Q1. Which one of the following sets is correctly matched? [1995]
(1) Diphtheria, pneumonia and leprosy → Hereditary
(2) AIDS, syphilis and gonorrhea
(3) Color blindness, hemophilia and sickle-cell anemia → Bacterial → Sex linked
(4) Polio Japanese-B encephalitis and plague → Viral
(a) Only 2
(b) Only 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) None of these
Ans. (d)
Exp. None of the given sets is correctly matched.
Diphtheria, pneumonia and leprosy, all of these are bacterial diseases caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium leprae, respectively. Gonorrhea, syphilis and AIDS are sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs are transmitted through unprotected sexual
contact). AIDS is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum and gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Color blindness and hemophilia are sex-linked diseases while, sickle-cell anemia is an autosomal disease. Polio and Japanese-B encephalitis are viral diseases and plague is a bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis.
Q2. Which one of the following antimicrobial drugs is suitable for treatment of both tuberculosis and leprosy? [1995]
(a) Isoniazid
(b) P-aminos alicyclic acid
(c) Streptomycin
(d) Rifampicin
Ans. (d)
Exp. Rifampicin is an antimicrobial drug which is suitable for both tuberculosis and leprosy. It is a semi-synthetic antibiotic produced from Streptomyces. It has a broad antibacterial spectrum, including activity against several forms of Mycobacterium. In susceptible organisms, it inhibits DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. It thus suppresses the initiation of RNA synthesis.
Q3. The normal temperature of human body on the Kelvin scale is [1995]
(a) 280
(b) 290
(c) 300
(d) 310
Ans. (d)
Exp. Normal temperature of human body on Celsius scale = 37°C Temperature in Kelvin Temperature in degree Celsius + 273
37+273310 Kelvin.
Hence, the normal body temperature of human being on kelvin scale is 310 Kelvin.
Q4. “By weaving threads of physics, chemistry and biology into a rich tapestry, this remarkable scientist provided a unifying molecular view of the world…. He touted the wonderful properties of vitamin-C first agent against cancer.” One of science’s major figure of all time referred to above is
(a) G N Lewis
(b) Fritz London
(c) Linus Carl Pauling
(d) Walter Heitler
Ans. (c)
Exp. Linus Carl Pauling is one of science major figures referred above. He is much known for his controversial the proposing that high dose of vitamin-C would help not the prevention of common cold, but also in the prevention cancer.
He was the only person to have received two unshawed Nobel Prize in 1954 for chemistry and in 1962 for peace.
Q5. “It begins as a single cell and grows into a mercilen disease that claims millions of lives year after year, but scientists are steadily unlocking its mysteries, and the fight against it may now have reached a dramatic turning point. New discoveries promise better therapies and hope in the war against” The disease referred to in the above quotation is (1995)
(a) Cancer
(b) AIDS
(c) Tuberculosis
(d) Alzheimer’s disease
Ans. (a)
Exp. The disease referred to in the above quotation is cancer. is a disease characterized by an abnormal cell growth that later results into tumor. When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body, it starts invading and destroying other healthy tissues.
Q6. According to the World Health Organization, the disease which causes the death of the largest number of people’ today is: (1996)
(a) AIDS
(b) Malaria
(c) Tuberculosis
(d) Ebola
Ans. (c)
Exp. According to World Health Organization’s report in 1996, tuberculosis caused death of the largest number of people. T.B. is caused by bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. India accounts for about 33% of the global burden of tuberculosis. Every year, nearly 20 lakh people develop T.B. in India and nearly 1 million of them are with highly infectious sputum-positive cases.
According to recent updates of WHO (2019), India was leading the count of mortality due to TB among the eight worst hit countries.
Q7. The nutritional deficiency condition that needs to be given top priority for remedial action in India today is (1996)
(a) Scurvy
(b) Xerophthalmia
(c) Rickets
(d) Pellagra
Ans. (b)
Exp. Xeropthalmia caused by the deficiency of vitamin-A in the children, needs to be given top priority today. Generally, this disease is found in poor section of society. The early symptom includes night blindness and eye
irritation finally it leads to permanent blindness.
Q8. H1 N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases? (2015)
(a) AIDS
(b) Bird flu
(c) Dengue
(d) Swine flu
Ans (d)
Exp. H1 N1 virus is associated with swine flu. H1N1 flu is also known as swine flu. It called swine flu because in the past, the people who caught it had direct contact with pigs.
Q9. Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of ebola virus recently? (2015)
(a) Syria and Jordan
(b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
(c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea
(d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
Ans. (b)
Exp. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia were frequently mentioned in the news for the recent outbreak of ebola virus. Ebola virus causing hemorrhagic fever was detected on 23rd March 2014 in Guinea.
More than 80 persons have been detected to have been infected with ebola virus. Out of this, 59 persons from Sierra Leone and Liberia have died. This marks the first time an outbreak among humans has been detected.
Q10. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)
Viruses can infect
(a)bacteria
(b)fungi
(c)plants
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1,2 and 3
Ans. (d)
Exp. Viruses are capable of infecting bacteria, fungi and plants. These are sub-microscopic agents which cannot multiply on their own, so they have to invade a ‘host’ cell and take over their machinery in order to be able to make more virus particles. As viruses have a small genome, increased virulence resulting from a chance mutation is likely. The viruses that have been detected in fungi are all thought to be double- stranded RNA.
Plants are susceptible to viral diseases, just like any living systems. Viruses cause many plant diseases and are responsible for huge losses in crop production and quality in all parts of the world.
Q11. Consider the following statements. 1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue. 2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2017)
(a) Only 1
(b) Both 1 and 2
(c) Only 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (b)
Exp. Both statements (1) and (2) are correct. Zika virus is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that can spread dengue lever, chikungunya as well as yellow fever. It has quickly spread since the start of last year’s outbreak first in Brazil, and then through Latin America and elsewhere.Because the virus can cause birth defects, including microcephaly i.e., an abnormally small head and brain size, Sit was adviced for pregnant women to avoid travel to areas where Zika is active. It is found to have potential to spread through sexual transmission.
Q12. Which one of the following statements is not correct? (2019)
(a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.
(b) Hepatitis-B, unlike Hepatitis-C, does not have a vaccine.
(c) Globally, the number of people infected with hepatitis-B and C viruses are several times more than those infected with HIV.
(d) Some of those infected with hepatitis-B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.
Ans. (b)
Exp. Statement (b) is not correct as hepatitis-A and hepatitis-B both have vaccines to prevent them, However, no vaccine is available for hepatitis-C.
Hepatitis-B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic diseases. The virus of hepatitis-B is transmitted through contact with the blood (much like HIV) or other body fluids of an infected person. Several times the number of people infected with hepatitis B and C viruses more than those infected with HIV. Sometimes the person infected with hepatitis-B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.
Consider the following statements. 0 (2019)
Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes.
Q13. Common cold is sometime caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Both 1 and 2
(c) Only 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (c)
Exp. Only statement (2) is correct as common cold is sometime caused by an adenovirus and mostly by rhinovirus. The AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV which is a single- stranded RNA virus (retrovirus).
Statement (1) is incorrect as Adenovirus is a linear double-stranded DNA virus whereas, retroviruses are single, stranded RNA viruses.
Q14. The term ‘ACE2’ is talked about in the context of
(a) genes introduced in the genetically modified plants
(b) development of India’s own satellite navigation system
(c) radio collars for wildlife tracking
(d) spread of viral diseases (2021)
Ans. (d)
Exp. ‘ACE2’ is talked about in the context of spread of viral diseases in recent coronavirus. ACE2 is acronym of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2. It is an enzyme attached to the membrane of cells in the intestine, kidney, testis, gall bladder and heart. ACE2 serves as the entry point into cells of some coronavirus, including HCOV-NL63, SARS-Cov, etc. Thus, helpful in treatment and drug synthesis against coronavirus.
Q15. ‘Wolbachia Method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following? (2023)
(a) Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
(b) Converting crop residues into packing material
(c) Producing biodegradable plastics
(d) Producing biochar from thermo-chemical conversion of biomass
Ans. (a)
Exp. ‘Wolbachia Method’ is sometimes talked about with the reference to controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes.
The ‘Wolbachia Method’ is a technique used to control the spread of viral diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya and zika, by mosquitoes.
It involves infecting mosquitoes with the bacterium called Wolbachia, which reduces the ability of mosquitoes to transmit these diseases to humans.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
