GK Quiz | 24 November 2020

TOPIC: GS 2 - Issues related to Health

Q1: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding monoclonal antibodies?

1. They are proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to attack the virus.
2. They may bind to different areas of the target molecule.
3. They are man-made proteins.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About monoclonal antibodies:

• These are proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to attack the virus.
• They are man-made proteins and expensive to produce
• They will only bind a single specific site

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

 

TOPIC: GS 2 - India and its neighbourhood

Q2: Consider the following statements:

1. Afghanistan is bordered by Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan to the north.
2. The Durand Line is a border between Afghanistan and India.

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: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 2: At a recent UNSC meeting, India has called for an “immediate comprehensive ceasefire” in Afghanistan.

About Afghanistan:

• It is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia.
• It is bordered by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north; China to the northeast; Pakistan to the east and south; Iran to the west.
• The Durand Line is the international 2,670 km land border between Afghanistan and Pakistan in South-Central Asia.

So, both statements are incorrect. Hence, option D is correct.

 

TOPIC: GS 1 – Minerals and energy resources, Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world

Q3: Polymetallic nodules are composed of –

1. Manganese
2. Iron
3. Nickel

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Polymetallic nodules are also known as manganese nodules. These are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea. These are composed of manganese and iron, nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium, of which nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Awareness in space.

Q4: With reference to the Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS) mission, consider the following statements:

1. It is designed to measure the height of the ocean.
2. Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is a part of this mission.
3. It has been developed jointly by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite has been recently launched from California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is designed to monitor oceans. It is a part of the mission called Jason-CS mission.

About Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS) mission:

• It is designed to measure the height of the ocean, which is a key component in understanding how the Earth’s climate is changing.
• It has been developed jointly by the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat), the USA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the EU, with contributions from France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES).

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

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism, Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Q5: Consider the following statements about the Frontier Highway Project:

1. It will cross Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary.
2. It is a planned border highway in the union territory of Ladakh.

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: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 2: About Frontier Highway Project:

• It is also called the Arunachal Frontier Highway and Mago-Thingbu–Vijaynagar Border Highway.
• It is a planned border highway in Arunachal Pradesh. The 2,000-kilometre-long (1,200 mi) road follows the McMahon Line.
• It accompanies the Trans-Arunachal Highway (through the middle) and the Arunachal East-West Corridor (in the foothills along the Assam border) as major highways spanning Arunachal Pradesh, pursuing the Look East connectivity concept.
• The highway will cross the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, which may raise environmental issues. It will intersect with the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor Highway in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh from Bhairabkunda, the tri-junction of Bhutan, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to Ruksin in East Siang district.

Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve in the East Sikkim district of Sikkim, India.

So, both statements are incorrect and hence, option D is correct.

 

TOPIC: GS 2 - Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Q6: Consider the following pairs:

	Exercises		Countries
1.	SITMEX	-	India and Japan
2.	INDRA	-	India and Russia
3.	SLINEX	-	India and Singapore

Which of the pair(s) given above is/are matched correctly?

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

SITMEX is a trilateral naval exercise between India, Thailand and Singapore. SITMEX 2020 was held in the Andaman Sea.

INDRA is a joint, bi-annual military exercise conducted by India and Russia. Its 11^th edition took place in September, 2020 at Bay of Bengal.

SLINEX (Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise) are a series of naval exercises between the Indian Navy and the Sri Lanka Navy. The first SLINEX exercise took place in 2005. Its eighth edition “SLINEX-20” was scheduled off Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from October 19 to 21.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

TOPIC: GS 1 - Indian Culture - Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Q7: Consider the following statements with reference to the Hoysala Temple Architecture:

1. It is mostly concentrated in Tamil Nadu.
2. It has features of both the Nagara and Dravidian Style of Temple architecture
3. Hoysala temples have highly original star-like ground-plans and a profusion of decorative carvings.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Recently, a Hoysala-era idol of Goddess Kali of the Lakshmi Devi Temple at Doddagaddavalli, Karnataka has been found damaged.

About Hoysala Temple Architecture:

• It is the building style developed under the rule of the Hoysalas
• It is mostly concentrated in southern Karnataka.
• These temples are sometimes called as hybrid or vesara as they have features of both the Nagara and Dravidian Style of Temple architecture.
• Instead of consisting of a simple inner chamber with its pillared hall, Hoysala temples contain multiple shrines grouped around a central pillared hall and laid out in the shape of an intricately-designed star.
• They grow extremely complex with so many projecting angles emerging from the previously straightforward square temple, that the plan of these temples starts looking like a star, and is thus known as a stellate-plan.
• They are easily distinguishable from other medieval temples by their highly original star-like ground-plans and a profusion of decorative carvings.

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