[Answers with Explanation] UPSC prelims GS1 paper 2023

Q11. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production.
Statement-II: Uranium enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement one.
(b)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and statement 2 is not the correct explanation for statement one.
(c)  Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.
(d)  Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer (c)

Q12. Consider the following statements

Statement-I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement-II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement one.
(b)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and statement 2 is not the correct explanation for statement one.
(c)  Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.
(d)  Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (c)

Statement 1: The marsupials are native to Australia. They are not naturally found in India.
Statement 2: Marsupials thrive on Arid and Semi-Arid terrain.

Q13. ‘Invasive Species Specialist Group’ (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organisations?

(a) International Union for Conservation of Nature
(b)   The United Nations Environment Programme
(c) The United Nations World Commission for Environment and Development
(d)   The Worldwide Fund for Nature

Answer: (a)

The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) is a global network of scientific and policy experts on invasive species, organized under the auspices of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Q14 Consider the following fauna:

1. Lion-tailed macaque
2. Malabar civet
3. Sambar deer

How many of the above are generally nocturnal and are most active after sunset?

(a) Only one
(b)Only Two
(c) All Three
(d)None

Answer:  (b)

The Malabar civet is one of 5-20 species of civet, a small nocturnal mammal with a long body and short legs. These ground-dwelling creatures live solitarily in hollows and eat small animals and plants. The Malabar civet, or Viverra civettina, lives in the Western Ghats of India.
Sambar deer are nocturnal or crepuscular animals and rest during the day under the cover of heavy forest.
Lion-tailed macaque is active exclusively in daylight hours.

Q15. Which one of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and distance to a source of their food?

(a) Butterflies
(b) Dragonflies
(c) Honey Bees
(d) Wasps

Answer: (a)

Honeybees live in colonies with one queen running the whole hive. Worker honeybees are all females and are the only bees most people ever see flying around outside of the hive. They forage for food, build the honeycombs, and protect the hive.
A waggling movement performed by a honeybee at the hive or nest, to indicate to other bees the direction and distance of a source of food.

Q16. Consider the following statements

1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
2. Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.
3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b)Only Two
(c) All Three
(d)All Four

Answer: (d)

Mushroom Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has medicinal properties.
The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin. When psilocybin is taken, it’s converted in the body to psilocin, which is the chemical with the psychoactive properties.
Mushroom Lactarius have insecticidal properties.
Panellus stipticus (also known as the bitter oyster) is one of the brightest-glowing examples of bioluminescent fungi.

Q17. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels:

1. They build nests by making burrows in the ground.
2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground.
3. They are omnivorous.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b)Only Two
(c) All Three
(d)None

Answer: (c)

They nest in underground burrows.
They store their food in the ground, known as “caching” — about an inch (2.5 cm) under the soil.
They are omnivorous.

Q18. Consider the following statements:

1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water.
2. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature below the freezing point of water.
3. Some microorganisms can grow in a highly acidic environment with a pH below 3.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b)Only Two
(c) All Three
(d)None

Answer: (c)

Various extremely thermophilic archaebacteria exhibit optimum growth at above 80C.
Extremophiles that live at extremely low temperatures are called “psychrophiles”. Some microbes can survive in the coldest region on Earth.
Acidophiles grow optimally at a pH near 3.0.

Q19. Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or log of wood?

(a) Fishing cat
(b) Orangutan
(c) Otter
(d) Sloth bear

 Answer: (b)

Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammal, spending most of their time in trees. They have been observed as using sticks for fishing out bugs from bark. Researchers have also spotted orangutans using sticks to extract seeds from fruit and scrape insects from a hole in a tree in the wild.

Q20. Consider the following:

1. Aerosols
2. Foam agents
3. Fire retardants
4. Lubricants

In the making of how many of the above are hydrofluorocarbons used?

(a) Only one
(b)Only Two
(c) All Three
(d)All Four

 Answer: (d)

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigeration compressor lubricants are designed to maximize the benefits of lubrication and oil return for refrigeration systems. Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) clean agent is a chemical compound that suppresses Classes A, B and C fires without water or harmful chemical residue.
They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants.