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. The second Green Revolution aims at increasing agricultural output to promote ____:
[A] Development of rural sector
[B] Availability of easy credit to big farmers
[C] Co-operative farming
[D] Inclusive growth
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Inclusive growth]
Notes:
According to 11th Fiver Year Plan, the Second Green Revolution aims to meet the problems of small and marginal farmers for providing income security to a large section of rural households and treating them as partners of development instead of a mere beneficiary of some government schemes or programme.
2. Blue-green algae are included in the group ____:
[A] Protozoa
[B] Eubacteria
[C] Fungi
[D] Cyanobacteria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Cyanobacteria]
Notes:
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue green algae, are single-celled and belong to the family of Prokaryotes. That means, they do not have a well defined cell nucleus. The ability of cyanobacteria to perform oxygenic photosynthesis is thought to have converted the early reducing atmosphere into an oxidizing one, which dramatically changed the composition of life forms on Earth by stimulating biodiversity and leading to the near-extinction of oxygen-intolerant organisms.
3. 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”.
4. 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.
5. Activity of an enzyme can be modulated by change of
____:
[A] pH
[B] Light
[C] Humidity
[D] Rainfall
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [pH]
Notes:
Changes in pH which can accompany metabolic process such as respiration (aerobic glycolysis for example) can alter the conformation of an enzyme and hence enzyme activity such as salivarya mylase is effective in neutral condition, pepsin in acidic condition l.5 (less than pH 7) and trypsin in basic condition (more than pH 7).
6. Silk worms feed on
____:
[A] Basil leaves
[B] Mulberry leaves
[C] Curry leaves
[D] Rose leaves
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mulberry leaves]
Notes:
Silk worms are the larva of a moth (Bombyx mori) native to Asia that spins a cocoon of fine, strong, lustrous fiber that is the source of commercial silk. Silkworms feed on the leaves of the mulberries (genus- Morus) and sometimes on the Osage orange (Maclura pomifera).
7. To keep warm, polar bears have a layer of ____ under their skin:
[A] Muscle
[B] Hair
[C] Fat
[D] Cartilage
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Fat]
Notes:
Polar bears are supremely adapted to their environment – they have a number of traits that help them to cope with snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures. They have a layer of fat that can be four inches (10 cm) thick. Although their fur is the primary source of insulation, the fat helps keep heat in as well.
8. The pouch connected to the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine is called ___:
[A] Condyle
[B] Coccyx
[C] Caecum
[D] Axilla
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Caecum]
Notes:
Cecum is a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines. It is a large tube-like structure in the lower abdominal cavity that receives undigested food material from the small intestine and is considered the first region of the large intestine. It is separated from the ileum (the final portion of the small intestine) by the ileocecal valve (also called Bauhin valve). The main functions of the cecum are to absorb fluids and salts that remain after completion of intestinal digestion and absorption and to mix its contents with a lubricating substance, mucus.
9. Water which is suitable for drinking is called ___ water:
[A] Potable
[B] Sanitary
[C] Hygienic
[D] Sparkling
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Potable]
Notes:
Potable water is water of a quality suitable for drinking, cooking and personal bathing. It is water that is safe to drink or to use for food preparation. In developed countries, tap water is usually potable.
10. Which of the following element found in water is responsible for cancer?
[A] Iron
[B] Arsenic
[C] Chlorine
[D] Fluorine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arsenic]
Notes:
Inorganic arsenic found in water is a confirmed carcinogen and is the most significant chemical contaminant in drinking-water globally. Prolonged ingestion of arsenic-containing drinking water is associated with bladder cancer and skin cancer. In addition, cancers of the lung, digestive tract, liver, kidney, and lymphatic and hematopoietic systems are also linked to arsenic exposure.
