(Answer Keys) GENERAL STUDIES - UPSC Prelims Exam 2009

Held on 17th May, 2009

TEST BOOKLET C

1. In the Individual Satyagrapha, Vinoba Bhave was chosen as the first Satyagrahi. Who was the second ?
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) C. Rajagopalachari
(d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Ans : b

2. Consider the follwing statements:
The Cripps proposals include the provision for
(a) full independence for india
(b) creation of constitution-making body. 

which of the statement given above is/are correct
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : d

3. During the freedom struggle, Aruna Asaf Ali was a major women organizer of underground activity in
(a) Civil Disobedience Movement
(b) Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) Quit India movement
(d) Swadeshi Movement
Ans : c

4. With whose permission did the English set up their first factory in Surat?
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Ans : b

5. In a dry cell (battery), which of the folllwing are used as electrolytes?
(a) Ammonium Chloride and Zinc Chloride
(b) sodium Chloride and Calcium Chloride
(c) Magnesium Chloride and Zinc Chloride
(d) Ammonium Chloride and Calcium Chloride
Ans : a

6. Which one of the following planets has largest number of natural satellites or moons?
(a) Jupiter
(b) Mars
(c) Saturn
(d) Venus
Ans : a
(Jupiter-62)

7. Consider the following statements
(1) Sweet orange plant is propagated by grafting technique.
(2) Jasmine Plant is propagated by layering technique.

which of the statement given above is/are correct
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : c

8. Which one of the following types of waves are used in a night vision apparatus?
(a) Radio Waves
(b) Microwaves
(c) Infra-red waves
(d) None of the above
Ans : c

9. In the context of genetic disorders, consider the following
A women suffers from colour blindness. while her husband dose not suffer from it they have a son and a daughter .
this context which one of the following statement is most probably correct?

(a) Both Children Suffer from colour Blindness.
(b) Daughter Suffer from colour blindness while son dose not suffer from it.
(c) Both children do not suffer form colour blindness .
(d) Son suffers from colour blindness while daughter dose not suffer from it .
Ans : d

10. A person travels 12 km due North, then 15 km due East, after that 15 km due west and then 18 km due south . how far is he from the starting point?
(a) 6 km
(b) 12 km
(c) 33 km
(d) 60 km
Ans : a

11. Six persons A, B, C, D, E and F are standing in a row. C and D are standing close to each other alongside E. B is standing beside A only. A is fourth from F. who are standing on the extremes ?
(a) A and F
(b) B and D
(c) B and F
(d) None of the above 
Ans : c
(F,C,D,E,A,B)

12. Which one of the following is used as an explosive?
(a) Phosphorous Trichloride
(b) Mercuric Oxide
(c) Graphite
(d) Nitroglycerine
Ans : d

13. Consider the following :
1. Camphor
2. Chicory
3.Vanilla
which of the above is/are plant product(s)?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans : d

14. In the context of indian wild life the flying fox is a
(a) Bat
(b) Kite
(c) Stork
(d) Vulture
Ans : a
The Indian Flying-fox (Pteropus giganteus) is a species of bat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Greater Indian Fruit Bat lives in mainly forests. It is a very large bat with a wing span of around 80 centimeters. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits such as mangoes and bananas and nectar. This bat is gregarious and lives in colonies which can number a few hundred. Their offspring has no specific name besides 'young'. They reproduce sexually and give live birth. They have one to two young.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Flying-fox

15. During which Five Year Plan was the Emergency clamped, new election took place and the Janata party was elected?
(a) Third
(b) Fourth
(c) Fifth
(d) Sixth
Ans : c
(5th Plan from 1974 to 79 )

16. Where is the headquarters of Animal Welfare Board of India located?
(a) Ahmedabad
(b) Chennai
(c) Hyderabad
(d) Kolkata
Ans : b
The Animal Welfare Board of India, the first of its kind Animal welfare organization to be established by any Government in the world, was set up in 1962, in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Acts 1960 (No.59 of 1960).
Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale pioneered the setting up of the Board, with its Headquarters at Chennai, and guided the activities of the Board for nearly twenty years till her demise in 1986.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Welfare_Board_of_India

17. Consider the following statements regarding Indian planning :
(1) The Second Five Year Plan emphasised on establishment of heavy industries.
(2) the third Five-year plan introduced the concept of import substitution as a strategy for industrialisation.

which of the statement given above is / are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : c

18. Consider the following statements :
1. The National School of Drama was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi 1959
2. The highest honour conferred by the sathiya akademi on a writer is by electing him its follow.

which of the statement given above is /are correct ?
(a)1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : c
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_School_of_Drama

19. With reference to union Government consider the following statements:
(1) The Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. are created by the prime minister on  the advice of the cabinet secretary.
(2)Each of the ministries is assigned to a minister by the president of India on the advice of the prime minister.

which of the statement given above is /are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : b

20. A person has 4 coins each of different denomination.What is the Number of different sums of money the person can form (using or more coins at the time) ?
(a) 16
(b) 15
(c) 12
(d) 11
Ans : b

21. How many numbers lie between 300 and 500 in which, 4 comes only one time ?
(a) 99
(b) 100
(c) 110
(d) 120
Ans : a
From 300 to 399 - 18, from 400 to 500 - 81; total =18+81=99

22. How many letters of the English alphabet (capitals) appear same when looked at in a mirror ?
(a) 9
(b) 10
(c) 11
(d) 12
Ans : c
( A, H, I, M, O, T, U, V, W, X, Y)

23. How many three-digit numbers can the generated from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 such that the digits are in as order?
(a) 80
(b) 81
(c) 83
(d) 84
Ans : d

24. There are four persons A,B,C,D and A has some coins. A gave half of the coins to B and 4 more beside B gave       half of the coins to C and 4 more beside C gave half of the coins to D and 4 more beside . both B and D end up with same number of coins how many coins did A have originally ?
(a) 96
(b) 84
(c) 72
(d) 64
Ans : c

25. While adding the first few continuous natural numbers. a candidate missed one of the numbers and wrote the answer as 177. what was the number missed ?
(a) 11
(b) 12
(c) 13
(d) 14
Ans : c
(sum of n natural numbers is (n*(n+1))/2. if n = 19, then the sum is 190. therefore 190-177 = 13.)

26. Four metal rods of lengths 78 cm, 104 cm, 117 cm and 169 cm are to be cut  in to parts of equal length, Each part must be as long as possible what is the maximum number of pieces that con be cut ?
(a) 27
(b) 36
(c) 43
(d) 480
Ans : b
HCF is 13. we get 6, 8, 9 and 13 pieces.

27. In an examination, there are three subjects A, B and C student has to pass in Each subject 20%student failed in A 22% students failed in B and 16% failed in C the total number of student passing the whole examination has between?
(a) 42% and 82%
(b) 42% and 78%
(c) 58% and 78%
(d) 58% and 84%
Ans : a

28. There is a family of 6 persons A, B, C, D, E and F. there are to married couples in the family members and lawyer teacher salesmen engineer accountant is the son of B and brother of E .C, the lawyer in the daughter-in-law of A E is the unmarried engineer. A is the grandmother of F how is E related To F?
(a) Brother
(b) Sister
(c) Father
(d) connot be established
Ans : d

29. How many times are an hour hand and a minute hand. of a clock at right angels during their motion  from 01:00 pm to 10.00 p.m. ?
(a) 9
(b) 10
(c) 18
(d) 20
Ans : c
( 90 degrees happens 2 times every hour, therefore from 1 to 10 pm it happens 18 times.)

30. There are 240 balls and number of boxes. B1, B2, B3, Bn The balls are to be please in the boxes such that B1, should contain 4 balls more than B2, B2 should contain 4 balls more than B3, and so no which one of the following connot be the possible value of n ?
(a) 4
(b) 5
(c) 6
(d) 7
Ans : d

( if we take 4 boxes the minimum number in 54 then 58 then 62 and finally 66 if 5 boxes, then minimum is 50, 54, 58, 62 and 66. If 6 boxes, then minimum is 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50. )

31. In the context of Indian defence, consider the following statement :
(1) The Shourya missile flies with a speed more than 8 Mach.
(2) The range of Shourya missile is more than 1600 km .

which of the statement given above is/ are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : d

32. WiMAX is related to which one of the following ?
(a) Biotechnology
(b) space technology
(c) Missile technology
(d) Communication technology
Ans : d
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimax

33. For outstanding contribution to to which one of the following fields is Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize given ?
(a) Literature
(b) Performing Arts
(c) science
(d) social service
Ans : c
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prizes are awarded annually by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in Biological, Chemical, Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary, Engineering, Mathematical, Medical and Physical Sciences. The purpose of the prize is to recognize outstanding Indian work in science and technology. The award is named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar and is known as the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanti_Swarup_Bhatnagar_Prize

34. In making the saffron spice which one of the following parts of  plant is used ?
(a) Leaf
(b) petal
(c) Sepal
(d) Stigma
Ans : d

35. In the year 2008, which one of the following conducted a complex scientific experiment in which sub- atomic particles were accelerated to nearly the speed of light ?
 (a) European Space Agency
(b) European Organization for nuclear research
(c) International atomic energy Agency
(d) National Aeronautics and space administration 
Ans : b

36. A very big refugee camp called Dadaab, recently in the news, is located in?
(a) Ethiopia
(b) Kenya
(c) Somalia
(d) Sudan
Ans : b
Dadaab is a town in northeastern Kenya approximately 100 kilometers from Kenya-Somali border. It hosts mostly-Somali refugees from Kenya's northern neighbors. Most of Dadaab's local population is made up of nomadic camel and goat herders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadaab

37. Consider the following names  :
(1) Ike
(2) Kate
(3) Gustav
which of the above are the names of hurricanes that had occurred very recently ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1 ,2 and 3
Ans : c
Ike and Gustav - 2008, Kate -2003 and 1985

38. In the context of alternative sources of energy Ethanol as a viable bio-fuel can be obtained from?
(a) Potato
(b) Rice
(c) Sugarcane
(d) Wheat
Ans : c
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol

39. Consider the following names :
(1) Amrita Sher-Gil
(b) Bikash bhattacharjee
(c) N.S. Bendre
(d) Subodh Gupta
who of the above is / are will known as artist(s) ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 , 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 ,3 and 4 only
Ans : d
All are eminent Indian painters

40. NAMA-11( Nama-11) group of countries frequently appears in the news in the context of the affairs of which one of the following ?
(a) Nuclear Suppliers group 
(b) World Bank
(c) World Economic Forum
(d) World Trade Organization
Ans : d
The NAMA-11 members are Argentina, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Namibia, Philippines, South Africa and Tunisia. It covers the following issues: formula, paragraph 8 flexibility; treatment of unbound tariffs; implementation period; product coverage; credit for autonomous liberalization; binding in ad valorem terms; and other issues (paragraph 6 countries; sectoral initiatives; LDCs; recently acceded members; non tariff barriers; preference erosion; and environmental goods.

41. In the latter half of the year 2008 which one of the following countries pulled out of commonwealth of Independent States ?
(a) Azerbaijan
(b) Belarus
(c) Georgia
(d) Kazakhstan
Ans : c

42. Match list I with list II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
       List I                                                                      List II
(Persons in news )                                               (Countries they belong to)
(A) Luisa Dias Diogo                                                (1) Kenya
(B)  Mwai kibaki                                                      (2) Mozambique
(C) Rupiah Banda                                                     (3) Zambia
                                                                                 (4) Zimbabwe
 Code:
            A           B              C
    (a)   1            2               3
    (b)   2            1               3
    (c)   2            1               4
    (d)   1            2               4

Ans : b

43. Consider the following regions :
(1) Eastern Himalayas
(2) Eastern Mediterranean region
(3) North Western Australia
which of the above is / are Biodiversity Hotspot(s)?
(a) 1 and only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 , 2 and 3
Ans : a
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_Hotspot

44. With reference to the evolution of living organisms, which one of the following sequences is correct ?
(a) Octopus - Dolphin - Shark
(b) Pangolin - Tortoise - Hawk
(c) Salamander - Python - Kangaroo
(d) Frog - Crab - Prawn
Ans : NOT SURE***

45. The Panda belongs to the same family as that of ?
(a) Bear
(b) Cat
(c) Dog
(d) Rabbit
Ans : a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panda

46. Among the following Presidents of India, who was also the Secretary General of non-aligned movement for some period ?
(a) Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
(b) Varahagiri Venkatagiri
(c) Giani Zail Singh
(d) Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma
Ans : c
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-aligned_movement

47. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :
    List                                          List II
(person)                                (Organization)
(A) Anil Agarwal               (1) Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.
(B) Goutam H Singhania    (2) Raymond Ltd
(C) Sanjay Dalmia             (3) Vedanta Resources
(D) Venugopal Dhoot        (4) Videocon Group

Code:
             A            B         C        C
(a)         3             1          2        4
(b)         4             1          2        3
(c)         3             2          1        4
(d)         4             2          1        3
Ans : c

48. To integrate cultural leaders in to its meetings, which one of the following given "Crystal Award" ?
(A) Asia pacific Economic Cooperation
(B) International Bank of Reconstruction and development
(C) World health Organization
(D) World Economic Forum
Ans : d

49. In India, which one of the following states has the largest inland saline wetland ?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Haryana
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Rajasthan
Ans : d
Saline wetlands occur in locally restricted habitats such as lake shores and coastal mudflats. They are characterised by an abundance of salt, low-growing vegetation, with most plants barely emerging above the water line or are knee-high at most.

50. Consider the following statement :
(1) MMTC Limited is India's largest international trading organization.
(2) Neelachal ispat nigam Limited has been set up by MMTC jointly with the Government of Orissa.
which of the statement given above is / are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 Nor 2
Ans : c

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