PRE-MIX

19-28
5 HIGH VALUE QUESTIONS FOR PRELIMS
1.
Which of the following most appropriately describes DISARIB?
a)It is a novel small molecule, designed and synthesised by Indian
researchers which has shown promise in targeted killing of
cancer cells.
b)This is a form of bacteria which has only been found on the
International Space Station and not on earth as of yet.
c)NASA launched this sounding to study vast interstellar clouds
and know about the earliest stages of star formation.
d)It is a two-staged, liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile
(ICBM), developed by North Korea.
 NOVEL MOLECULE TO TREAT CANCER – DISARIB
➢Disarib is a novel small molecule, designed and synthesised by Indian researchers
which has shown promise in targeted killing of cancer cells.
➢The molecule (Disarib) works by binding itself to a protein called BCL2, which
suppresses the death of cancerous cells while sparing normal cells.
➢ However, the Disarib molecule would be ineffective in cases where expression of
BCL2 is low in cancer cell lines such as breast cancer, cervical cancer etc

BACTERIA NAMED AFTER A P J ABDUL KALAM

➢Scientists at NASA have named a new organism – a bacteria as Solibacillus kalamii
in honour of Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.
➢This form of bacteria has only been found on the International Space Station and
not on earth as of yet.
 CHESS
➢ NASA launched a sounding rocket CHESS (Colorado High-
resolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph) to study vast interstellar
clouds and know about the earliest stages of star formation

HWASONG-15
➢It is a two-staged, liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile
(ICBM), developed by North Korea
2.
Which of the following is false about International Nitrogen Initiative (INI)?
1) The International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) is an international program, set up
in 2006 under sponsorship of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the
Environment (SCOPE) and from the International Geosphere-Biosphere
Program (IGBP).
2) Indian scientist Nandula Raghuram is the first Indian and third Asian to be
elected to the Chair of INI.
a)Only 1
b)Only 2
c) None of the above
d)All of the above
 The International Nitrogen Initiative
➢The International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) is an international program, set up in 2003
under sponsorship of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment
(SCOPE) and from the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP). The key
aims of the INI are to:
➢optimize nitrogen’s beneficial role in sustainable food production, and
➢minimize nitrogen’s negative effects on human health and the environment
resulting from food and energy production.
➢The program is currently a sustained partner of Future Earth.
3.
Global Liveability Index is released by :
a) UNDP
b) The Economist Intelligence Unit
c)The Access Initiative (TAI) and the World
Resources Institute(WRI)
d)The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage
Foundation
➢Index of Economic Freedom The Wall Street Journal
and the Heritage Foundation
➢Environmental Democracy Index (EDI) The Access
Initiative (TAI) and the World Resources Institute(WRI)
➢Education Index UNDP
➢Gender Empowerment Measure UNDP
➢Gender Inequality Index UNDP
➢Human Development Index UNDP
➢Human Poverty IndexUNDP
4. FROM OUR TEST SERIES
The term Haircut has recently been in news.
Consider the following statements wrt it -
1) It is one of the options to absorb liquidity from the market.
2)It is the difference between the loan amount and the actual value of
the asset used as collateral.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d)Neither 1 and 2
➢A haircut is the difference between the loan
amount and the actual value of the asset used as
collateral.
➢Haircut' is one of the options to address the
problem of non-performing assets.
5.
Consider the following
i. Cadmium Poisoning causes Itai Itai Disease
ii. Nitrate Poisoning causes Black Foot Disease
iii. Arsenic poisoning causes Blue Baby Syndrome
iv. Fluoride poisoning causes Knock Knee Disease

Choose the correct option from the following

a) i, ii and iii Only
b) i, ii and iv Only
c) i and iv Only
d) All of the Above
➢Cadmium Poisoning causes Itai Itai Disease - It remains the most
severe example of chronic Cd poisoning caused by prolonged
oral Cd ingestion.
➢Nitrate Poisoning causes Blue Baby Syndrome - It is widely
believed to be caused by nitrate contamination in groundwater
resulting in decreased oxygen carrying capacity of haemoglobin
in babies leading to death.
➢ Arsenic poisoning causes Black Foot Disease - Exposure to
arsenic via drinking-water has been shown to cause a
severedisease of the blood vessels, which leads to gangrene,
known as 'black foot disease’.
➢ Fluoride poisoning causes Knock Knee Disease (Skeletal Fluorosis)