UPSC CAPF Archives

11. Which of the following statements related to globalization is/are corr

Which of the following statements related to globalization is/are correct?

1. It has resulted in the change of scale in economic activities.
2. End of Cold War facilitated globalization.
3. Flow of money in transnational corporations is discouraged.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”1 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2013

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A) 1 and 2 only

Let’s evaluate each statement related to globalization:
1. Globalization involves the increasing interconnectedness and integration of economies worldwide. This leads to a shift in the scale of economic activities, with production chains becoming global, markets expanding internationally, and businesses operating across borders. This statement is correct.
2. The end of the Cold War marked a significant geopolitical shift, leading to the opening of economies in former communist states, reduced political barriers to trade and investment, and increased international cooperation. This significantly facilitated the expansion and deepening of globalization. This statement is correct.
3. Transnational corporations (TNCs) are major agents of globalization. Their operations involve significant cross-border flows of capital, including foreign direct investment, loans, portfolio investment, and repatriation of profits. Far from being discouraged, the increased flow of money across national borders facilitated by TNCs and financial markets is a defining feature of globalization. This statement is incorrect.
Based on the analysis, statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.

Globalization encompasses economic, political, social, and cultural aspects. While it offers opportunities like increased trade, economic growth, and cultural exchange, it also presents challenges such as increased inequality, exploitation of labor, environmental degradation, and cultural homogenization.

12. Which of the following statements regarding landslides is/are correct?

Which of the following statements regarding landslides is/are correct?

1. They are sudden and sporadic.
2. They result when the slope is gentle.
3. Mining activity is also responsible for landslides.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”1 and 3 only” option3=”3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2013

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B) 1 and 3 only

Let’s evaluate each statement regarding landslides:
1. Landslides can be sudden and catastrophic events, occurring without much warning, especially when triggered by intense rainfall or seismic activity. The term “sporadic” also fits, as they are not constant but happen at irregular intervals or locations. While some landslides (like creep) are slow, major destructive landslides are often sudden. This statement is generally correct in describing a common characteristic of significant landslides.
2. Landslides occur when the force pulling material downslope (primarily gravity) exceeds the shear strength of the slope material. This failure is more likely to occur on steeper slopes where the gravitational force parallel to the slope is greater. Gentle slopes are less susceptible to mass movements like landslides, although they can experience very slow forms of movement like creep. Thus, stating that they result when the slope is gentle is incorrect; they are more likely on steeper slopes.
3. Mining activities, such as excavation, blasting, removal of vegetation, changes in drainage patterns, and placement of waste piles, can destabilize slopes and significantly increase the risk of landslides. This is a recognised anthropogenic cause of landslides. This statement is correct.
Based on the analysis, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is incorrect.

Landslides are a type of mass wasting, which is the movement of rock, debris, or earth down a slope due to gravity. Triggers for landslides can be natural (rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic activity) or human-induced (mining, construction, deforestation, irrigation).

13. With reference to India, which of the following statements relating to

With reference to India, which of the following statements relating to urbanization is/are correct?

1. It is a manifestation of economic, social and political progress.
2. Rapid growth of urban population puts pressure on public utilities.
3. Urban sprawl is encroaching the precious agricultural land.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2013

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D) 1, 2 and 3

Let’s evaluate each statement regarding urbanization in India:
1. Urbanization is often driven by economic opportunities (industrialization, services), leading to changes in social structures, lifestyles, and political governance. It can be seen as a manifestation of overall societal progress, although it also brings challenges. This statement is generally correct.
2. Rapid growth in urban population, often through migration and natural increase, puts tremendous stress on existing public utilities like water supply, sewage systems, transportation networks, power supply, and housing. This is a significant challenge in many Indian cities. This statement is correct.
3. Urban sprawl refers to the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural landscapes. This process frequently leads to the conversion of fertile agricultural land, forests, and wetlands into residential, commercial, and industrial use, impacting food security and ecosystems. This is a well-documented consequence of urbanization in India. This statement is correct.
All three statements accurately describe aspects and impacts of urbanization in India.

Urbanization is a complex process with both positive and negative consequences. While it can drive economic growth and innovation, it also leads to challenges such as congestion, pollution, strain on resources, social inequality, and loss of natural habitats. Managing urbanization sustainably is a major policy challenge for India.

14. Plants capable of performing photosynthesis belong to which one among

Plants capable of performing photosynthesis belong to which one among the following types of organisms?

[amp_mcq option1=”Heterotrophs” option2=”Saprotrophs” option3=”Autotrophs” option4=”Chemoheterotrophs” correct=”option3″]

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C) Autotrophs

Organisms are classified based on how they obtain energy and carbon.
– Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals. Plants capable of photosynthesis use light energy (photoautotrophs) to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic sources like CO2 and water.
– Heterotrophs obtain carbon by consuming other organisms (plants or animals).
– Saprotrophs are heterotrophs that feed on dead organic matter.
– Chemoheterotrophs obtain both energy and carbon from consuming organic compounds.
Plants that perform photosynthesis are the primary producers in most ecosystems and are classified as autotrophs.

Photosynthesis is a vital process for life on Earth, converting light energy into chemical energy stored in organic molecules. This process releases oxygen as a byproduct, which is essential for the respiration of many organisms, including animals. Algae and some bacteria also perform photosynthesis.

15. Which one among the following is not a form of carbon?

Which one among the following is not a form of carbon?

[amp_mcq option1=”Graphene” option2=”Graphite” option3=”Fullerene” option4=”Quartz” correct=”option4″]

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D) Quartz

Allotropes are different structural modifications of an element in the same physical state.
– Graphene, Graphite, and Fullerene are all allotropes of carbon. Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal lattice. Graphite is composed of multiple layers of graphene stacked together. Fullerenes are carbon molecules forming hollow spheres, ellipsoids, or tubes (like buckyballs).
– Quartz, on the other hand, is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen, with the chemical formula SiO2 (silicon dioxide). It is a major component of the Earth’s crust. Therefore, quartz is not a form of carbon.

Other common allotropes of carbon include diamond and amorphous carbon. The different physical properties of these allotropes (e.g., hardness, conductivity) are due to the different ways the carbon atoms are bonded together.

16. Which one among the following statements about ‘modem’ is correct?

Which one among the following statements about ‘modem’ is correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”Modem is a software” option2=”Modem helps in stabilizing the voltage” option3=”Modem is an operating system” option4=”Modem converts the analog signal into digital signal and vice versa” correct=”option4″]

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D) Modem converts the analog signal into digital signal and vice versa

A modem, which stands for Modulator-Demodulator, is a networking hardware device. Its primary function is to convert digital signals generated by a computer or other digital device into analog signals that can be transmitted over traditional analog communication channels like telephone lines or coaxial cables (modulation). Conversely, it receives incoming analog signals from the communication line and converts them back into digital signals that the computer can understand (demodulation). This process allows digital devices to communicate over analog infrastructure.

Modems are essential for many types of internet connections, including dial-up, DSL, and cable internet. They bridge the gap between the digital world of computers and the analog nature of certain transmission media. While modern networks often use digital signals end-to-end, modems are still necessary at the interface with older or specific transmission technologies.

17. What is the correct sequence of conductivity when arranged in ascendin

What is the correct sequence of conductivity when arranged in ascending order?

[amp_mcq option1=”Metals, semiconductors, insulators” option2=”Insulators, metals, semi-conductors” option3=”Semiconductors, metals, insulators” option4=”Insulators, semiconductors, metals” correct=”option4″]

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D) Insulators, semiconductors, metals

Electrical conductivity is a measure of a material’s ability to conduct electric current. Materials are classified based on their conductivity:
– Insulators have very low conductivity, resisting the flow of charge (e.g., rubber, plastic, glass).
– Semiconductors have conductivity between that of insulators and conductors, which can be significantly altered by temperature, doping, or external fields (e.g., silicon, germanium).
– Metals (conductors) have high conductivity, allowing charge to flow easily (e.g., copper, silver, gold).
Arranging these in ascending order of conductivity means starting from the lowest conductivity to the highest. Therefore, the correct sequence is Insulators < Semiconductors < Metals.

The conductivity of materials is related to the availability of free charge carriers (electrons or ions) within their structure and how easily these carriers can move. In metals, there is a large number of free electrons. In semiconductors, the number of free carriers is much smaller but can be increased. Insulators have very few free charge carriers.

18. Geostationary satellite completes its one revolution around the earth

Geostationary satellite completes its one revolution around the earth in

[amp_mcq option1=”90 minutes” option2=”24 hours” option3=”30 days” option4=”365 days” correct=”option2″]

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B) 24 hours

A geostationary satellite orbits the Earth at a specific altitude (approximately 35,786 kilometers above the equator) and follows the Earth’s rotation. For a satellite to appear stationary from a point on the Earth’s surface, its orbital period must be exactly equal to the Earth’s sidereal rotation period, which is about 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. For practical purposes and standard options, this is typically rounded to 24 hours. This synchronization allows the satellite to remain over the same geographic location on the equator.

Geostationary satellites are crucial for communication (television, internet), weather monitoring, and navigation (though GPS uses MEO satellites). Their fixed position relative to the ground simplifies the design of ground antennas, which do not need to track the satellite. Geostationary orbits are a specific type of geosynchronous orbit, which has a period equal to the Earth’s rotation period but may not necessarily be inclined zero degrees to the equator.

19. The formation of colours in soap bubbles is due to the phenomenon of

The formation of colours in soap bubbles is due to the phenomenon of

[amp_mcq option1=”dispersion of light” option2=”interference of light” option3=”diffraction of light” option4=”polarization of light” correct=”option2″]

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B) interference of light

The iridescent colours observed in soap bubbles are a result of the interference of light waves. When light strikes the thin soap film, it reflects off both the outer and inner surfaces. These two reflected waves interfere with each other. Due to the slight difference in the path length traveled by the waves (determined by the thickness of the film and the angle of incidence) and the phase change upon reflection, certain wavelengths of light are constructively interfered (enhanced), while others are destructively interfered (cancelled). This results in the appearance of vibrant colours, which vary depending on the local thickness of the soap film.

This phenomenon is also observed in other thin films, such as oil slicks on water. The specific colour seen at any point on the bubble depends on the thickness of the film at that point and the angle from which it is viewed. As the soap bubble thins (e.g., due to evaporation), the colours change, often displaying white or black just before bursting when the film becomes extremely thin.

20. Advanced sunrise and delayed sun-set found in the sky are due to the p

Advanced sunrise and delayed sun-set found in the sky are due to the phenomenon of

[amp_mcq option1=”diffraction of sunlight” option2=”refraction of sunlight” option3=”scattering of sunlight” option4=”total internal reflection of sun-light” correct=”option2″]

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The correct option is B. Advanced sunrise and delayed sunset are due to the phenomenon of refraction of sunlight.

As sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it passes through layers of air with varying densities. This causes the light rays to bend, or refract. Near the horizon, where sunlight travels through a larger amount of atmosphere, this refraction is significant. The atmosphere bends the light rays downwards, towards the Earth’s surface. This bending makes the Sun appear higher in the sky than its actual position. As a result, we see the Sun before it has actually risen above the horizon (advanced sunrise) and after it has actually set below the horizon (delayed sunset).

Refraction causes the apparent position of the Sun to be about 0.5 degrees higher than its true position when it is near the horizon. This leads to sunrise appearing about two minutes earlier and sunset about two minutes later than they would in the absence of atmospheric refraction. Diffraction is the bending of light around obstacles. Scattering is the redirection of light by particles. Total internal reflection requires specific conditions involving light moving from a denser to a rarer medium.