GK Quiz | 15 August 2020

Q1. West Bank, a territory in West Asia, shares its border with-

1. Jordan
2. Israel
3. Lebanon
4. Syria

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 and 4 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 3 and 4 only

Solution: A)

Explanation:

West Bank is a landlocked territory in West Asia. It contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore. It is bordered by Israel to the south, west and north and by Jordan to the east.

It was captured by Jordan in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Israel occupied the territory during the 1967 Six-Day War.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q2. Arrange the following islands from west to east:

1. Solomon Island
2. Fiji
3. Tonga
4. Cook Island

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1-2-3-4
2. 2-3-1-4
3. 2-1-4-3
4. 4-3-2-1

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Solomon Island is a nation in the South Pacific. It is a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch, represented by a governor-general.

Fiji is a country in the South Pacific. Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are its major islands.

Tonga is officially called the Kingdom of Tonga. It is a Polynesian sovereign state and archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean.

Cook Island is an island country in the South Pacific. It has 15 islands and Rarotonga is its largest island.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q3. Which of the following Core International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions has/have been ratified by India?

1. Forced Labour Convention, 1930
2. Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951
3. Minimum Age Convention, 1973
4. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1,2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Solution: D)

Explanation:

International Labour Organization (ILO) is the first and oldest specialized agency of the UN, founded in 1919 under the League of Nations.

Following are eight core ILO Conventions:

• Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
• Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
• Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
• Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
• Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and
• Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
• Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
• Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)

India has not ratified two out of the eight core ILO Conventions namely, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 and Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q4. Consider the following statements about Seed Bomb:

1. It is made up of a combination of compost, clay and seeds.
2. It is used in reforestation and re-vegetation of the fragile ecosystems.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: About Seed ball (or bombs):

• It is a technique of planting trees by embedding organic seed balls in the ground.
• It is generally made up of a combination of compost, clay and seeds.
• It is also known as aerial reforestation.
• It is used in reforestation and re-vegetation of the fragile ecosystems.

So, both statements are correct and hence, option C is correct.

 

Q5. Within Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a coastal state has-

1. Rights to carry out activities like the production of energy from the water, currents and wind.
2. Right to prohibit or limit freedom of navigation or overflight.
3. Sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, whether living or nonliving, of the seabed and subsoil.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3

Solution: B)

Explanation:

As per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, marine areas are divided into following five main zones:

• Internal Waters
• Territorial Sea
• Contiguous Zone
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
• High Seas

About Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ):

• It extends seaward up to 200NM from its baselines.
• A coastal state has following resource rights within EEZ-
  • Rights to carry out activities like the production of energy from the water, currents and wind.
  • Sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, whether living or nonliving, of the seabed and subsoil.

While EEZ does not allow for the right to prohibit or limit freedom of navigation or overflight, subject to very limited exceptions.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q6. Consider the following statements about African Swine fever (ASF):

1. It is highly contagious and fatal animal disease.
2. It can spread from animals to humans.
3. It has no cure.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 1,2 and 3
4. None

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: African swine fever (ASF) has spread to Meghalaya.

About African Swine fever (ASF):

• It is highly contagious and fatal animal disease that infects domestic and wild pigs.
• It results in an acute form of hemorrhagic fever.
• The mortality is close to 100%.
• The only way to stop it spreading is by culling the animals since the fever has no cure.
• It is not harmful to humans since it only spreads from animals to other animals.
• Symptoms: Fever, low energy, loss of appetite, internal hemorrhages, abortion and even death.

So, statements 1 and 3 are correct and statement 2 is incorrect. Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q7. Consider the following statement regarding Line of Credit (LOC):

1. It is a grant provided on concessional interest rates to developing countries.
2. It helps to promote exports of Indian goods and services.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: About Line of Credit (LOC):

• It is not a grant but a ‘soft loan’ provided on concessional interest rates to developing countries, which has to be repaid by the borrowing government.
• It also helps to promote exports of Indian goods and services, as 75% of the value of the contract must be sourced from India.
• The LOC project’s implementation in various countries is dependent on local factors, such as statutory clearances by the borrowing Governments, making available land and other infrastructural support, and prevailing political & social conditions

So, statement 1 is incorrect and statement 2 is correct. Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q8. Inclusion of a State under the Sixth Schedule implies-

1. The state will be able to own the legitimate ownership rights over its own natural resources.
2. The people of state can buy land anywhere in India
3. More positions in gram panchayat to be reserved for women.
4. The state becomes the protector of all its natural resources.

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Arunachal Pradesh groups pushes for sixth schedule. Currently, Arunachal Pradesh is under the Fifth Schedule. 

Unlike the sixth schedule, fifth schedule does not provide special rights for the indigenous communities. The Sixth Schedule consists of provisions for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Inclusion of the state under the Sixth Schedule would enable the state to own the legitimate ownership rights over its own natural resources and make it self sufficient.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q9. The Mediterranean Sea connects to the Atlantic Ocean by –             

1. Suez canal
2. Strait of Gibraltar
3. Straits of Dardanelles
4. Straits of Bosporus

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean by Strait of Gibraltar, almost completely enclosed by land - on the south by North Africa, on the east by the Levant, and on the north by Southern Europe and Anatolia.

The countries having a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea are-

• Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt on the southern shore
• Island nations: Malta, Cyprus.
• Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey on the northern shore
• Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt on the eastern shore.

The Mediterranean Sea connects:

• to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, by the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosporus respectively, in the east
• to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar in the west
• to the Red Sea by the 163 km (101 mi) long artificial Suez Canal in the southeast

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q10. Which of the following Arab countries have active diplomatic ties with Israel?

1. Egypt
2. Lebanon
3. Jordan
4. Saudi Arabia
5. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
6. Iraq

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1,3 and 5 only
2. 2,3,4 and 6 only
3. 1,2,3,4,5 and 6
4. 3,5 and 6 only

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Recently, Israel has established full ties with Israel and become the first Gulf country and third Arab nation to do so. Egypt and Jordon have established full ties with Israel in 1979 and 1994.

As per the deal, Israel would suspend its plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q11. Which of the following gulf countries is/are a member of United Nations?

1. Iraq
2. Iran
3. Oman
4. United Arab Emirates
5. Qatar
6. Saudi Arabia

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1,3 and 5 only
2. 2,4,5 and 6 only
3. 1,2,3,4,5 and 6
4. 3,4 and 5 only

Solution: C)

Explanation:

There are eight nations having coasts along the Persian Gulf namely Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. All these eight gulf countries are the members of United Nations (UN).

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q12. Consider the following statement about personal protective equipment (PPE):

1. It is used to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
2. It protects the lungs of a healthy person while breathing in contaminated air.
3. It does not provide protection to the skin from coming in contact with the infected materials.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1,2 and 3
4. None

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3:  About Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• It is used by medical professionals to contain the spread of the highly contagious corona virus disease.
• It consists of face shield, mask, head cover, goggles, gloves, shoe covers and overall.
• It protects the lungs of a healthy person while breathing in contaminated air.
• It provides protection to the skin from coming in contact with the infected materials and to the eyes of the healthy person from the infectants in the contaminated air.

So, statements 1 and 2 are correct and statement 3 is incorrect. Hence, option A is correct.