SSC CHSL Tier 1 2016 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

A binding minimum wage law is set above the market equilibrium wage rate, which creates a surplus of labor. While the policy increases the income of unskilled workers who retain their jobs, it simultaneously reduces the quantity of labor demanded by employers. This reduction in demand leads to layoffs and fewer hiring opportunities, leaving those unskilled workers who lose their jobs or cannot find employment worse off. Therefore, the law does not benefit all unskilled workers.

Explanation

CHClF (representing a hydrochlorofluorocarbon, such as chlorodifluoromethane CHClF₂ or chlorofluoromethane CH₂ClF) is a synthetic chemical that functions as both a greenhouse gas and an ozone-depleting substance. In the stratosphere, solar ultraviolet radiation breaks down the molecule to release free chlorine radicals, which act as catalysts in the destruction of ozone (O₃) molecules. Concurrently, these molecules have strong absorption bands in the thermal infrared region of the spectrum, trapping heat in the atmosphere and contributing significantly to the greenhouse effect.

Explanation

An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 American documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about former United States Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about the critical issue of global warming. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, serving as a powerful tool in raising global awareness about climate change and environmental conservation.

Explanation

Venus is the hottest planet in the Solar System due to its extremely dense atmosphere, which is composed of over 96% carbon dioxide. This high concentration of carbon dioxide, along with thick clouds of sulfuric acid, creates a powerful, runaway greenhouse effect. The atmosphere traps the Sun's heat and prevents it from escaping back into space, driving the surface temperatures to an average of about 462 °C (864 °F), which is hot enough to melt lead. This thick atmospheric blanket makes Venus far hotter than any other planet, regardless of its distance from the Sun.

Explanation

Sher Shah Suri was the founder of the Suri Dynasty in northern India and was of Afghan origin, rather than Mughal. He established the Suri Empire in 1540 after defeating the Mughal forces and ruling northern India for a brief period before the Sur dynasty was eventually overthrown and Mughal rule was restored.

Explanation

Mohandas Gandhi established the Sabarmati Ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in June 1917. He initially founded the Satyagraha Ashram at Kocharab in May 1915, but later relocated it to the banks of the Sabarmati River to carry out various activities such as farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, and khadi production. The ashram served as one of the main residences of Mahatma Gandhi and became a central hub of the Indian national movement, most notably serving as the starting point for the historic Dandi March in 1930.

Explanation

Swedish chemist Jons Jacob Berzelius introduced and coined the term catalysis in 1835 to describe the phenomenon where the rate of a chemical reaction is increased by the addition of a substance, known as a catalyst, which itself remains chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction. He was the first to systematically analyze previous isolated observations of this phenomenon and group them under a single, unifying concept, establishing catalysis as a fundamental field of study in chemistry.

Explanation

According to the lens formula, the relationship between focal length f, object distance u, and image distance v is given by:

1/f = 1/v - 1/u

By standard sign convention for a convex lens, the object distance u is -60 cm, and the image distance v on the other side of the lens is +20 cm. Substituting these values into the formula:

1/f = 1/20 - 1/(-60)

1/f = 1/20 + 1/60

1/f = (3 + 1)/60

1/f = 4/60

f = 15 cm = 0.15 m

The power P of a lens is the reciprocal of its focal length in meters:

P = 1/f = 1/0.15 ≈ 6.67 diopters

Explanation

Heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one Kelvin. The mathematical formula for heat capacity C is C = Q / ΔT, where Q is the heat energy transferred and ΔT is the change in temperature. Since heat energy is measured in joules and temperature is measured in kelvin, the SI unit of heat capacity is joule per kelvin.

Explanation

Under Article 72 of the Constitution of India, the President is vested with the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment, or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. This power extends to all cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial, in all cases where the punishment or sentence is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends, and in all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death.

Explanation

Article 44 of the Constitution of India, contained within Part IV which outlines the Directive Principles of State Policy, explicitly addresses the Uniform Civil Code. This article directs the State to endeavour to secure for all citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India, aiming to formulate a common set of personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for every citizen regardless of their religion.

Explanation

Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in the Men's 10m Air Rifle shooting event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. This victory made him India's first-ever individual Olympic gold medalist.

Explanation

Jhumpa Lahiri is the author of the acclaimed debut novel The Namesake, published in 2003. The novel explores the cultural nuances, identity crises, and generational struggles experienced by an Indian immigrant family settling in the United States, centered around the life of their American-born son, Gogol Ganguli. It was later adapted into a popular feature film of the same name.

Explanation

Moringa oleifera is the scientific name of the drumstick tree. This fast-growing, drought-resistant tree belongs to the family Moringaceae and is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is highly valued for its nutrient-rich leaves, flowers, and immature seed pods, which are commonly used in various culinary dishes and traditional herbal medicine.

Explanation

Cheraw dance is a traditional, ritualistic folk dance of Mizoram. Commonly referred to as the Bamboo Dance, it is one of the oldest and most famous dances of the Mizo people. It is performed by men who sit on the ground and rhythmically clap long bamboo staves together, while female dancers gracefully step in and out of the moving bamboo frames to the beat of gongs and drums. This dance is typically performed during major festive occasions such as Chapchar Kut and to celebrate a bumper harvest.

Explanation

Teflon is the registered brand name of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. It is characterized by its high molecular weight, exceptional chemical inertness, high thermal stability, and an extremely low coefficient of friction. Due to its hydrophobic and non-stick properties, it is widely used as a coating for non-stick cookware, as well as in gaskets, seals, and industrial applications requiring resistance to heat and corrosive chemicals.

Explanation

Gandhinagar is the capital city of the state of Gujarat. Located on the west-central point of the Industrial Corridor between Delhi and Mumbai, it is a well-planned city situated on the banks of the Sabarmati River. Named in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, it became the official administrative capital of Gujarat in 1970, taking over the role from the previous capital, Ahmedabad.

Explanation

The Iron Pillar is located within the Qutb Minar complex at Mehrauli in New Delhi. This historical monument, standing at a height of 7.21 meters, was constructed during the reign of Chandragupta II of the Gupta Dynasty in the 4th century CE. It is famous for its exceptional rust-resistant iron composition, which demonstrates the highly advanced metallurgical skills of ancient Indian blacksmiths. The pillar stands directly in the courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque inside the complex.

Explanation

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Himalayan foothills of Assam. It is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve, and a biosphere reserve contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. The sanctuary is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, and pygmy hog.

Explanation

MS Dhoni has never been conferred with the Arjuna Award. Instead, he was directly awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now renamed the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award), which is India's highest sporting honour, in 2007–08 for his outstanding achievements in international cricket and leading India to victory in the inaugural 2007 ICC World Twenty20. Additionally, he has received other prestigious civilian honours, including the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2018.

Explanation

Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T₄). It is prescribed as a hormone replacement therapy for individuals with hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland is underactive and cannot produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones. By supplementing the body with levothyroxine, it mimics the action of endogenous thyroxine and is subsequently converted into triiodothyronine (T₃) in peripheral tissues, restoring normal metabolic function, energy levels, and maintaining the body's overall physiological balance.

Explanation

A gene is a specific sequence of nucleotides along a segment of DNA (or RNA in some viruses) that carries the genetic instructions for synthesizing proteins or functional RNA molecules. Chemically, DNA and RNA are nucleic acids classified as polynucleotides, which are macromolecular chains composed of repeating nucleotide monomers. Each nucleotide monomer consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. Because a gene is physically a segment of a nucleic acid molecule, it is fundamentally constituted of a polynucleotide chain.

Explanation

The atomic number of iron is 26, representing the number of protons in its nucleus. Cobalt has an atomic number of 27. Since 27 is greater than 26, the atomic number of cobalt is greater than that of iron.

Explanation

Syntax in programming refers to the strict set of grammatical rules, formats, and structural conventions that govern how a programmer writes code. Any series of instructions written in a programming language must adhere precisely to these predefined syntax rules so that the computer's compiler or interpreter can successfully analyze, translate, and execute the program.

Explanation

Kuchipudi originated in the village of Kuchipudi in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the eight major classical dances of India, tracing its roots to the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. Traditionally, it was performed as a dance-drama by groups of actors traveling from village to village, known as Bhagavathalu, who depicted stories from Hindu scriptures, particularly Vaishnavism.

Explanation

The point elasticity of demand (E_d) is calculated using the formula:

E_d = (ΔQ / ΔP) × (P₁ / Q₁)

where ΔQ is the change in quantity demanded, ΔP is the change in price, Q₁ is the initial quantity demanded, and P₁ is the initial price.

Given: Initial quantity demanded (Q₁) = 8000 units New quantity demanded (Q₂) = 8400 units Change in quantity (ΔQ) = Q₂ - Q₁ = 8400 - 8000 = 400 units New price (P₂) = Rs 240 Change in price (ΔP) = P₂ - P₁ = 240 - P₁ Point elasticity of demand (E_d) = -1.25

Substituting these values into the formula:

-1.25 = (400 / (240 - P₁)) × (P₁ / 8000)

-1.25 = (1/20) × (P₁ / (240 - P₁))

-25 = P₁ / (240 - P₁)

-25 × (240 - P₁) = P₁

-6000 + 25 P₁ = P₁

24 P₁ = 6000

P₁ = 6000 / 24

P₁ = 250

Explanation

Consumer surplus is defined as the difference between the maximum price consumers are willing to pay for a good and the actual market price they pay. Geometrically, it is represented by the area below the demand curve and above the market price line. When the price of a good increases, the market price line shifts upward, which reduces this area. This price hike decreases the surplus of existing buyers who continue to purchase the good at the higher price, and it also drives some buyers out of the market entirely, leading to an overall reduction in consumer surplus.

Explanation

CHClF₂ (chlorodifluoromethane), commonly referred to as HCFC-22, is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon that acts as both a powerful greenhouse gas and an ozone-depleting substance. In the stratosphere, ultraviolet radiation causes it to break down and release chlorine radicals. These chlorine radicals actively participate in catalytic cycles that destroy ozone molecules, leading to the depletion of the ozone layer. Furthermore, CHClF₂ is highly effective at absorbing infrared radiation emitted from the Earth's surface, which contributes significantly to the greenhouse effect.

Explanation

HSBC, which stands for the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, is a British multinational investment bank and financial services holding company. Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, it was established in 1865 to finance trade between Europe and Asia. In India, HSBC operates as a foreign bank branch regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, rather than as a domestic Indian bank.

Explanation

Tropical deciduous forests are widely known as monsoon forests because they thrive in regions characterized by a distinct seasonal monsoon climate, receiving annual rainfall between 70 cm and 200 cm. In response to the long dry season, the trees in these forests shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks during the dry spring and summer to conserve water by reducing transpiration. These forests are highly prevalent in India, Northern Australia, Central America, and parts of Southeast Asia, where they play a crucial role in the regional ecology and timber economy.

Explanation

Patna is the capital and largest city of the state of Bihar. Historically known as Pataliputra, it is situated on the southern bank of the Ganges River and serves as the administrative, educational, and political center of the state. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, having served as the capital of ancient Indian empires such as the Mauryan and Gupta empires.

Explanation

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was a political agreement signed on March 5, 1931, between Mahatma Gandhi, representing the Indian National Congress, and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. This historic agreement was signed prior to the Second Round Table Conference in London. Under the terms of the pact, the Congress agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference, while the British government agreed to release political prisoners who were not convicted of violence, permit peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops, and allow people living near the sea coast to collect and manufacture salt.

Explanation

The Battle of Karnal was fought on 13 February 1739 between the invading Persian forces led by Nader Shah and the Mughal empire under Muhammad Shah. Despite being significantly outnumbered, Nader Shah's army achieved a decisive victory over the Mughal forces within a few hours. This military success was attributed to Nader Shah's tactical brilliance and his troops' effective use of advanced weaponry, particularly camel-mounted swivel guns called zamburaks. The victory allowed Nader Shah to march into Delhi, sack the capital, and plunder immense wealth, including the famous Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which dealt a devastating blow to the prestige and power of the Mughal Empire.

Explanation

Gene Dolgoff is an American inventor who invented the digital LCD projector. He began his research into finding a way to produce bright, sharp, and cheap video projection in 1968, eventually leading him to use Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) to modulate light from a powerful lamp. He built the first working prototype of an LCD projector in 1984 and later founded Projectavision, Inc. in 1988 to commercialize this technology.

Explanation

When a cannon ball is fired, it is projected into the air with an initial velocity and subsequently moves under the sole influence of gravity, neglecting air resistance. This type of two-dimensional motion is called projectile motion. The trajectory followed by the ball is a parabola, which is determined by the constant downward acceleration of gravity acting on the vertical component of its velocity while its horizontal velocity remains constant.

Explanation

The SI unit of magnetic flux is the weber (Wb), named after the German physicist Wilhelm Eduard Weber. Magnetic flux is defined as the surface integral of the normal component of the magnetic field B over a given area A. Mathematically, it is expressed as:

Φ = B · A · cos θ

where θ is the angle between the magnetic field vector and the normal to the surface area. Since the magnetic field B is measured in tesla and area A is measured in square meters, one weber is equivalent to one tesla square meter (1 Wb = 1 T · m²). This unit represents the amount of flux that, linking a circuit of one turn, produces in it an electromotive force of one volt as it is reduced to zero at a uniform rate in one second.

Explanation

Rajasthan was the first state in India to establish the Panchayati Raj system. The three-tier scheme of democratic decentralization was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 2 October 1959 in Nagaur district, Rajasthan. This implementation followed the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, which was appointed to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and national extension service, leading to the creation of a local self-governing structure.

Explanation

The Preamble to the Constitution of India, as amended by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976, explicitly declares India to be a Secular state. This character is supported by the Fundamental Rights enshrined in Articles 25 to 28 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion to all citizens. Under the Indian constitutional framework, secularism implies that the State has no official religion, treats all religions equally, and maintains equal respect for all faiths.

Explanation

A standard senior men's Kabaddi match is played for a total duration of 40 minutes, which is divided into two halves of 20 minutes each with a 5-minute break in between. For women and junior players, the match duration is even shorter, lasting 30 minutes and split into two halves of 15 minutes each. This highly condensed timeframe makes Kabaddi exceptionally brief compared to standard professional team sports.

Explanation

Kiran Desai is the author of the critically acclaimed novel "The Inheritance of Loss", which was published in 2006. The book explores themes of globalization, economic inequality, identity, and the lingering effects of colonialism. It won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2006, making Kiran Desai the youngest woman to win the award at that time.

Explanation

Vertebrates belong to the phylum Chordata. Members of this phylum are characterized by possessing a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits, and a post-anal tail at some stage of their life cycle. Within Chordata, vertebrates comprise the subphylum Vertebrata, where the temporary embryonic notochord is replaced by a cartilaginous or bony vertebral column (backbone) in adults to protect the nerve cord and provide structural support. This phylum includes major classes such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Explanation

Washing soda is the chemical compound sodium carbonate, which has the chemical formula Na₂CO₃. It is a metal carbonate that is soluble in water, and it most commonly occurs as a crystalline decahydrate with the formula Na₂CO₃·10H₂O. It is highly alkaline and is extensively used as an industrial and domestic cleaning agent, a water softener to remove temporary and permanent hardness of water, and an essential raw material in the manufacturing of glass, soap, and paper.

Explanation

Leaching is the physical and chemical process where water-soluble substances, such as nutrients, fertilizers, or pesticides, are dissolved by percolating water and transported from the upper layers of the soil down to deeper horizons or into the groundwater. This movement is driven by gravity as water moves downward through the soil pores, carrying the dissolved chemical species along with it.

Explanation

The Red Fort in Delhi was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1638 when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad (present-day Old Delhi). Designed by the architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also designed the Taj Mahal, the construction of this massive fortress-palace began in May 1638 and was completed in April 1648. It is constructed primarily of red sandstone, which gives it its name, and stands as a prime example of the peak of Mughal architectural creativity and grandeur, blending Persian, Timurid, and Hindu design elements.

Explanation

Ibuprofen is a well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) belonging to the propionic acid class. It primarily functions by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes. These enzymes play a critical role in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, which are the primary chemical mediators responsible for inducing inflammation, pain, and fever in response to tissue injury or disease. By inhibiting these enzymes, ibuprofen decreases prostaglandin production, thereby effectively relieving pain, reducing fever, and lowering inflammation.

Explanation

Punica granatum is the botanical name of the pomegranate, which is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Lythraceae. The name is derived from the Latin words pomum meaning apple and granatum meaning seeded, reflecting the distinctive seed-filled structure of the fruit.

Explanation

Tigers and monkeys belong to different taxonomic orders. Tigers belong to the order Carnivora, which consists of specialized meat-eating mammals, whereas monkeys belong to the order Primates, which is characterized by advanced brain development, grasping hands, and binocular vision.

Explanation

The elements in the first group of the modern periodic table belong to the alkali metals, starting with hydrogen in the first period. To find the atomic number of the element in the fourth period of the first group, we can sum the number of elements in the preceding periods. Period 1 contains 2 elements, Period 2 contains 8 elements, and Period 3 contains 8 elements. Adding these up gives 2 + 8 + 8 = 18 elements that lie before the fourth period. Therefore, the first element of the fourth period, which is in the first group, has an atomic number of 18 + 1 = 19. This element is Potassium (K).

Explanation

Iodine has an atomic number of 53. Platinum is a heavy, dense transition metal represented by the chemical symbol Pt, and its atomic number is 78. Since 78 is greater than 53, the atomic number of Platinum is greater than that of Iodine.

Explanation

Konkani is the sole official language of the state of Goa, as declared under the Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987. It is written in the Devanagari script for official purposes in the state. Furthermore, Konkani is recognized as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India by the 71st Amendment Act in 1992.