ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY - ANALYSIS , BOOKS , UPSC 2015 QUESTIONS

Environment and Ecology is becoming a crucial section for the IAS Prelims year after year. There is no scarcity of material for the Environment and Ecology but the candidates are required to read the relevant material for IAS Prelims Exam.

• UPSC-2015 Prelims  – Environment and Ecology – 17 Questions

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UPSC - 2015 QUESTIONS - ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

1. Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?

(a) Khangchendzonga National Park

(b) Nandadevi National Park

(c) Neora Valley National Park

(d) Namdapha National Park

Answer: (d) Namdapha National Park

2. 'BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes' is managed by the:

(a) Asian Development Bank

(b) International Monetary Fund

(c) United Nations Environment Programme

(d) World Bank

Answer: (d) World Bank

3. With reference to 'Forest Carbon Partnership Facility', which of the following statements is/ are correct?

1. It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples.

2. It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for sustainable forest management.

3. It assists the countries in their 'REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)' efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

4. With reference to an organization known as 'Birdlife International', which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.

2. The concept of 'biodiversity hotspots' originated from this organization.

3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as 'Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas'.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

5. In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?

(a) Tropical moist deciduous forest

(b) Tropical rain forest

(c) Tropical thorn scrub forest

(d) Temperate forest with grasslands

Answer: (a) Tropical moist deciduous forest

6. Which one of the following is the best description of the term 'ecosystem'?

(a) A community of organisms interacting with one another.

(b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms.

(c) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live

(d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area

Answer: (c) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live

7. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

(a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

(b) Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

(c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

(d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Answer: (c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

8. Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?

(a) Bhitarkanika National Park

(b) Keibul Lamjao National Park

(c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park

(d) Sultanpur National Park

Answer: (b) Keibul Lamjao National Park

9. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.

2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.

3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

10. With reference to 'dugong', a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is an herbivorous marine animal.

2. It is found along the entire coast of India.

3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

Answer: (c) 1 and 3

11. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone depleting substances?

(a) Bretton Woods Conference

(b) Montreal Protocol

(c) Kyoto Protocol

(d) Nagoya Protocol

Answer: (b) Montreal Protocol

12. What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

(a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

(b) It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization

(c) It is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change

(d) It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Answer: (a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

13. Which of the following statements regarding 'Green Climate Fund' is/are correct?

1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

14. With reference to 'fly ash' produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.

2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement concrete.

3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

Answer: (a) 1 and 2

15. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?

(a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh

(b) South-West Bengal

(c) Southern Saurashtra

(d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Answer: (d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

16. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique 'living root bridges' are found in

(a) Meghalaya

(b) Himachal Pradesh

(c) Jharkhand

(d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: (a) Meghalaya

17. Consider the following States

1. Arunachal Pradesh

2. Himachal Pradesh

3. Mizoram

In which of the above States do 'Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests' occur?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only