Environmental Studies · General Awareness

Pollution and Human Impact

2,911 Questions

Pollution involves the introduction of contaminants into natural environments, causing severe human impact. This hub focuses on water pollution, thermal pollution, soil contamination, and diseases like Minamata. It is a highly relevant topic for environmental studies in UPSC exams.

Water pollution sourcesOcean pollutantsHeavy metal contaminationSoil erosion impactsThermal pollution causes

Pollution and Human Impact Questions

Multiple choice

In what way does ballast water discharged by ships cause harm to marine environment?

  1. By increasing nutrient concentration

  2. By introducing invasive species

  3. By causing hypoxia

  4. By introducing mercuric compounds
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Ballast water taken up at sea and released in ports, is a major source of unwanted exotic marine life. The invasive freshwater zebra mussels, native to the Black, Caspian and Azov Seas, were probably transported to the Great Lakes via ballast water from a transoceanic vessel.

Multiple choice writing a paragraph writing english

Which option contains the best topic sentence?

  1. Martin Isle is the most polluted island in the world.

  2. There are many reasons why Martin Isle is now the world's most polluted island.

  3. Martin Isle is an island and it is very polluted.

  4. Pollution has destroyed the island of Martin Isle.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The best topic sentence is Option B. A topic sentence depicts the overall idea of the paragraph in brief and here, in Option B, the idea that various factors have made Martin Isle the most polluted island in the world is made clear very effectively. Options A, C and D are incorrect as they only focus on pollution in the island but do not discuss about the factors promoting pollution in the island.

Multiple choice evs seeds and seeds interdependencies among organisms hunting plant interdependence between plants and animals

Lichens are described as indicators of :

  1. Soil pollution

  2. Air pollution

  3. Water pollution

  4. Agricultural productivity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Lichen cannot survive in places with air pollution especially $SO _2$, if Lichens inhabit a particular area, it is an indication that the air is no or minimum pollutants
So, the correct answer is 'Air pollution'
Multiple choice geography pollution - preventive measures human activities and environmental degradation human activities and its impact on environment pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures

Chemical companies are responsible for _________________.

  1. air pollution

  2. water pollution

  3. soil pollution

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Chemical companies are responsible for all the three types of pollution. The smoke released from these companies pollutes the air, also they release their waste in water and thereby pollute the water and the waste they dug up in ground pollutes the soil and makes it barren causing soil pollution.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution environment and pollution for a pollution free nature natural resources- air, water and land

Which of the following is not a cause of pollution?

  1. Afforestation

  2. Wars among nations

  3. Industrialization

  4. Growth of algae in water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Wars among nations and industrialization release lots of harmful gases into the air which cause air pollution. Growth of algae in water causes the dissolved oxygen levels in water to deplete, resulting in death of aquatic animals due to water pollution. Afforestation does not cause pollution directly.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution environment and pollution for a pollution free nature natural resources- air, water and land

Pollution is a change in physical, chemical or biological characters of our land and water that may be:

  1. desirable and harmful to humans

  2. desirable and useful to humans

  3. undesirable and harmful to humans

  4. undesirable and useful to humans
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Environmental pollution is defined as the undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological characteristics of our air, land and water. As a result of over-population, rapid industrializations, and other human activities like agriculture and deforestation etc., the earth became loaded with diverse pollutants that were released as by-products. 

It is undesirable and harmful to humans.

Hence, option C is correct.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment pollution and industrial pollution pollution and its type pollutions

Effect of pollution is first and most marked on

  1. Natural flora of a place

  2. Natural geochemical cycle

  3. Natural gaseous cycle

  4. Natural balance of our environment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Green plants are the producers through which inorganic elements first enter the food chain. Green plants take in elements from the atmosphere, soil and water and manufacture food on which all the other animals either directly or indirectly feed on. Since plants are directly exposed to pollutants, the effect of pollution is first visible in natural flora of a place, then it will be visible on organisms that are dependent on the plants.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment pollution and industrial pollution pollution and its type pollutions

Effect of pollution is on

  1. Crossing over

  2. Ecological balance

  3. Linkage

  4. Mutation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pollution is any change in physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of the environment, that has the potentiality to harm human life, life of other desirable species, natural resources, cultural assets and industries. Pollution affects the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere by disturbing the delicate balance between abiotic and biotic components and the interaction between various organisms. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment pollution and industrial pollution pollution and its type pollutions

How environmental pollution can be controlled?

  1. Least use of fossil fuel

  2. The effluent of factories should be treated before discharge into surrounding environment

  3. By using more biodegradable products

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  • Environmental pollution is the release of chemical waste that causes detrimental (causing harm) effects on the environment. Environmental pollution is often divided into water pollution, air pollution, and soil pollution.
  • Environmental pollution can be controlled by Least use of fossil fuel, The effluent of factories should be treated before discharge into the surrounding environment and By using more biodegradable products.
  • So, the correct answer is 'All the above'.
Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment pollution and industrial pollution pollution and its type pollutions

Which statement is wrong about pollution?

  1. Leaded petrol is used in vehicle that has catalytic converter

  2. Hot water releases from thermal power plants

  3. Presence of DDT in food chain

  4. Biological control does not create pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Leaded petrol poisons the catalyst in a catalytic converter, rendering it ineffective. Therefore, leaded petrol should not be used in vehicles equipped with catalytic converters.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment pollution and industrial pollution pollution and its type pollutions

Spraying of DDT on crops produces pollution of 

  1. Soil and water only

  2. Air and soil only

  3. Air, soil and water

  4. Air and water only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Large amounts of DDT are released into the air and on soil or water, when sprayed on crops and forests to control mosquitoes and other insects. Also, DDT may enter the atmosphere when it is evaporated from contaminated water and soil. DDT in the air may then be deposited on land or surface waters. This cycle of evaporation and deposition may be repeated many times. As a result, DDT causes an undesirable change in the atmosphere. 


Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment pollution and industrial pollution pollution and its type pollutions

Contamination found in natural environment is called as _______

  1. Sewage

  2. Distortion

  3. Spoilage

  4. Pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

There are many contaminants that contaminate the natural ecosystem. This leads to destruction of natural environment. This is called as pollution which disturbs the natural ecosystem.