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UPSC Prelims 2011

100 questions, in the order they were asked.

2011 · Q52GeographyAtmosphere & Climatologymoderate

La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino ? 1. La Nina is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperature in equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterised by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. 2. El Nino has adverse effect on south-west monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(d) Neither 1 nor 2

2011 · Q53Modern HistoryBritish Administration & Economic Policiesdifficult

The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions ?

  1. (a)Making Zamindar's position stronger vis-a-vis the ryot
  2. (b)Making East India Company an overlord of Zamindars
  3. (c)Making judicial system more efficient
  4. (d)None of the (a), (b) and (c) above
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Official answer(c) Making judicial system more efficient

2011 · Q55Modern HistoryPeasant, Tribal & Labour Movementsmoderate

Which amongst the following provided a common factor for tribal insurrection in India in the 19th century ?

  1. (a)Introduction of a new system of land revenue and taxation of tribal products
  2. (b)Influence of foreign religious missionaries in tribal areas
  3. (c)Rise of a large number of money lenders, traders and revenue farmers as middlemen in tribal areas
  4. (d)The complete disruption of the old agrarian order of the tribal communities
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Official answer(d) The complete disruption of the old agrarian order of the tribal communities

2011 · Q56Ancient HistoryTrade & Economymoderate

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of early maritime history of Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation/explanations ?

  1. (a)As compared to other countries, India had a better ship-building technology in ancient and medieval times
  2. (b)The rulers of southern India always patronized traders, brahmin priests and buddhist monks in this context
  3. (c)Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages
  4. (d)Both (a) and (b) are convincing explanations in this context
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Official answer(c) Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages

2011 · Q57Science & TechnologyComputer & Information Technologyeasy

What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices ?

  1. (a)Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz radio frequency band, whereas Wi-Fi can use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band
  2. (b)Bluetooth is used for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) only, whereas Wi-Fi is used for Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN) only
  3. (c)When information is transmitted between two devices using Bluetooth technology, the devices have to be in the line of sight of each other, but when Wi-Fi technology is used the devices need not be in the line of sight of each other
  4. (d)The statements (a) and (b) given above are correct in this context
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Official answer(a) Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz radio frequency band, whereas Wi-Fi can use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band

2011 · Q59Indian EconomyInternational Trade & WTOmoderate

With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, "Home Charges" formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted "Home Charges"? 1. Funds used to support the India Office in London. 2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India. 3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)1 and 2 only
  3. (c)2 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(b) 1 and 2 only

2011 · Q62Science & TechnologyHealth & Diseasesmoderate

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener sold in the market. It consists of amino acids and provides calories like other amino acids. Yet, it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent in food items. What is the basis of this use?

  1. (a)Aspartame is as sweet as table sugar, but unlike table sugar, it is not readily oxidized in human body due to lack of requisite enzymes
  2. (b)When aspartame is used in food processing, the sweet taste remains, but it becomes resistant to oxidation
  3. (c)Aspartame is as sweet as sugar, but after ingestion into the body, it is converted into metabolites that yield no calories
  4. (d)Aspartame is several times sweeter than table sugar, hence food items made with small quantities of aspartame yield fewer calories on oxidation
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Official answer(d) Aspartame is several times sweeter than table sugar, hence food items made with small quantities of aspartame yield fewer calories on oxidation

2011 · Q63Modern HistoryEarly Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885-1915)moderate

What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W. S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893?

  1. (a)To agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons
  2. (b)To campaign for the entry of Indians into the Imperial Judiciary
  3. (c)To facilitate a discussion on India's Independence in the British Parliament
  4. (d)To agitate for the entry of eminent Indians into the British Parliament
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Official answer(a) To agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons

2011 · Q64Science & TechnologyEnergy & Environmentmoderate

What is the difference between a CFL and an LED lamp? 1. To produce light, a CFL uses mercury vapour and phosphor while an LED lamp uses semi-conductor material. 2. The average life span of a CFL is much longer than that of an LED lamp. 3. A CFL is less energy-efficient as compared to an LED lamp. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(c) 1 and 3 only

2011 · Q65Science & TechnologyBiotechnology & Geneticseasy

Recently, ‘oilzapper’ was in the news. What is it?

  1. (a)It is an eco-friendly technology for the remediation of oily sludge and oil spills
  2. (b)It is the latest technology developed for under sea oil exploration
  3. (c)It is a genetically engineered high biofuel yielding maize variety
  4. (d)It is the latest technology to control the accidentally caused fires in oil wells
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Official answer(a) It is an eco-friendly technology for the remediation of oily sludge and oil spills

2011 · Q67Modern HistoryKey Personalities & Ideologiesmoderate

Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest convictions were reflected in a book titled "Unto this Last" and the book transformed his life. What was the message from the book that transformed Mahatma Gandhi ?

  1. (a)Uplifting the oppressed and poor is the moral responsibility of an educated man
  2. (b)The good of individual is contained in the good of all
  3. (c)The life of celibacy and spiritual pursuit are essential for a noble life
  4. (d)All the statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct in this context
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Official answer(b) The good of individual is contained in the good of all

2011 · Q69Science & TechnologyComputer & Information Technologymoderate

A new optical disc format known as the Blu-ray Disc (BD) is becoming popular. In what way is it different from the traditional DVD? 1. DVD supports Standard Definition video while BD supports High Definition video. 2. Compared to a DVD, the BD format has several times more storage capacity. 3. Thickness of BD is 2.4 mm while that of DVD is 1.2 mm. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)1 and 2 only
  3. (c)2 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(b) 1 and 2 only

2011 · Q70Modern HistoryConstitutional Developments & British Plans (1909-1947)moderate

With reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru report? 1. Complete Independence for India. 2. Joint electorates for reservation of seats for minorities. 3. Provision of fundamental rights for the people of India in the Constitution. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(b) 2 and 3 only

2011 · Q73Indian PolityLocal Government & Panchayati Rajmoderate

Consider the following statements: In India, a Metropolitan Planning Committee 1. Is constituted under the provisions of the Constitution of India. 2. Prepares the draft development plans for metropolitan area. 3. Has the sole responsibility for implementing Government-sponsored schemes in the metropolitan area. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(a) 1 and 2 only

2011 · Q74Indian EconomyFiscal Policy & Budgetmoderate

What is the difference between "vote-on-account" and "interim budget"? 1. The provision of a "vote-on-account" is used by a regular Government, while an "interim budget" is a provision used by a caretaker Government. 2. A "vote-on-account" only deals with the expenditure in Government's budget, while an "interim budget" includes both expenditure and receipts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(b) 2 only