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Generate QuizEnvironment – Medium Level – GK Questions
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Nitrogen fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into ammonia (NH3) by certain bacteria.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Rhizobium convert inert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for plants, a crucial step in the nitrogen cycle.
Which biogeochemical cycle does NOT have a significant atmospheric component?
- Carbon cycle
- Nitrogen cycle
- Phosphorus cycle
- Water cycle
Answer: Phosphorus cycle
The phosphorus cycle is primarily sedimentary, moving through rocks, soil, and water, with minimal atmospheric involvement unlike carbon or nitrogen cycles.
Which of the following is a challenge to achieving sustainable development in India?
- High literacy rates
- Rapid urbanization and population growth
- Abundant renewable energy resources
- Strong environmental governance
Answer: Rapid urbanization and population growth
Rapid urbanization strains infrastructure, increases waste and pollution, and challenges resource management, hindering sustainable development goals.
Which of the following is an example of 'Sustainable Agriculture'?
- Monoculture with heavy pesticide use
- Organic farming with crop rotation and natural pest control
- Clearing forests for large-scale farming
- Excessive groundwater extraction for irrigation
Answer: Organic farming with crop rotation and natural pest control
Sustainable agriculture maintains soil health, biodiversity, and water resources while producing food without degrading the environment.
Which of the following is a key principle of 'Green Building' design?
- Maximizing energy consumption
- Using non-renewable materials
- Water and energy efficiency, and use of sustainable materials
- Ignoring local climate conditions
Answer: Water and energy efficiency, and use of sustainable materials
Green buildings minimize environmental impact through efficient resource use, renewable materials, and healthy indoor environments.
The 'Circular Economy' model aims to eliminate waste by keeping resources in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, and recycling.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Circular economy contrasts with the linear 'take-make-dispose' model, emphasizing resource efficiency and closed-loop systems.
The concept of 'Carrying Capacity' in sustainable development refers to the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain _____.
- Temporarily
- Indefinitely
- With external aid
- Through migration
Answer: Indefinitely
Carrying capacity is the maximum population an ecosystem can support indefinitely without degradation of resources.
Which of the following is NOT one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
- No Poverty
- Climate Action
- Space Exploration
- Clean Water and Sanitation
Answer: Space Exploration
The 17 SDGs, adopted in 2015, focus on ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity; space exploration is not a goal.
Which of the following is a key function of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?
- Granting mining leases
- Coordinating State Pollution Control Boards and setting national standards
- Managing national parks
- Regulating international trade in wildlife
Answer: Coordinating State Pollution Control Boards and setting national standards
CPCB advises the Central Government, coordinates SPCBs, and formulates national ambient air and water quality standards.
Which of the following NGOs is known for its 'Green Schools Programme' promoting environmental education in India?
- Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
- World Wildlife Fund-India (WWF-India)
- Greenpeace India
Answer: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
TERI's Green Schools Programme empowers schools to adopt sustainable practices and integrate environmental education into curricula.
The 'Swachh Bharat Mission' launched in 2014 aims to achieve a clean India by focusing on _____ management and sanitation.
- Water
- Waste
- Air
- Noise
Answer: Waste
Swachh Bharat Mission focuses on solid and liquid waste management, eliminating open defecation, and promoting behavioral change.
The 'Save Silent Valley' movement successfully prevented the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Kerala's Silent Valley National Park.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Public pressure and scientific advocacy led to the cancellation of the dam project, preserving the pristine tropical evergreen forest.
Which of the following is a primary objective of the 'Namami Gange' programme?
- Promoting hydroelectric projects on the Ganga
- Pollution abatement, conservation, and rejuvenation of the Ganga River
- Increasing industrial use of Ganga water
- Diverting Ganga water to other river basins
Answer: Pollution abatement, conservation, and rejuvenation of the Ganga River
Namami Gange is an integrated conservation mission to reduce pollution, conserve biodiversity, and rejuvenate the Ganga.
The Chipko Movement, which began in the 1970s in Uttarakhand, was inspired by the teachings of _____, a Gandhian environmentalist.
- Vinoba Bhave
- Sunderlal Bahuguna
- Jayaprakash Narayan
- Ram Manohar Lohia
Answer: Sunderlal Bahuguna
Sunderlal Bahuguna was a key leader of the Chipko Movement, advocating for forest conservation through non-violent resistance.
Which Indian environmentalist is known as the 'Waterman of India' for his work in water conservation in Rajasthan?
- Sunderlal Bahuguna
- Rajendra Singh
- Medha Patkar
- M. S. Swaminathan
Answer: Rajendra Singh
Rajendra Singh revived traditional water harvesting structures (johads) in Rajasthan, earning him the title 'Waterman of India'.
Geothermal energy can be harnessed only in regions with active volcanoes or hot springs.
- True
- False
Answer: False
While high-temperature geothermal resources are found in tectonically active areas, low-temperature resources exist widely and can be used for heating via heat pumps.
Which of the following is an advantage of using biofuels over fossil fuels?
- Higher energy density
- Lower production cost
- Potential for carbon neutrality
- No impact on food security
Answer: Potential for carbon neutrality
Biofuels can be carbon-neutral if the CO2 released during combustion is offset by CO2 absorbed during feedstock growth.
Which of the following countries is the world's largest producer of hydroelectricity?
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- United States
Answer: China
China leads in hydroelectric generation, with massive projects like the Three Gorges Dam contributing significantly to its energy mix.
The process of converting organic material into a combustible gas mixture (mainly methane and CO2) through anaerobic digestion is called _____.
- Gasification
- Pyrolysis
- Biogas production
- Fermentation
Answer: Biogas production
Biogas is produced when microorganisms break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, yielding a clean-burning fuel.
Hydropower is considered a renewable energy source because water is replenished through the natural water cycle.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The water cycle (evaporation, precipitation) continuously replenishes water in reservoirs, making hydropower renewable, though dams have ecological impacts.