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ANSWERS & EXPLANATION

GENERAL STUIDES (P) TEST 1778 (2016)

Q 1. D
Presence of calcium and magnesium salts in the form of hydrogen carbonate, chloride and sulphate in
water makes water hard. Hard water does not give lather with soap. Hard water forms scum/precipitate
with soap. Soap containing sodium stearate (C17H35COONa) reacts with hard water to precipitate out
Ca/Mg stearate. It is, therefore, unsuitable for laundry.
It is harmful for boilers as well, because of deposition of salts in the form of scale. This reduces the
efficiency of the boiler.
The hardness of water is of two types: (i) temporary hardness, and (ii) permanent hardness.
Temporary hardness is due to the presence of magnesium and calcium hydrogen carbonates. It can be
removed by :
o Boiling
o Clarkes Method
Permanent hardness. is due to the presence of soluble salts of magnesium and calcium in the form of
chlorides and sulphates in water. Permanent hardness is not removed by boiling. It can be removed by:
o Treatment with washing soda (sodium carbonate)
o Calgons method
o Ion-exchange method
o Synthetic resins method

Q 2. B
Light waves are many times faster than sound waves. Hence, when there is lightning, the light waves
reach us faster than the sound waves. For this reason, we see lightning much before we hear its thunder.

Q 3. D
Frequencies higher than 20 kHz are called ultrasonic sound or ultrasound. Ultrasounds are able to travel
along well defined paths even in the presence of obstacles. Ultrasounds are used extensively in industries
and for medical purposes.
Ultrasound is generally used to clean parts located in hard-to-reach places, for example, spiral tube, odd
shaped parts, electronic components etc. Objects to be cleaned are placed in a cleaning solution and
ultrasonic waves are sent into the solution. Due to the high frequency, the particles of dust, grease and dirt
get detached and drop out. The objects thus get thoroughly cleaned.
Ultrasounds can be used to detect cracks and flaws in metal blocks. Metallic components are generally
used in construction of big structures like buildings, bridges, machines and also scientific equipment. The
cracks or holes inside the metal blocks, which are invisible from outside reduces the strength of the
structure. Ultrasonic waves are allowed to pass through the metal block and detectors are used to detect
the transmitted waves. If there is even a small defect, the ultrasound gets reflected back indicating the
presence of the flaw or defect. Ordinary sound of longer wavelengths cannot be used for such purpose as
it will bend around the corners of the defective location and enter the detector.
Ultrasound scanner is an instrument which uses ultrasonic waves for getting images of internal organs of
the human body. A doctor may image the patients organs such as the liver, gall bladder, uterus, kidney,
etc. It helps the doctor to detect abnormalities, such as stones in the gall bladder and kidney or tumours in

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 different organs. In this technique the ultrasonic waves travel through the tissues of the body and get
reflected from a region where there is a change of tissue density.
Sonar is a device that uses ultrasonic waves to measure the distance, direction and speed of underwater.

Q 4. B
Soda water or carbonated water is water in to which low levels of pressurized carbon dioxide has been
dissolved, creating carbonic acid. The intake of soda water helps those with impaired digestion. Soda
water causes bloating, which stretches the stomach. Mechanoreceptors in the stomach detect the stretching
resulting in parasympathetic innervations to gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscles. This results in an
increase in GI motility.

Q 5. D
Ocean is the largest carbon sink on earth. It occupies nearly 70% of the earths surface. As such, the
atmosphere comes into contact with the vast extent of oceans surface. The atmospheric CO2 enters the
ocean through steady exchange at surface. This is a physico-chemical process. The difference in partial
pressure of the CO2 between seawater and air facilitate gaseous exchange. The diffusion takes place until
the partial pressures across the air-water interface are equilibrated. The following two processes ensure
the continuous exchange at the air-sea interface:
o The seawater contains millions of tiny, microscopic photosynthetic phytoplankton which utilizes CO2
during photosynthesis. They convert the CO2 into sugars and other carbon compounds which
ultimately enters the food web. The biological pump transfers carbon dioxide from the surface of the
ocean to the deep sea.
o Unlike other gases, CO2 reacts with seawater to form dissolved inorganic carbon, ionic and non-ionic
species like dissolved free Carbon dioxide (CO), Carbonic Acid (HCO), Bicarbonate (HCO) and
Carbonate (CO). The carbonate system is the unique phenomenon of marine ecosystem. The pH of
seawater is regulated by the bicarbonate and carbonate concentrations. Marine organisms combine
calcium and carbonate ions in the calcification process and manufacture calcareous material. As the
organisms die, the skeletal material sinks and buried in sediments.

Q 6. B
Thumba is located very close the magnetic equator of the Earth (located just north of Thumba), making it
the ideal location for scientists to conduct atmospheric research.
In fact, Thumba's location at 832'34" N and 7651'32" E is ideal for low-altitude, upper atmosphere and
ionosphere studies.
Thumba is a small fishing village situated close to the Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala.
Thumba is also one of the farthest points from Pakistan and China.

Q 7. C
Statement 1 is correct. Like light, sound gets reflected at the surface of a solid or liquid and follows the
same laws of reflection. The directions in which the sound is incident and is reflected make equal angles
with the normal to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence, and the three are in the same plane.
Statement 2 is correct. A hearing aid is an electronic, battery operated device. The hearing aid receives
sound through a microphone. The microphone converts the sound waves to electrical signals. These
electrical signals are amplified by an amplifier. The amplified electrical signals are given to a speaker of
the hearing aid. The speaker converts the amplified electrical signal to sound and sends to the ear for clear
hearing.

Q 8. A
There are two types of cells on retina.
o Cons which are sensitive to the bright light and colour.
o Rods which are sensitive to the dim light.
The Owl has a large cornea and a large pupil to allow more light in its eye. Also, it has on its retina a large
number of rods and only a few cones. The day birds on the other hand, have more cones and fewer rods.

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Q 9. B
Rate of change in momentum is force and not impulse. Impulse is a change in momentum. The greater the
impulse, the greater the change in momentum. To change the impulse, you can either change the amount
of force or you can change the time interval in which that force acts. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct.
While holding a catch, by moving his hand backward the cricketer increases the time of impact (t) to
complete the catch. As time increases, force decreases and as a reaction, his hands are not hurt severely.
Therefore, statement 2 is correct.

Q 10. B
When fats and oils are oxidised, they become rancid and their smell and taste change. Usually substances
which prevent oxidation (antioxidants) are added to foods containing fats and oil. Keeping food in air
tight containers helps to slow down oxidation. The chips manufacturers usually flush bags of chips with
gas such as nitrogen to prevent the chips from getting oxidised.

Q 11. D
Advantages of AC current over DC:
o The major advantage that AC electricity has over DC electricity is that AC voltages can be readily
transformed to higher or lower voltage levels, while it is difficult to do that with DC voltages.
o Since high voltages are more efficient for sending electricity great distances, AC electricity has an
advantage over DC. This is because the high voltages from the power station can be easily reduced to
a safer voltage for use in the house.
o Changing voltages is done by the use of a transformer. This device uses properties of AC
electromagnets to change the voltages.
o AC electricity also allows for the use of a capacitor and inductor within an electrical or electronic
circuit. These devices can affect the way the alternating current passes through a circuit. They are
only effective with AC electricity.
o A combination of a capacitor, inductor and resistor is used as a tuner in radios and televisions.
Without those devices, tuning to different stations would be very difficult.

Q 12. A
Women's voice is more shriller due to high frequency. Loudness of the sound depends on the amplitude
and pitch depends on the frequency of sound. Men's voice is louder due to the greater amplitude.

Q 13. A
Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation, like radio waves. They are generated by a device
called a magnetron, and they pulse back and forth rapidly inside an oven at a carefully calibrated
frequency. Microwaves bounce off the ovens interior metal walls, pass through paper, glass, and plastic,
but they get absorbed by food more specifically, by the foods water content. This absorption makes
the molecules oscillate back and forth, creating heat and cooking the food from the inside out, the outside
in, or uniformly, depending on where the water lies.
A metal object placed inside the oven deflects these waves away from the food. It sends them jumping
around erratically, possibly damaging the interior of the oven.

Q 14. B
A Case of Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPV) was reported from New Delhi recently. Large number of
cases have also been reported from UP and Bihar.
The polio virus causes paralysis medically known as an acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) which is
characterised by sudden muscle weakness, and fever in one or more limbs.
In other words, Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a condition in which a patient suffers from paralysis that
results in floppy limbs due to reduced muscle tone. While AFP is symptomatic of polio, it can be caused
by other diseases such as the Guillain Barre Syndrome and nerve lesions as well.
Government surveillance data show that while India is set to be tagged as polio-free, it has actually
become the nation with the worlds highest rate of NPAFP incidence.

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 In the past one year from 2014 to 2015, India has reported 53,563 cases of non-polio acute flaccid
paralysis (NPAFP) at a national rate of 12 per 100,000 childrenway above the global benchmark set by
WHO of 2 per 100,000. WHO data indicate NPAFP cases have been increasing steadily since 2003, when
the number was at 8,000.

Q 15. B
Aqua regia (translates to Royal water in Latin) is a chemical substance. It is made by mixing one part
nitric acid and three parts hydrochloric acid. It is one of the few substances that can dissolve gold and
platinum, and other noble metals.

Q 16. B
Silver articles become black after sometime when exposed to air due to process of corrosion. The silver
particles react with sulphur in the air to form a coating of silver sulphide.
Copper reacts with moist carbon dioxide in the air and slowly loses its shiny brown surface and gains a
green coat. This green substance is copper carbonate.
Iron when exposed to moist air for long time acquires a coating of a brown flaky substance called rust.

Q 17. B
The materials through which objects can be seen, but not clearly, are known as translucent. The bulb can
be seen through the paper but not clear enough after one puts few drops of oil on it.

Q 18. D
Methods of separation of substances from their mixtures:
Filtration can be used to separate components of a mixture of an insoluble solid and a liquid.
Evaporation is the process in which a liquid gets converted into its vapour. Evaporation can be used to
separate a solid dissolved in a liquid.
Sieving allows the fine flour particles to pass through the holes of the sieve while the bigger impurities
remain on the sieve.
Difference in the size of particles in a mixture is utilised to separate them by the process of sieving and
filtration.
Winnowing is used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture by wind or by blowing air.
This method is commonly used by farmers to separate lighter husk particles from heavier seeds of grain.
Other methods:
The method of handpicking can be used for separating slightly larger sized impurities like the pieces of
dirt, stone, and husk from wheat, rice or pulses. The quantity of such impurities is usually not very large.
The process that is used to separate grain from stalks is threshing. In this process, the stalks are beaten to
free the grain seeds. Sometimes, threshing is done with the help of bullocks. Machines are also used to
thresh large quantities of grain.
In a mixture of sand and water, the heavier sand particles settle down at the bottom and the water can be
separated by decantation.

Q 19. B
Following are some of the properties of magnets:
o Magnetite is a natural magnet.
o Magnet attracts materials like iron, nickel, cobalt. These are called magnetic materials.
o Materials that are not attracted towards magnet are called non-magnetic.
o Each magnet has two magnetic polesNorth and South.
o A freely suspended magnet always aligns in N-S direction.
o Opposite poles of two magnets attract each other whereas similar poles repel one another.
o Magnets loose their properties if they are heated, hammered or dropped from some height. Also,
magnets become weak if they are not stored properly. To keep them safe, bar magnets should be kept
in pairs with their unlike poles on the same side.

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Q 20. D
A change in which one or more new substances are formed is called a chemical change. A chemical
change is also called a chemical reaction.
All new substances are formed as a result of chemical changes.
For example, if a metal is to be extracted from an ore, such as iron from iron ore, we need to carry out a
series of chemical changes.
Burning of magnesium ribbon is a chemical change. Burning of coal, wood or leaves is also a chemical
change. In fact, burning of any substance is a chemical change.
Burning is always accompanied by production of heat.
Explosion of a firework is a chemical change.
An apple acquires a brown colour if it is not consumed immediately. The change of colour in these cases
is due to the formation of new substances. This is also a chemical change.
Digestion is also a chemical change.
A change in which a substance undergoes a change in its physical properties is called a physical change.
A physical change is generally reversible. In such a change no new substance is formed. For eg.
Stretching rubber band represents a physical change.

Q 21. A
Because of the nature of ionic and covalent bonds, the materials produced by those bonds tend to have
quite different macroscopic properties. The atoms of covalent materials are bound tightly to each other in
stable molecules, but those molecules are generally not very strongly attracted to other molecules in the
material. On the other hand, the atoms (ions) in ionic materials show strong attractions to other ions in
their vicinity. This generally leads to low melting points for covalent solids, and high melting points for
ionic solids.
Ionic Compounds
Crystalline solids (made of ions)
High melting and boiling points
Conduct electricity when melted
Many soluble in water but not in nonpolar liquid
Covalent Compounds
Gases, liquids, or solids (made of molecules)
Low melting and boiling points
Poor electrical conductors in all phases
Many soluble in nonpolar liquids but not in water

Q 22. B
LPG is a mixture of commercial butane and commercial propane having both saturated and unsaturated
hydrocarbons.
LPG has only a very faint smell, and consequently, it is necessary to add some odourant, so that any
escaping gas can easily be detected.
Ethyl Mercaptan is normally used as stenching agent for this purpose.

Q 23. B
Magnetic force acting on a charged particle moving in a magnetic field is perpendicular to the velocity of
the particle and that consequently the work done on the particle by the magnetic force is zero. Thus it
doesnt change its kinetic energy i.e. its speed, however, it changes the velocity of the particle. Hence
statement 1 is incorrect.
The perpendicular force will bend the path of the charge into a circle if the charge remains in the uniform
field. Hence its direction will change. Thus statement 2 is correct.
The magnetic field doesn't affect mass or charge of a particle. Thus, both statement 3 and 4 are wrong.
Hence B is the correct answer.

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Q 24. B
There are three essential requirements for producing fire. These are: fuel, air (to supply oxygen) and heat
(to raise the temperature of the fuel beyond the ignition temperature).
Fire can be controlled by removing one or more of these requirements. The job of a fire extinguisher is to
cut off the supply of air, or to bring down the temperature of the fuel, or both.
The fuel in most cases cannot be eliminated.
If, for instance, a building catches fire, the whole building is the fuel. Therefore, only statements 1 and 3
are correct.

Q 25. D
Phosphorus is found in many allotropic forms, the important ones being white, red and black.
White phosphorus is a translucent white waxy solid. It is poisonous, insoluble in water but soluble in
carbon disulphide and glows in dark (chemiluminescence).
Red phosphorus is obtained by heating white phosphorus at 573K in an inert atmosphere for several days.
Red phosphorus possesses iron grey lustre. It is odourless, nonpoisonous and insoluble in water as well as
in carbon disulphide. Chemically, red phosphorus is much less reactive than white phosphorus. It does not
glow in the dark.
Black phosphorus can be sublimed in air and has opaque monoclinic or rhombohedral crystals. When red
phosphorus is heated under high pressure, a series of phases of black phosphorus is formed. It does not
oxidise in air. It does not burn in air upto 673 K.

Q 26. B
Natural rubber becomes soft at high temperature (>335 K) and brittle at low temperatures (<283 K) and
shows high water absorption capacity. It is soluble in non-polar solvents and is non-resistant to attack by
oxidising agents. To improve upon these physical properties, a process of vulcanisation is carried out.
It is process by which the physical properties of natural or synthetic rubber are improved; finished rubber
has higher tensile strength and resistance to swelling and abrasion, and is elastic over a greater range of
temperatures. In its simplest form, vulcanization is brought about by heating rubber with sulfur.

Q 27. A
Teflon - It is chemically inert and resistant to attack by corrosive reagents. It is used in making oil seals
and gaskets and also used for non stick surface coated utensils.
Polyacrylonitrile - It is used as a substitute for wool in making commercial fibres as orlon or acrilan.
Bakelite - It is used for making combs, phonograph records, electrical switches and handles of various
utensils.
Melamine Resin - It is used in the manufacture of unbreakable crockery.

Q 28. B
The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was jointly identified by India and Myanmar to create
a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well
as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar.
It will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea; it will then
link Sittwe seaport to Paletwa in Myanmar via Kaladan river boat route and then from Paletwa on to
Mizoram in by road transport.
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 It also provides a strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor. Since
the project is of political and strategic significance, it was decided to execute it through India's grant
assistance to Myanmar.

Q 29. C
United Nations International Labour Organisation (ILO) in December 2015 released a report titled Global
Estimates on Migrant Workers. The report is a statistical study that estimates the proportion of labour
migrant workers among the total number of migrants worldwide.
It outlines the regions and industries where international migrant workers are established and includes a
specific focus on migrants in domestic work with updated numbers.

Q 30. B
Sound is nothing more than a local disturbance whose propagation is facilitated by the collisions between
particles; this disturbance propagates in a longitudinal wave; imagine one molecule hitting the next
molecule, and then that molecule hitting the next, and so forth. The distances between molecules in solids
are very small, i.e., solids are denser - as compared to liquids and gases. Because they are so close, than
can collide very quickly, i.e. it takes less time for a molecule of the solid to 'bump' into its neighbor.
Solids are packed together tighter than liquids and gases, hence sound travels fastest in solids. The
distances in liquids are shorter than in gases, but longer than in solids. Liquids are more dense than gases,
but less dense than solids, so sound travels slowerr in liquids than in solids.
Gases are the slowest because they are the least dense: the molecules in gases are very far apart, compared
with solids and liquid.
Density of iron is more than that of granite. Hence, sound waves travel faster in iron bar over granite.

Q 31. (D)
Any liquid boils at that temperature at which its vapour pressure equals that of the atmospheric pressure.
At the ground level, water boils at 100 degrees C at normal atmospheric pressure. At very high altitudes,
the atmosphere thins and the pressure will be less, so that water boils at a temperature below 100 degrees
C. This makes it difficult to cook in open pans in hilly regions, and we have to use a pressure cooker.
In the pressure cooker the pressure inside the container will be 2-3 times higher than at ground level.
Hence water will boil at around 120 degrees C, and the materials get cooked completely. Thus one can
observe a fall in boiling points of water and other liquids at hills due to the fall in the atmospheric
pressure.

Q 32. D
Anthelmintics are medications used to eradicate parasitic worms (helminthes) from the human body.
India has the highest burden of parasitic worms in the world. Parasitic worms in children interfere with
nutrient uptake, and can contribute to anaemia, malnourishment, and impaired mental and physical
development. For this, government launched the National Deworming initiative. Under this, Albendazole
tablets (Anthelmintics drugs) are given to all targeted children.

Q 33. A
The attraction between the hydrogen atoms of one water molecules and the oxygen atom of another water
molecule is called hydrogen bonding.
In ice, the hydrogen bonds form a cage like structure, which is not there in liquid form. That explains why
density of water decreases as a solid, unlike what is expected. Liquid water is densest, essentially 1.00
g/cm, at 4 C and becomes less dense as the water molecules begin to form the hexagonal crystals of ice
as the freezing point is reached. This is due to hydrogen bonding dominating the inter- molecular forces,
which results in a packing of molecules less compact in the solid. As you start heating ice, the hydrogen
bonds break and the ice melts. All the hydrogen bonds are broken by the time it reaches 4 C. Hence
density is maximum at this point. From here onwards it behaves as a normal liquid, expanding as more
heat is applied.

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Q 34. C
Statement 1 is correct. A communication satellite caters to requirements in communication, television
broadcasting, meteorology, disaster warning etc.
Statement 2 is correct. A Remote Sensing satellite is intended for natural resource monitoring and
management.
Statement 3 is incorrect. A communication satellite usually operates from the Geosynchronous orbit while
a Remote Sensing satellite operates from a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).

Q 35. B
Isotopes are defined as the atoms of the same element, having the same atomic number but different mass
numbers.
The isotope cobalt-60 is used in the treatment of cancer.
The isotope Xenon-131 is used in lung imaging.
The isotope iodine is used in the treatment of goitre (thyroid gland).
Q 36. C
The mechanism of the human eye responds with maximum sensitivity to light at the middle of the visible
color spectrumspecifically, green light with a wavelength of about 555 nm. The optimal wavelength for
maximum sensitivity in dim light is around 510 nm, on the blue end. It is difficult for the eye to recognize
red light, at the far end of the spectrum, against a dark background. However, this can be an advantage in
situations of relative darkness, which is why red light is often used to maintain vision for sailors, amateur
astronomers, and the military on night maneuvers. Because there is not much difference between the
darkness and the red light, the eye adjusts and is able to see beyond the red light into the darkness. A
bright yellow or white light in such situations, on the other hand, would minimize visibility in areas
beyond the light.
Scattering of light is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength, which is called
Rayleigh scattering law
Red is the color with the longest wavelength which causes it to scatter less while travelling through air.
Hence, red light is visible from a long distance and so it is used to indicate danger.

Q 37. D
Two of the most common electrical machines that we encounter in day-to-day lives are electrical motors
and generators.
An electric motor consumes electrical energy and generates rotational mechanical energy to drive
vehicles, pumps etc. Motors can work on both AC or DC.
An electric generator uses mechanical energy to generate electrical energy. For eg, in hydro power plants
kinetic energy of water is converted into electricity. In nuclear power plants thermal energy of steam is
converted into rotation of a turbine. This rotational energy of the turbine is then used to run an electric
generator. Generators can generate both AC or DC.
The difference between the direct (DC) and alternating currents(AC) is that the direct current always
flows in one direction, whereas the alternating current reverses its direction periodically. Most power
stations constructed these days produce AC. In India, the AC changes direction after every 1/100 second,
that is, the frequency of AC is 50 Hz. An important advantage of AC over DC is that electric power can
be transmitted over long distances without much loss of energy.

Q 38. D
Recently the Department of Science & technology, Government of India, has come up with a "Draft
guidelines and best practices for the safe handling of nano materials in research labs and industries". Nano
materials can cause hazards if not handled properly. The hazards are linked to various properties of nano
materials like surface charge, shape, size, surface chemistry, solubility, toxicity etc.
A few common examples are:
Surface chemistry of nanoparticles may have a role in the generation of free radicals, which influences the
overall surface reactivity and toxicity of ingested particles.
Studies have clearly established that exposure to fibrous particles like asbestos increases the risk of
fibrosis and cancer. Similarly, the tubular structure of carbon nanotubes is believed to cause inflammation
and lesions in lungs.

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 Nanoparticles have a greater chance of depositing in the lungs than micro-sized particles, and therefore
have the potential to cause damage by acting directly at the site of deposition by translocating to other
organs or by being absorbed through the blood.
Nanoparticles can penetrate the membrane barriers resulting in significant damages. For example, silver
nanoparticles with size < 9 nm can penetrate the nuclear membrane of certain human cells nucleus and
cause significant DNA damage or mutation. Poorly soluble inhaled nanoparticles can cause oxidative
stress, leading to inflammation, fibrosis, or cancer.
In case of nanopowders having large surface area, the particles can be easily charged electrostatically
thereby increasing the risk of ignition. The small size of nanoparticles makes them to remain in the air for
longer time, creating potentially explosive dust clouds. Aggregated nanoparticles with size in the range of
microns may pose threat to explosion or fire risk by ignition or even spontaneous combustion.

Q 39. C
A sound created in a big hall will persist by repeated reflection from the walls until it is reduced to a value
where it is no longer audible. The repeated reflection that results in this persistence of sound is called
reverberation. In an auditorium or big hall excessive reverberation is highly undesirable. To reduce
reverberation, the roof and walls of the auditorium are generally covered with sound-absorbent materials
like compressed fibreboard, rough plaster or draperies. The seat materials are also selected on the basis of
their sound absorbing properties.

Q 40. B
A distinctive property of salt, known as deliquescence, is its ability to suck in moisture directly from the
air. The microbes scavenge this sparse resource, ingesting tiny quantities of water from microscopic pores
inside the crystalline matrix. deliquescence, the process by which a substance absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere until it dissolves in the absorbed water and forms a solution. Deliquescence occurs when the
vapour pressure of the solution that is formed is less than the partial pressure of water vapour in the air.
All soluble salts will deliquesce if the air is sufficiently humid. A substance that absorbs moisture from
the air but not necessarily to the point of dissolution is called hygroscopic. The effectiveness of calcined
calcium chloride in settling road dust is a result of its deliquescence. When spread in the form of a powder
or flakes, it absorbs more than its own weight of water and forms a liquid that keeps the road wet.

Q 41. D
The particles of a colloid are uniformly spread throughout the solution. Due to the relatively smaller size
of particles, as compared to that of a suspension, the mixture appears to be
homogeneous. But actually, a colloid is a heterogeneous mixture.
Type of colloid Example
o Aerosol Fog, clouds, mist
o Emulsion Milk, face cream
o Gel Jelly, cheese, butter
o Foam Rubber, Sponge, Pumice

Q 42. B
Cracking, in petroleum refining, the process by which heavy hydrocarbon molecules are broken up into
lighter molecules by means of heat and usually pressure and sometimes catalysts. Cracking is the most
important process for the commercial production of gasoline and diesel fuel.
Cracking of petroleum yields light oils (corresponding to gasoline), middle-range oils used in diesel fuel,
residual heavy oils, a solid carbonaceous product known as coke, and such gases as methane, ethane,
ethylene, propane, propylene, and butylene.

Q 43. D.
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc (Cu and Zn)
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin (Cu and Sn) Solder is an alloy of lead and tin (Pb and Sn)
Alloying is a very good method of improving the properties of a metal. We can get the desired properties
by this method. For example, iron is the most widely used metal. But it is never used in its pure state. This
is because pure iron is very soft and stretches easily when hot. But, if it is mixed with a small amount of
carbon (about 0.05 %), it becomes hard and strong.
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Q 44. A
When we touch something, our nerves carry an electric impulse to the muscles we need to use. This
impulse produces a temporary magnetic field. Two main organs in the human body where the magnetic
field produced is significant, are the heart and the brain. The magnetic field inside the body forms the
basis of obtaining the images of different body parts. This is done using a technique called Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI). Analysis of these images helps in medical diagnosis. Hence, statement 1 is
correct.
MRI scans does not involve use of any ionizing radiation, unlike CT scans.
Ionizing radiation is radiation that carries enough energy to free electrons from atoms or molecules,
thereby ionizing them. Gamma rays, X-rays, and the higher ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic
spectrum are ionizing, whereas the lower ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and also the
lower part of the spectrum below UV, including visible light (including nearly all types of laser light),
infrared, microwaves, and radio waves are all considered non-ionizing radiation. Hence, statement 2 is
incorrect.

Q 45. A
Newtons First Law of Motion tells us that, without the interaction of some sort of force, everything
travels in a straight line forever. This means that an object traveling in a circular path must be influenced
by a net (outside) force. The circulating object has a velocity that is constantly changing, not because its
speed is changing but because its direction is changing. A change in velocity is called an acceleration.
Newtons Second Law explains it this way: A net force changes the velocity of an object by changing
either its speed or its direction.
Therefore, an object moving in a circle is undergoing an acceleration. The direction of the acceleration is
toward the center of the circle. This acceleration is called centripetal (literally, center-seeking)
acceleration. The force needed to produce the centripetal acceleration is called the centripetal force ,
which is equal to ma according to Newtons Second Law (F=ma).
Majestic examples of circular motion can be found throughout our Universe: Planets orbit around the Sun
in nearly circular paths; moons orbit around their planets in nearly circular paths; and satellites orbit the
Earth in nearly circular paths.
The gravitational force of sun Sun provides a centripetal acceleration to the Earth (and all the other
planets in our solar system) in order for it to maintain its roughly circular orbit. Hence, statement 1 is
correct.
Ocean tides result from the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon on the oceans of the earth. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
Among the four fundamental forces i.e. Gravitational force, electromagnetic force, weak nuclear force and
strong nuclear force, the gravitational force is weakest and the stri=ong nuclear force is the stronger.
Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Q 46. B
Mass is the quantity of matter contained in the body. No matter where you are at given moment in time,
mass is constant. It is independent of gravity. However, weight of a body given by:
Weight= Mass x gravity,
differs from place to place with changing value of gravity. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
Liquid water will boil if its vapor pressure is greater than the ambient air pressure. Absence of atmosphere
on moon due to low gravity means abscence of any atmospheric pressure. In a vacuum, liquid water will
start to boil regardless of what the temperature is. Turning water from a liquid to a vapor takes 540
calories per gram, and this heat is taken from the liquid water, cooling it off. In a vacuum, the water will
continue to boil until so much heat has been removed that the remaining water will freeze. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
Sound waves needs a medium through which they can propagate. Since there is no material medium on
the moon due to absence of atmosphere, one cannot hear any sound on the moon. Hence, statement 3 is
correct.
Q 47. C
Vitamins are classified into two groups depending upon their solubility in water or fat.
Fat soluble vitamins: Vitamins which are soluble in fat and oils but insoluble in water are kept in this
group. These are vitamins A, D, E and K. They are stored in liver and adipose (fat storing) tissues.
10 www.visionias.in Vision IAS
 Water soluble vitamins: B group vitamins and vitamin C are soluble in water so they are grouped
together. Water soluble vitamins must be supplied regularly in diet because they are readily excreted
in urine and cannot be stored (except vitamin B12) in our body.

Q 48. B
India has concluded Free Trade Agreements(FTA) with the following:
o Sri Lanka
o Malaysia
o Singapore
o Japan
o South Korea
o ASEAN (Trade in Goods)
It is in negotiations with the following:
o BIMSTEC
o IBSA
o RCEP
o Australia
o Newzealand

Q 49. D
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is an international marine research collaboration that
explores Earth's history and dynamics using ocean-going research platforms to recover data recorded in
seafloor sediments and rocks and to monitor subseafloor environments. IODP depends on facilities funded
by three platform providers with financial contributions from five additional partner agencies. Together,
these entities represent 26 nations ( of which India is also a part) whose scientists are selected to staff
IODP research expeditions conducted throughout the world's oceans.
IODP expeditions are developed from hypothesis-driven science proposals aligned with the program's
science plan Illuminating Earth's Past, Present, and Future. The science plan identifies 14 challenge
questions in the four areas of climate change, deep life, planetary dynamics, and geohazards.
IODP uses multiple drilling platforms (JOIDES Resolution, Chikyu, and mission-specific platforms) to
access different subseafloor environments during research expeditions.

Q 50. D
Why in news?
Recently Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry announced that there will be a separate ministry for
pharma and medical devices sector in the next one year. Ministry also ensured that government will
implement Katoch panel recommendations to cut bulk drug imports from China.
Issues:
o India currently meets about 80 per cent of its demand of bulk drugs or active pharmaceutical
ingredients (API), used as raw materials by the pharmaceutical industry, from Chinese imports.
o Inverted duty structure hampering the pharma and medical devices industries
o Interest rates is a major issue- In China the interest rate on loan is just 5% while in India it is above
12%
What are Bulk Drugs?
Bulk drugs or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) are the active raw materials used in a drug that
gives it the therapeutic effect.
The No detention policy under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, a committee headed by Rajasthan
Education Minister Vasudev Devnani sent recommendations to the Central government, stating that the
policy should be revoked. Geeta Bhukkal, who headed a Sub-Committee of Central Advisory Board of
Education to review Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) and the 'no-detention' provision
under the Right to Education Act (RTE).
The Supreme Court had set up a 3-member panel for road safety headed by retired Justice KS
Radhakrishnan, a former secretary, ministry of surface transport, S Sundar and former Head of
Department of Traffic Engineering and Safety Nishi Mittal bas members. This committee was formed in
2014 by the on the basis of a PIL to measure and monitor the implementation of road safety laws in the
country.

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Q 51. C
It is only when light from an object enters our eyes that we see the object. However this light can come
via two modes.
o Reflection of light e.g. Moon reflecting sun light
o Emission of light by the object. E.g. Sun, Candle

Q 52. B
An OLED is simply an LED where the light is produced ("emitted") by organic molecules. LEDs are
semiconducting light sources that function through electroluminescencethat is, they produce photons
(aka light) by plopping electrons into little electron holes within the device's emissive layer. Basically,
electricity goes in and light comes out thanks to a semi conductive material, rather than a white-hot metal
filament like an old-school light bulb.
OLEDs work in a similar way to conventional diodes and LEDs, but instead of using layers of n-type and
p-type semiconductors, they use organic molecules to produce their electrons and holes. Rather than an
array of individual LED bulbs, OLED uses a series of thin, light emitting films. This allows the OLED
array to produce brighter light while using less energy than existing LCD/LED technologies. And since
these light-emitting films are composed of hydrocarbon chains, rather than semiconductors laden with
heavy metals like gallium arsenide phosphide, they get that "O" for "organic" in their name.
The LEDs in today's LED televisions are actually used only to provide a white back light, which then
shines through a rapidly-refreshing LCD shutter array which tints the emanating light. OLEDs, on the
other hand, operate as both light source and color array simultaneously. Due to this, OLEDs have lower
power consumption, better picture quality (Since OLEDs incorporate their own color filters, they can
produce deeper blacks and a wider gamut array) and are lighter.

However, as for drawbacks, one widely cited problem is that OLED displays don't last as long:
degradation of the organic molecules meant that early versions of OLEDs tended to wear out around four
times faster than conventional LCDs or LED displays. Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

Q 53. D
Nuclear power reactors use the phenomenon of nuclear fission to generate power. In nuclear fission, the
nucleus of a heavy atom (such as uranium, plutonium or thorium), when bombarded with low-energy
neutrons, can be split apart into lighter nuclei. When this is done, a tremendous amount of energy is
released if the mass of the original nucleus is just a little more than the sum of the masses of the individual
products. The fission of an atom of uranium, for example, produces 10 million times the energy produced
by the combustion of an atom of carbon from coal. In a nuclear reactor designed for electric power
generation, such nuclear fuel can be part of a self sustaining fission chain reaction that releases energy at a
controlled rate. The released energy can be used to produce steam and further generate electricity.
The major hazard of nuclear power generation is the storage and disposal of spent or used fuels the
uranium still decaying into harmful subatomic particles (radiations). Improper nuclear-waste storage and
disposal result in environmental contamination. Further, there is a risk of accidental leakage of nuclear
radiation. The high cost of installation of a nuclear power plant, high risk of environmental contamination
and limited availability of uranium makes large-scale use of nuclear energy prohibitive

Q 54. A
Most people are aware that rain and melting snow can turn into ice. When this ice sets up on the
roadways, there is a need to break down the icy layer, making it possible for tires to maintain traction on
the surface of the roads. The presence of the salt causes what is known as freezing point depression. That
is, salt helps to lower the temperature at which water will freeze.
Placing salt on icy roads helps to inhibit the crystallization of water particles into ice, even as the salt
breaks down any ice that may have already formed. The same result takes place in the case of placing salt
on sidewalks. The environment is suddenly altered and it is less possible for the accumulated water
particles to freeze into a slippery and dangerous layer of ice.

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55. A

According to the first law of motion, an object tends to stay in the same state of motion unless acted on by
an external force. When carpet is beaten with a stick, the carpet moves down a little because of the
external force. But obviously, the dust particles which were in the carpet, resist this change of motion
because of inertia, and they remain in the same place even as the carpet moves down. So they come out of
the carpet.
56. B
Statement 1 is incorrect. Antrix does not deal with research. It is the commercial wing of ISRO.
Statement 2 is correct. As a Marketing arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), it deals with
promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services and transfer of
technologies developed by ISRO.
Another major objective is to facilitate development of space related industrial capabilities in India.
Q 57. C
Rust is iron oxide, a molecule consisting of iron and oxygen. The mass of the iron in the rust molecules
comes from the original nail, but the mass of the oxygen has come from the air. When rust forms on iron,
the mass of the iron object is increased by the mass of the oxygen that has combined with some of the
iron.
Q 58. C
Aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen because nitrogen gas is mostly inert, meaning that it requires more
energy to react with other substances. This is important because at elevated temperatures, oxygen can
react with rubber.
Oxidized rubber is weaker than non-oxidized rubber, and weaker tires are not preferred.
Air has certain moisture content and it is generally very hard to remove this moisture.
If an airplane tires were filled with air, at the flight altitude ice would form inside the tires since the
temperature up there is about -30 degrees F. Landing with a chunk of ice in the tire would make it out of
balance and change the tire pressure. Tires would probably burst.
On the other hand, nitrogen doesn't form a liquid till -173C and pure nitrogen has almost no moisture.
Nitrogen being lighter than air does not play a part in it being used in the airplane tyres.

Q 59. D
Fullerenes have been extensively used for several biomedical applications including the design of high-
performance MRI contrast agents, X-Ray imaging contrast agents, photodynamic therapy and drug and
gene delivery. Being highly porous, activated charcoal is used in adsorbing poisonous gases; also used in
water filters to remove organic contaminators and in air conditioning system to control odour.
Graphite cleaves easily between the layers and, therefore, it is very soft and slippery. For this reason
graphite is used as a dry lubricant in machines running at high temperature, where oil cannot be used as a
lubricant.
Diamond is used as an abrasive for sharpening hard tools, in making dyes and in the manufacture of
tungsten filaments for electric light bulbs.

Q 60. D
Chandrasekhar limit, in astrophysics, is maximum mass theoretically possible for a stable white dwarf
star.
Using Albert Einsteins special theory of relativity and the principles of quantum physics, Chandrasekhar
showed that it is impossible for a white dwarf star, which is supported solely by a degenerate gas of
electrons, to be stable if its mass is greater than 1.44 times the mass of the Sun. If such a star does not
completely exhaust its thermonuclear fuel, then this limiting mass may be slightly larger.
All direct mass determinations of actual white dwarf stars have resulted in masses less than the
Chandrasekhar limit. A star that ends its nuclear-burning lifetime with a mass greater than the
Chandrasekhar limit must become either a neutron star or a black hole.

Q 61. A
Bleaching powder is also known as chlorides of lime
Bleaching powder is produced by the action of chlorine on dry slaked lime [Ca(OH)2].
Ca(OH)2 + Cl2CaOCl2 + H2O

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 Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Bleaching agent in CaOCl2 is chlorine (makes colored substance colorless). Apart from bleaching cotton
and linen in the textile industry, it is also used as an oxidising agent in many chemical industries. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
It is used for disinfecting drinking water to make it free of germs. However, Washing soda is used for
removing permanent hardness of water. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Q 62. C
Colour is the visual perception of the physical signal, the light, that eye receives. The colour depends on
the kind of light that falls on anything and also that bounces off or passes through it. Light travels in
waveform and each colour has its own wavelength. So, in other terms, colour depends on the wavelengths
of light that reaches the surface of an object and that reach eyes after being reflected or transmitted by the
object.
Surface of any object has, in general, three effects on light falling over it absorption, reflection and
transmission. If an object absorbs all wavelengths of light falling on it, then it appears black and if it
reflects every wavelength of light falling on, it will appear white.
If an object reflects wavelengths of light partly, absorbing the rest, then the reflected wavelengths decide
the colour of it. Thus the apparent colour of an object depends on the wavelength of the light that it
reflects. For example, a red object observed in daylight appears red because it reflects only the waves
producing red light.
We see green leaves as being green because chlorophyll in the leaves, because of its nature and chemical
makeup, absorbs the all other wavelengths (colours) of the sunlight (called white light as it contains all
wavelengths), except green. The green is reflected back out to the viewer making the leaves appear green.
The light falling on the surface also determines the colour. If a piece of cloth which appears green in
sunlight is viewed under red light it will appear black, because the pigments on the surface of that cloth
have the property of reflecting only green light absorbing all other wavelengths falling on it. As red light
has only wavelength corresponding to red colour it is completely absorbed and as no colour is reflected
back it appears black.

Q 63 D
The formula that gives the P pressure on an object submerged in a fluid is: P = r * g * h, where
r (rho) is the density of the fluid; g is the acceleration of gravity; h is the height of the fluid above the
object.
It does not depend on the density of body.

Q 64 C
Properties of a solution
o A solution is a homogeneous mixture.
o The particles of a solution are smaller than 1 nm (10-9 metre) in diameter. So, they cannot be seen by
naked eyes.
o Because of very small particle size, they do not scatter a beam of light passing through the solution.
So, the path of light is not visible in a solution.
o The solute particles cannot be separated from the mixture by the process of filtration. The solute
particles do not settle down when left undisturbed, that is, a solution is stable.
Properties of a Suspension
o Suspension is a heterogeneous mixture.
o The particles of a suspension can be seen by the naked eye.
o The particles of a suspension scatter a beam of light passing through it and make its path visible.
o The solute particles settle down when a suspension is left undisturbed, that is, a suspension is
unstable. They can be separated from the mixture by the process of filtration. When the particles settle
down, the suspension breaks and it does not scatter light any more.
Therefore, both the statements are correct.

Q 65 C
Optical fibres are fine strands of high quality glass based on the principle of total internal reflection. When
light is incident at one end of the fibre, it undergoes repeated total internal reflections and emerges at the
other end.

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 Bundles of tiny optical fibres are used by doctors to see the inside of a patient's stomach. Light is piped
down some of the fibres to illuminate the inside of the stomach and is reflected back. This procedure is
called endoscopy.

Q 66 A
Mineral oil or alcohol-based surface products and other surface films are put on water to kill mosquito
larvae and pupae. The larvicides spread out and form a thin layer over the surface of the water where
mosquito larvae or pupae are present. Mosquito larvae and pupae breathe through tubes at the surface of
the water. These products suffocate the mosquito larva or pupa by preventing them from breathing.

Q 67 A
Light exhibits certain behaviors that are characteristic of any wave and would be difficult to explain with
a purely particle-view. Light reflects/refracts/diffracts in the same manner that any wave would
reflect/refract/diffract.
Interference, Diffraction and Polarization are evidences of wave-nature of light.
Interference - phenomenon in which two waves superpose to form a resultant wave of greater, lower, or
the same amplitude. Interference usually refers to the interaction of waves that are correlated or coherent
with each other, either because they come from the same source or because they have the same or nearly
the same frequency.
Diffraction - it refers to the apparent bending of waves around small obstacles and the spreading out of
waves past small openings.
Polarization - property of certain electromagnetic radiations in which the direction and magnitude of the
vibrating electric field are related in a specified way. Light waves are transverse: that is, the vibrating
electric vector associated with each wave is perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Photoelectric effect - evidence of particle-nature of light.

Q 68. D
The sum of the potential and kinetic energy will be constant according to the law of conservation of
energy. At the mean position, the pendulum is at its lowest position hence the minimum potential energy
and the maximum speed hence the maximum kinetic energy.

Q 69. A
When sound wave moves from one medium to another, the wave is refracted. It is because of different
speed of sound in different mediums. Since, the temperature near the surface of the air is maximum above
the ground and it diminishes upwards. Thus, speed of sound is largest near the surface of the earth and
decreases upwards. So a sound wave diverges upwards from a source on or near the surface of earth and is
refracted continuously towards the normal and hence less sound reaches the observer.
At the dusk situation is opposite. A wave diverging upwards form a source on or near the surface is
refracted continuously away from normal. Now, it is totally reflected and it begins to travel downwards
with continuous refraction to reach the observer.

Q 70. D
ASTROSAT is Indias first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory. ASTROSAT will observe
universe in the optical, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Indias observatory will be the fourth in space, after the Hubble, Russias Spektr R and Suzaku of Japan.

Q 71. A
The ministry of science and technology has launched a new programme called SATYAM-"Science and
Technology of Yoga and Meditation".
The programme is launched to strengthen research in the areas of yoga and meditation. An objective of
SATYAM is to harness knowledge obtained in academic institutions and other related agencies for
finding Science and Technology -led solutions that would enable us to cope with stress and strain
associated with fast changing social, economic, environmental and professional circumstances.

Q 72. C

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 The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting the imbalances in the
availability of affordable healthcare facilities in the different parts of the country in general, and
augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the under-served States in particular. The scheme
was approved in March 2006.
The first phase in the PMSSY has two components - setting up of six institutions in the line of AIIMS;
and upgradation of 13 existing Government medical college institutions.
It has been decided to set up 6 AIIMS-like institutions, one each in the States of Bihar (Patna), Chattisgarh
(Raipur), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal), Orissa (Bhubaneswar), Rajasthan (Jodhpur) and Uttaranchal
(Rishikesh). These States have been identified on the basis of various socio-economic indicators like
human development index, literacy rate, population below poverty line and per capital income and health
indicators like population to bed ratio, prevalence rate of serious communicable diseases, infant mortality
rate etc.
Statement 2 is incorrect as there is no such provision under this scheme.

Q 73. D
For a given liquid, the rate of evaporation depends on the following factors:
o Temperature of the liquid: The rate of evaporation increases with temperature.
o Area of evaporating surface: A wet sheet dries more rapidly when spread on a line than when left
folded.
o Rate of removal of vapour: Evaporation increases if vapour is continuously removed from above the
evaporating surface. That is the reason why wet clothes dry quicker on a windy day.
Q 74. C
Fundamentally, all tissues are made up of molecules with atoms as their building blocks. In the center of
every atom is the nucleus. Orbiting the nucleus of the atom are negatively charged electrons. When
energized charged particles, such as protons or other forms of radiation, pass near orbiting electrons, the
positive charge of the protons attracts the negatively charged electrons, pulling them out of their orbits.
This is called ionization; it changes the characteristics of the atom and consequentially the character of the
molecule within which the atom resides. This crucial change is the basis for the beneficial aspects of all
forms of radiation therapy. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct.
Because of ionization, the radiation damages molecules within the cells, especially the DNA or genetic
material. While both normal and cancerous cells go through this repair process, a cancer cell's ability to
repair molecular injury is frequently inferior. As a result, cancer cells sustain more permanent damage and
subsequent cell death than occurs in the normal cell population. This permits selective destruction of bad
cells growing among good cells. Both standard x-ray therapy and proton beams work on the principle of
selective cell destruction.
The major advantage of proton treatment over conventional radiation, however, is that the energy
distribution of protons can be directed and deposited in tissue volumes designated. This capability
provides greater control and precision and, therefore, superior management of treatment. Protons are
energized to specific velocities. These energies determine how deeply in the body protons will deposit
their maximum energy. As the protons move through the body, they slow down, causing increased
interaction with orbiting electrons. Thus, maximum energy is released within the designated cancer
volume. The surrounding healthy cells receive significantly less injury than the cells in the designated
volume. Therefore, statement 2 is correct.
As a result of protons' dose-distribution characteristics, the radiation oncologist can increase the dose to
the tumor while reducing the dose to surrounding normal tissues. This allows the dose to be increased
beyond that which less-conformal radiation will allow. The overall affects lead to the potential for fewer
harmful side effects, more direct impact on the tumor, and increased tumor control. Therefore, statement 3
is correct.

Q 75. D
In order to prevent iron from rusting, it is important to prevent iron articles from coming in contact with
oxygen, or water, or both. One simple way is to apply a coat of paint or grease. In fact, these coats should
be applied regularly to prevent rusting.
Another way is to deposit a layer of a metal like chromium or zinc on iron. This process of depositing a
layer of zinc on iron is called galvanisation. The iron pipes we use in our homes to carry water are
galvanised to prevent rusting.
16 www.visionias.in Vision IAS
Q 76. B
A Grand Unified Theory (GUT) is a model in particle physics in which at high energy, the three gauge
interactions of the Standard Model which define the electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions or
forces, are merged into one single force.
Unifying gravity with the other three interactions would provide a theory of everything (TOE).
Q 77. B
Isotopes are different versions of the same element that all have the same atomic number (or number of
protons) but different number of neutrons. Because the number of neutrons are different, they also have
different atomic masses, the total number of protons and neutrons combined.
Therefore, 1 and 3 are correct.
Q 78. D
An exothermic reaction is any reaction that releases or gives off energy during the reaction.
Catabolic reactions are reactions that involve the breakdown of biomolecules.
Digestion is a catabolic activity where large molecules are broken down into simpler ones and through
this process bonds may be broken, and when bonds are broken energy is produced. These smaller
molecules are then sent off to the cells in your body to participate in cellular respiration, which is a
process that converts biochemical energy to Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP), a very high-energy
molecule.
Cellular respiration is also a catabolic process because it breaks the small molecules from digestion into
even smaller ones as ATP is created. These are both very important processes, because ATP is what your
cells use to produce body heat, move your muscles, and other essential bodily functions.
An endothermic reaction occurs when a greater amount of energy is required to break the existing bonds
in the reactants than is released when the new bonds form in the products. In other words, this means an
endothermic reaction requires or takes in energy in order for it to proceed. Photosynthesis, the reaction
which allows plants to use sunlight to produce food and energy is one of the most common examples of
an endothermic reaction.
Q 79. C
National Supermcomputing Mission - This is a visionary program to enable India to leapfrog to the league
of world class computing power nations. The Mission envisages empowering our national academic and
R&D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising of more
than 70 high-performance computing facilities. These supercomputers will also be networked on the
National Supercomputing grid over the National Knowledge Network (NKN).
The NKN is another programme of the government which connects academic institutions and R&D labs
over a high speed network. Academic and R&D institutions as well as key user departments/ministries
would participate by using these facilities and develop applications of national relevance.
The Mission also includes development of highly professional High Performance Computing (HPC)
aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications.
Two key departments of the Government of India, DeitY and DST will be implementing the mission
jointly through two leading organizations. These are the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
(C-DAC) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
Therefore, all statements are correct.
Q 80. A
Turmeric is a natural acid-base indicator. A stain of curry on a white cloth becomes reddish brown when
soap, which is basic in nature, is scrubbed on it. Other such indicators are litmus paper, methyl orange,
phenolphthalein etc.
A micelle is formed when a variety of molecules including soaps and detergents are added to water. The
molecule may be a fatty acid, a salt of a fatty acid (soap), phospholipids, or other similar molecules.

Q 81. C
In a reaction between metals and acids, metal displaces hydrogen from the acids. The metal combines
with the remaining part of the acid and forms a salt.

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 It is a colourless and odourless gas which burns with a pop sound.

Q 82. D
The non-metals are either solid or gases except bromine which is a liquid.
All metals except mercury exist as solids at room temperature.
Metals are hard, lustrous, malleable, ductile, sonorous and good conductor of heat and electricity. In
contrast non-metals are soft, dull, non-sonorous and bad conductor of electricity. However, Iodine is a
lustrous non-metal.

Q 83. C
Two thin blankets joined together trap the layer of air in between the two thin blankets which acts as an
insulating medium. Similarly air trapped in between the wool fibres prevents the flow of heat from our
body to the cold surroundings.
Q 84. A

Q 85. A
The most commonly used natural indicator is litmus. It is extracted from lichens. It has a mauve (purple)
colour in distilled water. When added to an acidic solution, it turns red and when added to a basic
solution, it turns blue. It is available in the form of a solution, or in the form of strips of paper, known as
litmus paper. Generally, it is available as red and blue litmus paper. Neutral solutions do not change the
color of either red or blue litmus.
Turmeric solution (another natural indicator) gives brownish red color in basic medium and yellow in
acidic medium. China rose (natural indicator) indicator turns acidic solutions to dark pink (magenta) and
basic solutions to green. Phenolphthalein is an indicator of acids (colorless) and bases (pink).
Q 86. C
Unlike Green Revolution which focussed on only five food grains- wheat, rice, maize, jowar and bajra-
the second green revolution includes whole agricultural sector within its ambit. Hence, it is also called the
Rainbow Revolution.
Emphasizing on the need to move on this path more vigorously in coming years, Union agriculture
minister rued that the benefits of the Green Revolution, launched in mid-1960s, were mainly confined to
certain areas. He said it was not successful in rain-fed areas, which contribute about 60% of the country's
total food-grain production. Speaking at a national conference to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of
Green Revolution, he said the government was, therefore, now focusing more on bringing the second
Green Revolution in eastern region, which has rich water resources.

Q 87. B
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to
leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. APEC's 21 members aim to create greater
prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and

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 secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration.APEC's 21 member economies are
Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia;
Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines;
The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; Viet Nam. India
is not a member of this grouping. However, India is making an effort to be a part of APEC.
The G4 nations comprising Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan are four countries which support each
others bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
Uniting for Consensus (UfC) is a movement, nicknamed the Coffee Club, that developed in the 1990s in
opposition to the possible expansion of permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council. Under the
leadership of Italy, it aims to counter the bids for permanent seats proposed by G4 nations (Brazil,
Germany, India, and Japan) and is calling for a consensus before any decision is reached on the form and
size of the Security Council.

Q 88. C
A technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to transmit data. A fiber optic cable consists of a
bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves.
Fiber optics has several advantages over traditional metal communications lines:
Fiber optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This means that they can carry
more data.
Fiber optic cables are less susceptible than metal cables to interference to electromagnetic radiation.
Fiber optic cables are much thinner and lighter than metal wires.
Data can be transmitted digitally (the natural form for computer data) rather than analogically.
Q 89. B
In reactors, light nuclei called moderators are provided along with the fissionable nuclei for slowing down
fast neutrons to sustain the nuclear reaction as slow neutrons (thermal neutrons) are much more likely to
cause fission in U235 than fast neutrons. The reaction rate is controlled through control-rods made out of
neutron-absorbing material such as cadmium. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
The moderators commonly used are water, heavy water (D2O) and graphite. The Apsara reactor at the
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, uses water as moderator. The other Indian reactors,
which are used for power production, use heavy water as moderator. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Q 90. C
Aluminium is the most abundant metal and the third most abundant element in the earths crust (8.3% by
mass) after oxygen (45.5%) and Si (27.7%).
Carbon is the seventeenth most abundant element by mass in the earths crust.

91. D
Biogas is the type of gas that is produced in an anaerobic digester. Biogas is mostly made of methane and
carbon dioxide plus small amounts of some other gases. Biogas generally contains 55%-75% methane and
44%-24% carbon dioxide, with the other gases making up 1% or less of the mixture. Since biogas is made
from organic material, it is sometimes also called "renewable natural gas."
Typical composition of biogas:
o Methane : 50-80 %
o Carbon dioxide : 25-50 %
o Nitrogen : 0-10 %
o Hydrogen : 0-1 %
o Hydrogen sulphide : 0-3 %
o Oxygen : 0-2 %

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Q 92. D
Work done is the product of force and the distance through which it moves.
Work done = Force applied distance moved by the object
What do you mean when you say that you have done some work? Suppose that you studied this book for
an hour or you stood waiting for a friend at some place for half an hour. In either case, you may think that
you have done some work. But in the language of science, you have done no work in both these situations.
The word work in science has a definite meaning. If you lift an object above the ground, you do work. If
you pull some object up a hill, you have done some work. In these cases, you applied some force which
moved the object. In science, work is said to be done only if a force moves an object.
You may apply all your strength (force) in trying to lift a car or push a wall and find that you cannot move
it. Since the object did not move, no work is said to be done by the force applied by you.

Q 93. A
Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad has developed an improved, bacterial blight resistant,
high yielding, fine grain variety possessing premium grain and cooking quality, named as Improved
Samba Mahsuri (RP Bio-226), through the deployment of Marker-assisted selection for the first time in
South India. The variety has so far spread to an area of 90,000 ha in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Samba Mahsuri gives 15-30% more yield than any other bacterial blight susceptible variety.
Improved Samba Mahsuri can replace fine grained varieties like Samba Mahsuri, Sona Mahsuri, HMT
Sona, PKV HMT etc. The new variety can also be cultivated across the country in the bacterial blight
affected areas.
Recommended States: Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Q 94. B
Bioplastic is moldable plastic material made up of chemical compounds that are derived from or
synthesised by microbes such as bacteria or by genetically modified plants. Unlike traditional plastics,
which are derived from petroleum, bioplastics are obtained from renewable source, and they are
biodegradable.
Bioplastics currently make up an insignificant portion of total world production of plastics. Commercial
manufacturing processes are plagued by low yields and are expensive. However, improvements in
metabolic and genetic engineering have produced strains of microbes and plants that may significantly
improve yields and production capabilities while reducing overall costs.
Q 95. A
The periodicity and recurrence of solar eclipses is governed by the Saros cycle, a period of approximately
6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours). When two eclipses are separated by a period of one Saros, they
share a very similar geometry. The two eclipses occur at the same node with the Moon at nearly the same
distance from Earth and at the same time of year. Thus, the Saros is useful for organizing eclipses into
families or series. Each series typically lasts 12 to 13 centuries and contains 70 or more eclipses. Every
saros series begins with a number of partial eclipses near one of Earth's polar regions. The series will then
produce several dozen central eclipses before ending with a group of partial eclipses near the opposite
pole.
Q 96. B
Exim Bank has decided to set up in Africa a development firm Kukuza Project Development Company
(KPDC), in partnership with others, to facilitate Indian participation in infrastructure projects across the
continent.
Other shareholders in the company are IL&FS Group, African Development Bank and State Bank of
India.

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 KPDC is expected to provide specialist project development expertise to take the infrastructure project
from the concept stage to the commissioning stage in the African continent.
It will provide the entire gamut of expertise project identification, pre-feasibility/feasibility studies,
preparation of detailed project reports, environmental and social impact assessment.

Q 97. C
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) (formerly National Illness Assistance Fund) provides financial assistance
to patients who are living below poverty line and suffering from major life threatening diseases related to
inter-alia, heart, liver, kidney and for cancer, etc., to receive medical treatment at any of the 12 super
specialty Government hospitals / institutes or other Government hospitals. Therefore, 1 is correct.
No grant/assistance is released to patients seeking treatment at private hospitals. Diseases of common
nature and disease for which treatment is available free of cost under other health Scheme/programme of
the Government are also not eligible for grants under RAN. Therefore, 2 is not correct.
The financial assistance to such patients is released in the form of one-time grant, which is released to
the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital in which the treatment has been/is being received (and not to
the patient). Therefore, 3 is not correct.
Q 98. D
The term forensic investigation refers to the use of science or technology in the investigation and
establishment of facts or evidence to be used in criminal justice or other proceedings.
Following are the part of forensic analysis done to assist the civil and criminal investigations.
o Mitochondrial DNA Analysis
o Polygraph Test
o Brain Signature Profiling
Q 99. C
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is an automobile safety system that allows the wheels on a motor
vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface according to driver inputs while braking,
preventing the wheels from locking up (ceasing rotation) and avoiding uncontrolled skidding.
A skidding wheel (where the tire contact patch is sliding relative to the road) has less traction than a non-
skidding wheel. For instance, if you have been stuck on ice, you know that if your wheels are spinning
you have no traction. This is because the contact patch is sliding relative to the ice. By keeping the wheels
from skidding while you slow down, anti-lock brakes benefit you in two ways: You'll stop faster, and
you'll be able to steer while you stop.
100. B
The Kolleru Lake a repository of avifauna was almost lost once earlier when the Grey Pelican which was
the seen as the ecological mascot of the lake went in search of greener pastures. Kolleru is located
between Krishna and Godavari deltas.
Now this habitat of thousand of birds seems to be under threat for the second time with the State
government proposing diversion of water from feeder rivulets and drains for irrigation. The Central
government is even examining a proposal to reduce the size of the Wildlife sanctuary.
It was declared a wildlife sanctuary and a Ramsar Site. It is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the
country. Thousands of Pelicans and Painted Stork visit the lake in the winter and return to their homeland,
Siberia, in the summer.
Sambar Lake of Rajasthan is the largest inland salt water lake in India.

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