UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 14 December 2024

UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 14 December 2024 We will post 5 questions daily on static topics mentioned in the UPSC civil services preliminary examination syllabus. Each week will focus on a specific topic from the syllabus, such as History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, and more.We are excited to bring you our daily UPSC Static Quiz, designed to help you prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Each day, we will post 5 questions on static topics mentioned in the UPSC syllabus. This week, we are focusing on Indian and World Geography.

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• Question 1 of 5 1. Question With reference to the evolution of living organisms on earth, which of the following is the correct sequence of evolution? a) Spiders-Snakes-Corals-Horses b) Horses-Spiders-Snakes-Corals c) Corals-Spiders-Snakes-Horses d) Snakes-Spiders-Corals-Horses Correct Solution: c) The correct sequence of evolution reflects the gradual complexity in organisms over time. Life began in aquatic environments with simple organisms and progressively adapted to terrestrial ecosystems. Corals: Among the earliest multicellular marine organisms, corals emerged over 500 million years ago in the seas. Spiders: Evolving later, spiders represent early terrestrial arthropods that adapted to land habitats around 400 million years ago. Snakes: Snakes evolved from lizard-like ancestors approximately 150 million years ago, adapting to diverse habitats and displaying significant evolutionary advancements in locomotion and predation. Horses: Representing modern mammals, horses evolved from small, multi-toed ancestors about 55 million years ago, showcasing significant adaptive changes for survival in grassland ecosystems. Thus, the sequence Corals → Spiders → Snakes → Horses aligns with the evolutionary timeline Incorrect Solution: c) The correct sequence of evolution reflects the gradual complexity in organisms over time. Life began in aquatic environments with simple organisms and progressively adapted to terrestrial ecosystems. Corals: Among the earliest multicellular marine organisms, corals emerged over 500 million years ago in the seas. Spiders: Evolving later, spiders represent early terrestrial arthropods that adapted to land habitats around 400 million years ago. Snakes: Snakes evolved from lizard-like ancestors approximately 150 million years ago, adapting to diverse habitats and displaying significant evolutionary advancements in locomotion and predation. Horses: Representing modern mammals, horses evolved from small, multi-toed ancestors about 55 million years ago, showcasing significant adaptive changes for survival in grassland ecosystems. Thus, the sequence Corals → Spiders → Snakes → Horses aligns with the evolutionary timeline

#### 1. Question

With reference to the evolution of living organisms on earth, which of the following is the correct sequence of evolution?

• a) Spiders-Snakes-Corals-Horses

• b) Horses-Spiders-Snakes-Corals

• c) Corals-Spiders-Snakes-Horses

• d) Snakes-Spiders-Corals-Horses

Solution: c)

The correct sequence of evolution reflects the gradual complexity in organisms over time. Life began in aquatic environments with simple organisms and progressively adapted to terrestrial ecosystems.

• Corals: Among the earliest multicellular marine organisms, corals emerged over 500 million years ago in the seas.

• Spiders: Evolving later, spiders represent early terrestrial arthropods that adapted to land habitats around 400 million years ago.

• Snakes: Snakes evolved from lizard-like ancestors approximately 150 million years ago, adapting to diverse habitats and displaying significant evolutionary advancements in locomotion and predation.

• Horses: Representing modern mammals, horses evolved from small, multi-toed ancestors about 55 million years ago, showcasing significant adaptive changes for survival in grassland ecosystems.

Thus, the sequence Corals → Spiders → Snakes → Horses aligns with the evolutionary timeline

Solution: c)

The correct sequence of evolution reflects the gradual complexity in organisms over time. Life began in aquatic environments with simple organisms and progressively adapted to terrestrial ecosystems.

• Corals: Among the earliest multicellular marine organisms, corals emerged over 500 million years ago in the seas.

• Spiders: Evolving later, spiders represent early terrestrial arthropods that adapted to land habitats around 400 million years ago.

• Horses: Representing modern mammals, horses evolved from small, multi-toed ancestors about 55 million years ago, showcasing significant adaptive changes for survival in grassland ecosystems.

Thus, the sequence Corals → Spiders → Snakes → Horses aligns with the evolutionary timeline

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of a) Paramecium and fungi b) Algae and virus c) Fungi and mosses d) Algae and fungi Correct Solution: d) Lichens are a remarkable example of a symbiotic relationship between two distinct organisms, algae and fungi. This mutualistic partnership allows them to colonize and thrive in harsh environments, including bare rocks. The algae (or sometimes cyanobacteria) perform photosynthesis, producing food that sustains both partners. The fungi provide structural support, shelter, and absorb moisture and nutrients from the environment, enabling the algae to survive in unfavorable conditions. This cooperation allows lichens to play a pioneering role in ecological succession. By secreting acids, they weather rocks and contribute to soil formation, paving the way for more complex plant and animal life. Incorrect Solution: d) Lichens are a remarkable example of a symbiotic relationship between two distinct organisms, algae and fungi. This mutualistic partnership allows them to colonize and thrive in harsh environments, including bare rocks. The algae (or sometimes cyanobacteria) perform photosynthesis, producing food that sustains both partners. The fungi provide structural support, shelter, and absorb moisture and nutrients from the environment, enabling the algae to survive in unfavorable conditions. This cooperation allows lichens to play a pioneering role in ecological succession. By secreting acids, they weather rocks and contribute to soil formation, paving the way for more complex plant and animal life.

#### 2. Question

Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of

• a) Paramecium and fungi

• b) Algae and virus

• c) Fungi and mosses

• d) Algae and fungi

Solution: d)

Lichens are a remarkable example of a symbiotic relationship between two distinct organisms, algae and fungi. This mutualistic partnership allows them to colonize and thrive in harsh environments, including bare rocks.

• The algae (or sometimes cyanobacteria) perform photosynthesis, producing food that sustains both partners.

• The fungi provide structural support, shelter, and absorb moisture and nutrients from the environment, enabling the algae to survive in unfavorable conditions.

This cooperation allows lichens to play a pioneering role in ecological succession. By secreting acids, they weather rocks and contribute to soil formation, paving the way for more complex plant and animal life.

Solution: d)

• The algae (or sometimes cyanobacteria) perform photosynthesis, producing food that sustains both partners.

• The fungi provide structural support, shelter, and absorb moisture and nutrients from the environment, enabling the algae to survive in unfavorable conditions.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Which of the following statements best describes biotic potential? a) It refers to the minimum population of a species required to sustain a food web. b) It refers to the possible functional roles a species can play in an ecosystem. c) It refers to the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under optimum environmental conditions. d) It refers to the potential biomass of a population measured as dry weight per unit area. Correct Solution: c) Biotic potential refers to the inherent ability of a species to reproduce and grow its population under ideal environmental conditions, without limiting factors such as resource scarcity, predation, or disease. It is a measure of the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism or population, assuming all conditions are favorable, such as ample food, space, and absence of competition. Biotic potential is influenced by factors like the organism’s reproductive rate, lifespan, and the number of offspring produced per reproductive cycle. It is distinct from the concept of carrying capacity, which considers environmental limitations that restrict population growth. Incorrect Solution: c) Biotic potential refers to the inherent ability of a species to reproduce and grow its population under ideal environmental conditions, without limiting factors such as resource scarcity, predation, or disease. It is a measure of the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism or population, assuming all conditions are favorable, such as ample food, space, and absence of competition. Biotic potential is influenced by factors like the organism’s reproductive rate, lifespan, and the number of offspring produced per reproductive cycle. It is distinct from the concept of carrying capacity, which considers environmental limitations that restrict population growth.

#### 3. Question

Which of the following statements best describes biotic potential?

• a) It refers to the minimum population of a species required to sustain a food web.

• b) It refers to the possible functional roles a species can play in an ecosystem.

• c) It refers to the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under optimum environmental conditions.

• d) It refers to the potential biomass of a population measured as dry weight per unit area.

Solution: c)

Biotic potential refers to the inherent ability of a species to reproduce and grow its population under ideal environmental conditions, without limiting factors such as resource scarcity, predation, or disease.

• It is a measure of the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism or population, assuming all conditions are favorable, such as ample food, space, and absence of competition.

• Biotic potential is influenced by factors like the organism’s reproductive rate, lifespan, and the number of offspring produced per reproductive cycle.

• It is distinct from the concept of carrying capacity, which considers environmental limitations that restrict population growth.

Solution: c)

• It is a measure of the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism or population, assuming all conditions are favorable, such as ample food, space, and absence of competition.

• Biotic potential is influenced by factors like the organism’s reproductive rate, lifespan, and the number of offspring produced per reproductive cycle.

• It is distinct from the concept of carrying capacity, which considers environmental limitations that restrict population growth.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question When ocean temperatures get too hot, corals often experience ‘bleaching’ events. What does this mean? a) Corals submerge themselves completely under water, starving themselves of sunlight and air to breathe b) Corals move towards cooler waters c) Plants and animals living in the vicinity of corals die d) The symbiotic nature of the relationship between a certain plant and animal breaks down Correct Solution: d) Often mistaken for a form of vegetation, corals “are in fact an animal that lives in symbiosis with an algae, a plant,” Corals and algae “provide services for each other,” with the algae providing “up to 90% of the coral animal’s food” through photosynthesis “When ocean temperatures get too hot, this symbiosis, this relationship, breaks down”. “The algae is lost from the coral and causes the coral to look white,” effectively “starving” it. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality. Incorrect Solution: d) Often mistaken for a form of vegetation, corals “are in fact an animal that lives in symbiosis with an algae, a plant,” Corals and algae “provide services for each other,” with the algae providing “up to 90% of the coral animal’s food” through photosynthesis “When ocean temperatures get too hot, this symbiosis, this relationship, breaks down”. “The algae is lost from the coral and causes the coral to look white,” effectively “starving” it. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality.

#### 4. Question

When ocean temperatures get too hot, corals often experience ‘bleaching’ events. What does this mean?

• a) Corals submerge themselves completely under water, starving themselves of sunlight and air to breathe

• b) Corals move towards cooler waters

• c) Plants and animals living in the vicinity of corals die

• d) The symbiotic nature of the relationship between a certain plant and animal breaks down

Solution: d)

Often mistaken for a form of vegetation, corals “are in fact an animal that lives in symbiosis with an algae, a plant,”

Corals and algae “provide services for each other,” with the algae providing “up to 90% of the coral animal’s food” through photosynthesis

“When ocean temperatures get too hot, this symbiosis, this relationship, breaks down”. “The algae is lost from the coral and causes the coral to look white,” effectively “starving” it.

When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality.

Solution: d)

Often mistaken for a form of vegetation, corals “are in fact an animal that lives in symbiosis with an algae, a plant,”

Corals and algae “provide services for each other,” with the algae providing “up to 90% of the coral animal’s food” through photosynthesis

When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question “A large tree shades a small plant, retarding the growth of the small plant. The small plant has no effect on the large tree” this example is related to which type of biotic interaction? a) Neutralism b) Amensalism c) Competition d) Commensalism Correct Solution: b) Amensalism: One species is harmed, the other is unaffected. Example: A large tree shades a small plant, retarding the growth of the small plant. The small plant has no effect on the large tree. Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is unaffected. Example: cow dung provides food and shelter to dung beetles. The beetles have no effect on the cows. Competition: both species are harmed by the interaction. Example: if two species eat the same food, and there isn’t enough for both, both may have access to less food than they would if alone. They both suffer a shortage of food. Neutralism: There is no net benefit or harm to either species. Perhaps in some inter-specific interactions, the costs and benefits experienced by each partner are exactly the same so that they sum to zero. It is not clear how often this happens in nature. Neutralism is also sometimes described as the, relationship between two species inhabiting the same space and using the same resources, but that have no effect on each other. Incorrect Solution: b) Amensalism: One species is harmed, the other is unaffected. Example: A large tree shades a small plant, retarding the growth of the small plant. The small plant has no effect on the large tree. Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is unaffected. Example: cow dung provides food and shelter to dung beetles. The beetles have no effect on the cows. Competition: both species are harmed by the interaction. Example: if two species eat the same food, and there isn’t enough for both, both may have access to less food than they would if alone. They both suffer a shortage of food. Neutralism: There is no net benefit or harm to either species. Perhaps in some inter-specific interactions, the costs and benefits experienced by each partner are exactly the same so that they sum to zero. It is not clear how often this happens in nature. Neutralism is also sometimes described as the, relationship between two species inhabiting the same space and using the same resources, but that have no effect on each other.

#### 5. Question

“A large tree shades a small plant, retarding the growth of the small plant. The small plant has no effect on the large tree” this example is related to which type of biotic interaction?

• a) Neutralism

• b) Amensalism

• c) Competition

• d) Commensalism

Solution: b)

Amensalism: One species is harmed, the other is unaffected. Example: A large tree shades a small plant, retarding the growth of the small plant. The small plant has no effect on the large tree.

Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is unaffected. Example: cow dung provides food and shelter to dung beetles. The beetles have no effect on the cows.

Competition: both species are harmed by the interaction. Example: if two species eat the same food, and there isn’t enough for both, both may have access to less food than they would if alone. They both suffer a shortage of food.

Neutralism: There is no net benefit or harm to either species. Perhaps in some inter-specific interactions, the costs and benefits experienced by each partner are exactly the same so that they sum to zero. It is not clear how often this happens in nature. Neutralism is also sometimes described as the, relationship between two species inhabiting the same space and using the same resources, but that have no effect on each other.

Solution: b)

Amensalism: One species is harmed, the other is unaffected. Example: A large tree shades a small plant, retarding the growth of the small plant. The small plant has no effect on the large tree.

Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is unaffected. Example: cow dung provides food and shelter to dung beetles. The beetles have no effect on the cows.

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