UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 20 January 2026

UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 20 January 2026 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 Consider the following statements. Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A forest is considered a carbon sink if it absorbs more carbon than it releases. Continental forests store at least ten times more carbon than Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Solution: B Statement 3 is incorrect. Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Earth’s land and oceans absorb about half of all carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes store at least ten times more carbon than continental forests. Sedimentary rocks in the Earth’s crust contain loads of carbon compounds, including the hydrocarbons we use as fossil fuels that leads to excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. A forest is considered a carbon sink if it absorbs more carbon than it releases. Incorrect Solution: B Statement 3 is incorrect. Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Earth’s land and oceans absorb about half of all carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes store at least ten times more carbon than continental forests. Sedimentary rocks in the Earth’s crust contain loads of carbon compounds, including the hydrocarbons we use as fossil fuels that leads to excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. A forest is considered a carbon sink if it absorbs more carbon than it releases.

#### 1. Question

Consider the following statements.

• Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

• A forest is considered a carbon sink if it absorbs more carbon than it releases.

• Continental forests store at least ten times more carbon than Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes.

How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Solution: B

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Earth’s land and oceans absorb about half of all carbon dioxide emissions from human activities.

Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes store at least ten times more carbon than continental forests.

Sedimentary rocks in the Earth’s crust contain loads of carbon compounds, including the hydrocarbons we use as fossil fuels that leads to excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

A forest is considered a carbon sink if it absorbs more carbon than it releases.

Solution: B

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Earth’s land and oceans absorb about half of all carbon dioxide emissions from human activities.

Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes store at least ten times more carbon than continental forests.

Sedimentary rocks in the Earth’s crust contain loads of carbon compounds, including the hydrocarbons we use as fossil fuels that leads to excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

A forest is considered a carbon sink if it absorbs more carbon than it releases.

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question The warming up of oceans would affect fishes in which of the following ways? It causes stress and decrease the range for fishes. Increase diseases and even wipe out many commonly eaten fish. The aerobic capacity of fish increases in warming waters. Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Correct Solution: B Warming oceans can cause stress, decrease the range, increase diseases and even wipe out many commonly eaten fish. As temperature increases, the demand for oxygen of many fish species will exceed their capacity to extract oxygen from the environment through their gills. As a result, the aerobic capacity of fish decreases in warming waters, and this reduction may be more important in larger fishes. Incorrect Solution: B Warming oceans can cause stress, decrease the range, increase diseases and even wipe out many commonly eaten fish. As temperature increases, the demand for oxygen of many fish species will exceed their capacity to extract oxygen from the environment through their gills. As a result, the aerobic capacity of fish decreases in warming waters, and this reduction may be more important in larger fishes.

#### 2. Question

The warming up of oceans would affect fishes in which of the following ways?

• It causes stress and decrease the range for fishes.

• Increase diseases and even wipe out many commonly eaten fish.

• The aerobic capacity of fish increases in warming waters.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• b) 1 and 2 only

• c) 1 and 3 only

• d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: B

Warming oceans can cause stress, decrease the range, increase diseases and even wipe out many commonly eaten fish.

As temperature increases, the demand for oxygen of many fish species will exceed their capacity to extract oxygen from the environment through their gills. As a result, the aerobic capacity of fish decreases in warming waters, and this reduction may be more important in larger fishes.

Solution: B

Warming oceans can cause stress, decrease the range, increase diseases and even wipe out many commonly eaten fish.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question The chemical oxygen demand (COD) test is commonly used to measure which of the following? a) Amount of oxygen used in an oxygenation process b) Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems c) Oxygen required to decompose organic constituents present in the wastewater d) None of the above Correct Solution: C The amount of oxygen that is required for the chemical oxidation of the organic and inorganic chemicals present in the wastewater by utilising oxidising agents like Potassium permanganate, Potassium dichromate etc. is called as chemical oxygen demand (COD). COD is the oxygen demand that is consumed by both inorganic and organic matter present in the wastewater sample. Incorrect Solution: C The amount of oxygen that is required for the chemical oxidation of the organic and inorganic chemicals present in the wastewater by utilising oxidising agents like Potassium permanganate, Potassium dichromate etc. is called as chemical oxygen demand (COD). COD is the oxygen demand that is consumed by both inorganic and organic matter present in the wastewater sample.

#### 3. Question

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) test is commonly used to measure which of the following?

• a) Amount of oxygen used in an oxygenation process

• b) Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems

• c) Oxygen required to decompose organic constituents present in the wastewater

• d) None of the above

Solution: C

The amount of oxygen that is required for the chemical oxidation of the organic and inorganic chemicals present in the wastewater by utilising oxidising agents like Potassium permanganate, Potassium dichromate etc. is called as chemical oxygen demand (COD). COD is the oxygen demand that is consumed by both inorganic and organic matter present in the wastewater sample.

Solution: C

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Consider the following statements. Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but also have small amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. Storing the carbon contained in organic matter within the soil, is seen as one way to mitigate climate change. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) cannot be emitted back in gaseous form or lost into the atmosphere. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Solution: B Statement 3 is incorrect. Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but also has small amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, potassium, calcium and magnesium contained within organic residues. After carbon enters the soil in the form of organic material from soil fauna and flora, it can persist in the soil for decades, centuries or even millennia. Eventually, SOC can be lost as CO2 or CH4 emitted back into the atmosphere, eroded soil material, or dissolved organic carbon washed into rivers and oceans. Incorrect Solution: B Statement 3 is incorrect. Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but also has small amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, potassium, calcium and magnesium contained within organic residues. After carbon enters the soil in the form of organic material from soil fauna and flora, it can persist in the soil for decades, centuries or even millennia. Eventually, SOC can be lost as CO2 or CH4 emitted back into the atmosphere, eroded soil material, or dissolved organic carbon washed into rivers and oceans.

#### 4. Question

Consider the following statements.

• Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but also have small amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous.

• Storing the carbon contained in organic matter within the soil, is seen as one way to mitigate climate change.

• Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) cannot be emitted back in gaseous form or lost into the atmosphere.

How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Solution: B

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but also has small amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, potassium, calcium and magnesium contained within organic residues.

After carbon enters the soil in the form of organic material from soil fauna and flora, it can persist in the soil for decades, centuries or even millennia. Eventually, SOC can be lost as CO2 or CH4 emitted back into the atmosphere, eroded soil material, or dissolved organic carbon washed into rivers and oceans.

Solution: B

Statement 3 is incorrect.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Which of these ecosystems would sequester most carbon for a given unit of area? a) Grassland b) Bare soil c) Mature tropical forests d) Saltmarsh Correct Solution: D Saltmarshes are one of the key coastal ‘blue carbon’ habitats, recognised for their ability to store carbon within above- and below-ground biomass and sediments. Saltmarshes sequester carbon at a rate two to four times greater than that recorded for mature tropical forests. Incorrect Solution: D Saltmarshes are one of the key coastal ‘blue carbon’ habitats, recognised for their ability to store carbon within above- and below-ground biomass and sediments. Saltmarshes sequester carbon at a rate two to four times greater than that recorded for mature tropical forests.

#### 5. Question

Which of these ecosystems would sequester most carbon for a given unit of area?

• a) Grassland

• b) Bare soil

• c) Mature tropical forests

• d) Saltmarsh

Solution: D

Saltmarshes are one of the key coastal ‘blue carbon’ habitats, recognised for their ability to store carbon within above- and below-ground biomass and sediments.

Saltmarshes sequester carbon at a rate two to four times greater than that recorded for mature tropical forests.

Solution: D

Saltmarshes are one of the key coastal ‘blue carbon’ habitats, recognised for their ability to store carbon within above- and below-ground biomass and sediments.

Saltmarshes sequester carbon at a rate two to four times greater than that recorded for mature tropical forests.

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