ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS - I : MCQs & SHORT ANSWERS

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MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

SELECT THE CORRECT ALTERNATIVE:

1. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas ?
   
   
   
   1. Methane
   2. Oxygen
   3. Nitrogen
   4. Hydrogen
      
   
   
2. ______ is used to convert organic pollutants into water vapour and CO₂.
   
   
   
   1. Electrostatic precipitator
   2. Flame combustion
   3. Absorption
   4. Wet-scrubber
      
   
   
3. ______ are used in electrostatic precipitators.
   
   
   
   1. Catalysts
   2. Absorbers
   3. Electrodes
   4. Chemicals
      
   
   
4. Biological oxygen demand of ______ is the least.
   
   
   
   1. sewage
   2. sea water
   3. pure water
   4. polluted water
      
   
   
5. Compounds of ______ cause Minamata disease.
   
   
   
   1. mercury
   2. cadmium
   3. cobalt
   4. fertilisers
      
   
   
6. Due to eutrophication______.
   
   
   
   1. BOD increases
   2. BOD decreases
   3. algae are destroyed
   4. water becomes less harmful
      
   
   
7. ______ is the first step of sewage treatment.
   
   
   
   1. Precipitation
   2. Chlorination
   3. Sedimentation
   4. Aeration
      
   
   
8. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on ______.
   
   
   
   1. 5th March
   2. 15th April
   3. 15th May
   4. 5th June
      
   
   
9. We and our surroundings together are called...
   
   
   
   1. environment
   2. atmosphere
   3. lithosphere
   4. hydrosphere
      
   
   
10. Which of the following is not an environmental problem ?
    
    
    
    1. Wastage of water
    2. Conservation of water
    3. Deforestation
    4. Land erosion
       
    
    
11. Volcano is ______ source of pollution.
    
    
    
    1. artificial
    2. natural
    3. both
    4. man-made
       
    
    
12. Which rays strike on earth due to depletion of ozone layer ?
    
    
    
    1. Ultraviolet
    2. Infrared
    3. Visible light
    4. Microwaves
       
    
    
13. Which method is used for the removal of sulphur dioxide and ammonia from the polluted air ?
    
    
    
    1. Wet scrubbers
    2. Absorption
    3. Gravitational method
    4. Electrostatic precipitator
       
    
    
14. BOD is ______ in polluted water and ______ in potable water.
    
    
    
    1. more, less
    2. less, medium
    3. medium, more
    4. less, more
       
    
    
15. Which of the following is responsible for acid rain ?
    
    
    
    1. Hydrogen
    2. Oxygen
    3. Sulphur dioxide
    4. Methane
       
    
    
16. Which pollutants are responsible for bronchitis ?
    
    
    
    1. O₂, CO₂
    2. CO, CO₂
    3. SO₂, NO₂
    4. Cl₂, H₂S
       
    
    
17. Which method is used to control pollutants of particulate nature ?
    
    
    
    1. Combustion
    2. Absorption
    3. Electrostatic precipitators
    4. Oxidation pond
       
    
    

ANSWERS TO MCQs

(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) C (5) A (6) A (7) C (8) D (9) A (10) B (11) B (12) A (13) A (14) A (15) C (16) C (17) C (18)

SHORT QUESTIONS

ANSWER IN SHORT:

1. What does 'environment' mean ?
   
        ANS :The social, economical, physical and chemical factors surrounding an organism are collectively known as 'environment' for that organism.
   
2. What is studied in environmental biology ?
   
        ANS :The interrelationship between organisms as well as between living and nonliving components is studied in environmental biology.
   
3. Mention types of environment.
   
        ANS :Types of environment are : (i)Physical environment (ii)Biological environment (iii)Cultural environment.
   
4. Mention the major reason for environmental problems.
   
        ANS :Population explosion is the major reason for environmental problems.
   
5. Define : Pollution.
   
        ANS :Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and soil.
   
6. Mention common pollutants.
   
        ANS :Various gases, heavy metals, pesticides, fertilisers, radioactive materials, high temperature, etc. are major pollutants.
   
7. Mention types of pollution.
   
        ANS :Air pollution, water pollution and land(soil) pollution.
   
8. What is atmosphere?
   
        ANS :The transparent layer of gases surrounding the earth's surface is called atmosphere.
   
9. Mention common causes for air pollution.
   
        ANS :Urbanisation, population explosion, industrialisation and heavy transportation are common causes for air pollution.
   
10. Mention respiratory diseases caused due to air pollution.
    
         ANS :Asthma, bronchitis, silicosis and asbestosis are diseases caused due to air pollution.
    
11. Mention pollutants causing asthma and bronchitis.
    
         ANS :SO₂ and NO₂ are pollutants causing asthma and bronchitis.
    
12. What are carcinogens ?
    
         ANS :Substances causing cancer are called carcinogens.
    
13. What rae the effects of depletion of ozone layer ?
    
         ANS :Depletion of ozone layer increases the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth which, in turn, causes skin cancer and damages eyes and immune system.
    
14. What is Greenhouse Effect ?
    
         ANS :The warming up of earth's atmosphere due to absorption of heat by gases like CO₂ and methane present in the atmosphere is called Greenhouse Effect.
    
15. Which type of pollutants cause air pollution ?
    
         ANS :Gaseous and particulate pollutants cause air pollution.
    
16. What is water pollution ?
    
         ANS :The mixing of undesirable chemical, physical or biological components with pure water is called water pollution.
    
17. What is the full form of BOD ?
    
         ANS :The full form of BOD is Biological Oxygen Demand.
    
18. What is Eutrophication ?
    
         ANS :The pollution caused due to growth of algae and other microorganisms under the influence of nutrients is called Eutrophication.
    
19. Which components promote algal growth in water ?
    
         ANS :Compounds having nitrates and phosphates promote algal growth in water.
    
20. What is the full form of NEERI ?
    
         ANS :NEERI stands for National Environment Engineering Research Institute.
    
21. Mention prime causes for land pollution.
    
         ANS :Urbanisation, population explosion and industrialisation are prime causes for land pollution.
    
22. Mention solid waste pollutants causing land pollution.
    
         ANS :Faeces of humans and other animals, dead bodies and domestic waste are solid pollutants causing land pollution.
    
23. How are pollutants classified ?
    
         ANS :Pollutants are classified as biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants.
    
24. What is meant by biodegradable pollutants ?
    
         ANS :The pollutants which can be decomposed by microorganisms are called biodegradable pollutants.
    
25. What is meant by non-biodegradable pollutants ?
    
         ANS :The pollutants which cannot be decomposed by microorganisms are called non-biodegradable pollutants.
    
26. Give examples of biodegradable pollutants.
    
         ANS :Faecal matter, solid sewage waste, domestic waste, agricultural waste, paper, wood, clothes, etc. are biodegradable pollutants.
    
27. Give examples of non-biodegradable pollutants.
    
         ANS :Pesticides like DDT, mercury, lead, aluminium, arsenic, plastics, etc. are examples of non-biodegradable pollutants.
    
28. What is Biomagnification ?
    
         ANS :The accumulation of harmful non-biodegradable substances in the bodies of organisms through the foodchains and biogeochemical cycle is called Biomagnification.
    
29. Demand of what increases due to population explosion ?
    
         ANS :Demand of space and food increases due to population explosion.
    
30. What is conservation of environment ?
    
         ANS :Conservation of environment means such activities which provide individual or commercial benefits by preventing excessive use leading to environmental damage.
    
31. Mention the effects due to depletion of ozone layer.
    
         ANS :Increase in ultraviolet radiation reaching earth due to depletion of ozone layer causes skin cancer, damage to eyes and damage to immune system.
    
32. What work has been done by NEERI for water pollution ?
    
         ANS :NEERI has developed Oxygen Pond method for the treatment of industrial effluents and sewage.
    
33. 
    
         ANS :