Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 20-09-2022

Q1. Phosphorous is a fast depleting natural resource. Which of the following are correct about the Phosphorous?

1. Presence of phosphorus is essential in the soil for crop growth and its shortfall can result in the reduction of crop yield
2. The phosphate rock is the only source of phosphorus
3. Human excreta can be a source of Phosphorus
4. Leafy vegetables contain phosphorus

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

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

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Only statement 2 is incorrect

1. The presence of phosphorus is essential in the soil for crop growth and its shortfall can result in the reduction of crop yield. But the reserves of phosphate rock, the main source of the element, is fast depleting.
2. The solid matter that humans excrete is largely organic. It contains carbon, phosphorus and a whole lot of other nutrients. We consume these nutrients in the form of food. Leafy vegetables, for instance, have phosphorus.
3. About 11 per cent of phosphorus entering Earth systems is lost in human urine and excreta, but phosphorus and nitrogen in it can be recovered by up to about 90 per cent. If recovered, this could supply 22 per cent of the current global demand for phosphorus.
4. Pilot projects in different parts of the country are attempting to turn human excreta into NPKrich For instance, in Talcher, Odisha, FINISH Society set up a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in November 2018 for composting purposes.
5. In Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district, a similar project was started in 2018 to use recycled water for agriculture. It also helped treat and reuse faecal sludge as a co-compost for farming.

Q2. Maximum Biodiversity is shown by

1. Insects
2. Plants
3. Fungi
4. Algae

Answer (a)

Explanation:

Insect biodiversity accounts for a large proportion of all biodiversity on the planet—over half of the estimated 1.5 million organism species described are classified as insects.

Q3. Consider the following statements about extinction

1. All extinctions are anthropogenic
2. Extinction rates today are high due to anthropogenic causes

Which of the above is/are correct?

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

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Extinction is an evolutive process that leads to the disappearance of a species or a population. When a species becomes extinct, its entire genetic heritage is lost for good. With evolution, a species can become another in order to adapt to the small environmental changes or due to casual changes in its genetic heritage. This process is known as speciation, in other words, the birth of a new species. Speciation and extinction are both parts of the natural evolutive process of living beings. Therefore, the natural extinction of a species in itself must not be interpreted as a negative event (nor, obviously, as a positive event), but it must be considered simply for what it is, in other words, an expression of biological evolution. The great extinctions in history, in fact, were accompanied by the formation of new species that have given continuity and vigour to the diversities of life.

Normally two types of extinction may be classified. There is the background extinction that is the slow and, for us, an imperceptible trend of the living creatures to transform constantly. And then there is the episodic extinction, with massive and concomitant deaths of species, triggered by rapid changes in the environment. In general, the extinctions that contributed most to the drastic changes in the flora and fauna in the earth’s history were of the second type. Some extreme events took place on a vast scale during the course of the geological eras, like climate changes or the impact of our planet with comets and asteroids, which translated into environmental perturbations that were so radical that there were not many possibilities of escape for a multitude of organisms. At various times of the Earth’s history, these phenomena have been very severe limiting factors for the survival of the species, and at times these have drastically cut biodiversity in entire geographic regions, causing the so-called mass extinctions.

Palaeontology experts have discovered five great mass extinctions in the last 500 million years. From the famous one that led to the extinction of all the dinosaurs on the Earth. During these great extinctions, it is believed that 75 per cent to 95 per cent of the number of extinct species is believed to have gone lost. However, today the extinction rate is not considered natural, but the main cause of it all appears to be mankind, that, according to some scientists, will cause a sixth mass extinction. In fact, approximately 23 per cent of the Mammals and 12 per cent of the Birds are considered to be endangered by IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature). There seem to be a number of causes that lead to this rapid mass extinction, however, they are all caused by humans: constant growth of human population with a non-sustainable lifestyle increase in urban areas increase in the production of waste and polluting substances increase in alien, non-autochthonous species climate changes international conflicts.

Q4. Which of the following hotspots are found in India?

1. The Sundaland
2. Indo Burma
3. The Western Ghats
4. The Himalayas

Select the correct answer from codes given below

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

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Biodiversity Hotspots In India

Q5. You could wander through this parched 350,000sq km badlands for days and only see the endless crests and valleys of the Karakum's barren wilderness. But if you make your way to the desert's north-central plain, you may stumble upon a truly surreal sight: the Darvaza Crater, a molten gas pit that has been spewing fire for decades and is known as "The Gates of Hell".

The location described in the passage is situated in

1. Turkmenistan
2. Kazakhstan
3. Russia
4. Iran

Answer (a)

Explanation:

Known as "The Gates of Hell", a massive molten pit in the Turkmenistan desert has been spewing fire for decades – but its origin is considered top- secret.

The Karakum Desert is a massive expanse of sun-scorched sand dunes covering roughly 70% of Turkmenistan. You could wander through this parched 350,000sq km badlands for days and only see the endless crests and valleys of the Karakum's barren wilderness. But if you make your way to the desert's north-central plain, you may stumble upon a truly surreal sight: the Darvaza Crater, a molten gas pit that has been spewing fire for decades and is known as "The Gates of Hell".

The story goes that in 1971 Soviet geologists were drilling for oil in the desert when they hit a pocket of natural gas. This caused the earth to collapse, forming three large sinkholes. In order to prevent the methane from leaking into the atmosphere, it's rumoured that geologists lit one of them on fire, thinking it would burn out in a matter of weeks.

Q6. Consider the following statements about Forest in India

1. The country’s forest cover includes all patches of land with a tree canopy density of more than 10% and more than 1 hectare in area
2. The National Forest Policy of 1988 set the national goal ” to have a minimum of one-fourth of the total land area of the country under forest or tree cover
3. In the hills and in mountainous regions, the aim should be to maintain two-thirds of the area under such cover

Which of the above is/are correct?

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

Answer (c)

Explanation:

According to FSI, the country’s forest cover includes all patches of land with a tree canopy density of more than 10% and more than 1 hectare in area, irrespective of land use, ownership and species of trees.

The National Forest Policy of 1988 set the national goal ” to have a minimum of one-third of the total land area of the country under forest or tree cover. In the hills and in mountainous regions, the aim should be to maintain two-thirds of the area under such cover in order to prevent erosion and land degradation and to ensure the stability of the fragile ecosystem.”