People, Development and Environment- Answer keys NET/SET

People, Development and Environment- Answer keys Q1. Answer: d Explanation: The correct layers of the atmosphere are Troposphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere, and Mesosphere. Lithosphere is not part of the atmosphere. Q2. Answer: c Explanation: The Ionosphere enables radio transmission because it contains ionized particles that reflect radio waves. Q3. Answer: b Explanation: The Mesosphere is the layer where meteors burn upon entry. It starts around 50 km above sea level. Q4. Answer: b Explanation: Commercial planes fly in the Stratosphere as it's calm, with less turbulence than the Troposphere. Q5. Answer: A–iii, B–iv, C–ii, D–i Explanation: Lithosphere = Stone, Atmosphere = Air, Hydrosphere = Water, Biosphere = Life. Q6. Answer: b Explanation: The Ozone layer, which blocks harmful UV rays, is located in the Stratosphere. Q7. Answer: d Explanation: Weather happens in the Troposphere, not the Mesosphere, which is too high and cold for clouds or storms. Q8. Answer: a Explanation: Both statements are true. The Thermosphere gets very hot because of absorbed solar radiation despite thin air. Q9. Answer: a Explanation: The SDGs are interconnected, so an integrated approach is necessary to achieve them effectively. Q10. Answer: b Explanation: There were 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), launched by the UN in 2000. Q11. Answer: b Explanation: The MDGs aimed to be achieved by the year 2015. Q12. Answer: c Explanation: Goal 4 of the SDGs is about ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. Q13. Answer: b Explanation: Quality education was not one of the MDGs—it was introduced under the SDGs. Q14. Answer: c Explanation: SDG 13 focuses on Climate Action. Q15. Answer: c Explanation: Promoting regional conflicts is not part of the UNDP Strategic Plan. Q16. Answer: d Explanation: There are 17 SDGs in total, adopted in 2015. Q17. Answer: a Explanation: The SDGs officially came into effect in 2015. Q18. Answer: b Explanation: SDG 6 deals with clean water and sanitation for all. Q19. Answer: c Explanation: The UNDP released the final report on MDGs. Q20. Answer: a Explanation: Suspended fine particles (like PM2.5) are a major cause of respiratory diseases. Q21. Answer: d Explanation: Chemical contamination is a man-made hazard, not a natural one. Q22. Answer: a Explanation: CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) are not produced naturally—only industrially. Q23. Answer: a Explanation: In cities, road transport is the main source of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Q24. Answer: d Explanation: All listed indoor appliances (gas stoves, wood stoves, kerosene heaters) can produce NOx. Q25. Answer: d Explanation: Hazardous waste is not biodegradable—it remains dangerous for a long time. Q26. Answer: d Explanation: Recycling is not typically used for hazardous waste due to safety risks. Q27. Answer: b Explanation: In developing countries, landfilling is the most common method of disposing solid waste. Q28. Answer: a Explanation: Landfills release methane and leachate, causing both air and water pollution. Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason explains the assertion. Q29. Answer: a Explanation: Biomedical waste contains infectious agents; it must be treated separately. Both statements are true, and R explains A. Q30. Answer: b Explanation: A.G. Tansley coined the term “Ecosystem” in 1935. Q31. Answer: c Explanation: The Pyramid of Energy is always upright because only 10% of energy transfers to the next level. Q32. Answer: b Explanation: Biomass is the total dry weight of all organisms at a trophic level. Q33. Answer: b Explanation: Higher trophic levels have fewer individuals because energy decreases at each level. Q34. Answer: d Explanation: Only 10% of energy is transferred from one level to the next in an ecosystem. Q35. Answer: a Explanation: A population census is done to count the number of people in a country at a particular time. Q36. Answer: c Explanation: Demography is the study of population size, composition, and distribution. Q37. Answer: b Explanation: HDI measures development based on life expectancy, education, and per capita income. Q38. Answer: d Explanation: Demographic dividend comes from a high working-age population, not from density. Q39. Answer: c Explanation: A broad base in a population pyramid indicates high birth rates and a growing population. Q40. Answer: b Explanation: A top-heavy pyramid suggests more elderly people, indicating an aging population. Q41. Answer: a Explanation: High Infant Mortality Rate reduces Life Expectancy; both A and R are true, and R explains A. Q42. Answer: c Explanation: Eltonian pyramids can be inverted in terms of biomass or numbers depending on the ecosystem. Q43. Answer: d Explanation: CFCs are not included in India’s Air Quality Index; they are greenhouse gases. Q44. Answer: b Explanation: Magma becomes lava once it erupts from a volcano. Q45. Answer: c Explanation: Dormant volcanoes are currently inactive but may erupt again in the future. Q46. Answer: c Explanation: Mount Etna (Italy) is an active volcano. Q47. Answer: c Explanation: The crater is the opening through which volcanic material erupts. Q48. Answer: b Explanation: Extinct volcanoes have not erupted in historical times and are not expected to erupt again. Q49. Answer: b Explanation: Gravity is the primary cause of landslides, especially on slopes. Q50. Answer: c Explanation: Deforestation weakens slope stability, increasing the risk of landslides. Q # Answer Explanation 51 C. Earthquake Earthquakes shake land, often triggering landslides naturally. 52 D. Hilly and mountainous areas Steep slopes and loose soil make landslides common in these areas 53 B. Building retaining walls Retaining walls stabilize slopes and reduce landslide risk 54 C. An uncontrolled fire in forests or grasslands Wildfires are large, uncontrolled outdoor fires 55 B. Lightning Natural lightning ignites dry vegetation, starting wildfires 56 C. Drought and dry winds Dry conditions and wind help wildfires spread faster 57 C. Loss of biodiversity and air pollution Wildfires destroy habitats and pollute the air 58 C. Satellites and drones These tech tools help early wildfire detection 59 C. Bhopal Gas Tragedy The 1984 disaster prompted the EPA, 1986 60 B. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) CPCB is the apex body under the EPA 61 B. Speedy resolution of environmental cases NGT provides fast, specialized decisions 62 C. 1 Expert + 1 Judicial Member NGT benches consist of judicial and expert members 63 B. 30 June 2008 NAPCC was officially released then 64 C. 8 There are eight missions in the NAPCC 65 B. National Mission on Green Energy Development This is not a listed mission 66 B. Central and State EPA supports coordination between central and state bodies 67 Richter Scale It measures earthquake magnitude 68 A. Both true, R explains A. Richter scale measures magnitude based on wave amplitude 69 D. All of the above EPA established CPCB, SPCBs, NEAA 70 A. Solar Energy Mission This is an actual NAPCC mission; none listed are incorrect. (Possibly trick Q?) 71 A. Both true, R explains A. NGT handles expedient appeals under environmental law 72 B. Washington Convention Another name for CITES 73 C. Basel Convention Controls cross-border hazardous waste movement 74 B. Stratosphere Montreal Protocol protects the stratospheric ozone 75 C. Montreal Protocol The Vienna Convention led to this protocol 76 B. Agenda 21 A major outcome of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit 77 C. 1992 The UNFCCC was established in the 1992 Earth Summit 78 B. Seven Montreal Protocol had seven revisions by 2016 79 C. Conservation, sustainable use, and fair sharing These are CBD's core goals 80 C. USA The US had not ratified by 2002 Q Answer Explanation 81 C. India The ISA was initiated by India (with support from France) (lbj.utexas.edu) 82 C. Gurugram, India ISA headquarters and Secretariat is located in Gurugram 83 C. 2 °C, aiming for 1.5 °C Paris Agreement aims to limit warming well below 2 °C and pursue 1.5 °C 84 C. 2005 India’s NDC target was based on 2005 emission intensity 85 D. 2070 India pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2070 at COP26 86 B. Cutting down trees for a palace Amrita Devi and the Bishnois protested tree felling in their villages 87 B. Hugging trees The Chipko movement involved hugging trees to prevent felling 88 C. Hydroelectric project The Silent Valley agitation protected forests from a dam 89 A. Eucalyptus Natural sal forests were threatened by eucalyptus plantations 90 C. Biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture Navdanya promotes seed biodiversity and sustainable farming 91 C. Kannada “Appiko” means “to hug” in Kannada 92 B. Commercial felling of trees The Appiko movement fought excessive tree felling 93 C. Narmada NBA protested dams on the Narmada river 94 C. Medha Patkar She was a leading spokesperson in NBA 95 C. Bhagirathi The Tehri Dam stands on the Bhagirathi river 96 C. Sunderlal Bahuguna He was an activist against both Chipko and Tehri Dam 97 B. Strong A magnitude 6.0–6.9 quake is classified as "Strong" 98 A. 91.43% (approx.) Solar and wind contributed about 91.4% of renewable power by 2022 99 — (Oops, question 99 missing—please provide for an accurate match.) 100 B. Phasing out ozone depleting substances Montreal Protocol targets ozone-depleting chemicals 101 A. Ultrafine particulate matter Fine particulates mainly cause atmospheric haze 102 C. (A) true, (R) false Sea-level depends on local factors; global rise isn’t uniform 103 A. Decrease oxygen level Oxygen-depleting wastes harm aquatic oxygen availability 104 B. Make India a solar leader National Solar Mission aims to promote solar leadership 105 C. Environmental Protection Act, 1986 GEAC operates under this Act 106 C. Sustainably available Renewable resources regenerate naturally 107 C. Altering the environment "Modify" refers to changing the environment to meet human needs 108 C. Pyramid of Energy Always upright as energy flows decrease at each trophic level 109 C. A.G. Tansley He coined the term "Ecosystem" in 1935 110 B. Soil, Water, Nutrients These are non-living (abiotic) ecosystem parts 111 B. Only SDGs UNDP Strategic Plan focused on Sustainable Development Goals 112 B. Life expectancy, Education, Income These are the HDI's three core metrics 113 B. Rapidly growing population A wide base and narrow top indicate high birth rates