UPSC CDS-1 Archives

41. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given planet

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given planets in increasing order of their size (diameter) ?

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Mars - Venus - Earth - Mercury - Uranus

Mercury - Mars - Venus - Earth - Uranus

Mercury - Mars - Venus - Earth

Venus - Mercury - Mars - Earth - Uranus

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To arrange the given planets in increasing order of their size (diameter), we need to know their relative sizes. The approximate diameters relative to Earth’s diameter are: Mercury (~0.38), Mars (~0.53), Venus (~0.95), Earth (1.00), Uranus (~4.0). Arranging these values in increasing order gives the sequence: Mercury < Mars < Venus < Earth < Uranus.

The sequence of planets from the Sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Their sizes vary, with the inner terrestrial planets being smaller than the outer gas/ice giants.

The largest planets in our solar system are Jupiter and Saturn, followed by Uranus and Neptune. The smallest planets are Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Earth, in increasing order of size.

42. Stalactites and stalagmites are features of:

Stalactites and stalagmites are features of:

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glacial topography

volcanic topography

karst topography

fluvial topography

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Stalactites and stalagmites are depositional landforms found in caves formed in soluble rocks, typically limestone. These features are created by the precipitation of calcium carbonate from dripping water. Such landscapes characterized by the dissolution of soluble rocks are known as karst topography. Stalactites hang from the cave ceiling, while stalagmites rise from the cave floor.

Stalactites and stalagmites are characteristic features of karst topography, which develops in areas with soluble rocks like limestone, dolomite, or gypsum.

Glacial topography includes features like moraines, cirques, and U-shaped valleys formed by glacial erosion and deposition. Volcanic topography includes features like volcanoes, lava flows, and calderas formed by volcanic activity. Fluvial topography includes features like river valleys, meanders, and deltas formed by river processes.

43. Headquarters of which one of the following Railway Zones in India is s

Headquarters of which one of the following Railway Zones in India is situated at the highest elevation from the mean sea level ?

East Central Railway

South Eastern Railway

South Western Railway

West Central Railway

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The headquarters of the South Western Railway (SWR) is located in Hubballi (Hubli), Karnataka. Hubballi is situated on the Deccan Plateau. The headquarters of the other zones listed are: East Central Railway (Hajipur, Bihar), South Eastern Railway (Kolkata, West Bengal), and West Central Railway (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh). Comparing their approximate elevations, Hubballi (~670 m) is significantly higher than Hajipur (~50 m), Kolkata (~10 m), and Jabalpur (~410 m). Therefore, Hubballi, the headquarters of South Western Railway, is located at the highest elevation among the given options.

The location and elevation of the headquarters of the respective Railway Zones determine the correct answer.

India has 18 Railway Zones and the Konkan Railway. Their headquarters are spread across different cities. Elevation varies greatly depending on whether the city is located in plains, coastal areas, or plateau regions.

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44. With which one of the following countries, India has signed an MoU und

With which one of the following countries, India has signed an MoU under the International Cooperation on Brahmaputra and Sutluj rivers ?

Pakistan

China

Bangladesh

Nepal

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India has signed an MoU under the International Cooperation on Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers with China.

Both the Brahmaputra River (known as Yarlung Tsangpo in China) and the Sutlej River originate in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. India shares the downstream reaches of these rivers with China. India and China have agreements for sharing hydrological data, particularly related to floods, for these transboundary rivers.

While India shares river systems with Pakistan (Indus tributaries like Sutlej) and Bangladesh (Brahmaputra/Jamuna and Ganges/Padma), the specific reference to cooperation on *both* Brahmaputra and Sutlej together points to the upstream country, which is China, where these rivers originate. Nepal is primarily relevant for Ganges tributaries.

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45. Plants contain a variety of sterols like stigmasterol, ergosterol, sit

Plants contain a variety of sterols like stigmasterol, ergosterol, sitosterol etc., which very closely resemble cholesterol. These plant sterols are referred as :

Phytosterols

Calciferols

Ergocalciferols

Lumisterols

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Plant sterols that resemble cholesterol, such as stigmasterol, ergosterol, and sitosterol, are referred to as Phytosterols.

Phytosterols are a group of naturally occurring sterols and stanols found in plants. They have structures similar to cholesterol but differ in the side chain. Common examples include beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. They are primarily found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Calciferols are forms of Vitamin D (like D2 and D3). Ergocalciferol is Vitamin D2, derived from ergosterol, a phytosterol found in fungi and yeast. Lumisterols are isomers formed during the photolysis of previtamin D3. While related to sterol chemistry, ‘Phytosterols’ is the specific term for the group of plant sterols resembling cholesterol.

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46. ‘German silver’ is used to make decorative articles, coinage metal, or

‘German silver’ is used to make decorative articles, coinage metal, ornaments etc. The name is given because :

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it is an alloy of copper and contains silver as one of its components

Germans were the first to use silver

its appearance is like silver

it is an alloy of silver

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‘German silver’ is given this name because its appearance resembles silver.

German silver is a copper alloy typically containing copper, nickel, and zinc. Despite its name, it contains no silver. The name originates from its silvery-white appearance, which makes it look similar to sterling silver.

The composition of German silver can vary, but common proportions are 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc. It is valued for its hardness, toughness, resistance to corrosion, and attractive appearance, making it suitable for cutlery, musical instruments, and decorative items besides coinage metal and ornaments.

47. Two systems are said to be in thermal equilibrium if and only if :

Two systems are said to be in thermal equilibrium if and only if :

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there can be a heat flow between them even if they are at different temperatures

there cannot be a heat flow between them even if they are at different temperatures

there is no heat flow between them

their temperatures are slightly different

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Two systems are in thermal equilibrium if there is no heat flow between them.

According to the zeroth law of thermodynamics, if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, they are also in thermal equilibrium with each other. Thermal equilibrium is the state where there is no net flow of heat between objects in thermal contact. This condition is met when the objects are at the same temperature.

Heat flow is the transfer of thermal energy from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature. If the temperatures are different and the systems are in thermal contact, heat will flow until thermal equilibrium is reached and their temperatures become equal.

48. The SI unit of mechanical power is :

The SI unit of mechanical power is :

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Joule

Watt

Newton-second

Joule-second

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The SI unit of mechanical power is Watt.

Power is defined as the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred. In the International System of Units (SI), the unit of work or energy is the Joule (J), and the unit of time is the second (s). Therefore, the unit of power is Joule per second (J/s), which is defined as the Watt (W).

Joule is the SI unit of energy or work. Newton is the SI unit of force. Newton-second is the unit of impulse (force multiplied by time). Joule-second is not a standard unit for power or related quantities; it would represent energy multiplied by time.

49. Dengue virus is known to cause low platelet count in blood of patient

Dengue virus is known to cause low platelet count in blood of patient by :

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1. interfering in the process of platelet production in bone marrow
2. infecting endothelial cells
3. binding with platelets
4. accumulating platelets in intestine

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only

1 and 3 only

3 and 4

1, 2 and 3

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Dengue virus can cause low platelet count through multiple mechanisms including interfering with platelet production, infecting endothelial cells, and binding with platelets.

Dengue-induced thrombocytopenia is multifactorial. Mechanisms include suppression of bone marrow (statement 1), direct or indirect damage to endothelial cells leading to increased platelet consumption (statement 2), immunological destruction of platelets through antibody cross-reaction or binding of viral/immune complexes to platelets leading to their removal (statement 3). Accumulation of platelets in the intestine (statement 4) is not a known primary mechanism of dengue-induced thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia is a common manifestation of dengue fever and a significant risk factor for hemorrhagic complications, especially in severe dengue.

50. The Germplasm is required for the propagation of plants and animals. G

The Germplasm is required for the propagation of plants and animals. Germplasm is the :

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1. genetic resources
2. seeds or tissues for breeding
3. egg and sperm repository
4. a germ cell’s determining zone

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

1, 2 and 3

2 and 3 only

2 and 4

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Germplasm is the collection of genetic resources represented by statements 1, 2, and 3.

Germplasm is essentially the living genetic material, such as seeds, tissues, or cells, that is maintained for breeding or conservation purposes. It represents the genetic diversity of a species. Statement 1 (genetic resources) is the overarching definition. Statements 2 (seeds or tissues for breeding) and 3 (egg and sperm repository) are examples of how germplasm is stored and used. Statement 4 (a germ cell’s determining zone) refers to specific cytoplasmic regions in some organisms that determine the fate of germ cells, which is a different concept from germplasm.

Germplasm collections are crucial for plant and animal breeding programs, biodiversity conservation, and research. They include seed banks, tissue culture collections, cryopreserved semen and eggs, and live collections.