SSC CGL Tier 1 2017 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The Red Data Book is a comprehensive global inventory maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to document the conservation status of various biological species. Its primary purpose is to identify and provide detailed information on species that are facing a high risk of global extinction, categorized as endangered. The book contains data on the population size, distribution, and the specific threats impacting the survival of these species, including plants, animals, and fungi. By highlighting the plight of organisms most in need of protection, it serves as an essential tool for prioritizing conservation efforts and guiding international policy to safeguard global biodiversity.

Explanation

The Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) was launched by the Government of India to promote large-scale manufacturing in the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing sector. The scheme provides financial incentives to offset disability costs and attract investments, offering a capital subsidy of 20 percent in Special Economic Zones and 25 percent in non-Special Economic Zones. In January 2017, the Union Cabinet approved significant amendments to the scheme to further accelerate investment, which included extending the timeline for receiving applications and simplifying the approval process for new projects.

Explanation

Clarence Birdseye is considered the inventor of the modern frozen food industry due to his development of the quick-freezing method. While working as a fur trader in Labrador, Canada, between 1912 and 1915, he observed that fish caught by the Inuit and frozen instantly in the Arctic wind tasted fresh even months later. He realized that rapid freezing prevents the formation of large ice crystals that damage food cells and ruin texture. Based on these observations, he invented the double-belt freezer, which used chilled calcium chloride brine to flash-freeze packaged food under pressure. This innovation, patented in the 1920s, allowed for the commercial preservation of meats, fruits, and vegetables while maintaining their original taste and nutritional value.

Explanation

1-c: A birdie is a standard scoring term in golf used when a player completes a hole in one stroke fewer than the par designated for that hole.

2-a: In tennis, a volley is a stroke made by hitting the ball before it touches the ground, usually while the player is positioned near the net.

3-b: Hit wicket is a specific method of dismissal in cricket where the batsman is out if they dislodge the stumps with their bat or any part of their body while playing a stroke or setting off for a run.

Explanation

The Sidi Bashir Mosque, popularly known as Jhulta Minar or the Shaking Minarets, is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This architectural marvel is famous for its unique construction where if one minaret is shaken, the other minaret also begins to vibrate after a short interval, even though the connecting bridge between them remains stable and does not transmit the vibrations. Constructed around 1452, the minarets are three stories tall with carved balconies. Despite various attempts by engineers to study the mechanism behind this phenomenon, the specific structural design that allows for these synchronized vibrations remains a mystery.

Explanation

Sanjeev Kapoor was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2017 for his significant contributions to the culinary field. This recognition acknowledged his role in popularizing Indian cuisine globally and his influence on the hospitality industry through media, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. As a celebrity chef, author, and television personality, he was instrumental in bringing professional culinary arts into mainstream Indian households.

Explanation

Ruskin Bond is the author of The World Outside My Window, a book in which he chronicles his observations of the natural world from his home in Landour, Mussoorie. In this work, he provides detailed and poetic descriptions of the various insects, birds, and trees he sees from his window, showcasing his lifelong fascination with the flora and fauna of the Himalayan foothills. The book is written in his signature simple and engaging style, emphasizing the beauty found in small, everyday natural occurrences.

Explanation

In March 2017, Japan successfully launched an H-IIA rocket carrying the Information Gathering Satellite Radar 5 from the Tanegashima Space Center. This launch was specifically intended to enhance Japan's ability to monitor North Korea's military activities and provide early warnings regarding its missile launching missions. Japan's spy satellite program was originally established in response to North Korea's 1998 missile test that flew over Japanese territory. The Radar 5 satellite utilized advanced radar technology to capture high-resolution imagery of the Earth's surface regardless of weather conditions or time of day, significantly improving surveillance of North Korean weapons facilities during a period of heightened regional tensions.

Explanation

Tawang is a strategically critical district located in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Tibet. China claims the entirety of Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang, as South Tibet, asserting that the region has historical and cultural ties to the Tibetan administration. This land dispute primarily revolves around the McMahon Line, a boundary line proposed during the 1914 Simla Convention between representatives of British India and Tibet. While India recognizes the McMahon Line as the official international border, China rejects its legality, leading to a long-standing territorial conflict and periodic military face-offs along the Line of Actual Control in this sector.