02 June 2023 Static Quiz

Ans: b)
When air is heated in an automobile engine, nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced — these
include nitrogen dioxide (NO2) which is toxic; nitrous oxide (N2O), which is a greenhouse
gas; and nitric oxide (NO), which reacts with oxygen to form the harmful NO2.
Nitric oxide on its own also increases the risk of respiratory problems in the long run.
In a petrol engine, a three-way catalytic converter reduces these emissions, ensuring that the
NOx emissions are about 30 per cent lower than they would be in a diesel engine on average.
While modern diesel cars are fitted with particulate filters that take care of NOx emissions
(reducing them by 90%, according to some estimates), diesel engines also emit fine
particulate matter (PM) in their tailpipe emissions.
This is essentially soot, the finest particles of which can be embedded deep in the lungs, and
they can cause heart and respiratory problems in the longer term. PM has also been linked to
cancer.

Ans b
Gram-negative bacteria are enclosed in a protective capsule. This capsule helps prevent white
blood cells (which fight infection) from ingesting the bacteria.
Under the capsule, gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane that protects them against
certain antibiotics, such as penicillin.
Gram-negative bacteria are classified by the color they turn after a chemical process called
Gram staining is used on them.
Gram-negative bacteria stain red when this process is used.
Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria stain blue when this stain is applied to them.

Ans: c)
NDCs are the pledges that each country makes to reduce its emissions and adapt to climate
change from 2020 onward.
Countries have to update and expand their NDCs every five years.
The principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR), was enshrined in the
Kyoto accord.
It says that developed countries, which produced more emissions in the past as they built their
economies, should take the lead in fighting climate change.

Ans: b)
The Act applies to any person, irrespective of religion. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs,
Christians, Parsis, or Jews can also perform marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
As per Section 5 of the Act Couples have to serve a notice with the relevant documents to the
Marriage Officer 30 days before the intended date of marriage.
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for civil
marriage (or “registered marriage”) for people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign
countries, irrelevant of the religion or faith followed by either party.

Ans: c
Fujiwhara Effect
The Fujiwhara effect can turn two cyclones into one mega cyclone.
The Fujiwhara Effect is any interaction between tropical storms formed around the same time
in the same ocean region with their centres or eyes at a distance of less than 1,400 km.
It is characterised by an intensity that could vary between a depression (wind speed under 63
km per hour) and a super typhoon (wind speed over 209 km per hour).
When two hurricanes spinning in the same direction pass close enough to each other, they
begin an intense dance around their common centre.
If one hurricane is a lot stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit it and eventually
come crashing into its vortex to be absorbed.
The interaction could lead to changes in the track and intensity of either or both storms
systems.
In rare cases, the two systems could merge, especially when they are of similar size and
intensity, to form a bigger storm.
There are five different ways in which Fujiwhara Effect can take place.
The first is elastic interaction (EI) in which only the direction of motion of the storms
changes and is the most common case.
These are also the cases that are difficult to assess and need closer examination.
The second is partial straining out (PSO) in which a part of the smaller storm is lost to the
atmosphere.
The third is complete straining out (CSO) in which the smaller storm is completely lost to the
atmosphere.
The straining out does not happen for storms of equal strengths.
The fourth type is partial merger (PM) in which the smaller storm merges into the bigger one
and the fifth is complete merger (CM) which takes places between two storms of similar
strength.
During a merger interaction between two tropical cyclones the wind circulations come
together and form a sort of whirlpool of winds in the atmosphere.
Fujiwhara effect was identified by Sakuhei Fujiwhara, a Japanese meteorologist whose first
paper recognising the Fujiwhara cases was published in 1921.
The first known instance of the effect was in 1964 in the western Pacific Ocean when
typhoons Marie and Kathy merged.