UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 21 March 2025

UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 21 March 2025 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 Which of the following pairs of soil type and its characteristic are correctly matched? Oxisols : These soils are very old and highly weathered Entisols : Weakly developed soils with no horizons Inceptisols : These soils have very high quantity of organic matter in the upper layers Histosols : Soils having weakly or quickly developed hozirons Select the correct answer code: a) 1, 2, 4 b) 1, 2 c) 1, 2, 3 d) 1, 2, 3, 4 Correct Solution: b) Oxisols are very old, highly weathered tropical soils, typically found in regions with high rainfall and warm temperatures. These soils are rich in iron and aluminum oxides, which give them a reddish color. Due to intense weathering, they are low in fertility and nutrients have been heavily leached out. Entisols are poorly developed soils with little or no horizon development, typically found in areas with active erosion or deposition, such as river valleys, sand dunes, or steep slopes. They are considered the youngest of all soil types. Inceptisols, contrary to statement 3, do not necessarily contain high organic matter. They are moderately developed soils with some horizon formation but still considered immature. Histosols, on the other hand, are organic-rich soils, often found in wetlands and bogs. They contain large amounts of partially decomposed organic matter. Incorrect Solution: b) Oxisols are very old, highly weathered tropical soils, typically found in regions with high rainfall and warm temperatures. These soils are rich in iron and aluminum oxides, which give them a reddish color. Due to intense weathering, they are low in fertility and nutrients have been heavily leached out. Entisols are poorly developed soils with little or no horizon development, typically found in areas with active erosion or deposition, such as river valleys, sand dunes, or steep slopes. They are considered the youngest of all soil types. Inceptisols, contrary to statement 3, do not necessarily contain high organic matter. They are moderately developed soils with some horizon formation but still considered immature. Histosols, on the other hand, are organic-rich soils, often found in wetlands and bogs. They contain large amounts of partially decomposed organic matter.

#### 1. Question

Which of the following pairs of soil type and its characteristic are correctly matched?

• Oxisols : These soils are very old and highly weathered

• Entisols : Weakly developed soils with no horizons

• Inceptisols : These soils have very high quantity of organic matter in the upper layers

• Histosols : Soils having weakly or quickly developed hozirons

Select the correct answer code:

• a) 1, 2, 4

• c) 1, 2, 3

• d) 1, 2, 3, 4

Solution: b)

• Oxisols are very old, highly weathered tropical soils, typically found in regions with high rainfall and warm temperatures. These soils are rich in iron and aluminum oxides, which give them a reddish color. Due to intense weathering, they are low in fertility and nutrients have been heavily leached out.

• Entisols are poorly developed soils with little or no horizon development, typically found in areas with active erosion or deposition, such as river valleys, sand dunes, or steep slopes. They are considered the youngest of all soil types.

• Inceptisols, contrary to statement 3, do not necessarily contain high organic matter. They are moderately developed soils with some horizon formation but still considered immature.

• Histosols, on the other hand, are organic-rich soils, often found in wetlands and bogs. They contain large amounts of partially decomposed organic matter.

Solution: b)

• Inceptisols, contrary to statement 3, do not necessarily contain high organic matter. They are moderately developed soils with some horizon formation but still considered immature.

• Histosols, on the other hand, are organic-rich soils, often found in wetlands and bogs. They contain large amounts of partially decomposed organic matter.

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question Consider the following statements. Aestivation is the type of winter sleep, performed by the warm as well as cold-blooded animals. Hibernation is the type of summer sleep, performed by cold-blooded animals. Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Solution: c) The state of inactivity and a low metabolic process performed by the animals during the winters is known as Hibernation. It is also known as winter sleep. It may be performed by both the warm and cold-blooded animals. Examples include bats, birds, mammals, insects, etc On the contrary, when animals take rest in shady and moist place during summer, it is called Aestivation or Estivation. Aestivation is also known as summer sleep. It is performed by cold-blooded animals. Examples include bees, snails, earthworms, salamanders, frogs, earthworms, crocodiles, tortoise, etc Incorrect Solution: c) The state of inactivity and a low metabolic process performed by the animals during the winters is known as Hibernation. It is also known as winter sleep. It may be performed by both the warm and cold-blooded animals. Examples include bats, birds, mammals, insects, etc On the contrary, when animals take rest in shady and moist place during summer, it is called Aestivation or Estivation. Aestivation is also known as summer sleep. It is performed by cold-blooded animals. Examples include bees, snails, earthworms, salamanders, frogs, earthworms, crocodiles, tortoise, etc

#### 2. Question

Consider the following statements.

• Aestivation is the type of winter sleep, performed by the warm as well as cold-blooded animals.

• Hibernation is the type of summer sleep, performed by cold-blooded animals.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

• c) Both 1 and 2

• d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: c)

The state of inactivity and a low metabolic process performed by the animals during the winters is known as Hibernation. It is also known as winter sleep. It may be performed by both the warm and cold-blooded animals. Examples include bats, birds, mammals, insects, etc

On the contrary, when animals take rest in shady and moist place during summer, it is called Aestivation or Estivation. Aestivation is also known as summer sleep. It is performed by cold-blooded animals. Examples include bees, snails, earthworms, salamanders, frogs, earthworms, crocodiles, tortoise, etc

Solution: c)

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Which of the following reasons can be attributed for rarely finding very small animals in Polar Regions? Very small animals tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside. Very small animals have a smaller surface area relative to their volume. Very small animals have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism. Select the correct answer code: a) 1 and 2 only b) 1 and 3 only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Correct Solution: b) Thermoregulation is energetically expensive for many organisms. This is particularly true for small animals like shrews and humming birds. Heat loss or heat gain is a function of surface area. Since small animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume, they tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside. They have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism. This is the main reason why very small animals are rarely found in polar regions. Incorrect Solution: b) Thermoregulation is energetically expensive for many organisms. This is particularly true for small animals like shrews and humming birds. Heat loss or heat gain is a function of surface area. Since small animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume, they tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside. They have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism. This is the main reason why very small animals are rarely found in polar regions.

#### 3. Question

Which of the following reasons can be attributed for rarely finding very small animals in Polar Regions?

• Very small animals tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside.

• Very small animals have a smaller surface area relative to their volume.

• Very small animals have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism.

Select the correct answer code:

• a) 1 and 2 only

• b) 1 and 3 only

• c) 2 and 3 only

• d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: b)

Thermoregulation is energetically expensive for many organisms. This is particularly true for small animals like shrews and humming birds. Heat loss or heat gain is a function of surface area. Since small animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume, they tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside.

They have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism.

This is the main reason why very small animals are rarely found in polar regions.

Solution: b)

They have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism.

This is the main reason why very small animals are rarely found in polar regions.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Which of the following type of algae that inhabit the sea is/are likely to be found in the deepest waters? a) Brown algae b) Red algae c) Green algae d) Blue-green algae Correct Solution: b) Red algae are able to grow in depth of seas as compared to green algae because of the presence of more quantity of pigment phycoerythrin in red algae growing at depth. Phycoerythrin can absorb blue- green wavelength of visible spectrum of light that can reach the maximum depth of water and help in photosynthesizing those red algae. Incorrect Solution: b) Red algae are able to grow in depth of seas as compared to green algae because of the presence of more quantity of pigment phycoerythrin in red algae growing at depth. Phycoerythrin can absorb blue- green wavelength of visible spectrum of light that can reach the maximum depth of water and help in photosynthesizing those red algae.

#### 4. Question

Which of the following type of algae that inhabit the sea is/are likely to be found in the deepest waters?

• a) Brown algae

• b) Red algae

• c) Green algae

• d) Blue-green algae

• Solution: b) Red algae are able to grow in depth of seas as compared to green algae because of the presence of more quantity of pigment phycoerythrin in red algae growing at depth. Phycoerythrin can absorb blue- green wavelength of visible spectrum of light that can reach the maximum depth of water and help in photosynthesizing those red algae.

Red algae are able to grow in depth of seas as compared to green algae because of the presence of more quantity of pigment phycoerythrin in red algae growing at depth. Phycoerythrin can absorb blue- green wavelength of visible spectrum of light that can reach the maximum depth of water and help in photosynthesizing those red algae.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Consider the following statements regarding Ecological Niche. A niche can be described as the interactions between a species with its biotic and abiotic environment. Two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time. Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Solution: b) Niche is basically the ecological or functional role of a species in an ecosystem, especially with regards to food consumption. A niche can also be described as the interactions, a species has with its biotic and abiotic environment. According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time. Incorrect Solution: b) Niche is basically the ecological or functional role of a species in an ecosystem, especially with regards to food consumption. A niche can also be described as the interactions, a species has with its biotic and abiotic environment. According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

#### 5. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Ecological Niche.

• A niche can be described as the interactions between a species with its biotic and abiotic environment.

• Two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

• c) Both 1 and 2

• d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: b)

Niche is basically the ecological or functional role of a species in an ecosystem, especially with regards to food consumption. A niche can also be described as the interactions, a species has with its biotic and abiotic environment.

According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

Solution: b)

According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

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