SSC CHSL Tier 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Solanum lycopersicum L. is the scientific botanical name for the tomato. It belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae, and is native to western South America. The abbreviation L. at the end of the name refers to Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who first formally described and classified the species.

Explanation

In cricket, third man is a key fielding position located on the off side, behind the wicket-keeper and the slip fielders. This position is primarily used to prevent runs from deflections, thick edges, and late cuts that travel toward the boundary in the third-man region.

Explanation

The first passenger train in India was inaugurated on 16 April 1853, running a distance of 34 kilometers between Bori Bunder in Mumbai and Thane. The historic journey was operated by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, hauling 14 carriages with 400 guests using three steam locomotives named Sahib, Sindh, and Sultan. This marked the official beginning of the Indian Railways system.

Explanation

Correct Answer: B

A voltmeter is designed to measure the electrical potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit. To measure this difference accurately, the voltmeter must experience the exact same voltage drop as the component it is measuring, which is achieved by connecting it in parallel across those two points. Additionally, a voltmeter has an extremely high internal resistance, which ensures that it draws negligible current from the main circuit, thereby preventing any significant alteration of the circuit's current and voltage distribution during measurement.

Explanation

Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian men's national football team, achieved this milestone in June 2021 during a joint preliminary qualifying match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup against Bangladesh. By scoring two goals in that match, he increased his international tally to 74 goals, which placed him second among active international goal-scorers, surpassing Argentina's Lionel Messi and trailing only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo at that time.

Explanation

Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna was an iconic Carnatic vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who made outstanding contributions to the field of classical music. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 1991. To propagate and research classical music on an international scale, he established the Academy of Performing Arts and Research in Switzerland. He is also celebrated for composing over four hundred compositions in various languages and innovating new ragas such as Mahati, Lavangi, Sidhi, and Sumukham.

Explanation

Continental crust is the outermost solid layer of the Earth that forms the continents and shallow seabeds. It has an average thickness of about 35 to 40 kilometers, making it the thickest part of the crust. It is characterized by a relatively low density of approximately 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter and is primarily composed of felsic rocks, particularly granite, which is rich in silica and aluminum.

Explanation

Litmus solution is a natural acid-base indicator extracted from lichens, which are symbiotic associations of algae and fungi. Lichens belong to the division Thallophyta because they possess a simple, undifferentiated body structure called a thallus, lacking true roots, stems, and leaves.

Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Titanium dioxide is primarily extracted from ilmenite, which is a weakly magnetic iron-titanium oxide mineral with the chemical formula FeTiO₃. Ilmenite is the most abundant and economically important ore of titanium. It undergoes industrial processing, such as the sulfate or chloride process, to remove iron and other impurities, yielding pure titanium dioxide. Because of its high refractive index, exceptional whiteness, and ability to scatter light, the resulting titanium dioxide is widely used as a white pigment in toothpaste, paints, paper, plastics, and cosmetics.

Explanation

The Soorya Classical Dance Festival is organized annually by the Soorya Stage and Film Society in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is part of the mega Soorya Festival, which is one of the longest-running cultural festivals in India, lasting over a hundred days. The classical dance segment of this festival runs for ten days every year, showcasing premier Indian classical dancers performing various traditional forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, and Kuchipudi.

Explanation

Kanaka Raju is a legendary exponent of Gussadi, a traditional folk dance performed by the Raj Gond tribal community in the Adilabad district of Telangana. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 in recognition of his outstanding efforts to preserve, promote, and safeguard this cultural heritage by training hundreds of youth in the traditional dance form over several decades.

Explanation

The electromagnetic spectrum is generally divided into seven distinct regions based on wavelength, frequency, and energy. Ordered from the lowest energy and frequency (longest wavelength) to the highest energy and frequency (shortest wavelength), these seven regions are radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. Each of these regions represents a specific band of electromagnetic radiation with unique physical characteristics and practical applications.

Explanation

Land of Gold is the eighth studio album by the acclaimed sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar, released in April 2016 under the Deutsche Grammophon label. The album was created as a musical response to the humanitarian crisis and the plight of refugees fleeing conflict and poverty. It features a unique blend of traditional Indian classical sitar with modern electronic beats, acoustic instrumentation, and guest vocals, representing a journey of hope, migration, and the search for security.

Explanation

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was one of the most celebrated Hindustani classical vocalists of the 20th century. Representing the Patiala Gharana, he was exceptionally skilled in diverse genres of Indian classical singing, including Khyal, Thumri, Dadra, and Ghazal. Known for his incredible vocal range, flawless modulation, and emotive rendering of ragas, he made pioneering contributions to classical music and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1962 for his outstanding artistic legacy.

Explanation

Lewis Carroll is the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, an English writer, mathematician, and logician. He wrote the famous children's classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which was published in 1865. The story follows a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures.

Explanation

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is a semi-parasitic tree species that is native to India and thrives predominantly in tropical deciduous forests, particularly in the dry deciduous subtype. These forests are characterized by moderate rainfall ranging between 70 cm and 200 cm and a distinct dry season. Sandalwood is widely distributed in the Deccan Peninsula region, with the largest concentration of these forests located in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Explanation

The Substance and the Shadow: An Autobiography is the official autobiography of the legendary Indian film actor Dilip Kumar. Released in 2014, the book was narrated by Dilip Kumar himself and recorded by author and journalist Udayatara Nayar. The autobiography chronicles his early life as Yousuf Khan in Peshawar, his entry into the Hindi film industry, his rise to superstardom as the Tragedy King, and various personal milestones, offering an intimate look into his life both on and off the screen.

Explanation

Dr. Sharankumar Limbale was awarded the Saraswati Samman for the year 2020 for his Marathi novel Sanatan. Published in 2018, Sanatan is a significant historical work that delves into the struggle and social history of the Dalit and Adivasi communities. Instituted in 1991 by the K.K. Birla Foundation, the Saraswati Samman is one of India's most prestigious literary awards, presented annually for outstanding literary work written in any of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Explanation

The Indian men's hockey team won its first Olympic gold medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Under the captaincy of Jaipal Singh Munda and featuring the legendary player Dhyan Chand, the Indian team made its Olympic debut and put on a dominant performance. India defeated the host nation, the Netherlands, 3-0 in the final match. Throughout the five matches of the tournament, the Indian team did not concede a single goal, scoring a total of 29 goals.

Explanation

The relationship between National Income and Domestic Income is given by the formula:

National Income = Domestic Income + Net Factor Income from Abroad

By rearranging the formula to find Domestic Income:

Domestic Income = National Income - Net Factor Income from Abroad

Substituting the given values into the formula:

Domestic Income = ₹10,000 crore - ₹2,000 crore = ₹8,000 crore

Explanation

The phylum Platyhelminthes, which includes flatworms like planaria, tapeworms, and flukes, is the first group of multicellular animals in the evolutionary tree to exhibit the tissue-organ level of organization. In these triploblastic and bilaterally symmetrical organisms, specialized cells are grouped into tissues, and these tissues are further organized to form distinct functional organs, such as flame cells for excretion and osmoregulation, or primitive nervous systems. This marks an evolutionary transition where physiological activities are carried out by dedicated organs rather than by simple tissue layers or independent cells.

Explanation

Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile in 1800, which is widely recognized as the first electrical battery capable of providing a continuous and reliable source of electricity. By stacking alternating discs of zinc and copper separated by cardboard soaked in saltwater (an electrolyte), Volta produced a steady electric current. This historic invention proved that electricity could be generated chemically rather than solely by biological means, laying the foundational groundwork for the field of electrochemistry and the development of modern electrical technologies.

Explanation

Ace against Odds is the 2016 autobiography of Sania Mirza, the celebrated Indian professional tennis player who achieved the world number one ranking in doubles. Co-authored with her father Imran Mirza and journalist Shivani Gupta, the book chronicles her inspiring journey, the numerous challenges she overcame, and her outstanding achievements in the world of international tennis.

Explanation

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, a legendary Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana, is widely referred to as the Tansen of the 20th century. This title was bestowed upon him in recognition of his extraordinary mastery over classical music, his versatile vocal range, and his unparalleled contributions to reviving and popularizing thumri, khayal, and other classical genres, drawing comparisons to the legendary court singer of Emperor Akbar.

Explanation

The triple jump is a track and field event that consists of three distinct sequence phases: the hop, the step, and the jump. During the hop phase, the athlete takes off from the starting board on one foot and must land on that same foot to complete the phase before transitioning to the step.

Explanation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Bharat Darshan Park in Punjabi Bagh, Delhi on December 25, 2021. Developed by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, the park spans over 8.5 acres and features replicas of 21 iconic historical monuments of India, including the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, and Charminar, which were crafted by artists using approximately 350 tonnes of metallic waste and scrap material.

Explanation

Truth, Love | A Little Malice is the autobiography of the famous Indian novelist and journalist Khushwant Singh. Published in 2002, the book offers an honest and candid account of his life, spanning his childhood, his career as a lawyer and diplomat, and his journey as an acclaimed writer and editor.

Explanation

Alkanes were historically given the name paraffins. This name is derived from the Latin words parum, meaning little, and affinis, meaning affinity or reactivity. It refers to the chemical inertness of this group of saturated hydrocarbons. Because alkanes possess strong, single carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds, they are highly stable and exhibit very little affinity or tendency to react with common laboratory reagents like acids, bases, or oxidizing agents under standard conditions.

Explanation

According to the Laws of Cricket established by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), there are 10 distinct methods by which a batsman can be dismissed. These 10 ways of getting out are bowled, caught, leg before wicket (LBW), run out, stumped, hit wicket, obstructing the field, hit the ball twice, timed out, and retired out (historically including handled the ball, which was integrated into obstructing the field in recent law updates).

Explanation

The Sangeet Natak Akademi is the premier national institution for the performing arts in India, focusing on music, dance, and drama. It functions as an autonomous organization fully funded and administratively supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The Akademi works towards the promotion, preservation, and dissemination of India's diverse cultural heritage through various schemes, grants, and national recognition awards.

Explanation

The nucleus is a large, double-membraned organelle found in eukaryotic cells that houses the cell's genetic material in the form of DNA organized into chromosomes. Because it contains the hereditary information and controls the cell's growth, metabolism, and reproduction by regulating gene expression, it is commonly referred to as the control center or central unit of the cell.

Explanation

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin abundant in yellow, orange, and red fruits and vegetables such as carrots, mangoes, and papayas, which contain high amounts of beta-carotene.

Vitamin B represents a group of water-soluble vitamins primarily found in whole grain breads, cereals, and nuts.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant found in high concentrations in citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, as well as red and green bell peppers.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin obtained from dietary sources like egg yolks and fortified soya products.

Explanation

Lemon juice contains citric acid, which is a weak organic acid. When mixed with baking soda, which is sodium bicarbonate, an acid-base reaction takes place. The citric acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate to form sodium citrate, water, and carbon dioxide gas. The rapid release of this carbon dioxide gas is what causes the liquid to fizz and bubble.

Explanation

Rukmini Devi Arundale was a legendary Indian classical dancer and choreographer who is widely credited with the revival and global popularisation of Bharatanatyam from its traditional Sadhir style. She was the first woman in Indian history to be nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha and established the renowned Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai in 1936 to promote traditional arts. In recognition of her immense contribution to the classical dance form, she was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1957.

Explanation

The Private Life of an Indian Prince is a prominent English novel written by Mulk Raj Anand, first published in 1953. The novel portrays the dramatic events surrounding the accession of the princely states to India shortly after independence in 1947, focusing on the psychological breakdown of Victor, the fictional Maharaja of Shamnagar, who struggles with the loss of his political power and his chaotic personal relationships.

Explanation

The longitudinal valleys lying between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shivaliks are known as Duns. These are flat-bottomed structural valleys formed when the rising Shivalik hills obstructed the paths of rivers flowing from the higher Himalayan ranges, creating temporary lakes. Over time, these lakes accumulated thick deposits of silt, sand, and gravel. When the rivers eventually cut through the Shivaliks, the lakes drained out, leaving behind fertile, flat-floored valleys that are highly suitable for agriculture and human settlement, with Dehradun being the most prominent example.

Explanation

The Lalit Kala Akademi, also known as the National Academy of Art, was established on 5 August 1954 by the Government of India. It was set up with the primary objective of promoting and developing fine arts, including painting, sculpture, graphics, and ceramic art, across the country, and was inaugurated by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then Minister of Education.

Explanation

The microfinance movement in India was formally launched on a pilot basis by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in 1992 through the Self Help Group - Bank Linkage Programme (SHG-BLP). This landmark initiative aimed to connect informal self-help groups of rural poor with the formal banking system to provide them with access to savings and credit services. Following the success of the pilot project, which initially linked 500 SHGs, the model was scaled up nationwide and became the largest microfinance programme in the world.

Explanation

Varahagiri Venkata Giri, commonly known as V. V. Giri, served as the third Vice-President of India from 13 May 1967 to 3 May 1969. After his tenure as Vice-President, he went on to serve as the fourth President of India.

Explanation

For electrons to flow and create an electric current in a conducting metallic wire, there must be a difference of electric pressure, which is scientifically termed as potential difference or voltage, across the ends of the wire. This potential difference is typically provided by an external source such as a battery or cell. Just as a difference in water pressure causes water to flow through a pipe, the difference in electric pressure exerts an electrostatic force on the free electrons, driving them to move in a specific direction through the conductor and resulting in the flow of electric charge.

Explanation

Article 75(5) of the Constitution of India explicitly states that a Minister who, for any period of six consecutive months, is not a member of either House of Parliament shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister. This provision allows a person who is not a member of Parliament to be appointed as a Minister, including the Prime Minister, but requires them to secure a seat in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha within six months of their appointment to continue in office.

Explanation

A balanced diet is defined and structured around physical nutritional requirements and dietary guidelines. Its primary focus is to provide the body with necessary nutrients through a variety of food items in the correct proportions to meet the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for energy and health maintenance. While proper nutrition supports general well-being, the promotion of a healthy mind is a multidimensional aspect of health that involves psychological, social, and emotional factors, which fall outside the direct definition and compositional scope of a balanced diet.

Explanation

Sleeping on Jupiter is a critically acclaimed novel by Anuradha Roy, published in 2015. The narrative explores themes of memory, trauma, religious hypocrisy, and violence against women, centered around a fictional temple town named Jarmuli. The novel was longlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize and won the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Literature in 2016.

Explanation

The Government of Odisha launched the Ashirbad scheme in June 2021 to support children who were orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this welfare initiative, the state provides monthly financial assistance of ₹2500 to children who lost both of their parents, or the primary breadwinner of their family, to the pandemic. This financial support is aimed at securing their education, health, and general maintenance, and is deposited directly into the bank accounts of the children's guardians or caretakers until the beneficiaries reach 18 years of age.

Explanation

According to the Crime in India 2020 report published by the National Crime Records Bureau, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of crimes against senior citizens. The state registered a total of 4,909 cases of crimes against elderly individuals during the year 2020, making it the top state in terms of total crime incidences against senior citizens in India.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Ustad Bismillah Khan was an iconic Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai, a traditional wind instrument, from its role in folk ceremonies to the classical concert stage. He brought the instrument to global prominence through his performances, including playing at the historic Red Fort on India's Independence Day in 1947, and was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.

Explanation

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is the highest national recognition conferred on practicing artists, gurus, and scholars in India. It was constituted in the year 1952 to honor outstanding contributions and sustained individual achievement in the performing arts, encompassing music, dance, drama, traditional, folk, tribal arts, and puppetry. The award is presented annually by the President of India.

Explanation

Pandit Ananda Gopal Bandopadhyay was a distinguished Indian tabla maestro belonging to the Benaras gharana of Hindustani classical music. He was a disciple of the legendary vocalist and tabla player Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra of Varanasi, from whom he received intensive training in the traditional style of the Benaras gharana.

Explanation

Brown algae, belonging to the class Phaeophyceae, store their food reserves in the form of complex carbohydrates, specifically laminarin and mannitol. Laminarin is a beta-glucan polysaccharide consisting of glucose units, while mannitol is a sugar alcohol. These stored compounds serve as energy sources for the algae, allowing them to survive in marine environments where light and nutrient availability fluctuate.

Explanation

Uma Sharma is a highly acclaimed classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher who has contributed significantly to the promotion and preservation of Kathak. She received training under eminent gurus of both the Jaipur and Lucknow gharanas, including Guru Hiralalji, Pandit Sunder Prasad, Shambhu Maharaj, and Birju Maharaj. She is widely credited with reviving and popularizing the traditional Natwari Nritya and Raslila of Vrindavan, which are ancestral roots of Kathak. For her immense contributions to this art form, she was conferred the Padma Shri in 1973 and the Padma Bhushan in 2001 by the Government of India, along with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987.