GK Quiz | 7 October 2020

Q1. Hepatitis C is most commonly transmitted by-

1. Blood transfusion
2. Unsafe injection practices
3. Inadequate sterilization of medical equipment.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation: Americans Harvey J Alter and Charles M Rice, and British scientist Michael Houghton were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology. Identification of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) was possible due to their studies.

About Hepatitis:

• World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every year on the 28^th July.
• Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver.
• Hepatitis is often caused by a virus. Toxins, Heavy alcohol use, some medications, and certain medical conditions are some other causes of hepatitis.
• Hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus are the most common hepatitis viruses.

Hepatitis C:

• It is caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
• It is most commonly transmitted through

• Blood transfusion
• Unsafe injection practices
• Inadequate sterilization of medical equipment

• The most affected region due to Hepatitis C- Africa, Central Asia and East Asia

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q2. Consider the following statements

1. World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 in Kenya.
2. “Shelter is My Right” is the theme for World Habitat Day 2020.

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: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 2:

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day (5^th October 2020).

About World Habitat Day:

• The day is being co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Government of Indonesia
• It was first celebrated in 1986 in Kenya with the theme “Shelter is My Right”.
• “Housing for All-A better Urban Future” is the theme for World Habitat Day 2020.
• It focuses on the state of human settlements and people’s right to sufficient shelter.

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

 

Q3. Panglong Peace Conference aims to have a stable political environment in-

1. China
2. Japan
3. Myanmar
4. Iran

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Myanmar has successfully conducted the 4^th meeting of the 21^st Century Panglong Peace Conference in Nay Pyi Taw.

• Union Peace Conference - 21^st Century Panglong is a continuing peace conference started in 2016.
• It aims to have a stable political environment in Myanmar with peaceful transition into democracy.
• At the end of 4^th session of conference, the government of Myanmar and ten armed ethnic groups signed a framework agreement for the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q4. Consider the following statements

1. In India, the Zoos are managed as per the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
2. Central Zoo Authority is a constitutional body.
3. Zoological parks cannot be used for ex situ conservation of animals.

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: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3:  About Zoos or Zoological parks:

• These are facilities used for ex situ conservation of animals.
• In India, the zoos are managed as per the provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and guided by the National Zoo Policy, 1998.

About Central Zoo Authority

• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• It was established in 1992 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Its main objective of the authority is to complement and strengthen the national effort in the conservation of rich biodiversity.
• It is chaired by the Environment Minister and has 10 members and a member-secretary.

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

 

Q5. Consider the following statements about SMART

1. It is a missile assisted release of lightweight Anti-Submarine Torpedo System for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations far beyond torpedo range.
2. It is unable to provide the exact location of the hostile submarine to correct its flight path midway.

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: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 2: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a successful flight test of the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.

 About Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART):

• It is a missile assisted release of lightweight Anti-Submarine Torpedo System for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations far beyond torpedo range.

• Torpedo is a cigar-shaped, self-propelled underwater weapon, launched from a submarine, surface vessel, or airplane and designed for exploding upon contact with the hulls of surface vessels and submarines.

• It provides the exact location of the hostile submarine to correct its flight path midway.
• When SMART is launched from a warship or a truck-based coastal battery, it takes off like a regular supersonic missile.
• It will strengthen the country’s maritime strategic capabilities.

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

 

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding black hole

1. The term ‘black hole’ was coined by Albert Einstein in 1915.
2. Sagittarius A* is the only black hole in Milky Way galaxy.
3. It is black and invisible because no light can escape its pull.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: Roger Penrose of Britain, Reinhard Genzel of Germany and Andrea Ghez of the U.S. won the Nobel Physics Prize for their re­search into the black hole.

About Black hole:

• It refers to a point in space where the matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field from which even light cannot escape.
• The concept of black hole was theorized by Albert Einstein in 1915 while the term ‘black hole’ was coined in the mid-1960s by American physicist John Archibald Wheeler.
• It is black and invisible because no light can escape its pull.
• Gravitational waves are created when two black holes orbit each other and merge.
• Supermassive black holes are found at the centre of most galaxies, the one in Milky Way galaxy called Sagittarius A*. Sagittarius A* isn’t the only black hole in our galaxy. Astronomers discovered another 12 within three light-years of it, suggesting there could be upwards of 10,000 black holes around the galactic centre.

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

 

Q7. ‘Public Interest Litigation’ can be filed against-

1. Central Government
2. Any private party
3. Municipal Authorities

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

About ‘Public Interest Litigation’:

• It means litigation filed in a court of law, for the protection of “Public Interest”, such as Pollution, Terrorism, Road safety, Constructional hazards etc.
• The expression ‘Public Interest Litigation’ has been borrowed from American jurisprudence.
• It is not defined in any statute or in any act.
• It is the power given to the public by courts through judicial activism.
• Any citizen can file a public case by filing a petition:

• Under Art 32 of the Indian Constitution, in the Supreme Court.
• Under Art 226 of the Indian Constitution, in the High Court.
• Under sec. 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code, in the Court of Magistrate.

• However, the person filing the petition must prove to the satisfaction of the court that the petition is being filed for a public interest and not just as a frivolous litigation by a busy body.
• A Public Interest Litigation can be filed against Municipal Authorities, State/ Central Government and not any private party.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q8. Which of the following states is/are drained by river Krishna?

1. Maharashtra
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Andhra Pradesh
5. Odisha

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About Krishna River:

• After the Ganga, Godavari and Brahmaputra, it is the fourth-biggest river in terms of water inflows and river basin area in India.
• It originates in the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar in the state of Maharashtra, India.
• It passes through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
• Tributaries:

• Left bank: Bhima, Dindi, Musi, Paleru, Peddavagu and Munneru.
• Right bank: Dudhaganga, Malaprabha, Kudali, Koyna, Venna, Panchganga, Ghataprabha, Tungabhadra.

Hence, option A is correct.