GK Quiz | 21 August 2020

Q1. Greece shares a land border with which of the following countries?

1. Albania
2. North Macedonia
3. Montenegro
4. Bulgaria
5. Serbia
6. Turkey

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Greece is a country located in Southeast Europe.  It is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

It shares land borders with North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, Albania to the northwest, and Turkey to the northeast. It has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q2. Which of the following is/are Balkan countries?

1. Latvia
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Croatia
4. Greece
5. Montenegro
6. Romania

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About Balkans Peninsula:

The Balkans or the Balkans Peninsula are a geographic area in southeastern Europe. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains.

It is bordered by the Ionian Sea in the southwest, the Adriatic Sea in the northwest, the Aegean Sea in the south, the Turkish Straits in the east, and the Black Sea in the northeast.

It consists of ten sovereign states: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Montenegro.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q3. Which of the following is/are the sources of plastic pollution?

1. Sewer overflows
2. Construction and illegal dumping
3. Nautical activities and aquaculture
4. Fishing industry

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Plastic is a synthetic organic polymer made from petroleum. Plastic is cheap, lightweight, strong and malleable.

Applications: Plastic is mainly used in packaging, household and sports equipment, building and construction, vehicles, electronics and agriculture.

Sources:

• Land-based plastic originates from urban and storm runoff, inadequate waste disposal and management, sewer overflows, beach visitors, industrial activities, construction and illegal dumping
• Ocean-based plastic mainly from nautical activities, the fishing industry, and aquaculture

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q4. Consider the following statements about Lingaraj Temple:

1. It was built in 11^th century AD by king Jajati Keshari of Soma Vansh.
2. It is built in red stone.
3. It signifies the syncretisation of Shaivism and Vaishnavism sects in Odisha.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation: Recently, the Odisha government has announced to give a facelift to the Lingaraj Temple.

About Lingaraj Temple:

• It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered as the largest temple of the city Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• It was built in 11^th century AD by king Jajati Keshari of Soma Vansh.
• It is built in red stone and is a classic example of Kalinga style of architecture.
• The temple has images of Vishnu, mainly because of the rising prominence of the Jagannath sect emanating from the Ganga rulers who built the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the 12^th century.
• The main tower of this temple is 180-feet in height.
• It signifies the syncretisation of Shaivism and Vaishnavism sects in Odisha.
• Bindusagar Lake is located on the north side of the temple.
• The presiding deity in the temple is known as Harihara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva.

So, all statements are correct and hence, option D is correct.

 

Q5. Consider the following statements about black box:

1. It is a black-coloured heavily protected recording device placed on a flight.
2. It is made up of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).
3. It is usually kept in the tail of an aircraft.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Black boxes or Electronic Flight Data Recorder:

• It is an orange-colored heavily protected recording device placed on a flight.
• These boxes help investigators in gathering information about the crucial events that led to an accident.
• They are compulsory on any commercial flight or corporate jet.
• They are also used in railways, cars, etc.
• They are usually kept in the tail of an aircraft, where they are more likely to survive a crash.
• It is made up of two separate pieces of equipment: Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).

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

 

Q6. Consider the following statements with reference to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO):

1. It is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency.
2. India is one of its founder members.

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 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations, established in 1944.
• It is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• India is one of its founder members.
• It fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth

Convention on International Civil Aviation or Chicago Convention was signed on 7^th December 1944 in Chicago (USA).

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

 

Q7. Which of the following countries is/are the members of the EastMed Gas Forum?

1. Turkey
2. Cyprus
3. Israel
4. Greece
5. Austria
6. Egypt

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About the EastMed Gas Forum (EMGF or EGF):

• It is an international organization formed by Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and Palestine.
• It was formed as an international body on 16^th January 2020.
• It is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
• Turkey and Austria are not members of EMGF.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q8. Consider the following statements about Flavonoids:

1. Most ayurvedic products are rich in flavonoids.
2. Flavonoids enhance immune response.
3. These are mostly present in tomato, onion, lettuce, grape, apple, strawberry, peach, and other vegetables.

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: C)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune have come up with the first synthetic route for producing flavonoids molecules related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya.

About Flavonoids:

• Flavonoids are a class of polyphenolic plant and fungus secondary metabolites.
• Flavonoid molecules, like rugosaflavonoids, podocarflavone, and isoflavone ( found to inhibit tuberculosis and chikungunya) have so far been isolated from plants.
• Flavonoids enhance immunity; a flavonoid-rich diet is recommended.
• Most ayurvedic products are rich in flavonoids.
• Flavonoids are mostly present in tomato, onion, lettuce, grape, apple, strawberry, peach, and other vegetables.
• A diet rich in flavonoids protects us from diseases related to heart, liver, kidney, brain, and other infectious diseases.

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

 

Q9. With reference to the Swachh Survekshan 2020, consider the following statements:

1. Indore has won the cleanest city award for the fourth consecutive time
2. For the first time, a new performance category, “Prerak Dauur Samman,” has been introduced.
3. Varanasi has emerged as the cleanest Ganga town.

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: Swachh Survekshan 2020 is the fifth edition of the annual cleanliness urban survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India.

Swachh Survekshan 2020 assigns ranks based on the population in two categories of the cities:

• Less than 1 lakh (It includes five zones viz. North, East, Northeast, South and West)
• 1 lakh and above with sub-categories of 1-10 lakh, and 10 lakhs and above.

Performance of various cities are as follows:

• In more than 1 lakh population category: Indore has won the cleanest city award for the fourth consecutive time,  followed by Surat and Navi Mumbai.
• Chhattisgarh won the prestigious title of the Cleanest State of India in the > 100 ULB category
• Jharkhand was ranked first in the Cleanest State of India in the <100 ULB category.
• Ahmedabad (Gujarat) is the cleanest megacity with more than 40 lac population.
• Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) is the cleanest Ganga town.

In Swachh Survekshan 2021, the new performance category “Prerak DAUUR Samman” will be introduced. It has a total of five additional sub-categories -Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), Aarohi (Aspiring).

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

 

Q10. Which of the following is/are the major drawbacks of adenovirus vector vaccines?

1. pre-existing immunity in humans
2. sequestering of the vector to liver and spleen
3. inflammatory responses

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

About Adenovirus Vector Vaccine:

• Adenoviruses are a group of common viruses that infect the lining of your eyes, airways and lungs, intestines, nervous system, and urinary tract.
• They are the common causes of fever, diarrhea, pink eye, coughs, and sore throats.
• They are DNA viruses ranging from 70-90 nanometre in size.
• Adenovirus is used as a tool to deliver genes or vaccine antigens to the target host tissue.
• Major drawbacks to using adenovirus as vaccine and gene therapy vectors include-
• pre-existing immunity in humans
• inflammatory responses
• sequestering of the vector to liver and spleen
• immunodominance of the vector genes over transgenes

Hence, option C is correct.