Environment MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Environment - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is 1 to 2 weeks.

Key Points

• Peels of vegetables and fruits, leftover food items, all these are called organic waste.
• Organic Waste -
  • Due to the very fast (one to two weeks) action of bacteria on such waste, it gets decomposed quickly and mixes in soil, water, and air.
  • It does not cause any kind of pollution.
  • Agricultural waste, crop plants, peels of fruits and vegetables, dry leaves and wood, feces, urine, etc. are organic waste.
  • Compost and biogas can be made from organic waste.

Additional Information

• ​Non-organic wastes -
  • Bacterial action on such waste is slow.
  • Some substances take hundreds of years to decompose, such as glass, plastic, polythene, etc.
  • These substances remain in the environment for a long time and produce toxic substances in the environment.

The correct answer is Sanctuary.

• The boundaries in biosphere reserves and national park are defined by legislation.
• Whereas the boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries are not demarcated by the authorities.

Wildlife Sanctuary:

• This is a conservation area dedicated to the conservation of a particular species.
• In wildlife sanctuaries, human activities such as grazing, cutting of trees, timber collection etc is allowed.
• The state governments are authorised to notify a forest area as a wildlife sanctuary.

National Parks:

• The conservation scope of national parks is wider than that of wildlife sanctuaries.
• The national parks aim to conserve biotic as well as abiotic components of a landscape.
• Human activities are not permitted in the core area of national parks but limited activities like tourism are allowed outside the core area.
• The state government can notify a wildlife sanctuary or other reserve forest as a national park under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Biosphere Reserve:

• Biosphere reserves are the largest conservation areas and may comprise of more than one national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• The biosphere reserves are notified by the central government under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme.
• A biosphere reserve has a Core Area, a Buffer Zone and a Transition Zone.
• Human activities are strictly prohibited in the core area, in buffer zone activities like tourism, research and grazing can be carried out.
• In the transition zone, human settlements are also allowed. 

The correct answer is 'Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone'.

Key Points

Greenhouse Gases

• Greenhouse gases are responsible for the greenhouse effect.
• These gases absorb and emit energy within the thermal infrared range.
• The primary greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and water vapors.
• While the secondary greenhouses are Sulfur dioxide as well as nitrous oxides.
• The vibrations of any gas molecule such as oxygen tend to be invisible to the electromagnetic field.
• It does not absorb infrared light, in other words, it is not infrared active.
• Hence, oxygen is not a greenhouse gas as it is transparent to infrared light.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Several factors can contribute to the spread of a wildfire, including wind, topography, and humidity. Wind can spread the fire by carrying embers and heat to new areas, while topography, such as hills or canyons, can create natural wind tunnels that accelerate the spread of the fire. Low humidity can cause vegetation to dry out, making it more combustible and easier to ignite.
• High atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low humidity) offer favorable circumstances for a fire to start.
• In a natural setting, such as a forest, grassland, brushland, or tundra, any uncontrolled and non-prescribed combustion or burning of plants that consume the available fuels and spreads as a result of environmental factors (such as wind, and topography) is known as a bushfire, vegetation fire, or wildfire.
• For a wildfire to start and spread, the following three factors must be true: a source of heat, fuel, and oxygen.

Additional Information 

Types of Forest Fire:

There are three basic types of wildfires:

• Crown fires burn trees up their entire length to the top. These are the most intense and dangerous wildland fires.
• Surface fires burn only surface litter and duff. These are the easiest fires to put out and cause the least damage to the forest.
• Ground fires (sometimes called underground or subsurface fires) occur in deep accumulations of humus, peat, and similar dead vegetation that become dry enough to burn. These fires move very slowly but can become difficult to fully put out, or suppress.

Environmental protection refers to the practice of safeguarding the natural environment and its resources from degradation, pollution, overexploitation, and other detrimental impacts caused by human activities.

Key Points

•  The goal is to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, preserve biodiversity, and maintain the overall health and balance of ecosystems.
• Environmental protection involves adopting measures to minimize pollution, conserve energy, manage waste responsibly, protect endangered species, and promote sustainable practices in industries, agriculture, and daily life.
• It also emphasizes the importance of environmental awareness, education, and policies to address global challenges like climate change and loss of biodiversity.

The correct answer is i - b, ii - c, iii - d, iv - a.

Key Points

The trophic levels represent the hierarchical levels in an ecological food chain, indicating the position of organisms based on their feeding relationships. Here's the explanation for the correct match:

• First trophic level - phytoplankton:
  • The first trophic level typically consists of primary producers that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
  • Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that form the base of aquatic food chains.
• Second trophic level - zooplankton:
  • The second trophic level comprises primary consumers that feed on the primary producers.
  • Zooplankton, which includes tiny animals, consume phytoplankton, placing them at the second trophic level.
• Third trophic level - fishes:
  • The third trophic level involves secondary consumers that feed on primary consumers.
  • In aquatic ecosystems, fishes are often positioned at the third trophic level as they consume zooplankton or other smaller organisms.
• Fourth trophic level - human:
  • The fourth trophic level represents tertiary consumers, which are higher-order predators.
  • Humans, being omnivores or carnivores, are often placed at the fourth trophic level in food chains when they consume animals from lower trophic levels.​ 

The correct answer is sulphur hexafluoride.Key Points

• Sulphur hexafluoride is a synthetic fluorinated gas with an extremely stable molecular structure, making it the most potent greenhouse gas ever found.
• It has a global warming potential of 23,500 times that of CO₂, meaning that it traps 23,500 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO₂.
• Sulphur hexafluoride is commonly used in electrical transmission and distribution equipment, as well as in the production of magnesium and aluminium.

Additional Information

• Hydrogen fluoride (option 1) is a highly corrosive gas used in the production of fluorine compounds, including sulphur hexafluoride.
• Sodium monofluorophosphate (option 2) is a salt commonly used in toothpaste to prevent tooth decay.
• Calcium fluoride (option 4) is a mineral found in teeth and bones and is also used in the production of aluminium.

The correct answer is Section 5 A.

Key Points

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) -
  • It is constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA). 
  • It may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B.

Additional Information

• ​National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) -
  • It was formed in the year 2003 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972.
  • It acts as the apex body in matters relating to forest ecology.
  • This body reviews matters relating to wildlife and construction or other projects around national parks and sanctuaries.
  • It is chaired by the Prime Minister.

The correct answer is Low level ozone (or tropospheric ozone) is an atmospheric pollutant.

Key Points

• "Low-level ozone (or tropospheric ozone) is an atmospheric pollutant", this statement is true.
  • Tropospheric ozone is a short-lived climate pollutant with an atmospheric lifetime of hours to weeks.
  • It does not have any direct emissions sources, rather it is a secondary gas formed by the interaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons.
  • The conversion of Ozone to oxygen is an exothermic reaction.
  • It means when ozone gets converted into oxygen, heat is released.​

Additional Information

• Ozone (O3) is a triatomic molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. 
• It is an oxygen allotrope.
• It has three electron groups around the central oxygen, and so has the trigonal planar electron geometry.
• It has one double bond and one single bond in its Lewis structure.

The correct answer is option 1 that is organic matter.

Concept:

• The concentration of hydrogen ions in the soil solution is measured by soil pH, which also serves as a gauge for the acidity or alkalinity of the soil.
• Some plants do best in neutral (pH 7) soil, while others do better in slightly acidic (pH 7) or slightly alkaline (pH > 7) soil.
• The ability of a plant to absorb nutrients can be hampered when the pH of the soil is too severe (either too acidic or too basic), which can have a detrimental effect on growth and productivity.
• Many minerals, including iron, manganese, and phosphorus, become less accessible for plant absorption in strongly alkaline or basic soils (pH significantly more than 7).

Explanation:

• The pH of the soil can be lowered (making it less alkaline) and overall soil health can be improved by adding organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure.
• These additives improve the activity of the soil's producing organic acid-producing organisms, which can aid in balancing the soil's alkalinity.
• Note that adding materials like quicklime or calamine solution would actually increase the soil's alkalinity, making it more basic rather than less. These choices would therefore not be suitable.
• It is typically advised that soil be tested to ascertain its current pH and nutrient levels before to making any modifications. This can assist in determining which adjustments, if any, would be most helpful.

Hence,the correct option is organic matter.

Concept:

• Ocean thermal energy refers to the method of using the temperature difference between the deep parts of the ocean which are cold and the shallow part of the ocean to run a heat engine.
• Ocean thermal energy conversion is an electricity generation system.

Explanation:

• The water at the surface of the ocean or sea is heated by the sun.
• While the deeper section is relatively cold.
• This difference in temperature is exploited to obtain energy in ocean thermal energy conversion plants.
• The warm surface water is used to boil a volatile liquid like ammonia.
• The vapor of a liquid is then used to run the turbine of a generator.
• The cooled water from the depth of the ocean is pumped up and condensed vapor again into a  liquid.

Thus, the correct answer is a volatile liquid.

The correct answer is Tamil Nadu.

Key Points

• Tamil Nadu has launched the "Tamil Nadu Elephant Death Audit Framework," a first-of-its-kind project in India, to better account for elephant fatalities by documenting their causes.
• At the State Wildlife Board meeting, Chief Minister MK Stalin made this announcement.
• The framework aims to achieve three key goals:
  • firstly, it provides a systematic standard protocol for conducting post-mortems to identify the cause(s) of elephant deaths;
  • secondly, it investigates and analyzes the circumstances surrounding elephant deaths that could have been prevented; and
  • thirdly, it develops corrective measures to prevent unnatural and preventive deaths by conducting periodic death audits and tracking these over time.

Additional Information

• Elephants in India: According to Project Elephant's 2017 census, India is home to an estimated 29,964 wild Asian elephants, making it the country with the highest population.
  • Approximately 60% of the species' global population consists of it.
  • Karnataka has the highest number of elephants, followed by Assam and Kerala.
• The Indian Wild Life Protection Act of 1972 designates elephants as National Heritage animals and provides them with protection under the Schedule I species.
  • With the primary goal of restoring elephant habitats and mitigating the suffering of elephants and the human population, the Indian government initiated "Project Elephant" in 1991–1992, a Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change centrally sponsored scheme.
  • Its goals included addressing the issue of human-animal conflict and offering financial and technical support to the Indian states that make up the elephant range in order to safeguard the elephants, their habitats, and their corridors.
  • It also aimed to advance the welfare of elephants kept in captivity.
  • The following goals guided the launch of Project Elephant (PE): 
    • To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
    • To address issues of man-animal conflict
    • Welfare of captive elephants

Concept: 

• Particulate matters refer to a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.
• There are several ways of removing particulate matter; however, the most widely used is the electrostatic precipitator.

Explanation:  

• The scrubber removes harmful materials from industrial exhaust gases before they are released into the environment.
• Electrostatic precipitator consists of electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts, which produce a corona that releases electrons.
• Electrons get attached to dust particles giving them a net negative charge.
• The collecting plates are grounded and attract charged dust particles.

Statement I: In a scrubber, the exhaust from the thermal plant is passed through the electric wires to charge the dust particles. 

The limestone present in the slurry of scrubber removes SO₂ from the exhaust. Therefore statement I is incorrect.

Statement II:

Particulate matter (PM 2.5) can not be removed by a scrubber but can be removed by an electrostatic precipitator.

An electrostatic precipitator is the most effective device to remove 99% of particulate matter, ‘even PM 2.5’ present in the exhaust. Therefore statement II is correct.

Thus, option 1 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is Carbon dioxide.

Key Points

• GREENHOUSE EFFECT:
  • The rays coming from the sun get reflected after striking the earth's surface. Certain gases do not allow the reflected (infrared) rays to escape the earth's atmosphere and thus the heat gets trapped. This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect and the gases involved are termed as greenhouses gases.
  • The heat trapped increases the temperature of the earth and this phenomenon is known as global warming.
  • Causes of Greenhouse Effect:
    • Burning of Fossil Fuels
    • Deforestation
    • Farming
    • Industrial Waste and Landfills
  • Effects of Greenhouse Effect:
    • Global Warming
    • Depletion of Ozone Layer
    • Smog and Air Pollution
    • Acidification of Water Bodies
  • The prominent greenhouse gases are - Water Vapour, Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Ozone, Chlorofluorocarbons, and Hydrofluorocarbons.
  • The major cause of global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases.
  • 72% of the totally emitted greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2), 18% Methane, and 9% Nitrous oxide (NOx).
  • Carbon dioxide emissions, therefore, are the most important cause of global warming.
• WATER VAPOUR (H2O):
  • As evident from the above table, it is the most abundant greenhouse gas present in the atmosphere.
  • Warmer air has the capacity of holding more water vapor, which traps more heat. Due to this, a positive feedback loop gets created.

• CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2):
  • Events like volcanic eruptions, forest fires, burning of fossil fuels lead to an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.
• METHANE (CH4):
  • Though its concentration in the atmosphere is very low, its contribution is approximately 9% in greenhouse gases.
  • It has more heating capacity as compared to water vapor and carbon dioxide.