General Science Questions (MCQs) for Competitive Examinations

Notes:
Glycolysis, part of cellular respiration, is a series of reactions that constitute the first phase of most carbohydrate catabolism, catabolism meaning the breaking down of larger molecules into smaller ones. Glycolysis breaks down glucose and forms pyruvate with the production of two molecules of ATP. The entire process from conversion of glucose to pyruvate is anaerobic that is it does not take place in presence of oxygen.

Notes:
The stapes or stirrup is a bone in the middle ear of humans which is involved in the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear. The stapes transmits sound vibrations from the incus, another little bone in the middle ear, to the oval window adjacent to the inner ear. The stapes is the smallest bone in the body.

Notes:
Taenia is a genus of tapeworm that includes some important parasites of livestock. Members of the genus are responsible for taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans. There are more than 100 species recorded. They are morphologically characterized by a ribbon-like body composed of a series of segments called proglottids with proximal mouth called scolex.

Notes:
Calyptrogen is a layer of rapidly dividing cells at the tip of a plant root, from which the root cap is formed. It occurs in grasses and many other plants. The root cap is formed by several layers of cells that envelop the root tip externally. This covering of cells, of which the outermost ones are dead, envelops and protects the growing tip of root.

Notes:
Plants obtain nitrogen through their roots. In the soil, nitrifying bacteria change ammonia into nitrite (NO2 –) and then into nitrate (NO3 –), this process is known as nitrification. Furthermore, plants also absorb nitrogen in an organic form. Several organic compounds (compounds containing carbon) constitute the organic fraction of nitrogen in the soil. The organic matter in the soil exists as decomposing plant and animal residues, relatively stable decomposition-resistant compounds, and humus. The abundance of various forms of nitrogen can be altered by plant roots through the change in pH and secretion of organic compounds or oxygen.

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.

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.

Notes:
The process of breaking down large molecules into simpler one in the presence of enzyme is called fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation is a complex biochemical process during which yeasts convert sugars to ethanol, carbon dioxide, and other metabolic byproducts that contribute to the chemical composition and sensorial properties of the fermented foodstuffs.

Notes:
Animals that have a cavity between body wall and digestive tract are known as coelomates for e.g.. annelids, molluscs, arthropods, Echinodermata, and chordates etc. In contrast, animals in which the body cavity is absent are known as acoelomates. Platyhelminthes is an example of acoelomates. The presence or absence of body cavity or coelom plays a very important role in the classification of animals.

Notes:
Black soil is most suitable for the cultivation of cotton. The deep and medium black lava soil of the Deccan and Malwa plateaus is considered ideal, though it can be grown on alluvial and red soil as well. The black cotton soil is also known as regur.