General Studies Comprehensive Mock Test - Paper 1

 (d)

 (c)

 (c)

 (c)

 (c)

 Nirmal, Cheriyal, Shrikalahasti are from Andhra Pradesh while Tanjavur is from Tamil Nadu.

 (d)

 Woods Dispatch recommended to encourage private participation in the field of education.
The focus was to westernize education. One university was established in each of Calcutta, Bombay & Madras on the model of London University. Also the focus was on technical education.

 The correct characteristic (s) of primary seismic wave are :

1. It is a longitudinal and compressional wave.
2. It is analogous to sound waves.
3. It travels with faster speed through solids but slowly through liquids.

 Jet streams develop best in winters because of greater thermal contrasts.
Jet streams, generally, develop a wavy pattern called Rossby waves.Jet streams have been found, to influence earth's surface weather phenomena (temperate cyclone, monsoon, etc).
The monsoon of South Asia is largely affected and controlled by jet streams.

 Major advantages which British had were Commercial, naval superiority & their victory in European wars. British also had 3 important parts-Calcutta, Bombay & Madras, while French only had one Pondicherry.

 (c)

 In the idealized tricellular circulations, the sequence of pressure conditions from equator to poles is (i) Equatorial low, (ii) Subtropical high, (iii) Subpolar low, (iv) Polar high. The equatorial low pressure belt is located on either side of the geographical equator in a zone extending between 5°N and 5°S latitudes but this zone is not stationary because there is seasonal shift of belt. Subtropical high pressure belt extends between the latitude of 25°-35° in both the hemisphere. It is important to note that this high pressure belt is not thermally induced because this zone besides two to three winter months receives fairly high temperature throughout the year. Each polar low pressure belt is located between 60°- 65° latitudes in both the hemisphere. Polar high pressure belt persists at the poles throughout the year because of prevalence of very low temperature below freezing point all the year round.

 The Alps (continental-continental plate collision).
The Himalaya (Continental-continental plate collission, Eurasion and Indian plate).
The Rockies (Oceanic-Continental plate collision, Pacific and American Plate).
The Caucasus Mountains (Continental-continental plate collision).

 (a)

 (c)

 The declination of the sun in a year's time is 23 ½° + 23 ½° i.e. 47°. The two tropics (of Cancer and Capricorn) represent the farthest limits of the vertical rays of the Sun. As the angle of Sun’s rays decreases pole ward; the amount of insolation received also decreases in that direction.

 (c)

 (a)

 (a)

 Temperature inversion: upward reversal of the normal environmental temperature lapse rate. So, that the air temperature increases upward. The following types on the basis of relative heights from the earth's surface at which it occurs and the type of air circulation:1. Non-advectional inversion
(i) Ground or surface inversion or radiation inversion
(ii) Upper air inversion y2. Advectional inversioin
(i) Frontal inversion or cyclonic inversion
(ii) Valley inversion due to vertical air movement
(iii) Surface inversion due to horizontal air movement3. Mechanical inversion
(i) Subsidence inversion
(ii) Turbulence and Convective inversionThe ground surface inversion occurs under the following conditions:
a) Long winter nights, so that the loss of heat by terrestrial radiation from the ground surface during night may exceed the amount of insolation received from the Sun through incoming shortwave electro-magnetic radiation waves and thus the ground surface becomes too cold.
b) Cloudless and clear sky, so that the loss of heat through terrestrial radiation proceeds more rapidly without any obstruction.
c) Presence of dry air near the ground surface so that it may not absorb much heat radiated from the earth's surface.
d) Slow movement of air, so that there is no transfer and mixing of heat in the lower layers of the atmosphere.

 (d)

 (d)

 (d)

 (a)

 (c)

 (a)

 (a)

 Cirrus : 'Cirrus' in latin means a shape similar to a lock of curly hair.
Stratus : 'Stratus' in latin refers to a sheet-like formations.
Nimbus : 'Nimbus' refers to rain-bearing cloud.
Cumulus : 'Cumulus' in latin refers to a heap or a pile shape and this cloud grows vertically.

 The source of tropical cyclones occurrence lies between 5° to 30° latitudes in both the hemispheres. They never form exactly over the equator. A tropical hurricane is nearly circular vortex averting 500 to 600 km in diameter. The diameter of small sized Tornado violent storm varies from 150 to 600 meters. Hurricanes form only over oceans having a high surface temperature (27°C). Whenever a tropical cyclone moves on to land, much of its severity is reduced simply because its source of moisture is cut off. In other words, no energy is available on land to maintain a cyclone. The weakening of the hurricane over land is also the result of increased friction.

 (d)

 Coral reefs and atolls are significant sub-marine features. These are formed due to accumulation and compaction of skeletons of lime secreting organisms known as coral polyps.

 The temperature of the atmosphere of a particular place near the ground surface depends on the amount of insolation received at that place. Since the amount of insolation received by the ground surface decreases poleward from the equator i.e. from low latitudes towards high latitudes because the Sun's rays become more and more oblique (slanting) poleward and hence air temperature also decreases poleward. It may be noted that though Sun's rays are almost vertical over the equator throughout the year but there is no maximum temperature on it rather maximum temperature is recorded along 20°N latitude in July because major portion of insolation is reflected by clouds and sizeable amount of heat is lost in evaporation in the low latitude zone (equatorial zone).

 (c)

 Dalmatian Coast is the longitudinal coast where mountains run parallel (on concordant) to the coast. The name comes from the coast of Dalmatia (former Yugoslavia), along the Adriatic Sea.

 None of the above

 (d)

 The Mediterranean climate is characterised by a dry summer, a mild humid winter and abundant sunshine, about 90 percent of the possible sunshine in summer and 50% to 60% even during the rainy winter season.
This happens because of shift of pressure belts as a result of which westerlies bring winter rain.
Mediterranean climates are found 30° and 40°N and latitudes on the western sides of the continents. These climates are found in five regions of the world; The borderlands of the Mediterranean Sea (north of the Mediterranean Sea from Portugal to Turkey and beyond the Iranian Highlands; the southern borderland includes Morocco, northern Algeria, and Tunisia and north of Bengasi in Libya) the Central and California coast in the United States of America; Central Chile; the Capetown area of South Africa; and Southern and South-western coasts of Australia.

 (d)

 Pulakesin II had over 100 ships in his navy Chalukyas were a major naval power.

 (a)

 Land revenue was the chief source of state’s income while customs duty in foreign trade was another source.

 (b)

 (a)

 (c)

 (a)

 It was associated with the Malabar uprising also called the Noplah/Mappila revolt.
Conference took place in 1921.
Nellikuth in Manjeri was the birth place of rebel leader Ali Musliyar.

 All these initiatives were the in-alienable parts of Gandhian theories of Swaraj, Trusteeship & Oceonic Circles.

 Permanent Settlement/Zamindari System
Zamindars as the permanent owners of land
Total revenue 89% paid to state, 11% kept with themselves.
They were left independent in the internal affairs of their respective districts & hence the system of ‘Patta’, mentioning the area of the land to farmers was not enforced properly.

 Mansab – Rank, Mansabdar – Rank Holder. It was a system of giving ranks to Mughal officials. There were 33 categories of Mansabdars.

 They are also referred to as the fifth Veda.

 The position of the sun, the moon and the earth in a straight line is called Syzygy. When the sun, the moon and the earth are in sequential order in a straight line, in other words, when the sun and moon are in one side of earth, the position is called Conjuction (the situation of solar eclipse). When the position of the earth is in between the sun and moon, this is called opposition. On the other hand, when sun, the earth and the moon are in a position of a right angle, this position is called quadrature. The nearest position of the moon with the earth is called perigee when the distance between them is 3,56,000 km. The farthest position of the moon with the earth is apogee (4,07,000 km).

 (d)

 A tundra consists of plains characterised by snow ice and frozen soil for most part of the year. Temperature of the warmest month does rise above 0°C but never above 10°C. As such the ground may be free from snow, but for a short period. Growing period (less than 50 days) is only the short summer season.

 (c)

 On an average, salinity decreases from equator towards the poles. It may be mentioned that the highest salinity is seldom recorded near the equator; though this zone records high temperature and evaporation but high rainfall reduces the relative portion of salt. Thus, the equator accounts for only 35% salinity. The highest salinity is observed between 20°- 40° N 36% because this zone is characterized by high temperature, high evaporation but significantly low rainfall.

Pyrolysis of solid waste refers to high temperature anaerobic distillation of waste for energy generation. It involves the simultaneous change of chemical composition and physical phase, and is irreversible.

 (d)

 (a)

 Gulf Stream is a warm current, moving from low latitudes to higher latitudes.
West Wind Drift (Cold), a strong ocean current known as west wind drift flows from west to east under the influence of the westerlies in the zone of 40°-50°S latitudes (South Pacific; South Atlantic and Indian Ocean). This current becomes much stronger because of immense volume of watermass and high velocity winds called as roaring forties and thus the current flows with great velocity.
Peru Current (cold): The cold current flowing along the western coast of South America in the eastern Pacific Ocean from south to north is called Peru Current or Humboldt Current.
West Australian current is a warm current in the Indian Ocean.

 (a)

 (b)

 (b)

 When rain-forest is cleared, the humus formation almost ceases, thereby depleting soils critical nutrients. High rainfall also results into leaching of soil nutrient in the absence of tree cover.

 Amuktamalyada – One who wears & gives away garlands. It is considered a masterpiece in Telugu literature. It tells the story of a girl who used to wear the garlands intended for Lord Ranganatha, before they were offered to the deity.

 (c)

 Kalpasutra is a Jaina text containing biographics of the Jain tirthankaras, most notably Mahavira & Parsvanath. Bhadrabahu I is considered as the author of this text.

 Temperature variation is universally important environmental factor as each species has its own minimum, maximum and optimum temperatures for life. Condition of sunlight determines the source of energy for ecosystem. Besides most organisms need large amount of water to survive so wind has the least effect.

 (b)

 Mridangam is a percussion instrument used in Carnatic music.

 Primitive activities like hunting and gathering sustained human beings for more than 95% of their existence on the earth. The hunting-gathering people successfully colonised the tropical rainforests. Present day hunters-gatherers are confined to a few pockets in Australia, Africa, Asia, North America and South America. The Arctic Inuit; Pygmies and Kalahari San of Africa; Aboriginal Australians such as Pintupi; Paliyan of South lndia and Semang of Malaysia are some examples of the foragers.

 The Mississippi Waterway : The Mississippi-Ohio waterway connects the interior part of the USA with the Gulf of Mexico in the South. Large steamer can go through this route upto Minneapolis.
The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Waterway : It is an unique water way in the northern part of North America. The ports located on this route have developed just like ocean ports with all facilities. As such large ocean freighters are able to navigate deep inside the continent upto 3,760 km through the estuary of St. Lawrence below Quebec.
Rhine Waterway : The Rhine is the most important channel of navigation in this region. It is the world's most heavily trafficked waterway. Rotterdam is located at its mouth in the Netherlands.

 (b)

 The Siwalik comprises range of the Himalaya and is also known as Outer Himalayas. With its southern steep slopes, it assumes hogback appearance. Flat scarps, anticlinal crests and synclinal valleys are the chief characteristic feature of this range.

 (c)

 (d)

 (a)

 The decayed leaf material adds much needed humus to soil thereby increasing its fertility. Humus itself decomposes in process known as minerolisation which releases nitrogenous compounds into the soil. So, the soils which have humus should not face nitrogen deficiency.

 (c)

 (a)

 (b)

 (d)

 (b)

 (d)

 (d)

 Early Jaina writers discarded Sanskrit as the language of Brahmans & adopted Prakrit & Ardhamagadhi, the languages of common people.

 The Taiga biome stretches across large parts of Canada, Europe and Asia. A lot of coniferous trees grow in the Taiga. Taiga is not the largest biome in the World.

 In Netherlands about 54% forests has been damaged by acid rain.

 (d)

 UK celebrated 800 years of Magna Carta signing on 15 June 2015. It was a document of promises between King Jon & his subjects about governing England with customs & feudal law. Rights & Liberty were the concepts developed much later.

 I Sangam - Madurai
II Sangam - ' Kapadapuram
III Sangam - Mudathirumran
These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of Pandyas.

 Thiruvananthpuram has lower temperature than Mumbai in May because of higher rainfall in summer. Since it is nearer to equator it has higher temperature than that of Mumbai in January.

 Xerophytic Vegetation are found in north-western parts of the country including Rajasthan, South-western Punjab, Western Haryana, Kuchchh and neighbouring parts of Saurashtra.

 (c)

 The Nilgiri, far south in Tamil Nadu is the meeting place of the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats and the Southern hills, rising abruptly from the surrounding areas, it has the highest peak of Dodabeta (2,637 m) and Udagammdulam (Ooty) hill station.

 (c)

 A. Tropical evergreen   2. Shillong plateau, Sahyadris
B. Monsoon                     1. Chhotanagpur plateau, Siwaliks
C. Temperate                 4. Eastern and Western Himalayas, Nilgiris
D. Mangrove                     3. West Bengal, Terai

 (d)

 (b)

 A. Manas 2. Assam
B. Nokrek 1. Meghalaya
C. Gulf of Mannar 4. Tamil Nadu
D. Nanda Devi 3. Uttaranchal