UPSC CSE (Preliminary) Exam 2024 Paper I (GS) – 16 June 2024 (Answer Key)

21. The organisms “Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater” are:
(a) Birds
(b) Fish
(c) Insects
(d) Reptiles

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Answer – (C)

Explanation –

Option (a) is incorrect: Cicada, Froghopper, and Pond skater are not birds.
Option (b) is incorrect: They are not fish.
Option (c) is correct: All three are insects.
Option (d) is incorrect: They are not reptiles.

22. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I : Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution.
Statement-II : Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

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Answer – (A)

Explanation –

Statement I is correct: Many chewing gums are considered a source of environmental pollution because they are not biodegradable.
Statement II is correct: Many chewing gums contain plastic as a gum base, which is non-biodegradable and contributes to pollution.
Chewing gum pollution is a significant environmental issue as it contributes to litter. The synthetic rubber or plastic used in many gums can persist in the environment for a long time, posing challenges for cleanup and waste management.

23. Consider the following pairs:

	Country	Animal found in its natural habitat
1.	Brazil	Indri
2.	Indonesia	Elk
3.	Madagascar	Bonobo

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

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Answer – (D)

Explanation –

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Indri (Indri indri) is found in Madagascar, not Brazil.
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Elk (Cervus canadensis) is found in North America and parts of Asia, not Indonesia.
Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Bonobo (Pan paniscus) is found in the Congo Basin, not Madagascar.

24. Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization:
1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.
2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 2 and 3

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Answer – (A)

Explanation –

Statement 1 is incorrect: The World Toilet Organization is not an agency of the United Nations.
Statement 2 is correct: The World Toilet Organization hosts initiatives like the World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day, and World Toilet College to address global sanitation issues.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The organization primarily focuses on advocacy and education rather than directly granting funds to countries.

25. Consider the following statements:
1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season.
2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar.
3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Answer – (A)

Explanation –

Statement 1 is correct: Lions do not have a specific breeding season and can breed throughout the year.
Statement 2 is correct: Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs cannot roar but can purr, chirp, and make other sounds.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Male leopards mark their territory by scent marking.

26. Which one of the following is the correct description of “100 Million Farmers”?
(a) It is a platform for accelerating the transition towards food and water systems that are net-zero (carbon), nature-positive and that aims to increase farmer resilience.
(b) It is an international alliance and a network of individuals and farming organisations interested in supporting and strengthening the development of the organic animal husbandry.
(c) It is a digital platform fully integrated with service providers and built on blockchain that lets buyers, sellers and third parties trade fertilizers quickly and securely.
(d) It is a platform with the mission of encouraging the farmers to form Farmer Product Organisations or Agribusiness Consortiums, thus facilitating the access to global open markets to sell their products.

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Answer – (A)

Explanation – Option (a) is correct: “100 Million Farmers” is a platform aimed at transitioning towards sustainable food and water systems, increasing farmer resilience, and promoting practices that are net-zero in carbon and nature-positive.

27. Consider the following
1. Battery storage
2. Biomass generators
3. Fuel cells
4. Rooftop solar photovoltaic units
How many of the the above are considered “Distributed Energy Resources” ?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

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Answer – (D)

Explanation –

Statement 1 is correct: Battery storage is considered a distributed energy resource.
Statement 2 is correct: Biomass generators are considered distributed energy resources.
Statement 3 is correct: Fuel cells are considered distributed energy resources.
Statement 4 is correct: Rooftop solar photovoltaic units are considered distributed energy resources.

28. Which one of the following shows a unique relationship with an insect that has coevolved with it and that is the only insect that can pollinate this tree?
(a) Fig
(b) Mahua
(c) Sandalwood
(d) Silk cotton

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Answer – (A)

Explanation –

Option (a) is correct: The fig tree has a unique relationship with the fig wasp, an insect that has coevolved with it and is the only insect that can pollinate it.
Option (b) is incorrect: Mahua does not have such a unique pollination relationship.
Option (c) is incorrect: Sandalwood does not have such a unique pollination relationship.
Option (d) is incorrect: Silk cotton does not have such a unique pollination relationship.

29. Consider the following:
1. Butterflies
2. Fish
3. Frogs
How many of the the above are have poisonous species among them?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

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Answer – (C)

Explanation –

Statement 1 is correct: Some species of butterflies are poisonous, often due to the plants they consume as caterpillars.
Statement 2 is correct: Some fish species are poisonous, such as pufferfish, which contain tetrodotoxin.
Statement 3 is correct: Some frog species are poisonous, such as poison dart frogs, which secrete toxins through their skin.

30. Consider the following:
1. Cashew
2. Papaya
3. Red sanders
How many of the the above trees are actually native to India?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

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Answer – (A)

Explanation –

Statement 1 is incorrect : Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is not native to India; it originates from Brazil.
Statement 2 is incorrect : Papaya (Carica papaya) is not native to India; it originates from Central
America.
Statement 3 is correct : Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is native to India.

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