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UPSC Environment PYQs 2013 | Vaidra | Vaidra
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Environment UPSC PYQ 2013

20 questions from the UPSC 2013 examination.

20 questions

1Mediumprelims2 marks
Water & Wetland Conservation

Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? 1. Arsenic 2. Sorbitol 3. Fluoride 4. Formaldehyde 5. Uranium Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A1 and 3 only
B2, 4 and 5 only
C1, 3 and 5 only
D1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
2Easyprelims2 marks
Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts

Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms?

AEcotone
BEcological niche
CHabitat
DHome range
3Mediumprelims2 marks
Protected Areas & Wildlife

Consider the following pairs: National Park : River flowing through the Park 1. Corbett National Park : Ganga 2. Kaziranga National Park : Manas 3. Silent Valley National Park : Kaveri Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

A1 and 2
B3 only
C1 and 3
DNone
4Mediumprelims2 marks
Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity?

AOceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves
BMangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes
CMangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans
DOceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands
5Mediumprelims2 marks
Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts

With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements: 1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other. 2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species. 3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C1, 2 and 3
DNone
6Mediumprelims2 marks
Protected Areas & Wildlife

Consider the following pairs: 1. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve : Garo Hills 2. Loktak Lake : Barail Range 3. Namdapha National Park : Dafla Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1, 2 and 3
DNone
7Easyprelims2 marks
Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts

Which of the following leaf modifications occurs/occur in desert areas to inhibit water loss? 1. Hard and waxy leaves 2. Tiny leaves or no leaves 3. Thorns instead of leaves Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A1 and 2 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
8Mediumprelims2 marks
Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry

Consider the following organisms: 1. Agaricus 2. Nostoc 3. Spirogyra Which of the above is/are used as biofertilizer/biofertilizers?

A1 and 2
B2 only
C2 and 3
D3 only
9Easyprelims2 marks
Protected Areas & Wildlife

Consider the following: 1. Star tortoise 2. Monitor lizard 3. Pygmy hog 4. Spider monkey Which of the above are naturally found in India?

A1, 2 and 3 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 4 only
D1, 2, 3 and 4
10Mediumprelims2 marks
Pollution & Waste Management

Due to improper/indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste? 1. Beryllium 2. Cadmium 3. Chromium 4. Heptachlor 5. Mercury 6. Lead 7. Plutonium Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

A1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
B1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only
C2, 4, 5 and 7 only
D1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
11Mediumprelims2 marks
Biogeochemical Cycles & Earth Systems

Which of the following adds/add nitrogen to the soil? 1. Excretion of urea by animals 2. Burning of coal by man 3. Death of vegetation Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
12Easyprelims2 marks
Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts

With reference to the food chains in ecosystems, which of the following kinds of organism is/are known as decomposer organism/organisms? 1. Virus 2. Fungi 3. Bacteria Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
13Easyprelims2 marks
Pollution & Waste Management

Acid rain is caused by the pollution of environment by

Acarbon dioxide and nitrogen
Bcarbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Cozone and carbon dioxide
Dnitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide
14Easyprelims2 marks
Biodiversity & Conservation

Consider the following fauna of India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are endangered?

A1 and 2 only
B3 only
C1, 2 and 3
DNone
15Easyprelims2 marks
Pollution & Waste Management

Photochemical smog is a resultant of the reaction among

ANO₂, O₃ and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight
BCO, O₂ and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight
CCO, CO₂ and NO₂ at low temperature
Dhigh concentration of NO₂, O₃ and CO in the evening
16Mediumprelims2 marks
Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry

Mycorrhizal biotechnology has been used in rehabilitating degraded sites because mycorrhiza enables the plants to 1. Resist drought and increase absorptive area 2. Tolerate extremes of pH 3. Resist disease infestation Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
17Easyprelims2 marks
Biodiversity & Conservation

Consider the following animals: 1. Sea cow 2. Sea horse 3. Sea lion Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?

A1 only
B1 and 3 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
18Mediumprelims2 marks
Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts

Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/characteristics of equatorial forests? 1. Presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy 2. Coexistence of a large number of species 3. Presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
19Mediumprelims2 marks
Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts

In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of

Ainsects and fungi
Blimited sunlight and paucity of nutrients
Cwater limits and fire
DNone of the above
20Mediumprelims2 marks
Biodiversity & Conservation

In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Kerala 3. Karnataka 4. Andhra Pradesh Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A1, 2 and 3 only
B2 only
C1, 3 and 4 only
D1, 2, 3 and 4
Environment — All Years|All Subjects