. Solution: b)

Acquired immunity, on the other hand, is pathogen specific. It is characterised by memory.

This means that our body when it encounters a pathogen for the first time produces a

response called primary response which is of low intensity. Subsequent encounter with the

same pathogen elicits a highly intensified secondary or anamnestic response. This is

ascribed to the fact that our body appears to have memory of the first encounter.

The primary and secondary immune responses are carried out with the help of two special

types of lymphocytes present in our blood, i.e., B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes. The B-

lymphocytes produce an army of proteins in response to pathogens into our blood to fight

with them. These proteins are called antibodies. The T-cells themselves do not secrete

antibodies but help B cells produce them.



67. Solution: c)

In the year 1963, the two enzymes responsible for restricting the growth of bacteriophage in

Escherichia coli were isolated. One of these added methyl groups to DNA, while the other

cut DNA. The later was called restriction endonuclease. The first restriction endonuclease

Hind II, whose functioning depended on a specific DNA nucleotide sequence was isolated

and characterised five years later. It was found that Hind II always cut DNA molecules at a

particular point by recognising a specific sequence of six base pairs. This specific base

sequence is known as the recognition sequence for Hind II. Besides Hind II, today we know

more than 900 restriction enzymes that have been isolated from over 230 strains of bacteria

each of which recognise different recognition sequences.

68. Solution: c)

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has asked the government to

present Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill, 2013 without any delay to give effect to

the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).

The Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill, 2013 aims to ratify the LBA between India and

Bangladesh under the Indira-Mujib pact of 1974 to exchange areas and people on either side

of the border.

As per the provision of pact, India will exchange 111 enclaves measuring 17,160 acres with

Bangladesh and receive 51 enclaves covering 7,110 acres. Almost 51,000 people reside in

these enclaves. The territories involved in the exchange are in Assam, West

Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura.

On 16th May 1974, soon after the independence of Bangladesh the LBA was signed between

India and Bangladesh in order to find a solution to the complex nature of border

demarcation. This pact was ratified by Bangladesh government in 1974.

In 1974, in India Cabinet had granted approval to this pact but was not ratified as it involved

cession of territory.

69. Solution: a)

PM Modi by wearing a traditional Naga headgear and by beating the traditional Naga gong

three times declared the festival open at the picturesque heritage village of Kisama, Kohima.

About Hornbill festival of Nagaland

Hornbill (name of a bird) Festival is celebrated in Nagaland every year in the first week of

December. This festival is 10-day tourism promotional extravaganza which showcases

rich culture of Naga tribes which includes shows of music and dance.

It was established on 1st December 1963 and was inaugurated by the then President Dr. S

Radhakrishnan. The festival is organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture

Departments, at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima the state



capital. Notably, it is also supported by the Centre as one of the biggest

indigenous festivals of the country.

The Hornbill Festival provides a colourful mixture of dances, performances, crafts, parades,

games, sports, food fairs and religious ceremonies. The festival both exposes the culture and

tradition of tribal peoples, and reinforces Nagalands identity as a unique state in Indias

federal union.

70. Solution: a)

Hemp: It is the common name for plants of the entire cannabis. This term is often used to

refer only to cannabis strains cultivated for industrial (non-drug) use.

Industrial hemp: It has many uses, including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics,

construction, health food, fuel and hemp oil, wax, resin, rope and pulp.

Implications of hemp industry: Industrial hemp can bring a revolution in the industry as

hemp fibre is the strongest one in the world. It has the potential to cure cancer and a next

generation crop to bring revolution to our Indian economy.

71. Solution: d)

It is an integrated bill payment system offering inter-operable and accessible bill payment

service to customers through a network of agents, enabling multiple payment modes, and

providing instant confirmation of payment.

About BBPS

It will help consumers pay multiple bills like electricity, telephone and school fees at

a single point of transaction.

The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has been appointed as the nodal

body which will set the standards, and also take care of clearing and settlement as

the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU).

In the two tiered BBPS set-up, there will be authorised operational units called

Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs) with an agent network under the

BBPCU.

RBI has set a Rs 100-crore networth and domestic registration as qualifying

conditions for those seeking to be authorised collection agents.

Participants in the BBPS will include authorised entities such as BPCU, BBPOUs as

well as their authorised agents, payment gateways, banks, billers and service

providers, and other entities, including authorised prepaid payment instrument

issuers.

Thus, BBPS will help track all the payments being made in economy, including cash

payments to utilities, schools, and telcos among others.



72. Solution: d)

Mount Aso, a volcano in southern Japan has erupted. It is the first such eruption in 22 years,

causing flight cancellations and prompting warnings to stay away from its crater. This

eruption has spewed out lava debris and smoke, shooting plumes of ash a kilometre into the

sky.

Earlier, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had reported earthquakes and other seismic

activity in late August on Mount Aso.

About Mount Aso

Mount Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It is

located in Aso Kuju National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on Kyushu Island. Its peak is

1592 m above sea level. Mount Aso has one of the largest calderas in the world (25 km north-

south and 18 km east-west). The caldera has a circumference of around 120 km.

73. Solution: a)

The bill includes certain communities in the list of Scheduled Castes

from Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Tripura. They are

1. Kerala: Pulluvan, Thachar (other than Carpenter).

2. Odisha: Amata, Amath, Bajia, Jaggili, Jagli, Buna Pano.

3. Tripura: Chamar-Rohidas, Chamar-Ravidas, Dhobi, Jhalo-Malo.

This amendment Bill removes a Majhi (Nepali) community from the list of Scheduled

Castes in Sikkim.

74. Solution: d)

The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) is the WTOs first-ever multilateral accord. It was

outcome of 9th Ministerial Conference of WTO for broader reform to boost global trade held

in Bali, Indonesia in December, 2013.

The agreement includes provisions for

Lowering import tariffs and agricultural subsidies: It will make it easier for

developing countries to trade with the developed world in global markets.

Abolish hard import quotas: Developed countries would abolish hard import quotas

on agricultural products from the developing world and instead would only be

allowed to charge tariffs on amount of agricultural imports exceeding specific limits.

Reduction in red tape at international borders: It aims to reduce red-tapism to

facilitate trade by reforming customs bureaucracies and formalities.

Implications



If this agreement is properly implemented, it may create US$1 trillion worth of global

economic activity which may add 21 million new jobs and lower the cost of doing

international trade by 1015 percent.

75. Solution: d)

Perhaps the most important power of the Supreme Court is the power of judicial review.

Judicial Review means the power of the Supreme Court (or High Courts) to examine the

constitutionality of any law if the Court arrives at the conclusion that the law is inconsistent

with the provisions of the Constitution, such a law is declared as unconstitutional and

inapplicable. The term judicial review is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution. However,

the fact that India has a written constitution and the Supreme Court can strike down a law

that goes against fundamental rights, implicitly gives the Supreme Court the power of

judicial review.

In the case of federal relations too, the Supreme Court can use the review powers if a law is

inconsistent with the distribution of powers laid down by the Constitution. Suppose, the

central government makes a law, which according to some States, concerns a subject from

the State list- then the States can go to the Supreme Court and if the court agrees with them,

it would declare that the law is unconstitutional. In this sense, the review power of the

Supreme Court includes power to review legislations on the ground that they violate

fundamental rights or on the ground that they violate the federal distribution of powers. The

review power extends to the laws passed by State legislatures also.

Together, the writ powers and the review power of the Court make judiciary very powerful.

In particular, the review power means that the judiciary can interpret the Constitution and

the laws passed by the legislature.

76. Solution: c)

A plasmid is a small DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from a

chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently. They are most commonly found in

bacteria as small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules, however plasmids are

sometimes present in archaea and eukaryotic organisms. In nature, plasmids carry genes

that may benefit survival of the organism (e.g. antibiotic resistance), and can frequently be

transmitted from one bacterium to another (even of another species) via horizontal gene

transfer. While the chromosomes are big and contain all the essential information for living

(an adequate analogy is the hard-drive of a computer), plasmids usually are very small and

contain additional information (in this analogy, plasmids are the USB flash drives). Artificial

plasmids are widely used as vectors in molecular cloning, serving to drive the replication of

recombinant DNA sequences within host organisms.

77. Solution: d)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/invasion-triggers-evolution



78. Solution: d)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/varied-visions-new-climate-agreement-lima

79. Solution: d)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/watershed-conservation-can-benefit-700-million-

people-100-big-cities

80. Solution: d)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/supreme-court-sets-social-justice-bench-deal-

issues

81. Solution: c)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/japan-uses-climate-finance-lend-1-billion-

indonesia-dirty-coal

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/17/chinas-ban-on-dirty-coal-could-cost-

australian-mining-almost-15bn

82. Solution: b)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/india-get-25-solar-parks

83. Solution: c)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/274-tiger-deaths-four-years-india-records-

highest-toll-between-two-censuses

84. Solution: d)

The rock-cut cave carved at Barabar hills near Gaya in Bihar is known as the Lomus Rishi

cave. The facade of the cave is decorated with the semicircular chaitya arch as the entrance.

The elephant frieze carved in high relief on the chaitya arch shows considerable movement.

The interior hall of this cave is rectangular with a circular chamber at the back. The entrance

is located on the side wall of the hall. The cave was patronised by Ashoka for the Ajivika

sect. The Lomus Rishi cave is an isolated example of this period. But many Buddhist caves of

the subsequent periods were excavated in eastern and western India.

Due to the popularity of Buddhism and Jainism, stupas and viharas were constructed on a

large scale. However, there are also examples of a few Brahmanical gods in the sculptural

representations. It is important to note that the stupas were constructed over the relics of the

Buddha at Rajagraha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethadipa, Pava,

Kushinagar and Pippalvina. The textual tradition also mentions construction of various

other stupas on the relics of the Buddha at several places including Avanti and Gandhara

which are outside the Gangetic valley.



85. Solution: d)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/geoengineering-could-be-catastrophic-planet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_engineering

86. Solution: d)

In any society, disputes are bound to arise between individuals, between groups and

between individuals or groups and government.

All such disputes must be settled by an independent body in accordance with the principle

of rule of law. This idea of rule of law implies that all individuals rich and poor, men or

women, forward or backward castes are subjected to the same law. The principal role of

the judiciary is to protect rule of law and ensure supremacy of law. It safeguards rights of

the individual, settles disputes in accordance with the law and ensures that democracy does

not give way to individual or group dictatorship. In order to be able to do all this, it is

necessary that the judiciary is independent of any political pressures.

87. Solution: c)

BOD refers to the amount of the oxygen that would be consumed if all the organic matter in

one liter of water were oxidised by bacteria. The sewage water is treated till the BOD is

reduced. The BOD test measures the rate of uptake of oxygen by micro-organisms in a

sample of water and thus, indirectly, BOD is a measure of the organic matter present in the

water. The greater the BOD of waste water, more is its polluting potential.

88. Solution: b)

Simply stated independence of judiciary means that

the other organs of the government like the executive and legislature must not

restrain the functioning of the judiciary in such a way that it is unable to do justice.

the other organs of the government should not interfere with the decision of the

judiciary.

judges must be able to perform their functions without fear or favour.

Independence of the judiciary does not imply arbitrariness or absence of accountability.

Judiciary is a part of the democratic political structure of the country. It is therefore

accountable to the Constitution, to the democratic traditions and to the people of the

country.

89. Solution: d)

The judges have a fixed tenure. They hold office till reaching the age of retirement. Only in

exceptional cases, judges may be removed. But otherwise, they have security of tenure.

Security of tenure ensures that judges could function without fear or favour. The

Constitution prescribes a very difficult procedure for removal of judges.



The Constitution makers believed that a difficult procedure of removal would provide

security of office to the members of judiciary.

The judiciary is not financially dependent on either the executive or legislature. The

Constitution provides that the salaries and allowances of the judges are not subjected to the

approval of the legislature. The actions and decisions of the judges are immune from

personal criticisms. The judiciary has the power to penalise those who are found guilty of

contempt of court. This authority of the court is seen as an effective protection to the judges

from unfair criticism. Parliament cannot discuss the conduct of the judges except when the

proceeding to remove a judge is being carried out. This gives the judiciary independence to

adjudicate without fear of being criticised.

90. Solution: b)

Archaeologists have discovered thousands of seals, usually made of steatite, and

occasionally of agate, chert, copper, faience and terracotta, with beautiful figures of animals,

such as unicorn bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, bison, goat, buffalo, etc. The realistic

rendering of these animals in various moods is remarkable. The purpose of producing seals

was mainly commercial. It appears that the seals were also used as amulets, carried on the

persons of their owners, perhaps as modern-day identity cards. The standard Harappan seal

was a square plaque 22 square inches, usually made from the soft river stone, steatite.

Every seal is engraved in a pictographic script which is yet to be deciphered. Some seals

have also been found in gold and ivory. They all bear a great variety of motifs, most often of

animals including those of the bull, with or without the hump, the elephant, tiger, goat and

also monsters. Sometimes trees or human figures were also depicted.

The most remarkable seal is the one depicted with a figure in the centre and animals around.

This seal is generally identified as the Pashupati Seal by some scholars whereas some

identify it as the female deity. This seal depicts a human figure seated cross-legged. An

elephant and a tiger are depicted to the right side of the seated figure, while on the left a

rhinoceros and a buffalo are seen. In addition to these animals two antelopes are shown

below the seat. Seals such as these date from between 2500 and 1500 BCE and were found in

considerable numbers in sites such as the ancient city of Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley.

Figures and animals are carved in intaglio on their surfaces. Square or rectangular copper

tablets, with an animal or a human figure on one side and an inscription on the other, or an

inscription on both sides have also been found. The figures and signs are carefully cut with a

burin. These copper tablets appear to have been amulets. Unlike inscriptions on seals which

vary in each case, inscriptions on the copper tablets seem to be associated with the animals

portrayed on them.

91. Solution: c)

Original jurisdiction means cases that can be directly considered by the Supreme Court

without going to the lower courts before that.

Form the diagram below, you will notice that cases involving federal relations go directly to

the Supreme Court. The Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court establishes it as an



umpire in all disputes regarding federal matters. In any federal country, legal disputes are

bound to arise between the Union and the States; and among the States themselves. The

power to resolve such cases is entrusted to the Supreme Court of India. It is called original

jurisdiction because the Supreme Court alone has the power to deal with such cases. Neither

the High Courts nor the lower courts can deal with such cases. In this capacity, the Supreme

Court not just settles disputes but also interprets the powers of Union and State government

as laid down in the Constitution.

92. Solution: b)

When a host is exposed to antigens, which may be in the form of living or dead microbes or

other proteins, antibodies are produced in the host body. This type of immunity is called

active immunity. Active immunity is slow and takes time to give its full effective response.

Injecting the microbes deliberately during immunisation or infectious organisms gaining

access into body during natural infection induce active immunity. When ready-made

antibodies are directly given to protect the body against foreign agents, it is called passive

immunity.

93. Solution: d)

US model is based on very strong states. USSR was based on an authoritarian centre.

Canada is a federal country with a Union bias same as India.



94. Solution: a)

95. Solution: a)

The very existence of a State including its territorial integrity is in the hands of Parliament.

The Constitution has certain very powerful emergency provisions, which can turn our

federal polity into a highly centralised system once emergency is declared.

Even during normal circumstances, the central government has very effective financial

powers and responsibilities.

Governor has certain powers to recommend dismissal of the State government and the

dissolution of the Assembly.

Planning is under the Concurrent List you can find it out because each State has a separate

Planning Department.

96. Solution: c)

Bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are responsible for the

disease pneumonia in humans which infects the alveoli (air filled sacs) of the lungs. As a

result of the infection, the alveoli get filled with fluid leading to severe problems in



respiration. The symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, cough and headache. In

severe cases, the lips and finger nails may turn gray to bluish in colour. A healthy person

acquires the infection by inhaling the droplets/aerosols released by an infected person or

even by sharing glasses and utensils with an infected person.

For Widal test, refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widal_test

97. Solution: c)

There are 5 conditions under which it can be done:

a) To give effect to an international treaty to which India is a signatory

b) Under Presidents rule

c) Under national emergency

d) When two or more states request Parliament to do so (applies to only those states)

e) When Rajya Sabha passes a resolution calling for Parliament to legislate in the state list.

98. Solution: a)

Cancer detection is based on biopsy and histopathological studies of the tissue and blood

and bone marrow tests for increased cell counts in the case of leukemias. In biopsy, a piece

of the suspected tissue cut into thin sections is stained and examined under microscope

(histopathological studies) by a pathologist. Techniques like radiography (use of X-rays), CT

(computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are very useful to detect

cancers of the internal organs. Computed tomography uses X-rays to generate a three-

dimensional image of the internals of an object. MRI uses strong magnetic fields and non-

ionising radiations to accurately detect pathological and physiological changes in the living

tissue.

99. Solution: d)

The style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India is known as nagara.

In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps

leading up to it. Further, unlike in South India it does not usually have elaborate boundary

walls or gateways. While the earliest temples had just one tower, or shikhara, later temples

had several. The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.

There are many subdivisions of nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara.

There are different names for the various parts of the temple in different parts of India;

however, the most common name for the simple shikhara which is square at the base and

whose walls curve or slope inward to a point on top is called the 'latina' or the rekha-

prasada type of shikara.

The second major type of architectural form in the nagara order is the phamsana. Phamsana

buildings tend to be broader and shorter than latina ones. Their roofs are composed of



several slabs that gently rise to a single point over the centre of the building, unlike the

latina ones which look like sharply rising tall towers. Phamsana roofs do not curve inward,

instead they slope upwards on a straight incline. In many North Indian temples you will

notice that the phamsana design is used for the mandapas while the main garbhagriha is

housed in a latina building. Later on, the latina buildings grew complex, and instead of

appearing like a single tall tower, the temple began to support many smaller towers, which

were clustered together like rising mountain-peaks with the tallest one being in the centre,

and this was the one which was always above the garbhagriha.

The third main sub-type of the nagara building is what is generally called the valabhi type.

These are rectangular buildings with a roof that rises into a vaulted chamber. The edge of

this vaulted chamber is rounded, like the bamboo or wooden wagons that would have been

drawn by bullocks in ancient times. They are usually called wagonvaulted buildings. As

mentioned above, the form of the temple is influenced by ancient building forms that were

already in existence before the fifth century CE. The valabhi type of building was one of

them. For instance, if you study the ground-plan of many of the Buddhist rock-cut chaitya

caves, you will notice that they are shaped as long halls which end in a curved back. From

the inside, the roof of this portion also looks like a wagon-vaulted roof.

100. Solution: a)

The density of a population in a given habitat during a given period, fluctuates due to

changes in four basic processes, two of which (natality and immigration) contribute an

increase in population density and two (mortality and emigration) to a decrease.

(i) Natality refers to the number of births during a given period in the population that are

added to the initial density.

(ii) Mortality is the number of deaths in the population during a given period.

(iii) Immigration is the number of individuals of the same species that have come into the

habitat from elsewhere during the time period under consideration.

(iv) Emigration is the number of individuals of the population who left the habitat and gone

elsewhere during the time period under consideration.

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Test 9 Solutions