UPSC IAS Prelims: Geography:The Origin and Evolution of the Earth

1. Consider the following pairs:
        Scientist/Philosopher                 Related to Concept/Hypothesis
1.    Immanuel Kant                         :       Nebular Hypothesis
2.    Chamberlain and Moulton        :       Wandering star Hypothesis
3.    Edwin Hubble                           :       Expanding universe Hypothesis
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer .d

2. With reference to Big Bang Theory, which of the following statements is/are correct?
     1. In the beginning, all matter forming the universe existed in one place in the form of a “tiny ball” (singular atom) with an unimaginably small volume, infinite temperature and infinite density.
     2. At the Big Bang the “tiny ball” exploded violently. This led to a huge expansion. It is now generally accepted that the event of big bang took place 4.7 billion years before the present.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d)  Neither 1 nor 2
Answer .a

3. Choose the false statement among the following statements:
  (a) A light year is a measure of time
  (b) The distances the light will travel in one year is equals to 9.461*1012 km having known that light travels at a speed 300,000 km/second.
  (c) The mean distance between the sun and the earth is 149,598,000 km, is known as Astronomical unit.
  (d)The light takes 8.311 minutes to reach earth from Sun.
Answer .a
4. The diameters of individual galaxies range from
(a)    80,000-150,000 Astronomical Unit(AU)
(b)    80,000-150,000 light years
(c)    50,000-1,00,000 light years
(d)    50,000-1,00,000 Astronomical Unit(AU)
Answer .b

5. With reference to our Solar system, which of the following statements is/are correct?
(a) Our Solar system is supposed to have been formed, started its collapse and core formation some time 5-5.6 billion years ago and the planets were formed about 4.6 billion years ago.
(b) Out of the eight planets, mercury, Venus, earth and mars are called as the inner planets as they lie between the sun and the belt of asteroids the other four planets are called the outer planets.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d)  Neither 1 nor 2
Answer .c

6. Choose the ‘Jovian’ planets among planets of our Solar system?
(a) Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
(b)Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
(c)Mercury and Venus
(d)Earth and Mars
Answer .b

7. The earth’s ocean were formed within ______ million years from the formation of the earth.
(a) 4000
(b) 500
(c) 5000
(d) 4700
Answer .b

8. With reference to the Geological Time Scale, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.    Sometime around 3,800 million years ago, life began to evolve.
2.    Extinction of Dinosaurs happened in Jurrasic period .
3.    The Quaternary Period began with an ice age about 2 million years ago. It is often called the Age of Humans. It is divided into two epochs: Holocene and Pleistocene.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d)  1, 2 and 3
Answer .c

9. Arrange the following in the order of shortest to longest duration on Geological Time Scale?
(a)Epoch-Period-Era-Eons
(b)Eons-Era-Period-Epoch
(c)Epoch-Eons- Period-Era
(d)Era-Period-Epoch-Eons
Answer .a

10. Choose the false statement among the following statements:
  (a) Due to the process of differentiation the earth forming material got separated into different layers.
   (b) The present composition of the earth atmosphere has remained same throughout the earth’s history.
   (c) Scientists at present believe that the moon was formed about 4.44 billion years ago due to “the big splat”.
   (d) Through the process of differentiation that the earth forming material got separated into different layers.
Answer .b