UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Pollution And Solid Waste Management

(a) Locomotives using fossil fuels

(b) Ships using fossil fuels

(c) Extraction of metals from ores

(d) Power plants using fossil fuels

(a) Hydrogen peroxide

(b) Hydronium

(c) Oxygen

(d) Water vapour

1. World mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world.

2. Coal-based thermal power plants emit mercury pollution.

3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) All three

(d) None

1. Brakes of motor vehicles

2. Engines of motor vehicles

3. Microwave stoves within homes

4. Power plants

5. Telephone lines

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

(a) environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry

(b) ecological management of ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ under the Convention

(c) sustainable practices in the cultivation of agricultural crops in degraded lands

(d) ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ in the exploitation of natural resources

1. It is a product of oil refineries.

2. Some industries use it to generate power.

3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.

2. The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.

3. They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

1. Construction of base road

2. Improvement of agricultural soil

3. Production of cement

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

1. Automobile exhaust

2. Tobacco smoke

3. Wood burning

4. Using varnished wooden furniture

5. Using products made of polyurethane

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

(a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.

(b) They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.

(c) They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.

(d) They are often found to be used as food adulterants.

1. Carbon monoxide

2. Methane

3. Ozone

4. Sulphur dioxide

Which of the above are released into the atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature.

2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms.

3. Genetic engineering can be used to create micro organisms specifically designed for bioremediation.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

1. Carbon dioxide

2. Carbon monoxide

3. Nitrogen dioxide

4. Sulfur dioxide

5. Methane

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 only

(c) 1, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

1. They can accumulate in the environment, and contaminate water and soil.

2. They can enter the food chains.

3. They can trigger the production of free radicals.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

1. Oxides of sulphur

2. Oxides of nitrogen

3. Carbon monoxide

4. Carbon dioxide

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

1. Arsenic

2. Sorbitol

3. Fluoride

4. Formaldehyde

5. Uranium

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 2, 4 and 5

(c) 1, 3 and 5

(d) All of these

1. Beryllium

2. Cadmium

3. Chromium

4. Heptachlor

5. Mercury

6. Lead

7. Plutonium

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only

(b) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only

(c) 2, 4, 5 and 7 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

(a) NO₂, O₃, and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight

(b) CO, O₂, and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight

(c) CO, CO₂, and NO₂ at low temperature

(d) High concentration of NO₂, O₃, and CO in the evening

(a) Carbon dioxide and nitrogen

(b) Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide

(c) Ozone and carbon dioxide

(d) Nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide

1. Smelting units

2. Pens and pencils

3. Paints

4. Hair oils and cosmetics

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 4

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

1. The growth and survival of calcareous phytoplankton will be adversely affected.

2. The growth and survival of coral reefs will be adversely affected.

3. The survival of some animals that have phytoplankton larvae will be adversely affected.

4. The cloud seeding and formation of clouds will be adversely affected.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

1. Carbon dioxide

2. Oxides of Nitrogen

3. Oxides of Sulphur

Which of the given above is/are the emission/emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 1, 2 and 3

(a) It is eco-friendly technology for the remediation of oily sludge and oil spills.

(b) It is the latest technology developed for undersea oil exploration.

(c) It is a genetically engineered high biofuel-yielding Maize variety.

(d) It is the latest technology to control the accidentally caused flames from oil wells.

(a) The formation of hydrochloric acid when chlorine is added to water.

(b) The formation of hypochlorous acid when chlorine is added to water.

(c) The formation of nascent oxygen when chlorine is added to water.

(d) The formation of hydrogen when chlorine is added to water.

(a) When inhaled into the human body, CO is converted into CO₂.

(b) The inhaled CO has much higher affinity for haemoglobin as compared to oxygen.

(c) The inhaled CO destroys the chemical structure of haemoglobin.

(d) The inhaled CO adversely affects the respiratory centre in the brain.

(a) Tanneries

(b) Coal mining industry

(c) Distilleries

(d) Glass industry

(a) Hydrocarbons

(b) Nitrogen oxide

(c) Ozone

(d) Methane

(a) Just audible sound

(b) Ordinary conversation

(c) Sound from a noisy street

(d) Noise from a machine shop