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 are used as chemical agents in war?
- Mustard Gas
- Phosgene
- Sarin
- VX
Select the correct option from codes given below:
[A] 1 & 3 Only
[B] 1, 3 & 4 Only
[C] 2 & 4 Only
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ 1, 2, 3 & 4]
Notes:
Chemical weapons are called “poorman’s bomb”. These cause catastrophic damage, and are easy to produce. Sarin is a colorless and odourless agent, and is extremely potent. It was used in Damascus in 2013. Mustard Gas is possibly the most commonly used chemical agent and gets its name from the distinctive odour of rotten mustard. It is less potent and usually only 5 to 10 percent people exposed to it usually die. It was widely used during Second World War. VX is a nerve agent which is odourless and appears as brownish oily substance.
2. What does Insulin do?
[A] Increases blood sugar
[B] Decreases blood sugar
[C] Constricts blood vessels
[D] Stimulates lactation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Decreases blood sugar]
Notes:
Insulin is central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. It stops the use of fat as an energy source by inhibiting the release of glucagon. It removes excess glucose from the blood, which otherwise would be toxic. Insulin helps blood sugar enter the body’s cells so it can be used for energy. Insulin also signals the liver to store blood sugar for later use. Blood sugar enters cells, and levels in the bloodstream decrease, signaling insulin to decrease too.
3. Jaundice is a symptom of disease of
____:
[A] Kidney
[B] Liver
[C] Pancreas
[D] Thyroid
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Liver]
Notes:
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae (whites of the eyes), and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia. Concentration of bilirubin in blood plasma does not normally exceed 1 mg/dL (>17?mol/L). A concentration higher than 1.8 mg/ dL (>30?mol/L) leads to jaundice. Jaundice is often seen in liver disease such as hepatitis or liver cancer.
4. The right pulmonary artery is _____:
[A] Longer than the left
[B] Shorter than the left
[C] Wider than the left
[D] Of same size as the left
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Longer than the left]
Notes:
The right pulmonary artery is longer and larger and runs horizontally outward in front of right main bronchus and behind the superior vena cava, to the base of the right lung where it divides in two branches. The left pulmonary artery is shorter and runs horizontally over the left upper division bronchus, to the base of the left hilum where it divides into two branches.
5. Typhoid fever is caused by ____:
[A] Virus
[B] Bacteria
[C] Fungus
[D] Allergy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bacteria]
Notes:
Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a common water borne worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.
6. The vitamin which is very labile and easily destroyed during cooking as well as storage is vitamin ____:
[A] Vitamin D
[B] Vitamin C
[C] Vitamin K
[D] Vitamin B6
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vitamin C]
Notes:
Vitamin C is quite unstable when cooked or stored improperly. It is very liable and easily destroyed during cooking as well as storage. It is a water-soluble and temperature-sensitive vitamin, so is easily degraded during cooking, and elevated temperatures and long cooking times have been found to cause particularly severe losses of vitamin C.
7. Which of the following plant hormones are incorrectly paired?
[A] Cytokinins- senescence
[B] Abscisic acid- transpiration
[C] Auxins- apical dominance
[D] Gibberlins- bud and seed dormancy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Abscisic acid- transpiration]
Notes:
Abscisic acid also called plant stress hormone is responsible for responsible for dormancy of various types. It maintains dormancy in seeds and buds, stimulates the closing of stomata. Gibberellins are responsible for cell division and growth in cell size.
8. The duration 19-21 days refers to ___:
[A] The period of menstrual cycle soon after menstruation, during which fertilisation is most likely to occur
[B] Incubation period of hens egg
[C] Average life-span of a red blood cell in humans
[D] Period of completion of one schizogony cycle of malarial parasite inside a red blood cell
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [The period of menstrual cycle soon after menstruation, during which fertilisation is most likely to occur]
Notes:
In menstrual cycle 19-21 days stands for the fertilizing period also called danger period. After ovulation on 14th day chances of contraption are at their highest with well developed endometrium for implantation. This is the time in the menstrual cycle when progesterone should be at its peak for the month and when estrogen should be at the height of its luteal plateau.
9. If a healthy freshwater fish is placed in salt water, what will be the expected consequence?
[A] The fish becomes dehydrated and dies
[B] The fish becomes bloated and dies
[C] The fish suffers from fungal or bacterial disease and dies
[D] There is no observable effect on the fish provided there is sufficient food
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [The fish becomes dehydrated and dies]
Notes:
When freshwater fish is placed in salt water, the water molecules contained in the fish’s body would pass through the cell membranes of the fish, causing the fish to lose water by osmosis. This sudden change in the molecular makeup of the fish would cause the fish to undergo severe dehydration followed by death.
10. Why do the plant closes stomata when it does NOT need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis?
[A] To store carbon dioxide
[B] To prevent water loss
[C] To release stored oxygen
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [To prevent water loss]
Notes:
Stomata are tiny openings or pores in plant tissue that allow for gas exchange. Stomata allow a plant to take in carbon dioxide, which is needed for photosynthesis. They also help to reduce water loss by closing when conditions are hot or dry. Stomata look like tiny mouths which open and close as they assist in transpiration.