Daily Static MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams - Science and Technology (18 August 2023)

Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams

Subject : Science and Technology

1. Consider the following statements regarding ‘Genome Sequencing’, often seen in the news:

1. Genome Sequencing is used in analyzing the factors that are involved in the conservation of species.
2. Pan-genome is the entire set of genes from all strains within a clade.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The genome is the blueprint of life, a collection of all the genes and the regions between the genes contained in our 23 pairs of chromosomes. Genome Sequencing is the method used to determine the precise order of the four letters and how they are arranged in chromosomes. It is a testing process to map the entire code of an organism. Genome Sequencing is used in analyzing the factors that are involved in the conservation of species. For e.g. the genetic diversity of a population can be used to predict the health and conservation of species. Pan-genome is the entire set of genes from all strains within a clade. Hence, both statements are correct.

2. Which country has decided to leave the International Space Station by 2024?

(a) Canada
(b) Russia
(c) England
(d) France

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Yuri Borisov, the newly appointed director-general of Roscosmos announced the plan to withdraw from the International Space Station. International Space Station was launched in the year 1998, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. Along with Russia and USA the other countries includes Canada, Japan and 11 European countries. Hence, option (b) is correct.

3. With reference to the radioactivity, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Radioactivity is a nuclear property.
2. Hydrogen bomb is prepared on the principle of nuclear fusion.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Radioactivity is a nuclear phenomenon. It is the process of spontaneous emission of alpha, beta and gamma radiations from the nuclei of an atom. Hydrogen bomb is prepared on the principle of nuclear fusion. Hence, both statements are correct.

4. With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:

1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is an indigenously developed expendable launch system of the ISRO. It comes in the category of medium-lift launchers with a reach up to various orbits, including the Geo Synchronous Transfer orbit, Lower Earth orbit and Polar Sun Synchronous orbit. GSLV is also operated by ISRO. It is used to launch a satellite into Geo Synchronous Transfer orbit. The GSLV is designed mainly to deliver the communication satellites to the height of 36000 km. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • PSLV launches mainly the earth monitoring satellites to the Polar orbits and these satellites do not appear to fix in the same position in the sky. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

5. Consider the following statements regarding Internet of Things (IoT), sometimes seen in news:

1. It is an inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles and buildings embedded with electronics, software, sensors and network connectivity.
2. It has the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
3. At present it works only on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation: IoT is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, or people that are provided with unique identifiers. Thus it can be said that it is an inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items—embedded with electronics, software, sensors and network connectivity. The inter-networking has ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. IoT is also dubbed as the infrastructure of the information society. It allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.