NEET Biology - Environmental Issues
Exam Duration: 60 Mins Total Questions : 30
Which of the following is used to remove particulate matter?
- (a)
Elextrophoresis
- (b)
Electrostatic precipitator
- (c)
Electromagnetic lenses
- (d)
All of these
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is
- (a)
propane
- (b)
methane
- (c)
ethane
- (d)
butane
Compressed Natural gas (CNG) is mostly methane. It is better alternative to petrol or diesel in terms of adverse effects on environment. In 2002, public transport vehicles in Delhi switched to CNG by the order of government as it burns more efficiently and cause lesser pollution.
A genetically engineered microorganism used successfully in bioremediation of oil spills is a species of
- (a)
Pseudomonas
- (b)
Trichoderma
- (c)
Xanthomonas
- (d)
Bacillus
The Taj Mahal is reported to be affected by
- (a)
SO2 pollution from oil refinery of mathura
- (b)
Buring of fossil fuel around Taj Mahal in Agara
- (c)
Photochemical smog in Agara
- (d)
Greenhouse effect in Agara
What gases are produced in anaerobic sludge digesters?
- (a)
Methane and CO2
- (b)
Methane, hydrogen sulphide and CO2
- (c)
Methane, hydrogen sulphide and O 2
- (d)
Hydrogen sulphide and CO2
Montreal protocol which calls for appropriate action to protect the ozone layer from human activities was passed in the year
- (a)
1986
- (b)
1987
- (c)
1988
- (d)
1985
1987
Catalytic converters are mainly used in
- (a)
Industrial exhausts
- (b)
Sewage treatment plants
- (c)
Thermal power plants
- (d)
Automobiles
Automobiles
Odd climatic change in global warming is
- (a)
La Nino
- (b)
El Nino.
- (c)
Green house effect
- (d)
Ozone depletion.
El Nino.
The zone of atmosphere in which ozone layer is present is called
- (a)
Stratosphere.
- (b)
Trophosphere.
- (c)
Ionosphere.
- (d)
Mesosphere.
The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of stratosphere, i.e. approximately 20-30 km above the earth, though its thickness varies seasonally and geographically, ozone layer acts as a shield absorbing UV rays from the sun.
High value of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) indicates that
- (a)
water is pure
- (b)
water is highly polluted
- (c)
water is less polluted
- (d)
consumption of organic matter in the water is higher by the microbes
BOD is the measure or oxygen required for chemical breakdown of organic pollutants or wastes. High value of BOD in a water source indicates, high level of pollutants. Highly polluted water bodies has increased demand of BOD.
Acid rains are produced by
- (a)
excess NOx and S02 from burning fossil fuels
- (b)
excess production of NH3 by industries and power plants
- (c)
excess release of carbon monoxide by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
- (d)
excess release of CO2 by combustion and animal respiration.
Acid rain is caused by large scale emission of acidic gases into the atmosphere from thermal power plants, industries and automobiles. The common ones are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic carbons (VOCs) and hydrogen chloride. NOx are also produced in atmosphere through lightning. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are changed in the atmosphere into sulphuric acid and nitric acid by combining with oxygen and water.
If the forest cover is reduced to half, what is most likely to happen on a long time basis?
- (a)
Tribals living in these areas will starve to death.
- (b)
Cattle in these and adjoining areas will die due to lack of fodder
- (c)
Large areas will become deserts.
- (d)
Crop breeding programmes will suffer due to reduced availability of variety of germplasm
Large areas will become deserts.
A lake near a village suffered heavy mortality of fishes within a few days. Consider the following reasons for this
I. Lots of urea and phosphate fertilisers were used in the crops in the nearby fields.
II. The croplands of the village were fertilised fields rich in nitrate and phosphate.
III. The lake water turned green and stinky.
IV. Phytoplankton populations in the lake declined initially thereby greatly reducing photosynthesis.
- (a)
(i) and (iii)
- (b)
(i), (ii) and (iii)
- (c)
(ii), (iii) and (iv)
- (d)
(iii) and (iv)
The use of urea and phosphate fertilisers and pesticide spray to crop fields are passed down to lake during rains through surface runoff. The presence of extra nutrients brings about dense growth of plant and animal life. This phenomenon is called eutrophication. It will also lead to increase in the biomass of algae which causes algal bloom. This results in the drastic decrease in oxygen in the lake, which led to mass scale death of fishes
Fluoride pollution mainly affects
- (a)
teeth
- (b)
kidney
- (c)
brain
- (d)
heart
Prolonged intake of fluoride polluted water causes stiffning of bone and joints particularly spinal cord. Due to the affinity with calcium, fluoride stores in bones which causes mottling of teeth, bone pains and outward bending of legs from the knees. This is known as knock knee syndrome.
Measuring Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a method used for
- (a)
estimating the amount of organic matter in sewage water
- (b)
working out the efficiency of oil driven automobile engines
- (c)
measuring the activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in producing curd on a commercial scale
- (d)
working out the efficiency of RBCs about their capacity to carry oxygen
Decomposition of organic matter by microbial activity depends on oxygen availability in water. The degree of impurity of water due to the organic matter is measured in terms of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) or BOD is the oxygen in milligrams required for five days in one litre of water at 20°C for the microorganisms to metabolise organic waste.
The Government of India has passed the environment (Protection) Act in the year
- (a)
1990
- (b)
1987
- (c)
1986
- (d)
1992.
In order to control environmental pollution, the Government of India has passed the Environment (Protection) Act in 1986 to protect and improve the quality of our environment.
Given below are some differences between primary air pollutants and secondary air pollutants. Which one of the following is an incorrect difference?
- (a)
Primary air pollutants Secondary air pollutants These persist in the form in which they are added to the environment. These are formed by interaction among the primary pollutants - (b)
Primary air pollutants Secondary air pollutants These are more toxic than the secondary pollutants. These are less toxic than the primary pollutants. - (c)
Primary air pollutants Secondary air pollutants Examples include DDT, CO2 Examples Ozone, PAN - (d)
None of these
Secondary air pollutants are more toxic than primary air pollutants.
Motor vehicles equipped with catalytic converter are advised to use unleaded petrol because
- (a)
lead is a heavy metal
- (b)
lead causes inactivation of catalyst
- (c)
lead decreases the efficiency of vehicle
- (d)
lead increases burning of petrol.
Automobiles fitted with catalytic converter should not use leaded petrol because lead inactivates the catalyst of the converter.
In India, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act came into force in the year 1981, but was amended In the year__________to include _______as an air pollutant.
- (a)
1990, noise
- (b)
1984, particulate matter
- (c)
1987, PAN
- (d)
1987, noise
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 deals with the preservation of air quality and the control of air pollution with a concern for the detrimental effects of air. By an amendment in 1987, noise was also recognised as an air pollutant.
Select the correct statement regarding integrated organic farming.
- (a)
It is a cyclical, zero waste procedure where waste products from one process are cycled in as nutrients for other processes.
- (b)
In this process, industrial wastes is used to manufacture product such as polyblend
- (c)
In this process, chemical fertilisers are used to increase yield
- (d)
both (a) and (c)
Read the given statements and select the correct option.
Statement 1 : Average temperature of Earth has increased by O.6°C during the past century.
Statement 2 : There has been a progressive increase in the use of fossil fuels generating more greenhouse gases.
- (a)
Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
- (b)
Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is incorrect.
- (c)
Statement 1 is incorrect but statement 2 is correct.
- (d)
Both statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.
The various greenhouse gases are CO2, CH4, CFCs and N20. Excessiveuse of fossil fuel is adding more CO2 to atmosphere. This increase in concentration of greenhouse gases has led to considerable heating of earth leading to global warming. During the past century, the temperature of earth has increased by 0.6°C.
Select the correct arrangement of the types of ultraviolet radiations according to the intensity of their effect on human skin.
- (a)
UV-A> UV-B> UV-C
- (b)
UV-B > UV-C > UV-A
- (c)
UV-C> UV-B> UV-A
- (d)
UV-A > UV-C > UV-B
Ultraviolet radiations are of three types - UV-C (100 - 280 nm), UV-B (280 - 320nm) and UV-A (320 - 390nm). Shorter ultraviolet radiations (UV-C) are absorbed by the atmosphere. The longer ones are not much harmful. The intermediate or UV-B are harmful as well as capable of deep penetration. Thinning of ozone layer increases the amount of UV-B radiations reaching the earth. UV-B radiations damage skin cells cause ageing of skin and skin cancer.
Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award is for the individuals or communities from rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage in
- (a)
reducing environmental pollution
- (b)
reducing global warming
- (c)
protecting wildlife
- (d)
reforestation in deforested area.
The Government of India has instituted Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award for individuals or communities from rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wildlife.
Which one of the following diseases is not due to contamination of water?
- (a)
Hepatitis-B
- (b)
Jaundice
- (c)
Cholera
- (d)
Typhoid
Hepatitis-B is caused by Hepatitis-B virus. It can be transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual contact, saliva and sharing of razors. It is not transmitted through contamination of water, as is the case with the rest of other diseases.
Assertion: Heavy metals and persistent pesticides pass into the food chain and increase in amount per unit weight of the organism at successive trophic levels. Reason: Heavy metals and persistent pesticides can be easily metabolised by the organism's body.
- (a)
If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
- (b)
If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
- (c)
If assertion is true but reason is false.
- (d)
If both assertion and reason are false.
Heavy metals and persistent pesticides (e.g., organochlorine or chlorinated hydrocarbons like DDT) pass into food chain and increase in amount per unit weight of organisms with the rise in trophic level due to their accumulation in fat. The phenomenon is called biomagnification/bioconcentration/ biological amplification. In other words, biomagnification refers to increase in concentration of the toxicant at successive trophic levels.This happens because a toxic substance accumulated by an organism cannot be metabolised or excreted, and is thus passed on to the next higher trophic level. This phenomenon is well-known for mercury and DDT. High concentration of DDT disturb calcium metabolism in birds, which causes thinning of egg shell and their premature breaking, eventually causing decline in bird population. These chlorinated hydrocarbons affect CNS, cause softening of brain, cerebral haemorrhage, liver cirrhosis, hypertension and also affect an organism's reproductive system.
Euro-II (April - 2000) is emission norms for reducing
- (a)
O3 and CO
- (b)
NO2 and N2O
- (c)
Sulphur and Aromatic hydrocarbons
- (d)
CO2 and particulate matter
Minamata disease is due to
- (a)
Oil spill in water
- (b)
Arsenic into the atmosphere
- (c)
Industrial waste having mercury in water
- (d)
Organic waste into drinking water
Find odd one out w.r.t. e-waste importers
- (a)
India
- (b)
Pakistan
- (c)
China
- (d)
America
Green house gases are
- (a)
Absorbers of long-wave radiations from earth
- (b)
Transparent to both solar radiations and longwave radiations from earth
- (c)
Absorbers of incoming solar radiations for warming the atmosphere
- (d)
Transparent to emissions from earth for passage into outer space
Arrange CFC, CH4, N2O and CO2 in decreasing order according to their contribution in green house effect
- (a)
CO2> N2O > CFC > CH4
- (b)
CFC > CO2 > CH4 > N2O
- (c)
CH4 > CFC > N2O > CO2
- (d)
CO2 > CH4 > CFC > N2O