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

Which of the following is a point source of water pollution?

  1. acid rain falling from the sky

  2. A tanker spilling oil

  3. smog over a city

  4. runoff from farms and streets
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A point source of pollution is a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or a specific spill. Oil spills from tankers are classic examples of point source pollution.

Multiple choice

What threat does hydro-electric pose to the environment? 

  1. pollution

  2. the dam can cause flooding displacing local wildlife

  3. can increase the water's salinity

  4. can change the water's color
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hydro-electric dams require large reservoirs that flood vast areas of land, which destroys habitats and displaces local wildlife. While dams can have other impacts, habitat displacement is a primary environmental concern.

Multiple choice evs - i interdependence in our environment meaning of environment significance of biodiversity habitat and adaptation

Which one is not a component of environment?

  1. Sunlight

  2. Decomposers

  3. Water

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

Environment is defined as a natural ecosystem that includes everything around the biotic factors. These are nonbiotic factors. These includes air, water, sunlight. Decomposers are the biotic factors of an ecosystem.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Decomposers.'

Multiple choice evs interdependence in our environment meaning of environment significance of biodiversity habitat and adaptation

The effect of pollution is first and most marked on

  1. Natural flora and fauna of a place

  2. Natural balance ofour environment

  3. Natural geochemical cycles

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Natural flora and fauna are the plants and animals that live in that particular area. The harmful effect of pollution such as air or water is most marked on these organisms as they are the ones who at the risk of initial exposure due to their proximity to pollutants. Thus the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice biology global environmental change causes of greenhouse effect greenhouse effect pollution and its effects

Greenhouse effect corresponds to 

  1. Water pollution

  2. Global warming
  3. $SO _2$ poisoning

  4. Production of green manure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The greenhouse effect is the phenomenon in which the percentage of poisonous gas like sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. increases which traps the heat in the Earth's atmosphere. The greenhouse gases are NO$ _2$, methane, CO$ _2$, water vapour and ozone. The increase in the heat in the Earth's atmosphere results in the global warming. 

Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

Multiple choice biology human influences on the environment effects of water pollution effect of water pollution water pollution and its control

Bio-indicators are used for

  1. Oxygen demand

  2. Air pollution

  3. Mineral present

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

Bioindicators are organisms, which have a special requirement for some specific mineral or abiotic factor or show some specific response to a particular abiotic factor. Thus, they are good indicators of environmental health. Oxygen demand, presence of minerals, occurrence of petroleum products, radioactive minerals and pollution etc. are some of the responses that can be detected using bioindicators. Lichens are very sensitive to air pollution specially due to sulphur oxides and do not grow in areas having high sulphur dioxide pollution. It is a very commonly used bio-indicator.

Multiple choice biology human influences on the environment effects of water pollution effect of water pollution water pollution and its control

Disposal of sewage and industrial effluents into water bodies, resulting in contamination of

  1. Soil

  2. Water

  3. Air

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

The disposal of sewage and industrial effluents directly into water bodies introduces pollutants that contaminate the water, rendering it unsafe for various uses.

Multiple choice biology human influences on the environment effects of water pollution effect of water pollution water pollution and its control

Phosphate pollution is caused by _______.

  1. Weathering of phosphate rocks only

  2. Agriculture fertilizers

  3. Phosphate rocks and sewage

  4. Sewage and agricultural fertilizers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Phosphate pollution in the water is directly related to the release of the untreated sewage and agriculture fertilizers into the water body. This results in excessive algal bloom that forms a thick layer on the surface of the water and prevents the sunlight and oxygen from getting into the water. As a result, the underlying aquatic animals and plants suffocate and die. When this algal bloom dies, it further enhances the eutrophication process, greatly decreasing the dissolved oxygen in the water.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Sewage and agricultural fertilizers'.

Multiple choice

all of the following are major sources of water pollution EXCEPT:

  1. industries

  2. municipal sewage

  3. agriculture

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

Industries, municipal sewage, and agriculture are all major, large-scale contributors to water pollution. Motor boats contribute to pollution, but they are considered a minor or localized source compared to the massive industrial and agricultural runoff.

Multiple choice

Steel and chemical factories are major polluters mostly because they

  1. Use municipal sewage systems

  2. release runoffs of pesticides

  3. generate large amounts of wastewater

  4. require a small amount of water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Steel and chemical industries are water-intensive processes that require massive amounts of water for cooling and chemical processing. This results in large volumes of wastewater that must be managed.

Multiple choice

Pollution without a central source of origin is:

  1. air pollution

  2. regional scale pollution

  3. water pollution

  4. nonpoint-source pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Nonpoint-source pollution comes from many diffuse sources rather than a single pipe or factory. Examples include runoff from farms, city streets, and construction sites.

Multiple choice

Pollution occurs if:

  1. There is more waste than a resource can handle

  2. There is less waste than environmental capacity

  3. Recycling occurs

  4. A regulation is passed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful substances or waste into the environment at a rate that exceeds the natural capacity of the ecosystem to neutralize or process them.

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Which of the following is not correctly matched?

  1. Water pollution - using synthetic detergents for washing clothes

  2. Photochemical smog - releasing gases produced by automobiles and factories

  3. Damaging ozone layer -using CFCS

  4. Acid rain - releasing pesticides and fertilizers in water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The main component of acid rain are sulphuric acid, nitric acid and carbonic acid that are present in atmosphere due to cars and industries and factory waste. Human actions like using detergent, releasing pesticides and fertilizers in water lead to acid rain.