Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: Döbereiner's triads (1817–1829) were the first attempt to classify elements.

1. Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner grouped elements in sets of three with similar properties.
2. The atomic mass of the middle element is about the average of the other two, e.g. Li, Na, K: $\frac{7+39}{2}=23$ = Na.
3. Newlands – Law of Octaves; Mendeleev – periodic table by atomic mass; Moseley – modern periodic law by atomic number.

Yaad rakhein: Order: Döbereiner (triads) → Newlands (octaves) → Mendeleev → Moseley.

Answer: (C) Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner

Concept: Chanakya's Chant (2010) is a thriller that runs two stories in parallel – Chanakya in ancient India and a modern-day political strategist.

1. It was written by Ashwin Sanghi, who also wrote The Rozabal Line and The Krishna Key.
2. Amish Tripathi wrote the Shiva Trilogy; Samit Basu wrote The Simoqin Prophecies; Novoneel Chakraborty writes romance thrillers.

Yaad rakhein: Ashwin Sanghi's 'Bharat series': Rozabal Line, Chanakya's Chant, Krishna Key.

Answer: (C) Ashwin Sanghi

Concept: Navratri ('nine nights') and Durga Puja are followed on the tenth day by Vijayadashami.

1. Vijayadashami is popularly called Dussehra.
2. It celebrates Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura – victory of good over evil.
3. Holi (Phalguna), Pongal (January harvest festival) and Christmas (25 December) fall at other times.

Yaad rakhein: 9 nights of Navratri + 10th day = Dussehra (Vijayadashami).

Answer: (A) Dussehra

Concept: Special Drawing Rights (SDR) are an international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969.

1. SDRs exist only as book entries but can be used like gold to settle balances between member countries, so they are nicknamed Paper Gold.
2. Their value is based on a basket of five currencies: US dollar, euro, Chinese renminbi, Japanese yen and British pound.

Yaad rakhein: SDR = IMF = 'Paper Gold' (1969).

Answer: (A) Paper Gold

Concept: Growth in an economy means a rise in the total output of goods and services.

1. During the Five Year Plans, economic growth was measured as the increase in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
2. Plan targets were set as annual GDP growth rates (e.g. the Hindu rate of growth of about $3.5\%$).
3. Per capita income measures living standards; GDP measures the size and growth of the economy.

Yaad rakhein: Growth → GDP; welfare → per capita income.

Answer: (A) Gross Domestic Product

Concept: The iris is the dark muscular diaphragm behind the cornea; the hole at its centre is the pupil.

1. In bright light the iris contracts the pupil to let in less light.
2. In dim light it enlarges (dilates) the pupil to let in more light.
3. Ciliary muscles change the focal length of the lens (accommodation); cornea refracts light; vitreous humour is the jelly filling the eyeball.

Yaad rakhein: Iris = camera's aperture controller; ciliary muscles = focus controller.

Answer: (B) Iris

Concept: Equipment sizes are fixed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

1. Since 2000 the standard ball has a diameter of 40 mm (earlier it was 38 mm).
2. It weighs 2.7 g and is white or orange.
3. The larger ball slowed the game slightly, making rallies easier to watch.

Yaad rakhein: Table tennis ball: 40 mm, 2.7 g.

Answer: (C) 40 mm

Concept: Begum Akhtar (1914–1974) is remembered as 'Mallika-e-Ghazal' (Queen of Ghazals).

1. She was a leading singer of ghazal, dadra and thumri in the Hindustani tradition.
2. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padma Shri and, posthumously, the Padma Bhushan.
3. Carnatic music is South Indian; she was not a Sufi or folk singer primarily.

Yaad rakhein: Begum Akhtar = Mallika-e-Ghazal.

Answer: (C) Ghazal music

Concept: The Constitution does not use the word 'budget'; it calls it the Annual Financial Statement.

1. Article 112: the President causes the Annual Financial Statement (estimated receipts and expenditure) to be laid before both Houses every year.
2. Article 110 defines Money Bills; Article 116 deals with votes on account; Article 120 concerns the language used in Parliament.
3. For states, the equivalent provision is Article 202.

Yaad rakhein: 112 = Union Budget; 202 = State Budget.

Answer: (B) Article 112

Concept: Mixing a concentrated acid (e.g. ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$) with water is a highly exothermic process.

1. If water is added to acid, the small amount of water boils instantly, and acid may splash out and the glass may crack.
2. If acid is added slowly to a large amount of water with constant stirring, the heat is absorbed by the water safely.
3. Heating either liquid before mixing makes it more dangerous, not safer.

Yaad rakhein: 'Do as you oughta, add acid to water.'

Answer: (A) The acid must be slowly added to the water.

Concept: Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) is famous for Nagara-style temples built by the Chandela rulers (c. 950–1050 CE).

1. The Kandariya Mahadeva temple, dedicated to Shiva, is the largest and most ornate of the Khajuraho group.
2. It was built under the Chandela king Vidyadhara (early 11th century).
3. The Khajuraho group is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1986); Solankis built the Modhera Sun Temple in Gujarat.

Yaad rakhein: Khajuraho = Chandela; Modhera = Solanki; Ellora Kailasa = Rashtrakuta.

Answer: (D) Chandela

Concept: In 2001 the Bharat Ratna was conferred on two musicians.

1. Lata Mangeshkar (playback singer) and Ustad Bismillah Khan (shehnai maestro) received it together in 2001.
2. Ravi Shankar (sitar) received it in 1999 and Bhimsen Joshi (vocalist) in 2009.
3. Asha Bhosle has not received the Bharat Ratna.

Yaad rakhein: 2001: Lata (voice) + Bismillah (shehnai).

Answer: (D) Bismillah Khan

Concept: Manipuri is the classical dance of Manipur, known for graceful movements and Ras Lila themes.

1. Kalavati Devi is a Manipuri dancer and guru honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to Manipuri dance.
2. Mallika Sarabhai is known for Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi; Urmila Nagar is a Kathak dancer.
3. So among the options, the Manipuri artiste is Kalavati Devi.

Yaad rakhein: Manipuri – Ras Lila – Kalavati Devi.

Answer: (D) Kalavati Devi

Concept: Part XXI (Articles 371 to 371J) gives special responsibilities to the Governors of some states.

1. A – Article 371A: Governor of Nagaland has special responsibility for law and order ✔
2. B – Article 371C: Governor of Manipur reports annually to the President on the administration of the Hill Areas ✔
3. C – Article 371F: Governor of Sikkim has special responsibility for peace and equitable social and economic advancement ✔
4. D – Article 371H: Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has special responsibility for law and order ✔

Yaad rakhein: Law and order: Nagaland (371A) and Arunachal (371H); Manipur hills (371C); Sikkim peace (371F).

Answer: (B) A, B, C and D

Concept: Bioluminescence is the production of light by living organisms.

1. Ctenoplana is a ctenophore (comb jelly); ctenophores are well known for bioluminescence.
2. Ctenophores swim with eight external rows of ciliated comb plates.
3. Tapeworm, liver fluke and Fasciola (the liver fluke itself) are parasitic flatworms (Platyhelminthes) and do not emit light.

Yaad rakhein: Comb jellies (Ctenophora: Pleurobrachia, Ctenoplana) – bioluminescent.

Answer: (D) Ctenoplana

Concept: The International Army Games are an annual military sports event organised by Russia's Ministry of Defence since 2015.

1. The 2021 edition (7th) was held from 22 August to 4 September 2021, with Russia as the main host.
2. Some contests were also staged in partner countries, but Russia hosted the event.
3. Indian Army teams also took part in the 2021 games.

Yaad rakhein: Army Games = Russia's 'military Olympics'.

Answer: (C) Russia

Concept: The Indian Civil Service (ICS) was the top administrative service of British India.

1. It carried great power, prestige and high salaries, so it was called the 'heaven-born service'.
2. Recruitment was through a competitive exam held in London; Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian ICS officer in 1863.
3. After independence it was replaced by the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

Yaad rakhein: ICS – 'heaven born' – Satyendranath Tagore first Indian (1863).

Answer: (D) The Indian Civil Service or ICS

Concept: Article 200 deals with assent to bills passed by the State Legislature.

1. When a bill is presented, the Governor may give assent, withhold assent, return it (if not a Money Bill) for reconsideration, or reserve it for the consideration of the President.
2. Article 201 then describes what the President does with such a reserved bill.
3. Article 267 – Contingency Fund; Article 181 – Deputy Speaker's role; Article 190 – vacation of seats.

Yaad rakhein: 200 = Governor's assent/reservation; 201 = President on reserved bills.

Answer: (B) Article 200

Concept: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan led the Aligarh Movement to spread modern Western education among Muslims.

1. He founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1875 (classes began in 1877).
2. It became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.
3. Syed Ameer Ali founded the Central National Muhammadan Association; Badruddin Tyabji was an early Congress president; Maulana Azad became India's first Education Minister.

Yaad rakhein: Aligarh Movement – Sir Syed – MAO College 1875.

Answer: (C) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Concept: Yamini Krishnamurthy (1940–2024) was a leading Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer from Andhra Pradesh.

1. She was made the Asthana Narthaki (resident dancer) of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
2. She received the Padma Shri (1968), Padma Bhushan (2001) and Padma Vibhushan (2016).
3. Padma Subramanyam is also a Bharatanatyam dancer but did not hold this title; Rita Ganguly is linked with Kathak/thumri and Indrani Rahman with Odissi/Bharatanatyam.

Yaad rakhein: Tirupati's Asthana Narthaki = Yamini Krishnamurthy.

Answer: (A) Yamini Krishnamurthy