Daily Quiz 25 August 2023

Explanation:

• Option (4) is the correct answer: Glaciers are huge blocks of ice that move slowly, formed from compressed snow over centuries. They are mostly found in Polar Regions but can also be found in mountain regions closer to the Equator, such as the Andes. Glaciers hold about 2% of the Earth’s water and can take thousands of years to form, with their size changing over time. Glaciers cover 10% of the Earth’s surface and hold about 70% of the world’s freshwater, including ice caps. As per a study published in Nature.Climate change caused by human activity under a high-emissions scenario may halve the area covered by glaciers outside the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets by the end of the century.

Question Hack: Option (4) can be easily eliminated as we already know that higher reaches of Mountains generally accommodate Glaciers even closer to the Equator. For example: Cayambe is the only major mountain in the world whose summit is crossed directly by the equator and the only snow-capped mountain located on the equator. The Cayambe glacier is considered the biggest in all of Ecuador.

Explanation: 

• Statements 1 is correct: Tropical corals require clear water so that sunlight can reach their zooxanthellae for photosynthesis. For this reason they are generally found only in shallow waters with small amounts of suspended material, or water of low turbidity and low productivity. The coral provides the zooxanthellae with a protected environment and compounds they need for photosynthesis. In return, the zooxanthellae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes. Most importantly, zooxanthellae supply the coral with glucose, glycerol, and amino acids, which are the products of photosynthesis.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Deglaciation, or the melting of glaciers, does not necessarily help tropical corals by increasing the availability of water along the coast. In fact, deglaciation can cause changes in sea level, ocean currents, and water temperature, which can affect the delicate balance of conditions that corals need to survive.

Explanation:

According to a market research study, the global urban farming market size is expected to grow to US$ 281.9 billion by 2030 from US$ 137.5 billion in 2021, with a CAGR of 3.1%.

cultivating, producing, and processing food and other agricultural products within or near

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct but Statement 3 is incorrect: Urban agriculture can be classified into large number of types based on area, type of commodity produced, multiple methods and medium used for cultivation.
  • Kitchen gardening: Cultivation of vegetables and herbs in and around the domestic area for daily kitchen use.
  • Rooftop Gardening: Rooftop gardens involve growing plants on the rooftops of buildings. They can range from small container gardens to larger intensive systems.
  • Community Gardens: Community gardens are shared spaces where local residents come together to collectively cultivate plants.
  • Vertical Farming: Vertical farming involves growing crops in vertically stacked layers, often indoors, using controlled environments and artificial lighting.
  • Hydroponics and Aquaponics: Hydroponics is a soilless method of growing plants using nutrient-rich water solutions, while aquaponics combines hydroponics with fish farming.
  • Container Gardening: Container gardening involves growing plants in pots, containers, or other portable vessels.
  • Street landscaping: The vacant area alongside of the streets can be utilized for cultivation of vegetables.
  • Green house gardening: The large empty areas in and around the locality can be covered with the greenhouse for production of high value crops.
  • Peri-urban farming: Cultivation of crops in the city outskirts or perimeter of the urban areas is peri-urban farming.

Explanation:

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 made a historic soft landing on the Moon recently. This made India the first ever country to land a rover near the Moon’s South Pole and the fourth nation to land a rover on the lunar surface after the US, Russia and China. The landing has happened at lunar dawn, and the six payloads on board the lander and rover will start collecting data in the single lunar day or 14 Earth days for which they will remain operable.
• Statement 3 is correct: The Chandrayaan-3 payloads will improve the science learnings of the two predecessor missions by studying lunar quakes, mineral compositions, and the electrons and ions near the surface of the Moon. The mission will attempt to study water-ice, the presence of which was detected by Chandrayaan-1.

Explanation:

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas successfully test-fired an indigenously developed ASTRA beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa, recently. According to defence ministry officials, the missile release was successfully carried out from the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 feet and all the objectives of the test were achieved with a perfect launch. Astra Missile is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile. It is to engage and destroy highly manoeuvering supersonic aerial targets.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: It is designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO. The indigenous Astra BVR firing from homegrown Tejas fighters is a major step towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.