Mix Example-Environmental Issues Questions in English

(B) The National Forest Policy $(1988)$ of India recommended a forest cover of $67\;\%$ for hilly regions and $33\;\%$ for plains areas to maintain ecological balance.

(C) The Government of India introduced the concept of Joint Forest Management $(JFM)$ in the $1980s$. This initiative was designed to involve local communities in the protection and management of forests. In return for their services to the forest,the communities get benefit of various forest products (e.g.,fruits,gum,rubber,medicine) and thus the forest can be conserved in a sustainable manner.

(C) The correct matches are as follows:
$1$. Ozone thickness is measured in Dobson units $(DU)$. Thus, $(a)-(iv)$.
$2$. $CFC$s (Chlorofluorocarbons) are primarily used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners. Thus, $(b)-(ii)$.
$3$. The $El$ Nino effect is associated with global warming and an increase in global temperature. Thus, $(c)-(iii)$.
$4$. Skin cancer is caused by excessive exposure to harmful $UV$ rays due to ozone depletion. Thus, $(d)-(i)$.
Therefore, the correct sequence is $a(iv), b(ii), c(iii), d(i)$.

(A) The Chipko movement was a non-violent,social,and ecological movement by rural villagers,particularly women,in India. It began in the early $1970s$ in the Garhwal Himalayas region of Uttarakhand. The primary objective of the movement was to protect trees and forests from being destroyed by commercial logging contractors.

(D) An algal bloom occurs due to the excessive growth of algae caused by nutrient enrichment (eutrophication).
$1$. As these algae die,their decomposition by microorganisms consumes a large amount of dissolved oxygen in the water.
$2$. This leads to severe oxygen depletion in the lake.
$3$. The lack of oxygen (hypoxia) results in the death of aquatic organisms,including fishes.
$4$. Additionally,the decomposition process releases $CO_2$.
Therefore,all the given statements are correct.

(B) Statement $(a)$ is correct: According to estimates,$40\%$ of forests have been lost in the tropics,compared to only $1\%$ in the temperate regions.
Statement $(b)$ is incorrect: $JFM$ (Joint Forest Management) was introduced in India in the $1980$s by the Government of India,not by $UNCED$ in $1965$.
Statement $(c)$ is incorrect: The Bishnoi community belongs to Rajasthan,not Odisha. They are famous for their role in the conservation of forests,specifically the Khejri trees.
Statement $(d)$ is correct: The Chipko movement started in the Garhwal Himalayas in $1974$ to protect trees from being cut down.
Therefore,statements $(b)$ and $(c)$ are incorrect.

(A) Option $A$ is correct because Chlorofluorocarbons ($CFC$s) are released in the lower atmosphere and eventually reach the stratosphere,where they cause ozone depletion.
Option $B$ is incorrect because the Montreal Protocol was signed to control the emission of ozone-depleting substances,not $CO_2$.
Option $C$ is incorrect because the ozone hole refers to the thinning of the ozone layer in the stratosphere,not the troposphere.
Option $D$ is incorrect because Jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn agriculture) is a major cause of deforestation,not afforestation.

(B) The correct answer is $B$. Byssinosis is an occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of cotton dust,not iron particles. Iron particles cause Siderosis. Additionally,Hay fever is primarily an allergic reaction to pollen,often manifesting as rhinitis,though it can trigger asthma. However,$B$ is the most clearly incorrect statement provided.

(D) The correct answer is $D$. The pair 'Decrease in $BOD$ of pond water - Increase in global temperature' is incorrectly matched. $BOD$ stands for Biochemical Oxygen Demand. When the amount of organic matter in water increases,the $BOD$ increases because microorganisms consume more oxygen to decompose the organic waste. An increase in global temperature (global warming) does not cause a decrease in $BOD$; rather,it can affect the dissolved oxygen levels in water,but it is not the direct cause of a decrease in $BOD$.

(D) Ecological backlash,also known as an Ecological boomerang,refers to the phenomenon where a chemical substance that was initially considered useful or beneficial for a specific purpose later causes unexpected and adverse ecological effects on the environment or non-target organisms. $A$ classic example is the use of $DDT$,which was initially used as an effective insecticide but later caused severe environmental damage and bioaccumulation.

(A) The abbreviation $I.A.P.$ stands for $Index$ $of$ $Air$ $Pollution$,not Indian Atmospheric Pollution. Therefore,option $A$ is the incorrect statement.

(B) Pollution is categorized into two types based on the nature of the pollutant's effect on the environment:
$1$. Positive pollution: This occurs due to the addition of undesirable substances to the environment (e.g.,fertilizers,pesticides,or industrial waste).
$2$. Negative pollution: This occurs due to the removal or reduction of useful components from the environment,such as the loss of topsoil fertility due to erosion or the depletion of groundwater.
Therefore,the reduction in soil fertility due to erosion is an example of negative pollution.

(D) Global warming refers to the gradual increase in the Earth's average temperature due to the greenhouse effect.
Its major effects include:
$1$. More extreme weather conditions (e.g.,heat waves,intense storms).
$2$. Poleward shifting of organisms as they migrate to cooler regions.
$3$. Rise in sea levels due to the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers.
Good fungal growth in soil is not a direct consequence or effect of global warming.

(D) The relative contribution of various greenhouse gases to the global greenhouse effect is as follows: $CO_2$ contributes approximately $60\%$,$CH_4$ contributes $20\%$,$CFCs$ contribute $14\%$,and $N_2O$ contributes $6\%$. Therefore,the correct decreasing order of their contribution is $CO_2 > CH_4 > CFC > N_2O$.

(A) The Kyoto Protocol,adopted in $1997$,is an international treaty that extended the $1992$ United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change $(UNFCCC)$.
It committed state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and that human-made $CO_2$ emissions are driving it.
The protocol set legally binding targets for industrialized countries to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by an average of $5\%$ against $1990$ levels over the five-year period of $2008-2012$.

(C) The correct matches are as follows:
$1$. Pyrolysis is a process used for the disposal of hospital waste.
$2$. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin,reducing oxygen transport,which leads to asphyxia and giddiness.
$3$. Blue baby syndrome (Methaemoglobinemia) is caused by high nitrate levels in drinking water.
$4$. Black foot disease is caused by chronic exposure to arsenic in groundwater.
Therefore,the correct sequence is $a(iv), b(iii), c(i), d(ii)$.

(B) Agenda-$21$ is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally,nationally,and locally by organizations of the United Nations System,Governments,and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment occur.
It was adopted by more than $178$ Governments at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development $(UNCED)$ held in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil,in $1992$,which is popularly known as the Earth Summit.

(A) Ecological sanitation (Ecosan) is a sustainable system for handling human excreta using dry composting toilets.
This method is practical,hygienic,and cost-effective.
It reduces the need for chemical fertilizers by recycling human waste into natural manure.
Therefore,the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.

(C) $El$ $Nino$ is a complex weather pattern resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific,which leads to significant and often deleterious environmental changes globally.
However,the Reason provided is incorrect.
Tropospheric ozone is primarily formed by photochemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides $(NO_x)$ and volatile organic compounds $(VOCs)$ in the presence of sunlight,not directly as a result of $El$ $Nino$ events.
Therefore,the Assertion is correct,but the Reason is incorrect.

(C) The Montreal Protocol was signed in $1987$ in Montreal,Canada,to control the emission of ozone-depleting substances $(ODS)$.
Therefore,the Assertion is correct.
The Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in $1992$,which focused on sustainable development and biodiversity,not the Montreal Protocol.
Therefore,the Reason is incorrect.

(A) Irrigation without proper drainage of water leads to water logging in the soil.
Water logging draws salt to the surface of the soil.
As the water evaporates,it leaves behind a thin crust of salt,which increases soil salinity.
Therefore,both the Assertion and the Reason are correct,and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(C) Biological magnification (biomagnification) refers to the increase in concentration of toxic substances at successive trophic levels. This phenomenon occurs because the toxic substance cannot be metabolised or excreted by an organism and thus gets accumulated in the body. Since the Reason states that toxic substances can be easily metabolised or excreted,it contradicts the definition of biomagnification. Therefore,the Assertion is correct,but the Reason is incorrect.

(A) The Assertion is correct because the emission of sulfur dioxide $(SO_2)$ and nitrogen oxides $(NO_x)$ from industrial activities and vehicles reacts with atmospheric water vapor to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid,leading to acid rain.
The Reason is also correct because acid rain lowers the $pH$ of the soil and water bodies,which directly damages the foliage (leaves) and growing points (meristematic tissues) of plants,thereby inhibiting their growth and development.
Since the damage to plants is a direct consequence of the environmental impact caused by acid rain,the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.

(A) : Polyblend is a fine powder of recycled modified plastic,which was developed by Ahmed Khan. This is a correct statement.
$R$: When polyblend is mixed with bitumen (used to lay roads),it enhances the water-repellent properties of the bitumen and significantly increases the road life by a factor of three. This is also a correct statement and explains why polyblend is used in road construction.
Therefore,both statements are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

(B) Rice fields (paddy fields) are typically flooded with water,creating an anaerobic environment in the soil.
In these waterlogged conditions,anaerobic methanogenic bacteria thrive.
These bacteria decompose organic matter in the absence of oxygen and release $CH_4$ (Methane) as a byproduct.
Therefore,Methane is the important greenhouse gas produced in rice fields.

(N/A) The Government of India has recently instituted the $Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award$ for individuals or communities from rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wildlife.
$Chipko Movement$: In $1974$, local women of the Garhwal Himalayas showed tremendous courage in protecting trees from the axes of contractors by hugging them. People all over the world have appreciated the $Chipko movement$.
Realizing the importance of participation by local communities, the Government of India in the $1980s$ introduced the concept of $Joint Forest Management (JFM)$ to work closely with local communities for forest protection.

(A) Sound levels produced by jet aeroplanes during takeoff and landing often exceed $160 \text{ dB}$.
Exposure to such high-intensity noise is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Loud noise can cause a short-term increase in blood pressure $(BP)$ and heart rate.
Furthermore,chronic exposure to high noise levels significantly disturbs sleep patterns,leading to psychological stress and fatigue.

(A) The correct matches are as follows:
$(1)$ Arsenic causes Black foot disease $(e)$.
$(2)$ Nitrate causes Blue baby syndrome $(c)$ (Methemoglobinemia).
$(3)$ Mercury causes Minamata disease $(a)$.
$(4)$ Cadmium causes Itai-itai disease $(b)$.
$(5)$ Fluoride causes Skeletal fluorosis $(d)$.
Therefore, the correct matching is $(1-e, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-d)$.

(C) The correct matching is as follows:
$(1)$ Nitrous oxide is produced by the process of denitrification in soil,so $(1-c)$.
$(2)$ Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are primarily used in refrigerators,aerosols,and sprays,so $(2-d)$.
$(3)$ Methane is released from sources like cattle,rice fields,and anaerobic decomposition in toilets,so $(3-e)$.
$(4)$ Ozone in the troposphere is a secondary pollutant formed from car exhaust emissions,so $(4-a)$.
$(5)$ Carbon dioxide is released by the combustion of fossil fuels and wood,so $(5-b)$.
Therefore,the correct sequence is $(1-c, 2-d, 3-e, 4-a, 5-b)$.

(A) The full form of $CPCB$ is the Central Pollution Control Board. It is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change,established in $1974$ under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,$1974$.

(A) The full form of $PIL$ is $Public$ $Interest$ $Litigation$.
$PIL$ is a legal action initiated in a court of law for the enforcement of public interest or general welfare in which the public or a class of the community has pecuniary interest or some interest by which their legal rights or liabilities are affected.

(A) The full form of $FOAM$ is Friends of the Arcata Marsh.
This organization was involved in the integrated waste water treatment process in Arcata,California,where a series of marshes were created to filter and purify water.

(A) $1$. In $2002$,all buses of Delhi were converted to run on $CNG$ to reduce air pollution.
$2$. On $1$ April $2005$,the Bharat Stage $II$ emission norms became applicable to all automobiles in the country.

(A) The National Forest Policy of $1988$ was implemented to protect and improve the quality of forest cover in India.
It recommended that $33 \%$ of the land area should be under forest cover for the plains.
It recommended that $67 \%$ of the land area should be under forest cover for the hills.

(B) The Chipko movement,a non-violent social and ecological movement,began in $1974$ in the Garhwal Himalayas region of Uttarakhand,India. Local villagers,primarily women,hugged trees to prevent them from being felled by commercial loggers.

(B) The Government of India introduced the concept of Joint Forest Management $(JFM)$ in the year $1980$.
This initiative was launched to involve local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests.
Under this program,local communities are entitled to benefit from forest products,which provides them with an incentive to protect and manage the forests sustainably.

(A) The conversion of Delhi's bus fleet to $CNG$ (Compressed Natural Gas) was a major step to reduce air pollution.
$CNG$ is a cleaner fuel compared to diesel.
Statement $A$ is false because $CNG$ requires a different engine design compared to diesel engines; they cannot be used interchangeably without significant modifications.
Statement $B$ is true as $CNG$ is generally cheaper than diesel.
Statement $C$ is true because $CNG$ is a gaseous fuel and cannot be easily adulterated like liquid diesel.
Statement $D$ is true because $CNG$ burns more efficiently and leaves very little unburnt fuel,leading to less pollution.

(D) Conventional chemical farming relies heavily on toxic chemicals,pesticides,and insecticides to control pests.
$1$. These chemicals are non-selective,meaning they kill both harmful pests and beneficial insects (like pollinators and natural predators).
$2$. The excessive use of these chemicals leads to the contamination of soil,air,and water resources.
$3$. Many of these chemicals are non-biodegradable and accumulate in the tissues of organisms,leading to biomagnification as they move up the food chain.
Therefore,all the given statements are correct.

(C) Let us analyze each process:
$1$. Burning of wood: Releases $CO_2$ into the atmosphere.
$2$. Forest fires: Releases $CO_2$ into the atmosphere.
$3$. Photosynthesis: Consumes $CO_2$ from the atmosphere to produce glucose and oxygen.
$4$. Combustion of fossil fuels: Releases $CO_2$ into the atmosphere.
$5$. Decomposition of organic matter: Releases $CO_2$ into the atmosphere as a byproduct of microbial respiration.
$6$. Volcanic activity: Releases $CO_2$ trapped in the Earth's crust into the atmosphere.
Processes that release $CO_2$ are: Burning of wood,forest fires,combustion of fossil fuels,decomposition of organic matter,and volcanic activity. Total count = $5$.

(C) The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted by the Parliament of India in $1986$.
It was passed in May $1986$ and came into force on $19$ November $1986$.
The primary objective of this act is to provide for the protection and improvement of the environment and for matters connected therewith.

(D) According to the $1990$ report on air pollution,Delhi was ranked as the $4^{th}$ most polluted city among the $41$ most polluted cities in the world. This data is highlighted in the $NCERT$ Biology textbook under the chapter 'Environmental Issues'.

(A) The transition to $CNG$ (Compressed Natural Gas) as a fuel for public transport faces significant logistical challenges. The primary difficulty is the infrastructure requirement,specifically the need to lay down extensive networks of pipelines to deliver $CNG$ to distribution points or pumps and to ensure an uninterrupted supply of the gas to these stations. While $CNG$ is cleaner and harder to siphon than petrol or diesel,these factors are advantages,not difficulties. Therefore,the correct answer is $A$.

(D) Analysis of the given statements:
$A$. The statement that it is difficult to remove solid particles is incorrect,as they can be easily removed through processes like filtration and sedimentation.
$B$. It is extremely difficult and expensive to remove dissolved salts,nitrates,phosphates,and toxic metal ions from polluted water,making this statement incorrect.
$C$. Domestic sewage primarily contains biodegradable organic substances,not inorganic substances. Therefore,this statement is also incorrect.
Since all the provided statements are incorrect,the correct option is $D$.

(D) When sewage is discharged into a river,it introduces a large amount of organic matter.
Microorganisms like bacteria decompose this organic matter,which requires a significant amount of oxygen,leading to an increase in the Biological Oxygen Demand $(BOD)$.
As the $BOD$ increases,the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water decreases.
This depletion of dissolved oxygen causes the death of fish and other aquatic organisms due to suffocation.
Therefore,all the given statements are correct.

(A) Biomagnification refers to the increase in concentration of toxic substances at successive trophic levels in a food chain.
In the given aquatic food chain,the concentration of $DDT$ increases as we move from lower to higher trophic levels.
The levels are: Water $(0.003\,ppm)$ $\rightarrow$ Zooplankton $(0.04\,ppm)$ $\rightarrow$ Small fish $(0.5\,ppm)$ $\rightarrow$ Large fish $(2\,ppm)$ $\rightarrow$ Fish-eating birds $(25\,ppm)$.
Assuming $P$,$Q$,and $R$ represent the concentrations in large fish,small fish,and zooplankton respectively (or a similar sequence based on the options),we look for the sequence $2\,ppm, 0.5\,ppm, 0.04\,ppm$.
Therefore,option $A$ is the correct representation of the concentration values for these trophic levels.

(A) $FOAM$ stands for $Friends$ $of$ $the$ $Arcata$ $Marsh$.
This is a group of citizens in $Arcata$,$California$,who created an integrated waste water treatment process.
They developed a series of $6$ connected marshes over $60$ hectares of marshland to treat wastewater naturally using plants,algae,fungi,and bacteria.

(D) The integrated wastewater treatment in Arcata involves a series of $6$ connected marshes.
These marshes are planted with appropriate plants,algae,fungi,and bacteria.
These organisms neutralize,absorb,and assimilate the pollutants present in the wastewater.
As the water flows through these marshes,it gets purified naturally.
Therefore,all the given options are correct.

(D) 'Ecosan' is a sustainable and eco-friendly method for the disposal of human excreta.
$1$. In this method,human excreta are recycled into natural fertilizer,which reduces the requirement for chemical fertilizers.
$2$. This method is highly efficient,cost-effective,and practical.
$3$. This method has been successfully implemented in many regions,such as Sri Lanka and Kerala in India.
Therefore,all the given options are correct.

(C) The town of Arcata,located along the northern coast of California,collaborated with biologists from Humboldt State University to create an integrated wastewater treatment process. This process involves a series of marshes and wetlands that naturally filter and purify the wastewater,making it an innovative and sustainable solution for water management.

(C) Ahmed Khan,a plastic sack manufacturer in Bangalore,developed a method to produce a fine powder of recycled modified plastic called polyblend. This polyblend,when mixed with bitumen,is used to lay roads. This process enhances the water-repellent properties of the road and increases its life by a factor of three. This innovative approach provided an ideal solution to the problem of plastic waste disposal.