Environment and Biodiversity MCQ

[A] Cumulus Clouds

Notes:

Cumulus Clouds are called “fair-weather” clouds.

[B] Rhododendron

Notes:

Plantation of trees like Banj oak, Myrica, Alder & Rhododendron in between the Chir pine trees can help to prevent forest fires in the Himalayan region. Chir pine is the main reason for forest fires in the Himalayan region.

[A] Cement

Notes:

Among the four industries listed, the most polluting industry is often considered to be the Cement industry (Option A). Cement production is energy-intensive and involves the release of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), during the clinker production process. Additionally, it generates dust and emissions of various pollutants, making it a significant contributor to air pollution and carbon emissions.

While the other industries listed may also have environmental impacts, such as the release of chemicals in Synthetic Rubber production or waste generation in Food Processing and Stone Crushing, the scale and environmental consequences of cement production are generally considered to be more substantial in terms of pollution.

[A] Cauvery

Notes:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently listed Hump-backed Mahseer as Critically Endangered in the Red List of Threatened Species. The scientific name of hump-backed mahseer is ‘Tor remadevii’, which is named after noted ichthyologist K. Remadevi of the Zoological Survey of India. The giant game fish (also called the tiger of the water) is one of the most iconic and highly-prized freshwater fish found in the Cauvery river basin (including Kerala’s Pambar, Kabini and Bhavani rivers). The fish can grow up to a length of 1.5m and weigh up to 55 kg and qualify as megafauna. Besides this, five other species have also made it to threatened categories: two wild orchids, the Arabian scad (a marine fish) and two wild coffee species found only in a few localities in the Western Ghats. As per the latest IUCN update, the great hornbill (found in India and Southeast Asia) was earlier categorized as “Near Threatened”. It is now “Vulnerable” due to high hunting pressure coupled with habitat loss and deforestation, while the wreathed hornbill has moved from “Least Concern” to “Vulnerable”.

[D] All of the above

Notes:

India’s only orangutan, ‘Binny’, has passed away at the age of 41 at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha. The great ape was brought to the Odisha zoo in November 2003 from Pune’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park on November 20, 2003, when she was 25. Orangutans are one of the world’s three extant species of great apes. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there are three species of orangutans — Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli. Bornean and Sumatran orangutans differ a little in appearance and behavior. All three kinds of orangutans are listed as “Critically Endangered” by the United Nations-affiliated International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are native to Indonesia and Malaysia and at present are found only in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. The WWF states that orangutans, with distinctive red fur, are the largest arboreal mammal, spending most of their time in trees. They are considered to be among the most intelligent primates. They can live up to 45 years in the wild and even more in zoos.

[B] Atlantic Ocean

Notes:

Researchers at the University of St Andrews in Scotland have found that gray seals can copy the sounds of human words and songs including “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. The study showed that 3 trained seals were able to imitate parts of popular tunes. The study gave the researchers a better understanding of the evolution of vocal learning and human language development. It also suggested that gray seals could be a new model to study speech disorders since they use their vocal tracts the same way as humans. The grey seal is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae which are commonly referred to as “true seals” or “earless seals”. It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus.

[B] Warm and wet

Notes:

Seeds wait to germinate until three needs are met: water, correct temperature (warmth), and a good location. All seeds need water, oxygen, and proper temperature in order to germinate. Some seeds require proper light also. Some germinate better in full light while others require darkness to germinate. When a seed is exposed to the proper conditions, water and oxygen are taken in through the seed coat.

[D] Tamil Nadu

Notes:

The largest lignite reserve in India is located at Neyveli in Tamil Nadu. In places, these coal seams are more than 15 metres thick. This coal has more than 35 percent carbon content. Neyveli Lignite Corporation has been set up for multipurpose use of this coal, after enrichment of its carbon content.

[B] Water hyacinth

Notes:

Water hyacinth is a weed known for its ability to spread rapidly over water bodies. It is used for cleansing polluted water bodies owing to its remarkable capacity to absorb pollutants. It was found that chromium-6 levels decreased significantly in water.

[A] Dehradun

Notes:

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the government of India. It is headquartered in Dehradun.