SSC CGL Tier 1 2017 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

In the system of biological classification, a taxon is a scientific term used to define a taxonomic unit or a group of organisms at any level of the hierarchy, such as species, genus, family, or order. In the scientific names Mangifera indica, Solanum tuberosum, and Panthera leo, the first part of each name—Mangifera, Solanum, and Panthera—represents the genus. Because a genus is a formal category in the classification system, these specific names represent a taxon at the generic level. Each of these terms identifies a specific group of related species that share a set of common characters, thus functioning as a distinct taxon within the biological framework.

Explanation

Agar is a gelatinous polysaccharide extracted from the cell walls of certain species of red algae, primarily those belonging to the genera Gelidium and Gracilaria. It is extensively used in microbiology as a solidifying agent for culture media, providing a stable surface for the growth of bacteria and fungi because it remains solid at common incubation temperatures and is resistant to microbial degradation. In the commercial food industry, agar serves as a versatile thickening and gelling agent, crucial for maintaining the texture and consistency of products such as ice creams, jellies, jams, and various desserts.

Explanation

Taenia (Tapeworm) and Fasciola (Liver fluke) are members of the Phylum Platyhelminthes, which comprises organisms commonly known as flatworms. These animals are characterized by a dorso-ventrally flattened body, bilateral symmetry, and a triploblastic, acoelomate structure. Most members of this phylum are endoparasites found in animals including human beings. Taenia solium resides in the human intestine, while Fasciola hepatica typically inhabits the liver and bile ducts of sheep and cattle. They possess specialized adaptations for their parasitic lifestyle, such as hooks and suckers for attachment to the host tissues, and specialized cells called flame cells for osmoregulation and excretion.

Explanation

Weight is the gravitational force acting on an object and is determined by the formula W = m × g, where m is the mass and g is the acceleration due to gravity. While the mass of an object remains constant regardless of its location, weight changes based on the local gravitational pull. The acceleration due to gravity on the Moon is approximately one-sixth (1/6) of the acceleration due to gravity on Earth.

Taking the Earth's acceleration due to gravity (g) as approximately 10 m/s² for simplification, the weight of the 60 kg object on Earth is 60 kg × 10 m/s² = 600 N. To find the weight on the Moon, this value is divided by six: Wₘₒₒₙ = Wₑₐᵣₜₕ{6} = (600 N)/(6) = 100 N

This calculation confirms that the gravitational force exerted on the object by the Moon is 100 N.

Explanation

Convex mirrors are used as side mirrors in vehicles because they provide a much wider field of view due to their outward curvature. This diverging property allows the driver to see a larger area of the traffic behind the vehicle than would be possible with a flat surface. Additionally, convex mirrors always form an erect and diminished image of objects, regardless of their distance. This ensures that the driver sees an upright representation of the following traffic, albeit smaller in size, which helps in monitoring multiple lanes and improving overall road safety.

Explanation

The MAX() function in Microsoft Excel is a standard statistical tool designed to return the largest numeric value from a provided set of arguments. These arguments can be individual numbers, cell references, or arrays containing numeric data. The function ignores empty cells, logical values, and text strings when they are included within cell ranges. The syntax follows the format =MAX(number1, [number2], ...), allowing users to quickly identify the peak value across large datasets or specific columns.

Explanation

In a neutralization reaction, an acid reacts with a base to produce a salt and water. This chemical process involves the combination of hydrogen ions H⁺ from the acid and hydroxide ions OH⁻ from the base to form molecules of liquid water H₂O. The remaining anions from the acid and cations from the base combine to form an ionic compound known as a salt. A classic example of this reaction is when hydrochloric acid HCl reacts with sodium hydroxide NaOH to yield sodium chloride NaCl and water H₂O. The general chemical equation for this type of reaction is Acid + Base → Salt + Water.

Explanation

Melting is a physical process that results in the phase transition of a substance from a solid to a liquid. This occurs when the internal energy of the solid increases, typically through the application of heat, which causes its temperature to rise to the melting point. In chemistry and physics, this transition is formally termed fusion. During the process of fusion, the substance absorbs energy known as the latent heat of fusion, which is used to overcome the intermolecular forces holding the solid lattice together without increasing the temperature until the entire mass has changed its state to liquid.

Explanation

In ecology, abiotic factors are the non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems. Standard biological frameworks, such as those used in NCERT and major ecological texts, categorize Temperature, Water, Light, and Soil as the four major abiotic factors because they have the most significant and direct impact on the distribution, physiological processes, and survival of organisms. Air, which encompasses wind and atmospheric gases, is considered a secondary or minor abiotic factor. While air is essential for respiration and photosynthesis, its role in determining the broad geographical distribution of species is generally mediated through or secondary to the primary influences of temperature, moisture availability, and solar radiation.

Explanation

Sir Humphry Davy discovered potassium in 1807 at the Royal Institution in London. He successfully isolated the element from caustic potash, which is potassium hydroxide (KOH), by applying the process of electrolysis. Davy used a powerful voltaic pile to pass an electric current through the molten salt, resulting in the formation of small, silver-white metallic globules at the negative electrode. Potassium was significant for being the first metal to be isolated using electrolytic methods, a technique Davy pioneered to identify several alkali and alkaline earth metals.

Explanation

Sebastian Vettel, driving for Ferrari, secured the first-place finish at the 2017 Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Bahrain International Circuit. This victory marked his second win of the 2017 season. Vettel gained a significant advantage through a combination of a strong start and an efficient pit-stop strategy executed during a safety car period, allowing him to maintain the lead until the chequered flag to claim his 44th career victory.

Explanation

Humayun's Tomb is situated in the Nizamuddin East area of New Delhi. Commissioned by Emperor Humayun's first wife, Empress Bega Begum, in 1565, it was the first garden-tomb built on the Indian subcontinent. The structure is a landmark of Mughal architecture, featuring a massive double dome and high arches, designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 due to its historical and architectural significance as a precursor to the Taj Mahal.

Explanation

Kendrick Lamar won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, held in 2016, for his third studio album titled To Pimp a Butterfly. The album received widespread critical acclaim for its exploration of themes such as African-American culture, social justice, and personal transformation, while incorporating diverse musical styles including jazz, funk, and soul. In addition to winning Best Rap Album, the project contributed to Kendrick Lamar receiving a total of five awards during the 2016 ceremony, making him the most awarded artist of that night.

Explanation

Aldous Huxley is the author of the 1932 dystopian novel Brave New World, which remains a landmark of science fiction and social commentary. Sherri Browning is the author of the historical romance novel An Affair Downstairs, published in 2013 as part of her Edwardian Brides series. These statements accurately identify the writers associated with the respective literary works.

Explanation

In April 2017, the Government of India launched the Nutan Muktijodha Scholarship scheme for the children and grandchildren of the freedom fighters of Bangladesh. The initiative was announced during the state visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India. Under this program, India committed to providing financial assistance of Rs. 35 crore to approximately 10,000 students over a five-year period. The scholarship serves as a tribute to the Muktijodhas who participated in the 1971 Liberation War and aims to further strengthen the bilateral relations and people-to-people ties between the two nations. The scheme provides support to students at both the Higher Secondary and Undergraduate levels.

Explanation

China is an East Asian nation and holds only observer status within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is an agreement specifically signed by the member nations of SAARC—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—to reduce customs duties and facilitate trade within the South Asian region. Since China is not a member state of SAARC, it is not a signatory to the SAFTA agreement, which was reached at the 12th SAARC Summit in 2004 and came into force on January 1, 2006.

Explanation

The Production Possibility Set is a fundamental economic concept that represents the collection of all possible combinations of goods and services an economy can produce using its available resources and current level of technology. It encompasses all feasible production bundles, including those on the boundary, known as the Production Possibility Frontier (PPF), and those inside it. This set defines the production constraints of an economy, illustrating that because resources are finite and technology is fixed at a given point in time, producing more of one good typically requires producing less of another, thereby demonstrating the principle of opportunity cost and the limitations of an economy's productive capacity.

Explanation

Excess supply, often referred to as a market surplus, occurs when the quantity of a commodity that producers are willing to sell (Qₛ) exceeds the quantity that consumers are willing to purchase (Q_d) at a specific price level. This situation typically arises when the prevailing market price is higher than the equilibrium price. In a competitive market, this imbalance puts downward pressure on the price as sellers reduce their prices to dispose of unsold stock, which eventually restores the balance between supply and demand.

Explanation

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was founded by the legendary actor and politician M. G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, on October 17, 1972. MGR established the party after being expelled from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) following internal conflicts with the party leadership. He named the new party after his mentor and the DMK founder, C. N. Annadurai. The party initially functioned under the name Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) before later adopting the All India prefix. Since its formation, the party has remained a major political force in Tamil Nadu, securing multiple terms in power and focusing on welfare-oriented governance and Dravidian social justice principles.

Explanation

Article 15 of the Indian Constitution, which is a component of the Right to Equality encompassing Articles 14 to 18, prohibits discrimination against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Specifically, Article 15(2) provides that no citizen shall be subject to any disability, liability, restriction, or condition with regard to access to shops, public restaurants, hotels, and places of public entertainment. It further extends this right to the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads, and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public. This provision is a crucial constitutional measure designed to ensure social equality and eliminate discriminatory practices in the public sphere.

Explanation

The Salt Satyagraha, famously known as the Dandi March, was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi. The march commenced on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram and reached the coastal village of Dandi on April 5, 1930. Gandhi and his 78 designated followers trekked a distance of approximately 240 miles (385 km) over a span of 24 days. The volunteers walked about 10 miles per day, stopping at various villages to spread the message of Swaraj and the injustice of the British salt monopoly. On the morning of April 6, 1930, Gandhi ceremonially violated the salt law by picking up a lump of natural salt from the seashore, thereby initiating the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.

Explanation

The Chauhans, historically known as the Chahamanas, were a powerful Rajput dynasty that ruled from their capital at Ajmer. During the mid-twelfth century, under the leadership of the king Vigraharaja IV, the Chauhans expanded their territory significantly. Vigraharaja IV led a successful campaign against the Tomara Rajputs, who were the rulers of the Delhi region. By defeating the Tomaras, the Chauhans of Ajmer established control over Delhi, making it a vital part of their empire and paving the way for it to become a major political center under later rulers like Prithviraj Chauhan.

Explanation

India occupies the 7th position globally in terms of total land area. It covers an area of approximately 3,287,263 square kilometers, accounting for about 2.4 percent of the total geographical area of the world. The countries that are larger than India in terms of area are Russia, Canada, the United States of America, China, Brazil, and Australia. India is bounded by the Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south, with a land boundary of approximately 15,200 kilometers and a total coastline, including its island territories, of 7,516.6 kilometers.

Explanation

In seismology, the epicentre is defined as the point on the Earth's surface that lies directly above the focus, also known as the hypocentre. The focus is the specific location within the Earth's crust where the seismic energy is first released, initiating an earthquake. Because the epicentre is the closest point on the surface to the source of the rupture, it is typically the area where the seismic waves reach the surface first and where the intensity of the ground shaking is often most severe. Measurements from multiple seismograph stations are used to triangulate and pinpoint this location during seismic events.

Explanation

The male sex accessory ducts are a series of tubes that facilitate the transport and storage of sperm from the testes to the urethra. This system specifically includes the rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis, and vas deferens. The rete testis acts as a network of tubules located within the mediastinum testis that receives immature spermatozoa from the seminiferous tubules and conveys them to the vasa efferentia. It is the first segment in the sequence of accessory ducts that ensures the conduction of sperm toward the exterior of the body.

Explanation

Intercalary meristems are a type of primary meristem that are found positioned between regions of permanent or mature tissues. They are commonly located at the base of leaves, such as in grasses, or at the nodes and internodes of stems. These meristems are derived from the apical meristem but become separated from it during the growth and differentiation of the plant body. Their primary function is to facilitate the elongation of the internodes and the regeneration of plant parts that have been damaged or removed by environmental factors or grazing animals. Because they exist within the zones of mature cells, they allow for rapid vertical growth and recovery in specific regions of the plant.

Explanation

The Phylum Platyhelminthes derives its name from the Greek words platys meaning flat and helmins meaning worm. Organisms in this phylum possess a dorso-ventrally flattened body, which is the defining physical characteristic that leads to their common name, flatworms. They are triploblastic, acoelomate, and exhibit bilateral symmetry. Most members of this phylum, such as tapeworms and liver flukes, are endoparasites found in other animals, including humans. Their simplified body plan lacks a true body cavity, and their flat shape allows for the diffusion of nutrients and gases directly through their body surface.

Explanation

The formula for average velocity vₐᵥ_g = (u + v)/(2) is applicable to objects moving with a constant or uniform acceleration. In standard kinematic notation, the variable u represents the initial velocity of the object at the beginning of the observation period, while v represents the final velocity at the end of the period. This expression calculates the arithmetic mean of the starting and ending velocities to determine the average velocity over a specific duration of time.

Explanation

Hyper Text Markup Language is the standard markup language used for creating web pages. It serves as the primary building block of the World Wide Web by providing a structured format that web browsers can read and render into visible pages. Through the use of various tags, it organizes content such as text, images, and scripts, enabling the delivery of interactive programs and information across the internet. It is the fundamental format used for the documents that are requested by clients and served by web servers to represent web content.

Explanation

Tartaric acid is the primary organic acid found in grapes, occurring naturally in significant concentrations. It is responsible for the characteristic tartness of the fruit and plays a fundamental role in maintaining the chemical stability and pH levels of grape juice and wine. While most fruits primarily contain malic or citric acids, grapes are unique in their high accumulation of tartaric acid during the ripening process. This acid often precipitates as potassium bitartrate crystals, commonly known as wine diamonds, during the fermentation or cooling of grape-derived products.

Explanation

Rayon is known as artificial silk because it mimics the texture, shine, and feel of natural silk at a significantly lower cost. It is a semi-synthetic fiber produced by the chemical treatment of wood pulp, which contains natural cellulose. This cellulose is dissolved in a chemical solution and then extruded through spinnerets to form filaments. Because it is derived from a natural source but processed chemically to achieve silk-like properties such as luster and high absorbency, it is classified as the first successful man-made fiber designed to replicate natural silk.

Explanation

Scientific observations and assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) established that the global average surface temperature increased by approximately 0.6°C during the 20th century. This warming trend, measured from roughly 1901 to 2000, reflects the impact of the enhanced greenhouse effect caused by the rising concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases due to industrialization and other human activities. While subsequent data covering the period from the late 19th century to the present shows a higher cumulative increase, the 0.6°C figure is the standard scientific benchmark for the specific temperature rise occurring within the span of the last century.

Explanation

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a National Mission for Financial Inclusion launched on August 28, 2014, to ensure access to various financial services for the weaker sections and low-income groups. The scheme provides a platform for universal access to banking facilities with at least one basic bank account for every household, financial literacy, and access to credit, insurance, and pension facilities. It enables the poor to plug into the formal financial system, allowing for the direct benefit transfer of government subsidies and providing an inbuilt accident insurance cover and overdraft facility to account holders.

Explanation

William Herschel discovered Uranus on March 13, 1781, during a systematic survey of the night sky using a reflecting telescope of his own design. While observing the constellation Gemini, he noticed an object that appeared as a disk rather than a point of light, leading him to initially report it as a comet. However, further mathematical analysis of its nearly circular orbit by Herschel and other astronomers confirmed that it was a planet orbiting the Sun beyond Saturn. This discovery marked the first time a planet was identified using a telescope and effectively doubled the known dimensions of the solar system at that time.

Explanation

England was the host nation for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which was the eighth edition of the quadrennial world championship for rugby union teams. The hosting rights were awarded to England by the International Rugby Board in 2009. The tournament featured matches played across thirteen venues, twelve of which were located in England and one in Cardiff, Wales. The final took place at Twickenham Stadium in London, where New Zealand secured the championship by defeating Australia.

Explanation

The Nalanda Mahavihara was established in the 5th century CE during the reign of the Gupta Empire. Historical records, most notably the travelogues of the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, credit a ruler named Sakraditya with the foundation of the first monastery at the site. Modern historical research and numismatic evidence identify Sakraditya as the Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta I. His patronage marked the beginning of Nalanda as a major institutional center for Buddhist learning and philosophy. The initial structure commissioned by him served as the nucleus around which subsequent monarchs added further colleges, temples, and libraries, eventually evolving into one of the most prestigious universities of the ancient world.

Explanation

J. Michael Kosterlitz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2016, which he shared with David J. Thouless and F. Duncan M. Haldane. Their recognition was based on theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter, utilizing mathematical concepts to describe properties of matter that change in stepwise fashion. Since his achievement was specifically in the field of physics for research into the states of matter, he was not a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry that year.

Explanation

Charles Stross is a prominent British writer specializing in hard science fiction and space opera, known for the 2006 novella Missile Gap, which explores an alternate history Cold War setting and won the Locus Award. China Mieville is a celebrated author of speculative fiction whose 2009 novel The City and the City is one of the most decorated books in the genre, receiving major honors including the Hugo, Locus, and Arthur C. Clarke awards for its unique fusion of noir detective fiction and urban fantasy. Both these statements accurately match the authors to their respective literary works.

Explanation

Mauritius was the top destination for India's Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) during the financial year 2015-16. According to data released by the Reserve Bank of India, Mauritius received the largest share of actual financial outflows from Indian entities, which included equity, loans, and guarantees issued to joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries abroad. This status was largely driven by the favorable Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and the tax-efficient environment provided by Mauritius, making it a strategic hub for Indian corporations to manage their international business operations and capital structures. During this period, it consistently outpaced other major financial centers in attracting Indian capital commitments.

Explanation

Bihar is situated in the eastern part of India and shares its international border exclusively with Nepal to the north. It does not share a boundary with China because it is geographically separated from the Tibetan region by the sovereign territory of Nepal. The Indian states and union territories that maintain a direct border with China are Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh. Bihar's northern limits terminate at the Indo-Nepal border, placing it several hundred kilometers away from the Chinese frontier.

Explanation

The year 1991 marks the formal initiation of comprehensive economic reform policies in India, known as the New Economic Policy. Facing a severe balance of payments crisis and high inflation, the government introduced the LPG model, which stands for Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization. These structural adjustment programs were aimed at removing the restrictive license-permit raj, reducing government intervention in the market, and opening the Indian economy to foreign trade and investment. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh were the primary architects of these reforms, which significantly altered the country's developmental trajectory by shifting toward a market-driven approach.

Explanation

The production function expresses the technological relationship between the physical inputs used by a firm and the resulting quantity of output produced. Mathematically, it is represented as q = f(x₁, x₂, ..., xₙ), where q is the maximum amount of output that can be generated using specific quantities of various inputs like labor, capital, and raw materials. It defines the boundary of what is technically feasible for a firm given its current state of technology, showing how efficiently a firm transforms resources into finished goods. This relationship is central to understanding the laws of production, such as returns to scale and the law of variable proportions.

Explanation

The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of India provides for the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the various States and Union Territories. Under this constitutional provision, Tripura is allocated 1 seat in the Rajya Sabha. While the allocation of seats in the Upper House is generally based on the population of each state, several smaller states in Northeast India, including Tripura, are assigned a single seat to ensure they have representation in the federal legislative body.

Explanation

During the colonial era, the British administration coerced or incentivized farmers across India to grow specific commercial crops that were in high demand in European markets. In Assam, the focus was primarily on tea cultivation. The British established extensive tea plantations in the region during the nineteenth century, utilizing the local climate and soil conditions to develop a massive export-oriented industry. This policy of regional crop specialization also saw the promotion of jute in Bengal, sugarcane in the United Provinces, and wheat in Punjab to ensure a steady supply of raw materials and commodities for the British Empire.

Explanation

The Chola Empire was a Tamil thalassocratic power based in the southern region of the Indian subcontinent. Emerging as a dominant force in the 9th century, the dynasty centered its rule in the Kaveri River valley, with major capitals at Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Their territory encompassed the modern-day states of Tamil Nadu, parts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Under powerful monarchs like Rajaraja I and Rajendra I, the Cholas consolidated the southern peninsula under a single administrative unit, developed a sophisticated navy, and fostered a golden age of Dravidian architecture and culture.

Explanation

As a river flows through a plain, it creates large bends known as meanders. Continuous erosion occurs on the outer banks of these loops while deposition occurs on the inner banks. Over time, the meander loops bring the banks closer together until the neck of the loop becomes very narrow. Eventually, during periods of high water or flooding, the river cuts through the neck, abandoning the old curved path for a straighter course. The isolated, crescent-shaped body of water left behind in the former channel is known as an ox-bow lake. This process is a common feature of mature river systems where the lateral migration of the channel is significant.

Explanation

The Earth's crust is divided into two main types: the continental crust and the oceanic crust. The oceanic crust is primarily composed of basaltic rocks, which are rich in minerals containing silicon and magnesium. Due to this characteristic chemical composition, the oceanic crust is frequently referred to as SIMA, a term derived from the first two letters of silica and magnesium. This layer is thinner and denser than the continental crust, which is known as SIAL because it is rich in silica and aluminum. The high magnesium content in the oceanic crust contributes significantly to its greater density relative to the continental masses.

Explanation

In the taxonomic hierarchy, the class Mammalia is divided into several orders based on shared morphological and physiological characteristics. The order Carnivora is a significant group within this class, primarily consisting of mammals that have adapted to a diet of animal flesh. This order includes diverse families such as Felidae, which contains tigers and domestic cats, and Canidae, which includes dogs. These animals are grouped together in Carnivora because they possess specialized anatomical features, most notably their dentition, which includes sharp canines and carnassial teeth designed for cutting and tearing meat. The inclusion of tigers, cats, and dogs within this order reflects their common evolutionary heritage and structural similarities that define the order Carnivora within the broader class Mammalia.

Explanation

The term exarch describes a specific pattern of primary xylem development where differentiation occurs centripetally, or from the outside toward the center. In this arrangement, the protoxylem, which consists of the first-formed and smaller tracheary elements, is located at the periphery of the vascular cylinder. The metaxylem, which develops later and contains larger vessels, is positioned toward the center. This exarch orientation is a characteristic anatomical feature found in the roots of vascular plants, distinguishing them from stems where the xylem development follows a different pattern.

Explanation

The octopus is a member of the phylum Mollusca and belongs to the class Cephalopoda. Mollusks are invertebrate animals characterized by a soft, unsegmented body, a mantle, and a muscular foot. While many mollusks possess a hard external shell made of calcium carbonate, octopuses have evolved to lose this shell entirely to enhance their agility and camouflage capabilities. They are known for their bilateral symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles, which are modifications of the ancestral molluscan foot. As cephalopods, they also possess a highly developed nervous system and a closed circulatory system, representing some of the most complex biological structures found within this phylum.