General Science/Everyday Science MCQs
Topic Notes: General Science/Everyday Science
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
31
What is the primary reservoir for carbon on Earth?
Answer:
Ocean sediments and sedimentary rocks
The largest amount of carbon is stored in rocks (like limestone) and deep ocean sediments. The atmosphere actually holds a relatively small fraction of the Earth's total carbon.
32
Which biome is characterized by 'Savannas'?
Answer:
Tropical grasslands with scattered trees and a distinct dry season.
Savannas are found in warm regions. The scattered trees often have thorns and small leaves to deter browsers and conserve water during the long dry season.
33
What is 'Detrital Food Web'?
Answer:
A food web that starts with dead organic matter instead of living plants.
In many ecosystems (like a forest floor), more energy actually flows through the detrital food web (decomposers and their consumers) than through the grazing food web (herbivores and carnivores).
34
Which of the following is an example of 'Secondary Productivity'?
Answer:
A cow gaining weight after eating grass.
Secondary productivity is the rate at which consumers (heterotrophs) convert the chemical energy in their food into their own new biomass.
35
What is 'Ecological Footprint'?
Answer:
The amount of land and water area required to support a person or population.
This metric measures human demand on nature. It compares how much we consume to how much the Earth can regenerate.
36
Which part of the Earth receives the most direct sunlight throughout the year?
Answer:
The Equator
Because of the Earth's curvature, the sun's rays hit the equator perpendicularly, delivering the maximum amount of energy per unit area. This high energy input drives tropical climates.
37
Which of the following describes 'Mutualism'?
Answer:
Both benefit (+/+).
In mutualism, both species benefit from the interaction. Examples include pollinators and flowers, or the bacteria living in a cow's rumen that help digest cellulose.
38
What is 'Primary Production'?
Answer:
The synthesis of organic compounds from $CO_2$.
Primary production is the starting point of energy flow. It is the process by which autotrophs create chemical energy (food) from sunlight or inorganic chemicals.
39
What are 'Legumes' important for in the nitrogen cycle?
Answer:
They have a mutualistic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Legumes (like peas and beans) provide a home and sugar to 'Rhizobium' bacteria; in exchange, the bacteria 'fix' nitrogen for the plant, enriching the soil.
40
Which biome is characterized by a 'canopy', an 'understory', and very little light reaching the floor?
Answer:
Tropical Rainforest
Rainforests are highly stratified. The dense canopy absorbs most of the sunlight, leaving the forest floor in deep shade, which limits the growth of ground-level plants.