Discovery MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Discovery - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is option 3.

In News

• The Ministry of Environment released the annual Animal and Plant Discoveries 2024, highlighting India’s rich contribution to biodiversity documentation.

Key Points

• Statement I: India added 683 faunal entries (459 new species + 224 new records), which is less than 1000, and new species outnumbered new records. Hence, Statement I is incorrect.
• Statement II:Kerala recorded the highest number of both animal (101) and plant (58) discoveries. Hence, Statement II is correct.
• Statement III: The reptile Anguiculus dicaprioi was named after actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Hence, Statement III is correct.
• Statement IV: The number of newly discovered fungi (156) was higher than that of algae (32). Hence, Statement IV is correct.
• Statement V: The Western Ghats and Northeastern regions contributed about 35% of the total plant discoveries. Hence, Statement V is correct.

Additional Information

• Major discoveries also included new orchid species, wild relatives of legumes, zingers, and begonias, and two new reptile genera.
• Surveys were conducted by ZSI and BSI, India’s premier faunal and floral documentation institutions.

The correct answer is Option 1.

In News

• A new species of beetle, Spathaspina noohi, was recently discovered from the forests of Meghalaya, adding to India’s entomological diversity.

Key Points

• The beetle was discovered in the Umran area of Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya, and it belongs to the Curculionidae (weevil) family, known for its ecological and agricultural roles. Hence, Statement I is correct.
• Due to its prominent sword-like spine, researchers assigned it to a new genus within the subfamily Ceutorhynchinae, combining Latin terms spatha (sword) and spina (spine). Hence, Statement II is correct.
• Beetles in the subfamily Ceutorhynchinae are found globally, but not in Antarctica, Oceania, New Zealand, and southern South America. Hence, Statement III is incorrect.

Additional Information

• Weevils are a type of beetle under the family Curculionidae, which includes over 60,000 species worldwide.
• While many are agricultural pests, some species like Spathaspina noohi help regulate invasive plant species and support ecological balance.
• Ceutorhynchinae beetles can often be identified by their stout bodies, a snout (rostrum) they tuck between their legs when resting, and their visible mesanepimera (except in a few genera).
• The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India, particularly in regions like Meghalaya.

The correct answer is Japan.

Key Points

• In 2016, researchers from Japan discovered a strain of bacteria capable of breaking down and consuming polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic.
• The bacteria, named Ideonella sakaiensis, was found at a waste recycling center outside of Osaka.
• Ideonella sakaiensis uses two enzymes to hydrolyze PET into its monomers, which are then assimilated by the bacteria.
• This discovery offers potential solutions for addressing plastic pollution, a significant environmental concern globally.

Additional Information

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
  • PET is a type of plastic commonly used in packaging, including bottles and containers.
  • It is known for its strength, thermal stability, and transparency, making it widely used in the food and beverage industry.
  • PET is non-biodegradable and poses significant environmental challenges due to its persistence in the environment.
• Plastic Pollution
  • Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth's environment adversely affecting wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans.
  • It is a major environmental issue, with millions of tons of plastic waste entering the oceans each year.
  • Efforts to mitigate plastic pollution include recycling, bioplastics, and reducing plastic use through policy measures.
• Biodegradation
  • Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by the actions of living organisms, typically microorganisms.
  • This process is essential for the natural breakdown of waste products and is crucial in waste management and environmental cleanup.
• Enzymatic Hydrolysis
  • Enzymatic hydrolysis is a process where enzymes break down complex molecules into simpler ones, often used in the degradation of plastics.
  • In the context of PET degradation, specific enzymes break the ester bonds in the polymer to produce monomers that can be further metabolized by microorganisms.

Key Points

• Statement I: The researchers have indeed identified a new species of burrowing frog in Karnataka and named it 'Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu'.
• Statement II: However, the statement about Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu changing colors from brown to pale brown at the beginning of the monsoon season is incorrect.
• The naming of 'Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu' is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Varsha' (meaning rain) and 'abhu' (meaning born), indicating it is monsoon-associated.
• Hence, Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect.

Additional Information

• Burrowing Frogs
  • Burrowing frogs belong to the genus Sphaerotheca, which are typically found in South Asia.
  • They are known for their burrowing behavior, often emerging during the rainy season.
• Frog Identification and Naming
  • New species are often identified based on unique morphological and genetic characteristics.Naming a new species typically follows the binomial nomenclature system, with the name reflecting some characteristic of the species, the location it was found, or honoring a person.
• Monsoon Season
  • The monsoon season in India is characterized by heavy rains, which significantly affect the behavior and lifecycle of various species, including amphibians.
  • Many burrowing frogs are adapted to emerge and breed during the monsoon season when water is abundant.

The correct answer is OdishaKey Points

• In February 2023, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered a 1,300-year-old Buddhist stupa in the Jajpur district of Odisha.
• The stupa was found in a Khondalite stone mining site. 
• The Khondalite mining site supplies stones for the beautification of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. 
• The ASI also found a stone carving piece during the excavation. 

Additional Information

• Khondalite stones, widely used in ancient temple architectures , were proposed by the Odisha State government for extensive use in the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme .
• The government had set aside a whopping ₹3,208 crore for this project in Puri with the vision of transforming it into a world heritage city.
• Several projects under the ABADHA scheme, including the heritage security zone, the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim centre, the Puri lake development project, the Atharnala heritage project, and the Matha Development Initiative , were slated to utilize Khondalite stones to uphold the aesthetic appeal.

The correct answer is Australia.

Key Points

• Scientists have discovered the world's largest plant growing underwater in Western Australia.
• According to a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the plant, discovered at Shark Bay, is believed to span as much as 200 square kilometres.
• The plant is a single clone of "Posidonia australis" seagrass and the largest known example of a clone in any environment on Earth.

Additional Information

• Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
• Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country.
• Australia: 
  • Capital: Canberra
  • Prime minister: Anthony Albanese
  • Currency: Australian dollar

The correct answer is Colombia.

Key Points

• ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) has made an oil discovery in the recently drilled well, Urraca-IX, in the CPO-5 block, Llanos Basin, Colombia.
• Block CPO-5 was awarded to OVL in the 2008 bid round of Colombia.
• ONGC Videsh Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary and overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC).
• ONGC Chairman- Arun Kumar Singh

Additional Information

• ​Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America.
• It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Ecuador and Peru to the south.
• Colombia:
  • Capital: Bogotá
  • President: Iván Duque Márquez
  • Currency: Colombian peso
  • Continent: South America

The correct answer is Sikkim.

Key Points

• The new species of butterfly has been discovered in Dzongu in North Sikkim.
• The new species named the Chocolate-bordered Flitter, also carries the scientific name Zographetus dzonguensis, after Dzongu in North Sikkim, the place where it was discovered.
• Sonam Wangchuk Lepcha, from Dzongu, started watching butterflies and taking pictures of them, were sent to entomologists based at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru for their identification.

Additional Information

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was enacted by the parliament for the protection of plants and animal species.
• The features of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 include the establishment of Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks. It also includes a prohibition on hunting of endangered species and provides licenses for the sale, transfer and possession of the wildlife species.
• The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, Forests, Protection of Wild Animals and Birds was transferred from State to Concurrent List.

The correct answer is Germany.

Key Points

• German Researchers have discovered a trove of marine life hidden far beneath the ice shelves of the Antarctic.
• Despite occupying nearly 1.6 million square kilometres, ice shelves are among the least explored environments on Earth.
• The team discovered 77 species including sabre-shaped bryozoans (moss animals) and serpulid worms.

Additional Information

• ​Argentina beat six-time champion Germany in the men’s Hockey Junior World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium.
• German rail operator, Deutsche Bahn and industrial group, Siemens launched the first automated & driverless train in the world.
• Germany has unveiled the logo for soccer’s 2024 European Championship during a ceremony with a light show in the stadium that will hold the final.
  • Germany Capital: Berlin
  • Germany Currency: Euro
  • Germany President: Frank-Walter Steinmeier
  • Germany Chancellor: Olaf Scholz
• The Indian Navy and the German Navy carried out a joint exercise in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen, in the Indian Ocean leg of Indo-Pacific Deployment 2021.
• Germany became the 5th country to sign the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement after amendments to it entered into force on 8th January 2021, opening its Membership to all Member States of the United Nations. 

Important Points

• Named after Sri Lankan taxonomist Rohan Pethiyagoda, the frogs of the new genus Rohanixalus are characterised by a rather small and slender body (size about 2 to 3 cm long). Hence Option 1 is Correct.
• Based on DNA studies, the new genus is also revealed to be a distinct evolutionary lineage from all previously known tree frog genera.
• There are eight frog species in this genus Rohanixalus. They are known to inhabit forested as well as human-dominated landscapes right from the northeast to Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, up to southern China.
• The genus has several unique behavioural traits including maternal egg attendance where the female (mother) attends the egg clutches until hatching and assists in the release of the tadpoles into the water. During the first three days after egg-laying, the female sits over the eggs and produces a gelatinous secretion with which she glazes the egg mass through the clock-wise movement of her legs.
  This behaviour provides necessary moisture to the eggs laid on exposed leaf surfaces and protects them from insect predation.

The correct answer is Kerala.

Key Points

The correct answer is National Disaster Management Authority.

Important Points

• The Energy and Resources Institute(TERI) and NDMA(National Disaster Management Authority) launched a Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) to predict floods in Guwahati.
• The Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) will alert local authorities about flash floods and/or heavy rainfall.
• It was developed under TERI's project supported by the NDMA in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
• The system is developed with inbuilt urban drainage to predict flood at street-level accuracy.
• The flood level and hotspot locations can be shown using Google Maps, which will aid in the identification of flood-affected areas, disaster preparedness, and management of urban flooding-related concerns like traffic disruption, relief and recovery, and stormwater management.
• The fully automated system, which uses advanced hydrological models to provide warnings with a lead time of 72 hours, is replicable across India.
• This is in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement during a meeting with the Chief Ministers of six states—Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala—discussing the importance of developing a local-level flood warning system.

Key Points

• The National Disaster Management Authority
  • (NDMA) is the apex body for Disaster Management in India.
    • The body is headed by the Prime Minister of India.
    • State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers.
    • The Government of India passed the Disaster Management Act on December 23, 2005, which established the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is a multi-faceted, independent organisation with research, policy, consulting, and implementation skills.
  • For more than four decades, it has pioneered conversations and action in the areas of energy, environment, climate change, and sustainability.

The correct answer is Wheat.

Key Points

• Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) released a new variety of Wheat, WH1270.
  • It was developed by the scientist of Wheat Section Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding of the Agriculture College.
  • The variety has been developed for cultivation in the North-Western plain zone of India.
  • Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) is located in Hisar, Haryana.

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Ichthyosaur.

• Ichthyosaur is the 152 million-year-old fossil discovered for the first time in India (Kutch desert region of Gujarat).
• Rajasaurus is a genus of carnivorous abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of India.
• Masiakasaur is a genus of small predatory theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar.
• In Malagasy, masiaka means "vicious"; this genus name means "vicious lizard".
• Barapasaurus is a genus of basal sauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic rocks of India.

The correct answer is Vicinity of Thamirabarani river.

Key Points

• A carbon dating analysis of rice with soil, found in a burial urn at Sivakalai in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
• It was conducted by the Miami-based Beta Analytic Testing Laboratory.
• The finding has established that the Porunai river (Thamirabarani) civilization dates back to 3,200 years. Hence option 4 is correct.

Important Points

• Encouraged by this finding, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced in the Assembly the establishment of the Porunai Museum in Tirunelveli at a cost of ₹15 crores.
• He also said archaeological excavations would be carried out in other states and countries in search of Tamil roots.