UPSC General Science MCQs – 10

The working principle of a washing machine is ______:

Consider the following statements:

If there were no phenomenon of capillarity.

1. it would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp.
2. one would not be able to use a straw to consume a soft drink.
3. the blotting paper would fail to function.
4. the big trees that we see around would not have grown on the Earth.

Which of the statements given above are correct? [UPSC Civil Services, 2012]

Consider the following phenomena: [UPSC Civil Services, 2013]

1. Size of the sun at dusk
2. Colour of the sun at dawn
3. Moon being visible at dawn
4. Twinkle of stars in the sky
5. Polestar being visible in the sky

Which of the above are optical illusions?

Which one of the following non-metals is not a poor conductor of electricity? [UPSC Civil Services, 2007]

Assertion (A) :Coal-based thermal power stations contribute to acid-rain.

Reason (R) : Oxides of carbon are emitted when coal burns. [UPSC Civil Services, 2003]

Codes :

What is the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the water purification systems? [UPSC Civil Services, 2012]

1. It inactivates/kills the harmful micro-organisms in water.
2. It removes all the undesirable odours from the water.
3. It quickens the sedimentation of solid particles, removes turbidity and improves the clarity of water.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In human body, which one of the following hormones regulates blood calcium and phosphate? [UPSC Civil Services, 2007]

Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? [UPSC Civil Services, 2012]

1. To enable them to withstand drought.
2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce.
3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations.
4. To increase their shelf life.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which of the following statements is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services, 2013]

1. Viruses lack enzymes necessary for the generation of energy.
2. Viruses can be cultured in any synthetic medium.
3. Viruses are transmitted from one organism to another by biological vectors only.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which of the following leaf modifications occurs/occur in desert areas to inhibit water loss? [UPSC Civil Services, 2013]

1. Hard and waxy leaves
2. Tiny leaves or no leaves
3. Thorns instead of leaves

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.