UPSC Prelims 2008

150 questions, in the order they were asked.

2008 · Q126 Science & TechnologyPhysicseasy

How can the height of a person who is six feet tall be expressed (approximately) in nanometres?

(a)183 × 10⁶ nanometres
(b)234 × 10⁶ nanometres
(c)183 × 10⁷ nanometres
(d)234 × 10⁷ nanometres

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Official answer(c) 183 × 10⁷ nanometres

2008 · Q127 Science & TechnologyPhysicsmoderate

A person is sitting in a car which is at rest. The reaction from the road at each of the four wheels of the car is R. When the car runs on a straight level road, how will the reaction at either of the front wheels vary?

(a)It will be greater than R
(b)It will be less than R
(c)It will be equal to R
(d)It shall depend on the material of the road

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Official answer(c) It will be equal to R

2008 · Q128 GeographyIndian Rivers & Water Resourceseasy

With which one of the following rivers is the Omkareshwar Project associated?

(a)Chambal
(b)Narmada
(c)Tapi
(d)Bhima

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Official answer(b) Narmada

2008 · Q129 Current AffairsInternational Organisations & Groupingsmoderate

Consider the following statements: 1. The Nuclear Suppliers Group has 24 countries as its members. 2. India is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

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Official answer(d) Neither 1 nor 2

2008 · Q130 Science & TechnologyDefence Technologyeasy

In the context of the Indian defence, what is ‘Dhruv’?

(a)Aircraft-carrying warship
(b)Missile-carrying submarine
(c)Advanced light helicopter
(d)Intercontinental ballistic missile

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Official answer(c) Advanced light helicopter

2008 · Q131 Current AffairsInternational Conflicts & Securityeasy

‘Hand-in-Hand 2007’, a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following countries?

(a)China
(b)Japan
(c)Russia
(d)USA

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Official answer(a) China

2008 · Q132 Science & TechnologyBiologymoderate

Assertion (A): In human body, liver has an important role in fat digestion. Reason (R): Liver produces two important fat-digesting enzymes.

(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true

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Official answer(c) A is true but R is false

2008 · Q133 Science & TechnologyPhysicseasy

Assertion (A): In the visible spectrum of light, red light is more energetic than green light. Reason (R): The wavelength of red light is more than that of green light.

(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true

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Official answer(d) A is false but R is true

2008 · Q134 Science & TechnologyPhysicsmoderate

Assertion (A): Radio waves bend in a magnetic field. Reason (R): Radio waves are electromagnetic in nature.

(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true

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Official answer(d) A is false but R is true

2008 · Q135 Modern HistoryGandhian Mass Movements (1915-1942)moderate

Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the year 1939. Reason (R): The Congress did not accept the decision of the Viceroy to declare war against Germany in the context of the Second World War.

(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true

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Official answer(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

2008 · Q136 Science & TechnologyBiologyeasy

Among the following, which one lays eggs and does not produce young ones directly?

(a)Echidna
(b)Kangaroo
(c)Porcupine
(d)Whale

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Official answer(a) Echidna

2008 · Q137 Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestryeasy

The release of which one of the following into ponds and wells helps in controlling the mosquitoes?

(a)Crab
(b)Dogfish
(c)Gambusia fish
(d)Snail

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Official answer(c) Gambusia fish

2008 · Q138 Indian PolityFederalism & Centre–State Relationseasy

Which Schedule of the Constitution of India contains special provisions for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas in several States?

(a)Third
(b)Fifth
(c)Seventh
(d)Ninth

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Official answer(b) Fifth

2008 · Q139 Indian PolityUnion & State Executiveeasy

Department of Border Management is a Department of which one of the following Union Ministries?

(a)Ministry of Defence
(b)Ministry of Home Affairs
(c)Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways
(d)Ministry of Environment and Forests

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Official answer(b) Ministry of Home Affairs

2008 · Q140 Indian PolityConstitutional & Statutory Bodieseasy

For which one of the following reforms was a Commission set up under the Chairmanship of Veerappa Moily by the Government of India?

(a)Police Reforms
(b)Tax Reforms
(c)Reforms in Technical Education
(d)Administrative Reforms

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Official answer(d) Administrative Reforms

2008 · Q141 Current AffairsOther Sports & Personalitieseasy

Elizabeth Hawley is well-known for her writings relating to which one of the following?

(a)Historical monuments in India
(b)Regional dances in India
(c)Himalayan expeditions
(d)Wildlife in India

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Official answer(c) Himalayan expeditions

2008 · Q142 GeographyIndian Physical Geographyeasy

In India, how many States share the coastline?

(a)7
(b)8
(c)9
(d)10

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Official answer(c) 9

2008 · Q143 Science & TechnologyScience & Technology Historyeasy

Nobel Prize–winning scientist James D. Watson is known for his work in which area?

(a)Metallurgy
(b)Meteorology
(c)Environmental protection
(d)Genetics

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Official answer(d) Genetics

2008 · Q144 Indian EconomyAgriculture & Rural Developmentmoderate

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List-I (Board) A. Coffee Board B. Rubber Board C. Tea Board D. Tobacco Board List-II (Headquarters) 1. Bengaluru 2. Guntur 3. Kottayam 4. Kolkata Code:

(a)A-2 B-4 C-3 D-1
(b)A-1 B-3 C-4 D-2
(c)A-2 B-3 C-4 D-1
(d)A-1 B-4 C-3 D-2

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Official answer(b) A-1 B-3 C-4 D-2

2008 · Q145 Environment & EcologyProtected Areas & Wildlifeeasy

Which one among the following has the maximum number of National Parks?

(a)Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(b)Arunachal Pradesh
(c)Assam
(d)Meghalaya

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Official answer(a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

2008 · Q146 Environment & EcologyBiodiversity & Conservationeasy

Among the following, which one is not an ape?

(a)Gibbon
(b)Gorilla
(c)Langur
(d)Orangutan

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Official answer(c) Langur

2008 · Q147 Science & TechnologyQuantitative Aptitudemoderate

In how many different ways can all of 5 identical balls be placed in the cells shown above such that each row contains at least 1 ball?

(a)64
(b)81
(c)84
(d)108

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Official answer(d) 108

2008 · Q148 Science & TechnologyQuantitative Aptitudeeasy

There are 6 different letters and 6 correspondingly addressed envelopes. If the letters are randomly put in the envelopes, what is the probability that exactly 5 letters go into the correctly addressed envelopes?

(a)Zero
(b)1/6
(c)1/2
(d)5/6

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Official answer(a) Zero

2008 · Q149 Science & TechnologyQuantitative Aptitudemoderate

There are two identical red, two identical black and two identical white balls. In how many different ways can the balls be placed in the cells (each cell to contain one ball) shown above such that balls of the same colour do not occupy any two consecutive cells?

(a)15
(b)18
(c)24
(d)30

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Official answer(c) 24

2008 · Q150 Science & TechnologyLogical Reasoning & Puzzlesmoderate

How many different triangles are there in the figure shown above?

(a)28
(b)24
(c)20
(d)16

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Official answer(a) 28