SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

GENERAL SCIENCE
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PRELIMS)
2016
1. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
Viruses can infect
1. bacteria
2. fungi
3. plants
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

2015

1. H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?
(a) AIDS (b) Bird flu
(c) Dengue (d) Swine flu
2. Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus
recently?
(a) Syria and Jordan
(b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
(c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea
(d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
2014
1. Consider the following diseases:
1. Diphtheria 2. Chickenpox 3. Smallpox
Which of the above disease has/ have been eradicated in India?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None
2. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?
1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population
2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.
3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
3. Which of the following is /are the example / examples of chemical change?
1. Crystallization of sodium chloride
2. Melting of ice
3. Souring of milk
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None
4. Consider the following pairs:
Vitamin Deficiency
Disease
1. Vitamin C : Scurvy
2. Vitamin D : Rickets
3. Vitamin E : Night
Blindness
Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) None
5. Consider the following statements
1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.
2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.
3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

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 2013
1. Improper handling and storage of cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of toxins known as
aflatoxins which are not generally destroyed by normal cooking process. Aflatoxins are produced by
(a) bacteria (b) protozoa (c) moulds (d) viruses
2. Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing?
1. Chikungunya 2. Hepatitis B 3. HIV-AIDS
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
3. Consider the following minerals:
1. Calcium 2. Iron 3. Sodium
Which of the minerals given above is/are required by human body for the contraction of muscles?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
4. Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because
(a) exposure to sunlight is prevented
(b) concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment is increased
(c) rate of respiration is decreased
(d) there is an increase in humidity
5. Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because
(a) the actual area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
(b) the effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
(c) the effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is reduced
(d) none of the above statements is correct
6. Consider the following phenomena:
1. size of the sun at dusk
2. colour of the sun at dawn
3. moon being visible at dawn
4. twinkle of stars in the sky
5. polestar being visible in the sky
Which of the above are optical illusions?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 3, 4 and 5 (c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 5
7. Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. Which of the following physical phenomena are
responsible for this?
1. Dispersion 2. Refraction 3. Internal reflection
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (D) 1, 2 and 3
8. Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because
(a) The new soil does not contain favourable minerals
(b) Most of the root hairs grip the new soil too hard
(c) Most of the root hairs are lost during transplantation
(d) Leaves get damaged during transplantation
9. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Viruses lack enzymes necessary for the generation of energy.
2. Viruses can be cultured in any synthetic medium.
3. Viruses are transmitted from one organism to another by biological vectors only.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
10. Which of the following leaf modifications occurs/occur in desert areas to inhibit water loss?
1. Hard and waxy leaves
2. Tiny leaves or no leaves
3. Thorns instead of leaves
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
11. The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz., gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear
force and strong nuclear force. With reference to them, which one of the following statements is not
correct?
(a) Gravity is the strongest of the four.
(b) Electromagnetism acts only on particles with an electric charge

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 (c) Weak nuclear force causes radioactivity
(d) Strong nuclear force holds protons and neutrons inside the nucleus of an atom
12. The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past.
What is/are the importance/importances of discovering this particle?
1. It will enable us to understand as to why elementary particles have mass.
2. It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to
another without traversing the physical space-between them.
3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3

2012

1. Graphene is frequently in news recently. What is it importance?

1. It is a two dimensional material and has good electrical conductivity.
2. It is one of the thinnest but strongest materials tested so far.
3. It is entirely made of silicon and has high optical transparency.
4. It can be used as ‘conducting electrodes’ required for touch screens, LCDs and
organic LEDs
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals’.
Why?
1. China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export.
2. Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country.
3. Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is
a growing demand for these elements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
3. Consider the following kinds of organisms:
1. Bat 2. Bee 3. Bird
Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
4. Consider the following statements:
If there were no phenomenon of capillarity
1. It would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp
2. One would not be able to use a straw to consume a soft drink
3. The blotting paper would fail to function
4. The big trees that we see around would not have grown on the Earth
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

2011

1. In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-
based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material?
1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bioasphalt is not based on fossil fuels.
2. Bioasphalt can be made from non-renewable resources.
3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials.
4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. When the bark of a tree is removed in a circular fashion all around near its base, it gradually dried up and
dies because
(a) Water from soil cannot rise to aerial parts
(b) Roots are starved of energy
(c) Tree is infected by soil microbes

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 (d) Roots do not receive oxygen for respiration
3. The surface of a lake is frozen in severe winter, but the water at its bottom is still liquid. What is the
reason?
(a) Ice is a bad conductor of heat
(b) Since the surface of the lake is at the same temperature as the air, no heat is lost
(c) The density of water is maximum at 4oC
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct.
4. A married couple adopted a male child. A few years later twin boys were born to them. The blood group
of the couple is AB positive and O negative. The blood group of three sons is A positive, B positive, and
O positive. The blood group of the adopted is
(a) O positive
(b) A positive
(c) B positive
(d) Cannot be determined on the basis of the given data.
5. Regular intake of fresh fruits and vegetable is recommended in the diet since they are a good source of
antioxidants. How do antioxidants help a person maintain health and promote longevity?
(a) They activate the enzymes necessary for vitamin synthesis in the body and help prevent vitamin
deficiency
(b) They prevent excessive oxidation of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the body and help avoid
unnecessary wastage of energy
(c) They neutralize the free radicals produced in the body during metabolism
(d) They activate certain genes in the cells of the body and help delay the ageing process

GENERAL SCIENCE
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PRELIMS)
TOPIC WISE ANALYSIS
No Topics 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

1 Bio Science
1. Biology 1 - 1 4 1 2
2. Human - - - 1 - 2
physiology
3. Human - - 2 1 - -
diseases
2 Chemistry
1. Chemical - - 1 - - -
change
2. Cold chamber - - - 1 - -
3. Graphene - - - - 1 -
4. Rare earth - - - - 1 -
metals
3 Physics
1. Ball bearings - - - 1 - -
2. Optical - - - 1 - -
illusions
3. Ray optics - - - 1 - -
4. Forces - - - 1 - -
5. Higgs boson - - - 1 - -
particles
6. capillarity - - - - 1 -
7. Properties of - - - - - 1
water
Total 1 - 4 12 4 5

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