Some Practice Questions for Prelims

1. Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to our solar system?
(a) The Earth is the densest of all the planets in our solar system (b) The predominant element in the composition of Earth is silicon © The Sun contains 75 percent of the mass of the solar system
(d) The diameter of the Sun is 190 times that of the Earth

2 .I : In 2007-08, the production of food grains had a general downslide
II : In 2006-07, the production of cereals was more than 2007-08

3. I: Pongamia Ponnata is used for bio-diesel production II : The Jute Technology Mission was approved in 2006

4. Consider the following natural phenomena:
1. Terrestrial heating 2. Reflection of light 3. Refraction of light 4. Diffraction of light
Due to which of these phenomena is mirage formed? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2, 3 and 4 c) 1 and 3 d) 4 only

5. Sun’s halo is produced by the refraction of light in:
(a) Water vapor in stratus cloud (b) Ice crystals in Cerro-Cumulus clouds (c) Ice crystals in cirrus cloud
(b) Dust particles in Stratus cloud

6. Consider the following statements:
1. Light of the longer wavelength is scattered much more than the light of the shorter wavelength
2. The speed of visible light in water is 0.95 times the speed in vacuum
3. Radio waves are produced by rapidly oscillating electrical current
4. To detect the over speeding vehicles, Police use the Doppler effect of reflected short radio waves
Which of these statements are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 4 (d) 3 and 4

7. Assertion (A): Synthetic detergents can lather well in hard water
Reasons (R): Synthetic detergents form soluble calcium and magnesium salt with hard water

8. Assertion (A): Artificial satellites are always launched from the Earth in the eastward direction.
Reason (R): The earth rotates from west to east and so the satellite attains the escape velocity.

9. Assertion (A): An iron ball floats on mercury but gets immersed in water
Reasons (R): The specific gravity of iron is more than that of mercury

10. I: The National Sample Survey was established in 1950
II: The New Series of Consumer Price Index Numbers with base 2000 has been effective from 2003