2009 Archives

71. Consider the following statements about the press and literature in Co

Consider the following statements about the press and literature in Colonial India :

1. The print media enabled the nationalists living in different parts of the country to exchange views with one another.
2. The British rulers were prepared to tolerate the nationalist criticism of their rule.
3. The Vernacular Press Act (1878) evoked a nationwide protest against the encroachment on freedom of expression.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

Statement 1 is correct because print media, especially newspapers, played a vital role in connecting nationalists across different regions, enabling the exchange of ideas and coordination of activities. Statement 3 is correct as the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, which severely curtailed the freedom of the vernacular press, sparked widespread protests across the country, highlighting the importance Indians placed on freedom of expression. Statement 2 is incorrect; the British rulers were highly intolerant of nationalist criticism and used various laws and measures to suppress the press.

– Newspapers were a crucial tool for nationalist mobilization and communication in Colonial India.
– The British Government actively sought to control and suppress the nationalist press through legislation like the Vernacular Press Act.
– The Vernacular Press Act was a significant event that demonstrated the government’s repressive policies and fueled anti-British sentiment.

The Vernacular Press Act was repealed in 1882 by Lord Ripon, partly due to the strong opposition it generated. Despite this, press freedom remained a contested issue throughout the colonial period, with the government enacting new restrictions whenever nationalist activity intensified.

72. Which Reformer does the following passage relate to ? “He insisted on

Which Reformer does the following passage relate to ?
“He insisted on the cooperation of the Muslims with the British Government and looked at all political movements with distrust. Thus, when the Indian National Congress was formed, he opposed it. He regarded education and education alone as the means of national progress.”
Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”Keshab Chandra Sen” option2=”Lord Macaulay” option3=”Sir Syed Ahmad Khan” option4=”Badruddin Tyabji” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The passage accurately describes the views and actions of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. He was a strong advocate for modern education among Muslims and believed that cooperating with the British Government, rather than engaging in political agitation like the Indian National Congress, was the path to progress for the Muslim community. He viewed the Congress with suspicion and advised Muslims to stay away from it.

– Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (later Aligarh Muslim University) specifically to promote modern education among Muslims.
– He believed that political confrontation with the British would be detrimental to Muslim interests and advocated for loyalty and cooperation.
– He was a prominent opponent of the Indian National Congress from its inception, fearing it would lead to Hindu dominance and marginalize Muslims.

Keshab Chandra Sen was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj and a social reformer, not known for advocating cooperation with the British to the exclusion of political movements like the INC (though his relationship with the Brahmo Samaj and political movements evolved over time). Lord Macaulay is associated with the introduction of English education but was not an Indian reformer with these specific views on political movements. Badruddin Tyabji was one of the early presidents of the Indian National Congress, directly contradicting the description.

73. Which among the following is not true about the Swadeshi movement ?

Which among the following is *not* true about the Swadeshi movement ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It had a wider popular appeal than any other political agitation that preceded it” option2=”It enlisted the support of the Muslim masses” option3=”It had an economic character” option4=”The Swadeshi movement was supported by a section of the radical press in England” correct=”option2″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The statement “It enlisted the support of the Muslim masses” is not true about the Swadeshi movement.

While the Swadeshi movement had a broad base of support among various sections of Indian society, including students, women, and the middle class, it largely failed to secure widespread support from the Muslim masses. Several factors contributed to this, including the active opposition by some Muslim leaders (like Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka who supported the partition of Bengal), the formation of the Muslim League in 1906 which focused on separate political identity, and the movement’s use of Hindu religious symbols by some leaders, which alienated some Muslims.

A) It had a wider popular appeal than any other political agitation that preceded it: This is largely true, as it involved large-scale boycotts, protests, and participation across different social strata compared to earlier, more limited agitations.
C) It had an economic character: This is correct. A key aspect was the boycott of British goods and promotion of Indian industries and goods (Swadeshi) to economically pressure the British.
D) The Swadeshi movement was supported by a section of the radical press in England: This is correct. Some liberal and radical voices in Britain were critical of imperial policies and sympathetic to Indian nationalist aspirations.

74. The explanation of, why we get thrown back with a jerk when the statio

The explanation of, why we get thrown back with a jerk when the stationary bus we are sitting in starts moving forward is given by :

[amp_mcq option1=”Zeroth law of gravity” option2=”Newton’s first law” option3=”Newton’s second law” option4=”Newton’s third law” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The explanation of why you get thrown back with a jerk when a stationary bus starts moving forward is given by Newton’s first law.

Newton’s first law of motion, also known as the Law of Inertia, states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. When the bus is stationary, you are also at rest relative to the ground. When the bus suddenly accelerates forward, your body, due to inertia, tends to maintain its state of rest. This relative motion causes you to feel a backward jerk with respect to the accelerating bus.

Newton’s second law relates force, mass, and acceleration (F=ma). Newton’s third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The concept of inertia directly explains the resistance to changes in motion, which is fundamental to the first law. The “Zeroth law of gravity” is not a standard physics term; gravity is described by Newton’s law of universal gravitation or Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

75. Which one of the following lenses would you prefer to use while readin

Which one of the following lenses would you prefer to use while reading very small letters printed on a label ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Convex lens of large focal length” option2=”Concave lens of large focal length” option3=”Convex lens of small focal length” option4=”Concave lens of small focal length” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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A Convex lens of small focal length is preferred for reading very small letters printed on a label.

To read small letters, a magnifying glass is used. A magnifying glass is a convex lens. A convex lens forms a magnified, virtual, and erect image when the object is placed within its focal length. The magnification power of a simple magnifying glass is given by M = 1 + (D/f), where D is the least distance of distinct vision (approx. 25 cm) and f is the focal length of the lens. To achieve higher magnification, the focal length (f) must be smaller.

A concave lens is a diverging lens and produces reduced or same-size images (virtual and erect or real and inverted), not magnified images for viewing small objects directly. A convex lens of large focal length will produce less magnification compared to one with a small focal length.

76. Sometimes, the consumption of local made alcoholic beverages may cause

Sometimes, the consumption of local made alcoholic beverages may cause blindness or even death. This may be because of contamination of the beverages with :

[amp_mcq option1=”Vinegar” option2=”Carbolic acid” option3=”Methyl alcohol” option4=”Formic acid” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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Blindness or death from consuming local made alcoholic beverages may be because of contamination with Methyl alcohol.

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is the alcohol intended for consumption in alcoholic beverages. Methanol (methyl alcohol) is a highly toxic substance that can be produced as a byproduct during improper fermentation or distillation, or sometimes illegally added to beverages. When ingested, methanol is metabolized by the body into formaldehyde and formic acid, which are potent toxins that damage the optic nerve (leading to blindness) and other organs, often resulting in death.

Vinegar is primarily acetic acid, which is relatively harmless in small quantities. Carbolic acid is phenol, a highly corrosive and toxic chemical. Formic acid is one of the toxic metabolites of methanol, but the primary contamination is usually with methanol itself.

77. In some parts of India, consumption of underground water causes mottle

In some parts of India, consumption of underground water causes mottled teeth and bone damage. Which one of the following is responsible for this malady ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Fluoride ion” option2=”Chloride ion” option3=”Oxide ion” option4=”Carbonate ion” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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Fluoride ion is responsible for mottled teeth and bone damage caused by consuming contaminated underground water in some parts of India.

Excessive intake of fluoride, primarily through drinking water, leads to a condition called fluorosis. Dental fluorosis causes discoloration and mottling of tooth enamel, especially during tooth development. Skeletal fluorosis affects bones, causing joint pain, stiffness, and in severe cases, crippling deformities. Many areas in India have groundwater naturally high in fluoride.

While fluoride is essential for strengthening teeth enamel in appropriate amounts, its excess can be harmful. Chloride, Oxide, and Carbonate ions are common in water but are not the primary cause of mottled teeth and bone damage in the way that excess fluoride is.

78. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below :

List-I (Process)	List-II (Contaminant)
A. Aeration followed by filtration	1. Removal of colour
B. Reverse Osmosis	2. Removal of microorganism
C. Filtration through activated carbon	3. Removal of iron
D. Treatment with UV light	4. Removal of excess salts

Code:

[amp_mcq option1=”3 1 4 2″ option2=”4 3 2 1″ option3=”3 4 1 2″ option4=”2 4 1 3″ correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The correct match between the water treatment processes and the contaminants removed is A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2.

– A. Aeration followed by filtration: Aeration oxidizes dissolved iron and manganese, forming precipitates that are then removed by filtration. Thus, it’s used for the removal of iron (3).
– B. Reverse Osmosis: This process uses a semipermeable membrane to remove dissolved salts and other impurities from water, effectively used for desalination or removal of excess salts (4).
– C. Filtration through activated carbon: Activated carbon is highly effective at adsorbing organic compounds, chlorine, and other substances that cause color, odor, and taste in water. Thus, it’s used for the removal of colour (1).
– D. Treatment with UV light: Ultraviolet (UV) light treatment is a disinfection method that inactivates microorganisms like bacteria and viruses by damaging their DNA. Thus, it’s used for the removal of microorganisms (2).

Matching the processes to the contaminants:
A. Aeration followed by filtration – 3. Removal of iron
B. Reverse Osmosis – 4. Removal of excess salts
C. Filtration through activated carbon – 1. Removal of colour
D. Treatment with UV light – 2. Removal of microorganism
This corresponds to the code 3 4 1 2, which is option C.

79. Villagers in some parts of India use the water extract of the ash obta

Villagers in some parts of India use the water extract of the ash obtained by burning banana plant as a substitute of soda. Which one of the following is the major active component in the extract ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Sodium Carbonate” option2=”Potassium Carbonate” option3=”Calcium Oxide” option4=”Magnesium Oxide” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The major active component in the water extract of ash obtained by burning banana plants, used as a substitute for soda, is Potassium Carbonate.

Plants absorb minerals from the soil, including potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. When plant material is burned, the organic components are removed, leaving behind the mineral residues, primarily as carbonates or oxides. Banana plants are known to accumulate significant amounts of potassium. Burning plant material rich in potassium leads to the formation of potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃). This alkali compound, when extracted with water, yields a solution of potassium carbonate, which has alkaline properties similar to soda (sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate).

Historically, wood ash was a common source of potassium carbonate (potash), used in making soap, glass, and as a leavening agent (pearl ash). Different plant species yield ash with varying compositions, but potassium is often a dominant cation in land plants.

80. Which one of the following chemicals is an artificial sweetener prescr

Which one of the following chemicals is an artificial sweetener prescribed to diabetic persons ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Aspartame” option2=”Glucose” option3=”Sucrose” option4=”Maltose” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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Aspartame is an artificial sweetener prescribed to diabetic persons.

Diabetic persons need to manage their blood sugar levels. Glucose, Sucrose (table sugar), and Maltose are all types of sugars that significantly increase blood sugar. Artificial sweeteners like Aspartame provide sweetness with minimal or no calories and do not raise blood sugar levels, making them suitable alternatives for diabetics.

Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener made of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is much sweeter than sugar. Other common artificial sweeteners include Saccharin, Sucralose, Stevia, and Neotame.