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 among the following metals is the hardest metal?
[A] Platinum
[B] Gold
[C] Iron
[D] Tungsten
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tungsten]
Notes:
Tungsten has the highest tensile strength of any natural metal, with an ultimate strength of 1510 megapascals. Tungsten has the highest melting point (3422 °C, 6192 °F), lowest vapor pressure (at temperatures above 1650 °C, 3000 °F).
2. Who discovered electron?
[A] John Dalton
[B] James Chadwik
[C] Ernest Rutherford
[D] J J Thomson
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [J J Thomson]
Notes:
Electron was discovered by an Irish scientist J J Thomson and electron is the first subatomic particle to be discovered. J J Thomson is notable for proposing the water melon model which is also called as plum pudding model.
3. The ____ is the stem-like part of the leaf that joins the blade to the stem, is known as:
[A] Vein
[B] Petiole
[C] Stipules
[D] Midrib
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Petiole]
Notes:
The petiole is the stalk-like structure which connects the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole has tiny tubes, that connect the veins on the leaf blade to the stem. Few of these enable water transport to the leaf while the other carry food away from the leaf to other parts of the plant.
4. Epidermal cells of which part of plant often secrete a waxy water resistant layer on their outer surface?
[A] Aerial parts only
[B] Roots only
[C] Both aerial parts and roots
[D] Neither aerial parts nor roots
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Aerial parts only]
Notes:
The major role of epidermis is to protect all the parts of the plant. Epidermal cells on the aerial parts of the plant often secrete a waxy, water-resistant layer on their outer surface. This aids in protection against loss of water, mechanical injury and invasion by parasitic fungi.
5. Chromosome designation of Turner sydrome is ____:
[A] 44A+XO
[B] 44A+XXX
[C] 44A+XXY
[D] 44A+XYY
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [44A+XO]
Notes:
Turner syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder characterized by partial or complete loss (monosomy) of one of the X chromosomes that affects females. Individuals with Turner syndrome have only 45 chromosomes, including just a single X chromosome. This monosomic has a chromosome complement of 44 autosomes and one X chromosome (44+XO). The abnormal condition probably originates from exceptional egg or sperm with no X chromosome.
6. Which one of the following is commonly known as Pond Silk?
[A] Yeast
[B] Rhizopus
[C] Ulothrix
[D] Spirogyra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Spirogyra]
Notes:
Pond silk is the common name of Spirogyra (algae) because it is very slimy in shape. It is also known as pond silk, water silk, pond scum or mermaid’s trees because of its bright green silky appearance. Its filaments shine like silk due to the presence of mucilage and spiral shaped chloroplast.
7. Uric acid is the chief nitrogenous wastes in ____:
[A] Frogs
[B] Birds
[C] Fishes
[D] Mankind
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Birds]
Notes:
Land snails, insects, birds, and some reptiles excrete uric acid as the major nitrogenous waste. The white, crystalline substance seen in a typical bird or lizard “poop” is actually urine: a little pool of uric acid crystals in a very small amount of water.
8. Bacteriophage was discovered by ____:
[A] Paul Ehrlich
[B] Burrill and Smith
[C] Felix D’Herelle and Frederick Twort
[D] Kluyver and Niel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Felix D’Herelle and Frederick Twort]
Notes:
Bacteriophage refers to any of a group of viruses that infect bacteria. Bacteriophages were discovered independently by Frederick W. Twort in Great Britain (1915) and Felix d’Herelle in France (1917). D’Herelle coined the term Bacteriophage, meaning “bacteria eater”.
9. Growing agricultural crops between rows of planted trees is known as ____:
[A] Jhum
[B] Agro forestry
[C] Social forestry
[D] Taungya system
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Taungya system]
Notes:
The Taungya system involves growing agricultural crops between rows of planted trees (sal, teak, etc). Along with jhum cultivation, it is one of the well-known systems of agro forestry programmes in practice in our country.
10. How the rate of absorption of water through roots can be increased?
[A] Keeping the plants under the fan
[B] Keeping the plants in the dim light
[C] Keeping the plants in the shade
[D] Covering the plants with a polythene bag
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Keeping the plants under the fan]
Notes:
When a plant is placed under the fan, the speed of air is increased which leads to high rate of transpiration through the stomata. The increase in the rate of transpiration increases the water absorption also. As by keeping the plants under the fan, the transpiration process is boosted. Therefore, more amount of water and other minerals are absorbed by the plant roots from the soil.