UPSC CDS-1

11. Arrange the following popular hill stations of India in terms of their

Arrange the following popular hill stations of India in terms of their height (from highest to the lowest) from the mean sea level :
1. Mussoorie
2. Shimla
3. Ooty
4. Darjeeling
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3-2-4-1
3-1-4-2
2-3-4-1
2-4-1-3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2016
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The approximate elevations of the given hill stations are:
Ooty (Udhagamandalam): ~2,240 meters above sea level.
Shimla: ~2,200 meters above sea level.
Darjeeling: ~2,050 meters above sea level.
Mussoorie: ~1,880 meters above sea level.
Arranging them from highest to lowest: Ooty (3), Shimla (2), Darjeeling (4), Mussoorie (1). The correct sequence is 3-2-4-1.
Knowing the relative elevations of popular geographical locations is useful for such questions.
Elevations can vary slightly depending on the specific point of measurement within the town, but these approximate values are commonly used for comparison.

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12. A person rings a metallic bell near a strong concrete wall. He hears t

A person rings a metallic bell near a strong concrete wall. He hears the echo after 0.3 s. If the sound moves with a speed of 340 m/s, how far is the wall from him?

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102 m
11 m
51 m
30 m
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2016
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The sound travels from the person to the wall and then reflects back to the person as an echo. The total distance covered by the sound is twice the distance between the person and the wall. The time taken for this round trip is 0.3 seconds, and the speed of sound is 340 m/s.
Total distance = Speed × Time
Total distance = 340 m/s × 0.3 s = 102 meters.
The distance to the wall is half of the total distance.
Distance to wall = Total distance / 2 = 102 m / 2 = 51 meters.
An echo involves sound travelling to a surface and back, so the distance to the surface is half the total distance covered by the sound.
The speed of sound in air is approximately 343 m/s at 20°C, but it varies with temperature and humidity. The value 340 m/s used in the problem is a typical approximation.

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13. The synthetic rubber has replaced natural rubber for domestic and indu

The synthetic rubber has replaced natural rubber for domestic and industrial purposes. Which one of the following is the main reason behind that ?

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Natural rubber is unable to meet the growing demand of different industries
Natural rubber is grown in tropical countries only
Raw material for synthetic rubber is easily available
Natural rubber is not durable
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2016
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The main reason synthetic rubber has largely replaced natural rubber for many purposes is the inability of natural rubber production to keep pace with the ever-increasing global demand, especially from large industries like the automotive sector. Synthetic rubber can be manufactured on a massive industrial scale, offering a more consistent supply and allowing for the tailoring of properties for specific applications.
Increasing demand and limited supply of natural rubber are key drivers for the dominance of synthetic rubber.
Natural rubber is derived from the latex of the rubber tree, requiring specific climate conditions (tropical) and time for tree growth. Synthetic rubber is produced from petroleum-based chemicals, offering greater control over production volume and material properties.

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14. Which of the following statements about India’s scientific and researc

Which of the following statements about India’s scientific and research mission in Antarctica is / are correct ?

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  • 1. The first scientific base station in Antarctica was Dakshin Gangotri
  • 2. Dakshin Gangotri is now being used as supply base and transit camp
  • 3. The Maitri station is manned throughout the year for scientific activities

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three statements are correct.
India’s first permanent research station in Antarctica, Dakshin Gangotri, was established in 1983. Due to being buried under ice and requiring significant effort for maintenance, it was decommissioned as a primary research base in 1989 but continues to serve as a logistics and supply base. Maitri, the second research station, was established in 1989 and is located about 90 km away. It is fully operational and is manned throughout the year for various scientific activities. Bharati, the third station, was commissioned in 2012.
India is a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty and conducts scientific research under its National Antarctic Programme. The research focuses on glaciology, atmospheric sciences, polar biology, earth sciences, and meteorology.

15. Which of the following statements regarding chemical industry in India

Which of the following statements regarding chemical industry in India is / are correct ?

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  • 1. Chemical industry is one of the oldest industries in India
  • 2. Dyestuff sector is one of the important segments of chemical industry
  • 3. Textile industry accounts for the largest consumption of dyestuffs

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three statements are correct.
The chemical industry in India has ancient roots and has grown significantly over time, making it one of the oldest and most diversified industries. The dyestuff sector is a crucial and well-developed segment, contributing substantially to the industry’s output and exports. The textile industry is a major consumer of dyestuffs for colouring fabrics and fibers.
India is a major global producer and exporter of dyes and dye intermediates. The chemical industry in India contributes significantly to the GDP and provides raw materials for various other industries like textiles, paper, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, etc.

16. Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

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Atoms of different elements may have same mass numbers
Atoms of an element may have different mass numbers
All the atoms of an element have same number of protons
All the atoms of an element will always have same number of neutrons
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2016
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The statement that is not correct is “All the atoms of an element will always have same number of neutrons”.
Atoms of the same element are defined by having the same number of protons (atomic number). However, atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons, which results in different mass numbers. These variants are called isotopes. Therefore, not all atoms of an element have the same number of neutrons.
Atoms of different elements can have the same mass number (isobars) if their sum of protons and neutrons is equal (e.g., ⁴⁰Ar and ⁴⁰Ca). Atoms of the same element always have the same number of protons. Atoms of the same element can have different mass numbers due to varying numbers of neutrons (isotopes).

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17. Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

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Hydrogen is an element
Hydrogen is the lightest element
Hydrogen has no isotopes
Hydrogen and oxygen form an explosive mixture
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The statement that is not correct is “Hydrogen has no isotopes”.
Hydrogen is indeed an element and the lightest element. A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is highly explosive. However, hydrogen has three naturally occurring isotopes: Protium (¹H), Deuterium (²H or D), and Tritium (³H or T). They differ in the number of neutrons (0, 1, and 2 respectively) while all having one proton.
Protium is the most common isotope of hydrogen, making up over 99.98% of natural hydrogen. Deuterium is also stable, while Tritium is radioactive. Deuterium is often referred to as heavy hydrogen, and water containing it (D₂O) is called heavy water.

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18. Which one of the following statements about bar magnet is correct ?

Which one of the following statements about bar magnet is correct ?

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The pole strength of the north-pole of a bar magnet is larger than that of the south-pole
When a piece of bar magnet is bisected perpendicular to its axis, the north and south poles get separated
When a piece of bar magnet is bisected parallel to its axis, two new bar magnets are formed
The poles of a bar magnet are unequal in magnitude and opposite in nature
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When a piece of bar magnet is bisected parallel to its axis, two new bar magnets are formed.
Magnetic poles always exist in pairs. If you cut a bar magnet, you don’t separate the north and south poles; instead, each resulting piece becomes a new magnet with its own north and south pole. Cutting parallel to the axis divides the magnet into two thinner magnets, each retaining its original length and thus forming new poles on the cut surface.
The pole strength of a bar magnet’s north pole is equal in magnitude to that of its south pole, although they are opposite in nature. Cutting a magnet perpendicular to its axis results in shorter magnets, each with a full set of poles. Magnetic monopoles (isolated north or south poles) have not been observed in nature.

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19. Which of the following statements is / are correct ? 1. Acid rain re

Which of the following statements is / are correct ?

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  • 1. Acid rain reacts with buildings made from limestone
  • 2. Burning of sulphur containing coal can contribute to acid rain
  • 3. Eutrophication is an effective measure to control pollution

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1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
Acid rain is corrosive and can damage buildings made of materials like limestone (calcium carbonate) through chemical reaction. Burning fossil fuels containing sulfur, such as coal, releases sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is a major precursor to acid rain. Eutrophication is the process of excessive nutrient enrichment in a water body, often caused by pollution (e.g., nutrient runoff), leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion; it is a type of pollution, not a method to control it.
Acid rain also affects forests, lakes, and aquatic life. Major sources of acid rain precursors include sulfur dioxide (SO2) from burning fossil fuels and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from vehicle emissions and industrial processes. Controlling pollution sources is the way to prevent eutrophication.

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20. The ‘eye’ of the cyclone has :

The ‘eye’ of the cyclone has :

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abnormally high temperature and lowest pressure
abnormally low temperature and pressure
clear sky and lowest temperature
dense cloud cover and low pressure
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2016
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The ‘eye’ of a cyclone has abnormally high temperature and lowest pressure relative to its surroundings at the same altitude.
The eye is the calm, clear region at the center of a mature tropical cyclone. It is characterized by very low atmospheric pressure, light winds, and clear skies (or scattered clouds). Air sinks in the eye, leading to adiabatic warming, which makes the temperature in the eye warmer than the surrounding eyewall.
The eyewall surrounds the eye and is where the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall occur, characterized by dense cloud cover. The lowest surface pressure of the cyclone is found within the eye.

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