UPSC 2014 Science & Technology Previous Year Questions

Question 1

There is some concern regarding the nanoparticles of some chemical elements that are used by the industry in the manufacture of various products. Why? 1. They can accumulate in the environment, and contaminate water and soil. 2. They can enter the food chains. 3. They can trigger the production of free radicals. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 and 2 only | 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Engineered nanoparticles can persist or accumulate in environmental media, enter food chains and generate reactive oxygen species/free radicals, creating health and ecological concerns.

Question 2

Consider the following pairs: Vitamin - Deficiency disease: 1. Vitamin C - Scurvy 2. Vitamin D - Rickets 3. Vitamin E - Night blindness Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 and 2 only | 3 only | 1, 2 and 3 | None. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy and Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets. Night blindness is linked to Vitamin A deficiency, not Vitamin E.

Question 3

Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of other three?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Crab | Mite | Scorpion | Spider. Mites, scorpions and spiders are arachnids. Crabs are crustaceans, so crab does not belong to the same class as the other three.

Question 4

Consider the following techniques/ phenomena 1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants 2. Cytoplasmic male sterility 3. Gene silencing Which of the above is/are used to create transgenic crops?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 only | 2 and 3 | 1 and 3 | None. Budding and grafting are conventional vegetative propagation techniques. Cytoplasmic male sterility and gene silencing are biotechnology tools used in crop improvement/transgenic-crop contexts.

Question 5

Which of the following is/are the example/examples of chemical change? 1. Crystallization of sodium chloride 2. Melting of ice 3. Souring of milk Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 2 only | 3 only | 1, 2 and 3 | None. Crystallization of sodium chloride and melting of ice are physical changes. Souring of milk involves chemical/biochemical change, so only statement 3 is correct.

Question 6

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft - Purpose: 1. Cassini-Huygens - Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth 2. Messenger - Mapping and investigating the Mercury 3. Voyager 1 and 2 - Exploring the outer solar system Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 only | 2 and 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Cassini-Huygens studied Saturn and Titan, not Venus. MESSENGER mapped Mercury, and Voyager 1 and 2 explored the outer solar system.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants? 1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population. 2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus. 3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 only | 2 and 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Vegetative propagation produces genetically identical clones and can generally be practised across much of the year. It does not by itself eliminate viruses; infected parent material can transmit viral infection.

Question 8

In addition to fingerprint scanning, which of the following can be used in the biometric identification of a person? 1. Iris scanning 2. Retinal scanning 3. Voice recognition Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 only | 2 and 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Iris scanning, retinal scanning and voice recognition are all biometric methods because they use measurable biological or behavioural characteristics for identification.

Question 9

Which one of the following is the process involved in photosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Potential energy is released to form free energy | Free energy is converted into potential energy and stored | Food is oxidized to release carbon dioxide and water | Oxygen is taken, and carbon dioxide and water vapour are given out. Photosynthesis converts light/free energy into chemical potential energy stored in carbohydrates. Oxidation of food and oxygen intake describe respiration, not photosynthesis.

Question 10

With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a surface-to-surface missile. 2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only. 3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 only | 2 and 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Agni-IV is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile. It uses solid propellant and has a range around 4,000 km, not 7,500 km, so only statement 1 is correct.

UPSC 2014 Science & Technology PYQs with Answers