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Environment & Ecology

385 questions asked in UPSC Prelims.

1996 · Q49Environment & EcologyWater & Wetland Conservationmoderate

Assertion (A): Mangroves are very specialised forest ecosystems of tropical and subtropical regions bordering certain sea coasts. Reason (R): They stabilise the shoreline and act as bulwark against encroachments by sea. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

  1. (a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. (b)Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. (c)A is true but R is false
  4. (d)A is false but R is true
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Official answer(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

1996 · Q63Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Governance & Legislationmoderate

Consider the following programmes: I. Afforestation and development of wastelands. II. Reforestation and replantation in existing forests. III. Encouraging the wood substitutes and supplying other types of fuel. IV. Promotion of wide use of insecticides and pesticides to restrict the loss of forest area from degradation caused by pests and insects. The National Forest Policy of 1988 includes

  1. (a)I, II, III and IV
  2. (b)II and IV
  3. (c)I, III and IV
  4. (d)I, II and III
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Official answer(d) I, II and III

1995 · Q32Environment & EcologyWater & Wetland Conservationmoderate

“Monoculture of commercially viable trees is destroying the unique natural profile of ……… Thoughtless exploitation of timber, deforesting vast tracts for palm cultivation, destruction of mangroves, illegal logging by tribals and poaching only compound the problem. Fresh water pockets are fast drying up due to deforestation and destruction of mangroves.” The place referred to in this quotation is

  1. (a)Sundarbans
  2. (b)Kerala Coast
  3. (c)Orissa Coast
  4. (d)Andaman and Nicobar Islands
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Official answer(a) Sundarbans

1995 · Q128Environment & EcologyPollution & Waste Managementmoderate

“The final Agent Orange raid in Vietnam took place in 1970…. areas have begun to bloom again. But 19 years after the war’s end, it seems plain that Agent Orange is killing and maiming human beings, something it never intended to do. The apparent toxic fall-out from those clouds ... is a crop of human miseries including cancers, miscarriages and birth defects — that may persist for decades.” The offensive substance referred to in the above quotation is

  1. (a)DDT used as insecticide
  2. (b)a complex mixture of herbicides and weedicides used to increase agricultural output in the then South Vietnam under the US aid programme
  3. (c)a complex mixture of DDT and other insecticides used as aerial sprays for protection against malaria and other tropical diseases
  4. (d)dioxin used as defoliants
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Official answer(d) dioxin used as defoliants

1995 · Q145Environment & EcologyPollution & Waste Managementmoderate

Consider the table given below providing details of traffic volume per hour for four locations (showing total traffic volume, % of heavy vehicles, average noise level in dB(A) and noise-pollution level in dB(A)). When the total traffic volume is the same, the factor(s) which affect(s) the noise-pollution level is/are

  1. (a)% of heavy vehicles
  2. (b)noise-pollution level and average noise level
  3. (c)average noise level and % of heavy vehicles
  4. (d)indeterminable on the basis of details given
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Official answer(a) % of heavy vehicles