Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned is news?
Its extract is widely used in cosmetics.
It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows.
Its extracts is used in the synthesis of pesticides.
None of the above
The question asks why Prosopis juliflora is frequently mentioned in the news. This requires knowledge about the ecological impact of this particular plant species, which is often discussed in environmental contexts.
Correct Option: B) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows.
Consider the following statements
1. Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters.
2. More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The question asks us to identify the correct statements regarding coral reefs. We need to evaluate each statement based on general knowledge about coral reef distribution, their global presence, and biodiversity.
Coral reefs thrive in warm, shallow, clear, sunlit waters, which are characteristic of tropical and subtropical regions. They require specific temperature ranges (typically between \(20^\circ \text{C}\) and \(28^\circ \text{C}\)) for the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live within their tissues. Therefore, the vast majority of coral reefs are indeed found in tropical waters, primarily within the band of \(30^\circ\) North and \(30^\circ\) South latitude.
This statement is correct.
These three countries are part of the Coral Triangle, which is recognized as the global center of marine biodiversity and coral reef diversity. The Coral Triangle region (which also includes Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste) hosts 76% of the world's coral species. Specifically, Australia (with the Great Barrier Reef), Indonesia, and the Philippines are home to a significant portion of the world's coral reefs. Estimates suggest that these three countries alone account for over one-third of the global coral reef area.
This statement is correct.
Coral reefs are often referred to as the "rainforests of the sea" due to their incredibly high biodiversity. While tropical rainforests are known for their species richness, coral reefs are exceptional in terms of the number of animal phyla they support. Marine environments, in general, host a greater diversity of animal phyla compared to terrestrial environments. Coral reefs provide complex three-dimensional habitats that support almost all known animal phyla, including many that are exclusively marine. Tropical rainforests, while rich in species, do not host as many distinct animal phyla as coral reefs.
This statement is correct.
D) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are factually correct based on ecological and geographical knowledge about coral reefs.
The question asks to identify the organization responsible for the initiative "Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now". This requires knowledge of major international climate change initiatives and the bodies that launch them.
C) The UNFCCC secretariat. The "Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now" initiative is indeed launched and managed by the UNFCCC secretariat. It aims to shine a light on the most innovative, scalable, and replicable examples of what people are doing to address climate change.
With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs:
| Institution | Founder |
| 1) Sanskrit college at Banaras | William Jones |
| 2) Calcutta Madarsa | Warren Hastings |
| 3) Fort William College | Arthur Wellesley |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
The question asks to identify the correctly matched pairs of educational institutions and their founders during British colonial rule in India. We need to evaluate each pair based on historical facts.
B) Only pair 2 is correctly matched. The Calcutta Madarsa was indeed founded by Warren Hastings.
Consider the following pairs :
| Region sometimes mentioned in news | Country |
| 1) Catalonia | Spain |
| 2) Crimea | Hungary |
| 3) Mindanao | Philippines |
| 4) Oromia | Nigeria |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
The question asks to identify the correctly matched pairs of a region and its associated country. This requires knowledge of current international affairs and geography.
C) Based on the analysis, pairs 1 (Catalonia - Spain) and 3 (Mindanao - Philippines) are correctly matched. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
Which one of the following statements correctly describes the meaning of legal tender money?
The money which is tendered in courts of law to defray the fee of legal cases.
The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims.
The bank money in the forms of cheque, drafts, bills of exchange, etc.
The metallic money in circulation in a country.
The question asks for the correct definition of "legal tender money." We need to understand what makes a form of money legal tender and how it functions in economic transactions, particularly concerning debt settlement.
Correct Option: B) The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims.
This statement accurately defines legal tender. When a debtor offers payment in legal tender (e.g., currency notes and coins issued by the central bank/government), the creditor is legally bound to accept it to settle the debt. Refusal to accept legal tender does not extinguish the debt, but it does mean the creditor cannot sue for non-payment if the tender was properly made.
This question tests understanding of the economic concept of opportunity cost, especially in the context of government provision of free goods. Opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative that must be foregone when making a choice. Even if a good is free to the end-user, its production and provision still incur costs, and these costs must be borne by someone.
C) The opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the taxpaying public. When the government provides a commodity free, it means the direct consumer does not pay. However, the resources used to produce this commodity still have alternative uses, representing an opportunity cost. The government funds these provisions through taxes collected from the general public. Thus, the financial burden and the associated opportunity cost are effectively transferred from the direct beneficiaries (consumers) to the taxpaying public.
The question asks about situations where an increase in Gross National Product (GNP), both absolute and per capita, does not necessarily signify a higher level of economic development. Economic development is a broader concept than mere economic growth (increase in GNP) and includes improvements in living standards, reduction in poverty, and equitable distribution of wealth.
Correct Option: C) Poverty and unemployment increase.
If poverty and unemployment increase, it signifies that the benefits of economic growth (reflected in increased GNP) are not being distributed equitably or are not creating sufficient opportunities for the population. This indicates a lack of true economic development, as the living standards and welfare of a significant portion of the population are declining or stagnating, despite overall economic expansion.
Consider the following statements. Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables.
(1) Individuals of a country to accumulate more capital.
(2) Increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country.
(3) Accumulation of tangible wealth.
(4) Accumulation of intangible wealth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The question asks to identify the correct statements that explain the concept of human capital formation. Human capital formation refers to the process of increasing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of people, which contributes to their productive capacity and, by extension, to economic growth.
C) 2 and 4. Statement 2 accurately defines the core process of human capital formation, and statement 4 correctly identifies that human capital is a form of intangible wealth. Both are essential aspects of understanding human capital formation.
The question asks why a high-saving economy might not see a significant increase in output despite capital formation. This points to a concept that links investment (from savings) to output. The key concept here is the efficiency with which capital is converted into output, which is measured by the capital-output ratio.
Correct Option: D) High capital output ratio — A high capital-output ratio implies that more capital is required to produce a given unit of output. Therefore, even with high savings and subsequent capital formation, if the capital-output ratio is high, the increase in output will be disproportionately small, leading to the situation described in the question.