General Science Questions (MCQs) for Competitive Examinations
General Science Multiple choice questions for GK paper in SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations. These questions are part of GKToday’s 35000+ MCQs Bank Course in GKToday Android App
1. Which of the following gases helps in bread/cake fermentation so as to make it soft and spongy?
[A] Carbon Monoxide
[B] Hydrogen
[C] Carbon Dioxide
[D] Oxygen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Carbon Dioxide]
Notes:
Fermentation is an anaerobic chemical process that breaks down glucose molecules. In baking, yeast consumes sugar and converts it into carbon dioxide and alcohol, making the dough rise. This gas gets trapped in the strands of gluten, resulting in air pockets that cause the dough to rise and form the characteristic spongy texture of bread and cakes. Further, the creation of lactic and acetic acids during fermentation augments this dough handling process, improves flavor, enhances the texture, and extends the shelf-life of the baked products.
2. Which of the following makes the skin layer impervious to water?
[A] Melanin
[B] Collagen
[C] Keratin
[D] Chitin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Keratin]
Notes:
Keratin is a family of fibrous structural proteins involved in making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails. Cells in the epidermis contain a structural matrix of keratin, which makes this outermost layer of the skin almost waterproof, and along with collagen and elastin, gives skin its strength. It also makes up fish scales and crustacean shells, bird feathers and beaks, animal horns and hooves.
3. _____ is the study of the microanatomy of cells, tissues and organs as seen through a microscope:
[A] Entomology
[B] Paleontology
[C] Histology
[D] Lchthyology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Histology]
Notes:
Histology is the study of the micro anatomy of cells, tissues, and organs as seen through a microscope. It examines the correlation between structure and fun-ction.Histology is the micro-scopic counterpart to gross anatomy which looks at larger structures visible without a microscope.
4. Which one of the following is an insectivorous plant?
[A] Nostoc
[B] Utricularia
[C] Bryophyta
[D] Sequoia Gigantia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Utricularia]
Notes:
Utricularia (also called bladderworts) is a genus of insectivorous plants. They occur in fresh water and wet soil as terrestrial or aquatic species. All Utri cularia are carnivorous and capture small organisms by means of bladder-like traps. Aquatic species feed on protozoa and rotifers swimming in water-saturated soil’ while terrestrial species feed on water fleas (Daphnia), nematodes and even fish fry, mosquito larvae and young tadpoles.
5. The colour change in the Chameleon is due to the presence of ____:
[A] Chromatophore
[B] Haemoglobin
[C] Chlorophyll
[D] Pneumatophore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chromatophore]
Notes:
Chameleons have specialized cells, chromatophores, which contain pigments in their cytoplasm, in three layers below their transparent outer skin. Dispersion of the pigment granules in the chromatophores sets the intensity of each color. Chromatophores contain pigments and reflect light, which are responsible for creating coloration. In chameleons, there are four types of chromatophores: xanthophores, erythrophores, iridiophores, and melanophores (Cooper and Greenberg, 1992).
6. Cuscuta is a ____:
[A] Complete stem parasite
[B] Partial root parasite
[C] Partial stem parasite
[D] Complete root parasite
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Complete stem parasite]
Notes:
Cuscuta (Dodder) is a genus of about 100-170 species of yellow, orange or red (rarely green) parasitic plants. Dodders are supremely adapted for a life of plunder and pillage. Reduced in form to scrambling and twining threads, they appear to be completely leafless, although closer inspection reveals tiny scale leaves pressed close to the stems. So, it is a stem parasite.
7. The strongest muscle (based on its weight) of the body is the masseter muscle and is located in the ___:
[A] Hand
[B] Jaw
[C] Thigh
[D] Chest
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jaw]
Notes:
The masseter is located in the jaw and is one of the muscles of mastication or chewing. ? The bite strength of an average man is between 117 to 265 pounds. ? This ability to exert a force on an external object is an example of absolute strength.
8. Which of the following diseased person can still donate eyes?
[A] AIDS patient
[B] Asthma patient
[C] Acute leukaemia patient
[D] Both Asthma and Acute leukaemia patient
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Asthma patient]
Notes:
Persons with AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, Rabies, Septicaemia, Acute leukemia (Blood cancer), Tetanus, Cholera, and infectious diseases like Meningitis and Encephalitis cannot donate eyes. Even people with diabetes, asthma, hypertension, or persons wearing spectacles and who had undergone cataract surgery can also donate eyes.
9. The most serious air pollutant causing health hazard is ____:
[A] Ozone
[B] Sulphur dioxide
[C] Nitrogen oxide
[D] Carbon monoxide
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sulphur dioxide]
Notes:
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is considered as the most serious single air pollutant causing health hazard, obstructing breathing. It always leads to airways inflammation, eye irritation, psychic alterations, pulmonary oedema, heart failure and circulatory collapse. It is also responsible for acid rain.
10. Which of the following increases the rate of heart beat?
[A] Peripheral nerves
[B] Parasympathetic nerves
[C] Sympathetic nerves
[D] Cranial nerves
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sympathetic nerves]
Notes:
Heart rate is controlled by the two branches of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) releases the hormones (catecholamine – epinephrine) to accelerate the heart rate. The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) releases the hormone acetylcholine to slow the heart rate.