www.insightsonindia.com www.insightsias.com TEST – 27 Solutions Prelims 2016 – Test 27 SOLUTIONS 1. The Sur Empire may be considered in many ways as a continuation and culmination of the Delhi Sultanate. Which of the following were some of the reforms introduced by Sher Shah? 1. He repealed the land revenue system to promote a welfare state. 2. He restored the old imperial Grand Trunk Road from the river Indus in the west to Sonargaon in Bengal. 3. Customs duties were abolished on goods to promote trade and commerce. Select the correct answer using the codes below. a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1 and 3 only Solution: b) Justification: Statement 1: He re-established law and order and dealt sternly with robbers and with zamindars who refused to pay land revenue or disobeyed the orders of the government. So, 1 is incorrect. Statement 2: Sher Shah paid great attention to the fostering of trade and commerce and the improvement of communications in his kingdom. Sher Shah restored the old imperial road called the Grand Trunk Road, from the river Indus in the west to Sonargaon in Bengal. Statement 3: Sher Shah also introduced other reforms to promote the growth of trade and commerce. He fixed standards for weights and measures, which helped trade and commerce. In his entire empire, goods paid customs duty only at two places: goods produced in Bengal or imported from outside paid customs duty at the www.insightsonindia.com www.insightsias.com TEST – 27 Solutions border of Bengal and Bihar, and goods coming from West and Central Asia paid customs duty at the Indus. No one was allowed to levy customs at roads, ferries or towns; anywhere else. Learning: Sher Shah did not make many changes in the administrative divisions prevailing since the Sultanat period. A number of villages comprised a pargana. The pargana was under the charge of the shiqdar, who looked after law and order and general administration, and the ,nunsif or amil who looked after the collection of land revenue. Accounts were maintained both in the Persian and the local languages(Hindavi). Q Source: Satish Chandra: Old NCERT XIth 2. Consider the following statements. 1. The North-West Indian Region mineral belt is associated with Dharwar system of rocks. 2. Manganese deposits cannot be found in Dharwar system of rocks. 3. Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Select the correct answer using the codes below. a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 only Solution: c) Justification: Statement 1: This belt extends along Aravali in Rajasthan and part of Gujarat and minerals are associated with Dharwar system of rocks. Copper, zinc have been major minerals. Statement 2: Manganese deposits are found in almost all geological formations, however, it is mainly associated with the Dharwar system. www.insightsonindia.com www.insightsias.com TEST – 27 Solutions Statement 3: Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are uranium and thorium. • Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singbhum Copper belt. • It is also found in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. • Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and ilmenite in the beach sands along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Q Source: 12th Geography NCERT: India, People and Economy 3. Which of the following threatens the population of Sea turtles in India? 1. Accidental capture in fishing gear 2. Genetic engineering projects on sea turtles 3. Poaching and trade of parts of sea turtle 4. Loss of coral reefs and sea grass beds Select the correct answer using the codes below. a) 3 and 4 only b) 1, 2 and 3 only c) 1, 3 and 4 only d) 2 and 4 only Solution: c) Learning: Nearly all species of sea turtle are classified as Endangered. Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation. Other major reasons are: www.insightsonindia.com www.insightsias.com TEST – 27 Solutions • They face habitat destruction and accidental capture in fishing gear. • Climate change has an impact on turtle nesting sites. It alters sand temperatures, which then affects the sex of hatchlings. • Some also kill turtles for medicine and religious ceremonies. • Sea turtles are dependent on beaches for nesting. Uncontrolled coastal development, vehicle traffic on beaches and other human activities have directly destroyed or disturbed sea turtle nesting beaches around the world. • Turtle feeding grounds such as coral reefs and sea grass beds are damaged and destroyed by activities onshore, including sedimentation from clearing of land and nutrient run-off from agriculture. • Warmer sea surface temperatures can also lead to the loss of important foraging grounds for sea turtles, while increasingly severe storms and sea level rise can destroy critical nesting beaches and damage nests. Q Source: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sea-turtle 4. Why ozone hole is predominant at Antarctic (South Pole) as compared to Arctic (North Pole)? a) Southern polar region is colder and more isolated than the north. b) Stratospheric clouds are not formed over the Arctic region. c) Permafrost of Antarctic region has been leaching ozone-depleting substances slowly in the atmosphere for a long time. d) Presence of Boreal forests subdues ozone hole formation in Arctic, unlike Antarctica which is largely barren. Solution: a) Justification: About Colder temperatures: Air temperatures in both polar regions reach minimum values in the lower stratosphere in the www.insightsonindia.com www.insightsias.com TEST – 27 Solutions winter season. Average daily minimum values over Antarctica are at least 10 degrees lower than the Arctic. • Lower temperatures favor the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) which serve as platforms for catalytic ozone breakdown. • Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are formed in the polar ozone layer when winter minimum temperatures fall below the formation temperature of about −78°C. • This occurs on average for 1 to 2 months over the Arctic and 5 to 6 months over Antarctica. • Therefore, since the Southern region is colder and colder for a longer time, it helps ozone depletion. About isolation of Antarctica: Unlike the Arctic, the circulation over the Antarctic is more persistent and vortex-like as a consequence of having less land. Air inside the vortex is prevented from mixing with warmer, ozone-rich air from lower latitudes. This vortex is not a feature of the Arctic. The chemistry of ozone loss works in both poles, but their meteorological conditions are different, and more supportive in Antarctica. Q Source: Improvisation: Old NCERT: Biology 5. Consider the following about developments in Ancient India. 1. The earliest epigraphic evidence for the ‘use of the decimal system is in the beginning of the fifth century AD. 2. Zero was discovered by the Indians around the second century B.C. 3. Aryabhatta formulated the rule for finding the area of a triangle. 4. In the second century B.C. Apastamba produced a practical geometry for the construction of altars at which the kings could offer sacrifices. www.insightsonindia.com www.insightsias.com TEST – 27 Solutions Select the correct answer using the codes below. a) 1 and 3 only b) 2 and 4 only c) 1 and 4 only d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Solution: d) Justification: All statements are correct. The information given below is important and you should be thoroughly acquainted with it, as ancient Indian discoveries has been quite often in news. • By the third century, mathematics, astronomy and medicine began to develop separately. • In the field of mathematics the ancient Indians made three distinct contributions the notation system, the decimal system and the use of zero. The earliest epigraphic evidence fot the ‘use of the decimal system is in the beginning of the fifth century AD. • The Indian notational system was adopted by the Arabs who spread it In the Western world. • The Indian numerals are called Arabic in English, but the Arabs themselves llcd their numerals hindsa. Moreover, • Before these numerals appeared in the West they had been used in India for centuries. They are found in the inscriptions of Asoka, which were written in the third century B.C. • The Indians were the first to use the decimal system. The famous mathematician Aryabbata (AID. 476-500) was acquainted with it. The Chinese learnt this system from the Buddhist missionaries, and the Western world borrowed it from the Arabs when they came in contact with India. • Zero was discovered by the Indians in about the second century B.C. www.insightsonindia.com www.insightsias.com TEST – 27 Solutions • In the second century B.C. Apastamba produced a practical geometry for the construction of altars at which the kings could offer sacrifices. It describes acute angle, obtuse angle, right angle. • Aryabhata formulated the rule for finding the area of a triangle, which led to the origin of trigonometry. The most famous work of this time is the Suryasiddhanta, the like of which is not found in contemporary ancient East. Q Source: Satish Chandra: Old NCERT XIth 6. Which of the following places are linked with Gandhiji’s life or his heritage? 1. Sadaqat Ashram, Patna 2. Manorville, Simla 3. Kingsway Camp, Delhi 4. Kanigata Cottage, Maharashtra Select the correct answer using the codes below. a) 1 and 4 only b) 1, 2 and 3 only c) 2 and 4 only d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Solution: b) Justification: Statement 1: It was established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921.