UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Economy Quiz.

With reference to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), consider the following statements:

1. It is an environmental treaty of the United Nations.

2. It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.

3. The pact was signed in Paris.

4. India is not a party to the Convention on Migratory Species.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

With reference to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, consider the following statements:

1. The convention came into existence in 1971.

2. It provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

3. India has highest number of Ramsar sites in South Asia.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

With reference to the Atmospheric rivers, consider the following statements:

1. They are relatively small and are present in broader regions of the atmosphere.

2. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following countries:

1. China

2. Myanmar

3. Indonesia

4. Thailand

The Mekong River flows through how many countries?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Consider the following statements about sickle cell anaemia:

1. It is an inherited genetic disease.

2. It causes the white blood cells to take an abnormal shape, obstructing blood flow.

3. Hydroxyurea provides the complete cure for this disease.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

FYI:

— The CMS is an environmental treaty of the UN that provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are correct.

— It is the only global convention dedicated to the conservation of migratory species, habitats, and migration routes. — The pact was signed in 1979 in Germany and is known as the Bonn Convention. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— “CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range,” according to the website of the organisation.

— Appendix I of the Convention lists ‘Threatened Migratory Species’.

— Appendix II lists ‘Migratory Species requiring international cooperation’.

— CMS Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them.

— India has been a party to the Convention on Migratory Species since 1983. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.”

— The Ramsar Convention, which came into existence in 1971. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The establishment of these two wetlands (Khijadia Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh) brings India’s total number of Ramsar Sites to 49, the most of any South Asian country. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— As a potentially disastrous storm moved down the coast over the next few days, threatening to pound areas of the state with hurricane-force winds and trigger flooding and mudslides, California braced itself on Sunday for the worst.

— The storm, called “Pineapple Express” because the atmospheric river’s plume of moisture extends across the Pacific to near Hawaii, arrived in Northern California on Saturday, when the majority of the state was under wind, surf, or flood warnings.

— Atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Although the size and strength of atmospheric rivers can vary widely, the typical atmospheric river contains about the same volume of water vapour as the average flow of water at the Mississippi River’s mouth.

— This water vapour is frequently released by atmospheric rivers as rain or snow when they touch down on land. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.noaa.gov)

FYI:

— The Mekong is one of the world’s great rivers. The river travels almost 5,000 kilometres from its source on the Tibetan Plateau in China to the Mekong Delta, passing through six countries: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

— Sustainable development is essential for the ecosystem and the communities that reside in the Lower Mekong River Basin since an estimated 80% of the approximately 65 million people who live there depend on the river and its abundant natural resources for their lives.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.mrcmekong.org)

FYI:

— It is an inherited genetic disease where a point mutation in haemoglobin makes it abnormal and prone to structural change. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— This causes the red blood cells to take an abnormal sickle shape, which obstructs blood flow. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— This can lead to severe haemolysis, persistent anaemia and affects the functioning of other organs in the later stages. Common symptoms are anaemia, jaundice, liver and spleen enlargement.

— In severe cases, patients have debilitating orthopaedic conditions called avascular necrosis of the femur. The disease can be very severe and reduces the quality of life.

There is no complete cure. The only way we can help the patient is by providing symptomatic treatment and pain management. Improve nutritional status. There is a drug called Hydroxyurea that has been shown to reduce morbidity. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 50)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 50)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 49)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 49)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 49)

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