SSC CHSL Tier 1 2016 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form that originated in Kerala. The name Mohiniyattam literally translates to the dance of Mohini, the mythical enchantress avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, who used her feminine allure to help the gods prevail over evil. This solo dance, traditionally performed by women, is characterized by gentle, graceful, and swaying movements that echo the natural landscape of Kerala, such as the swaying of palm trees and the waves of the ocean. It features delicate footwork, expressive hand gestures, and emotive facial expressions set to Carnatic music.

Explanation

Consumer surplus is defined as the difference between the maximum price a consumer is willing to pay for a product and the actual price they pay for it.

Consumer Surplus = Maximum Willingness to Pay - Actual Price Paid

First, determine the actual price paid by Irfaan. The stall sells the coffee at ₹120 and offers a 25% discount. Discount = 25% of ₹120 = 0.25 × 120 = ₹30. Actual Price Paid = 120 - 30 = ₹90.

Irfaan is willing to pay up to ₹200 for the black coffee. Using the values in the formula: Consumer Surplus = 200 - 90 = ₹110.

Explanation

Defence expenditure is classified as non-developmental expenditure because it is spent on maintaining the general administration and defense services of the nation. It serves as a protective service rather than a productive or asset-creating one, as it does not directly yield any economic return or build social and physical infrastructure. While critical for sovereignty and national security, it does not directly contribute to the creation of productive physical capital or the development of human capital, making it a non-development expenditure.

Explanation

Vermicomposting is a biological decomposition process that relies primarily on earthworms to break down organic matter. Earthworms consume organic waste materials, such as food scraps, agricultural residues, and bedding, and digest them. Through their digestive tract, the waste is physically ground and biochemically transformed. The excreted material, known as vermicast or worm castings, is a highly nutrient-rich organic fertilizer that significantly improves soil structure, water retention, and plant growth. Species such as red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) are commonly utilized to accelerate this compost production.

Explanation

Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate mineral of copper and aluminium, chemically represented by the formula CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O. The presence of copper within its crystal structure is directly responsible for the mineral's characteristic blue coloration, which can shift to green when iron substitutes for aluminium.

Explanation

Shabana Azmi has no professional association with folk dancing and is not a folk dancer. Her public and professional life is entirely centered on her career as an actress, her extensive work as a social activist, and her advocacy for feminist and humanitarian causes.

Explanation

The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution officially recognizes 22 languages. Originally, the Constitution included 14 languages, but subsequent amendments increased this number. Specifically, the 21st Amendment Act of 1967 added Sindhi, the 71st Amendment Act of 1992 added Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali, and the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003 added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali, bringing the total number of officially recognized scheduled languages to 22.

Explanation

Mars is commonly referred to as the Red Planet because its surface is covered in a large amount of iron oxide, which is chemically identical to rust. This compound absorbs blue and green wavelengths of light while reflecting red wavelengths, giving the planet its characteristic reddish-orange appearance both to the naked eye from Earth and in space imagery.

Explanation

Humayun, born Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad in Kabul in 1508, was the eldest son of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. He succeeded his father to the Mughal throne in December 1530 as the second Mughal emperor, ruling over the newly established empire in the Indian subcontinent.

Explanation

Prithviraj Chauhan, also known as Prithviraj III, was a prominent king of the Chahamana dynasty who ruled the Sapadalaksha territory from his capital at Ajmer. He was born to the Chahamana king Someshwar Chauhan and his queen Karpuradevi. Someshwar Chauhan ruled the kingdom until his death in 1177 CE, after which Prithviraj Chauhan ascended the throne as a minor under the regency of his mother.

Explanation

Mark Rylance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 88th Academy Awards in 2016 for his portrayal of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in the historical drama film Bridge of Spies.

Explanation

The fundamental relationship between distance, speed, and time is defined by the formula:

Distance = Speed × Time

Speed is the rate at which an object covers distance, mathematically expressed as:

Speed = Distance / Time

By rearranging this formula to solve for distance, we multiply both sides of the equation by time, showing that the total distance traveled is the product of the speed of the object and the duration of travel.

Explanation

The mole is the fundamental SI unit used to measure the amount of a substance. It provides a bridge between the microscopic world of atoms and molecules and the macroscopic world of laboratory measurements. One mole is defined as the amount of substance containing as many elementary entities as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams of carbon-12. This quantity is approximately 6.022 × 10²³ elementary entities, a constant known as Avogadro's number. This allows scientists to easily calculate and relate the mass of a substance to the number of atoms or molecules it contains.

Explanation

A republic is a form of government where the state is ruled by representatives of the citizen body. Sovereignty rests with the people, who delegate their power to elected officers and representatives to exercise it on their behalf. Unlike a monarchy, there is no hereditary ruler, and the head of state is typically an elected president, reflecting the principle that the ultimate power and authority of the state reside in the public.

Explanation

Under Article 80 of the Constitution of India, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) can have a maximum of 250 members, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President of India. These nominated members are selected from persons who have special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service. This constitutional provision allows experts and distinguished personalities to contribute to the legislative process and debates in Parliament without going through the electoral process.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal when she clinched the bronze medal in the women's 69 kg weightlifting category at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. She lifted a total of 240 kg, comprising 110 kg in the snatch and 130 kg in the clean and jerk, to secure this historic achievement.

Explanation

Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India was written by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India and a distinguished aerospace scientist. Published in 2002, the book is primarily addressed to the youth of India, inspiring them to realize their inner strength and potential. Dr. Kalam details his experiences, thoughts, and interactions with children and citizens across the country, encouraging them to develop a scientific temper and work collectively to transform India into a developed nation.

Explanation

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network. It translates human-readable domain names like example.com into the numerical IP addresses, such as 192.0.2.1, which are necessary for locating and identifying computer services and devices with the underlying network protocols. DNS essentially serves as the phonebook of the Internet, allowing users to access websites using easy-to-remember names instead of complex numerical addresses.

Explanation

Tivadar Puskas, a Hungarian inventor and pioneer of telecommunications, invented the telephone exchange in 1877. Following Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone, Puskas conceptualized a centralized network to connect multiple telephone lines. Working alongside Thomas Edison, he designed and realized the first experimental telephone exchange in Boston, which was later followed by Europe's first commercial telephone exchange in Paris in 1879.

Explanation

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a vital structural protein found in connective tissues, blood vessels, and bones. A deficiency of Vitamin C impairs collagen production, leading to the weakening of these tissues, which manifests as scurvy. The symptoms of scurvy include bleeding gums, subcutaneous hemorrhaging, loose teeth, delayed wound healing, and joint pain.

Explanation

Achras sapota, also known as Manilkara zapota, is the scientific name for Chiku, an evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is widely cultivated in tropical regions, including India, for its sweet, edible fruit which has a brown, sandy skin and sweet, granular pulp.

Explanation

Prawns belong to the phylum Arthropoda because they possess the characteristic features of this group, which include a segmented body, jointed appendages, and a hard exoskeleton made of chitin that undergoes periodic molting or ecdysis. Within the phylum Arthropoda, prawns are classified under the class Crustacea, reflecting their aquatic habitat, two pairs of antennae, and biramous appendages.

Explanation

A catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. The activation energy is the minimum energy barrier that reactant molecules must overcome to be transformed into products. By lowering this barrier, a greater fraction of reactant molecules possess sufficient energy to undergo the reaction at a given temperature, which significantly increases the reaction velocity.

Explanation

Chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) is an inorganic compound widely used as a coloring agent in the glass manufacturing industry. When small quantities of chromium oxide are added to molten glass, it imparts a distinct green color, ranging from light green to a deep emerald green depending on the concentration used. This oxide is highly stable, heat-resistant, and chemically inert, making it ideal for creating durable colored glass products such as green bottles and decorative glassware.

Explanation

The Ellora Caves are located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Carved into the basaltic Charanandri Hills, this UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises 34 major rock-cut temples and monasteries representing Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths, constructed between the 6th and 10th centuries CE under the patronage of dynasties like the Rashtrakutas and Yadavas.

Explanation

Holi, known as the festival of colors, is celebrated on the Purnima (full-moon day) in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which typically falls in the month of March in the Gregorian calendar. The festival marks the transition from winter to spring and is celebrated over two consecutive days, beginning with Holika Dahan on the night of the full moon and followed by Dhulandi (the play of colors) on the next day.

Explanation

Market equilibrium occurs where the quantity demanded equals the quantity supplied (D = S).

Setting the equations equal to solve for the equilibrium price P: 37000 - 11P = 12000 + 9P 20P = 25000 P = 1250

Substituting P = 1250 into the demand equation to find the equilibrium quantity: Q = 37000 - 11 × 1250 Q = 37000 - 13750 Q = 23250 units

Explanation

The Balance of Trade represents the difference between the monetary value of a country's exports and imports of goods and services over a specific timeframe. It is a major component of the current account in a nation's Balance of Payments. When the value of exported goods exceeds the value of imported goods, the country registers a trade surplus. Conversely, when imports exceed exports, the country experiences a trade deficit.

Explanation

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is a colorless gas with a highly distinctive, pungent, and suffocating odor that is often compared to the smell of a freshly struck match. Because of this sharp and irritating smell, even very small concentrations of the gas in the atmosphere can be readily detected by the human sense of smell.

Explanation

India is classified into 10 distinct biogeographical zones according to the scheme developed by the Wildlife Institute of India. This classification is based on factors such as climate, topography, soil, and the unique distribution of flora and fauna across different regions. These ten zones are the Trans-Himalaya, Himalaya, Desert, Semi-Arid, Western Ghats, Deccan Peninsula, Gangetic Plain, Coasts, Northeast, and Islands. This division helps in planning and implementing effective conservation strategies and managing the country's rich biodiversity.

Explanation

Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine, delta-wing, multi-role light combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Developed under the Light Combat Aircraft programme which was initiated in the 1980s to replace the aging MiG-21 fighter jets, Tejas officially entered service with the Indian Air Force in July 2016.

Explanation

Earth rotates around its axis from west to east. This prograde rotation causes the Sun, Moon, and stars to appear to rise in the east and set in the west. When viewed from above the North Pole, the rotation is in a counterclockwise direction. This motion completes one full rotation relative to the stars in approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds, which is defined as a sidereal day.

Explanation

Meghalaya receives the highest average annual rainfall in India. This high level of precipitation is primarily concentrated in the southern slopes of the Khasi Hills, which house Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, the wettest places on Earth. Mawsynram receives an average annual rainfall of about 11,872 mm. The unique geographical alignment of the funnel-shaped hills traps the moisture-laden monsoon winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal, forcing them to rise rapidly and condense, resulting in exceptionally heavy and continuous orographic rainfall.

Explanation

Tipu Sultan, who ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1782 to 1799, was popularly known as the Tiger of Mysore. He earned this title due to his legendary bravery, famously depicted in stories where he killed a wild tiger with his bare hands. He adopted the tiger as the official symbol of his state, incorporating tiger stripes and motifs into his weapons, armor, soldiers' uniforms, and his royal throne. His fierce resistance against the British East India Company during the Anglo-Mysore Wars further cemented this moniker.

Explanation

Sri Aurobindo was born on August 15, 1872, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bengal. He was a highly influential Indian nationalist, philosopher, poet, and spiritual reformer who developed an spiritual philosophy known as Integral Yoga, and his birth anniversary is celebrated on August 15, coinciding with India's Independence Day.

Explanation

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997 in recognition of his monumental contributions to scientific research, military missile development, and space programs in India. Instituted in 1954, the Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India, conferred for exceptional service of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.

Explanation

According to Coulomb's Law, the electrostatic force F between two point charges q₁ and q₂ separated by a distance r is given by the formula F = k × |q₁ × q₂| / r², where k is Coulomb's constant. Since both charges are positive, they experience a mutual repulsive force and will accelerate away from each other upon release. As they move farther apart, the distance r between them increases. Because the electrostatic force is inversely proportional to the square of the separation distance (F ∝ 1/r²), this increase in distance r results in a continuous decrease in the magnitude of the force acting between them.

Explanation

Under Article 109 of the Constitution of India, a Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha on the prior recommendation of the President. It is explicitly prohibited from originating in the Rajya Sabha. Once passed by the Lok Sabha, the Money Bill is transmitted to the Rajya Sabha, which has restricted powers and must return the bill with or without recommendations within a period of 14 days.

Explanation

Under Article 61 of the Constitution of India, the President of India can be removed from office before the expiry of their term through the process of impeachment on the grounds of violation of the Constitution. The impeachment charges can be initiated by either House of Parliament. As the lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha has the constitutional authority to initiate this process. The initiation of the process requires a resolution to be moved after at least fourteen days' written notice signed by not less than one-fourth of the total members of the Lok Sabha, expressing their intention to prefer the charge.

Explanation

Kobe Bryant was an iconic American professional basketball player who spent his entire 20-year career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, and won two Olympic gold medals with the United States national basketball team.

Explanation

Vishnu Sharma is the traditional author of the Panchatantra, which is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables written in Sanskrit verse and prose. According to historical tradition, he composed this treatise to teach political science, practical wisdom, and leadership skills to three young and uneducated princes of King Amarashakti. The title translates to the Five Principles, as the work is divided into five distinct books of wisdom.

Explanation

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. Developed by Adobe in 1992, this file format is designed to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. This portability ensures that a PDF file looks exactly the same on any device it is opened on.

Explanation

Jean-Antoine Nollet was a prominent French physicist and clergyman who invented an early version of the electroscope in 1748. His device, often considered one of the first electrometers, utilized electrostatic attraction and repulsion—typically using suspended threads or pith balls—to detect the presence and magnitude of an electric charge. Nollet is widely recognized for his pioneering experimental contributions to the study of electrostatics and the behaviors of electric charges.

Explanation

Pulses, which are the edible seeds of leguminous plants, are globally recognized as an exceptionally rich source of plant-based proteins. They typically contain around 20% to 25% protein by weight, which is approximately double the protein content found in wheat and triple that found in rice. This high protein density makes pulses an indispensable dietary component for maintaining muscle health, tissue repair, and overall cellular function, particularly in vegetarian and vegan diets where animal protein is absent.

Explanation

The primary structural component of the plant cell wall is cellulose. Cellulose is a complex polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of thousands of β-1,4-linked D-glucose units. These linear chains pack closely together to form microfibrils, which are held together by hydrogen bonds to create a highly rigid and stable fibrous network. This tough, water-insoluble fibrous material provides structural support, mechanical strength, and protection to the plant cell, allowing it to maintain its shape and withstand high turgor pressure.

Explanation

Mycology is the branch of biology dedicated to the study of fungi, which includes their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their applications and risks to humans and other organisms. The term is derived from the Greek words mykes, meaning fungus, and logos, meaning discourse or study.

Explanation

Nylon-66 is a synthetic polyamide polymer widely used in the manufacturing of brush bristles. It possesses high tensile strength, excellent elasticity, superior abrasion resistance, and outstanding toughness. These physical properties allow the bristles to bend and return to their original shape repeatedly without breaking or wearing down easily, making Nylon-66 the material of choice for high-quality bristles in toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and paint brushes.

Explanation

Litmus is a water-soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from lichens, widely used as a pH indicator to test for acidity or basicity. In an acidic medium, the increased concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) alters the chemical structure of the litmus indicator, shifting its absorption spectrum. This chemical interaction causes the indicator to turn red, meaning that blue litmus paper turns red when it comes into contact with an acidic substance.

Explanation

The Agra Fort was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. Located on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, this massive red sandstone fortress served as the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted to Delhi. Akbar undertook the extensive reconstruction of the older, ruined brick fort known as Badalgarh, employing thousands of builders and artisans to construct a grand fortified palace complex that exhibits a blending of Timurid, Persian, and Indian architectural styles.

Explanation

Malayalam is a Dravidian language primarily spoken in the Indian state of Kerala, where it serves as the official state language. It is also spoken by the population in the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (specifically in Mahe), but Kerala remains its principal linguistic home. In 2013, Malayalam was officially declared a Classical Language of India due to its rich and ancient literary tradition.