1. Which of the following pairs of country borders matched to latitude parallels are correctly matched?
- 17th Parallel – North and South Vietnam
- 20th Parallel – Sudan and Egypt
- 22nd Parallel – Sudan and Libya
- 25th Parallel – Mali-Mauritania
- 31st Parallel – Iraq and Iran
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 3
[B] Only 2, 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 4 & 5
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1, 4 & 5]
Notes:
The 17th parallel divided North and South Vietnam. The 22nd parallel forms part of the Sudan-Egypt border, not Sudan-Libya. The 25th parallel marks the northern section of the Mali-Mauritania border. The 31st parallel demarcates the Iraq-Iran border. The 20th parallel is not the Sudan-Egypt border. Thus, only statements 1, 4, and 5 are correct.
2. Terms, ‘phosgene oxime’, ‘sarin’, ‘vx’ pertain to which of the following?
[A] Programming language
[B] Humanoid robot
[C] Chemical weapon
[D] Vaccines
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chemical weapon]
Notes:- Phosgene oxime is a manufactured chemical warfare agent. Phosgene oxime is a type of agent called an urticant or nettle agent. This is because on contact with the skin, it produces intense itching and a rash similar to hives.
- Sarin (military designation GB) is a nerve agent that is one of the most toxic of the known chemical warfare agents. It is generally odorless and tasteless. Exposure to sarin can cause death in minutes.
- VX is a human-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve agent. Nerve agents are the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known chemical warfare agents.
- Sulfur mustard is a type of chemical warfare agent. These kinds of agents cause blistering of the skin and mucous membranes on contact. They are called vesicants or blistering agents. Sulfur mustard is also known as mustard gas.
3. Consider the following statements regarding methane (CH4) in the atmosphere:
- Methane's lifetime in the atmosphere is much longer than carbon dioxide.
- It is more efficient in trapping radiation than CO2.
- Natural wetlands are the largest source, emitting CH4 from bacteria that decompose organic material in the absence of oxygen.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 and 3
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2 and 3]
Notes:
Methane's atmospheric lifetime is about 12 years, which is much shorter than that of carbon dioxide. However, methane is over 25 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat over a 100-year period. Natural wetlands are indeed the largest natural source of methane, emitting CH4 through anaerobic decomposition of organic matter.
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