Questions

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

Principles of Environmental Sciences                                 1+1

Mid term Question paper

Time: 1 hour Date: 19.3.2011

Course: ENS 101 Year: I year, II semester Batch: 2011

Part A

A1.Application of synthetic fertilizers like Diammonium phosphate  and super phosphate contaminates the soil by addition of 

a)      As, Pb and Cd

b)      Dioxins and furans

c)      Chlorides and sulphates  

d)     BOD and COD

Answer. a)

A2.  On a volume basis a good quality soil is one that is having

a)      5% minerals , 25% water, 25% air,45% organic material

b)      45% minerals , 25% water, 25% air and 5% organic material

c)      24% minerals, 50% water, 25% air and 1% organic material

d)     45% minerals,50% water, 4% air and 1% organic material  

Answer: b) 45% minerals , 25% water, 25% air and 5% organic material

A2. Soil acidification is accelerated by the use of acid-forming _____________fertilizers

a)      Nitrogenous

b)      Phosphatic

c)      Potassic

d)      Organic

Answer. a) Nitrogenous fertilizers

A3. Energy flow in an Ecosystem is ____________

a)      Cyclic

b)      Unidirectional

c)      Multidirectional

d)     None of the above

Answer: b) unidirectional

A 4. The chemical components of the ecosystem move in a defined cycles called  

a)      biogeochemical cycles

b)      Bicycles

c)      Electric cycles

d)     Water cycles

Answer: a) Biogeochemical cycles

A5. Use of organo-chlorine compounds for controlling crop pests increased 

a.       Accumulation in food chain

b.      Pest resurgence

c.       Super bugs

d.      Fire hazards

Answer: a) Accumulation in food chain

A 6. According to Myers (2000) maximum number of hot spots around the world is

a)      55

b)      34

c)      40

d)     200

e)      100

Answer: b) 34

A7. Declaration of national park is a __________method of conservation of biodiversity

a.       ex-situ conservation

b.      In situ conservation

c.       Both the above

d.      None of these

Answer: b) In situ conservation

A 8. Botanical gardens are examples of

a.       ex-situ conservation

b.      In situ conservation

c.       Both the above

d.      None of these

Answer: a. Ex situ conservation

A9. Total World reserve of petroleum is estimated as

a.       800 million barrels

b.      1000 million barrels

c.       5 thousand barrels

d.      10 million barrels

Answer: a. 800 million barrels

A10. __________ is the pioneer state of India  to utilize wind energy for generation of electricity   

a.       Himachal Pradesh

b.      Kerala

c.       Andaman Nicobar Islands  

d.      Gujarat

Answer: d. Gujarat

A11. The present installed capacity to produce hydroelectricity in India is approximately 37,367 MW which is_______ of total Electricity Generation in India

a.       22%

b.      99%

c.       1%

d.      0.5%

Answer: a.22%

 A12. _________is obtained from Energy plantations having trees and shrubs with fast growth and high calorific value

a.       Solar energy

b.      Dendro-thermal energy

c.       Hydroenergy 

d.      Biodiesel

Answer: b. Dendrothermal energy

A13. Phytoremediation of contaminated soil refers to use of ___________   for  soil remediation

a.       Animals

b.      Plants

c.       Bacteria

d.      Fungi

Answer: b. Higher plants

A14. Desertification is an environmental process of ecosystem degradation in arid and semi-arid regions, often caused by _________.

a.       Lack of awareness

b.      Severe droughts

c.       Human activity

d.      Lack of nutrients

Answer: c. Human activity

A15. Shapes of pyramid of number in parasitic food chain is ___________

a.       Always inverted

b.      Different shape

c.       Upright

d.      Horizontal

Answer a. Always inverted

Part B

State True or false

B1	The terms Environment, Ecology and Ecosystem are interrelated three different terms	T
B2	Components of Environment as per American literature are biotic and abiotic	F
B3	The energy efficiency is increased  at successive trophic levels	F
B4	The success of an organism in an environment is limited by the deficiencies in substances or condition and also by the excesses	T
B5	Water on Earth moves continually through the hydrological cycle of evaporation and transpiration, condensation, precipitation and runoff.	T
B6	A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism	T
B6	Pyramid of productivity is also called pyramid of energy	T
B7	Use of chlorine as disinfectant is an eco-friendly method  for treating waste water	F
B8	Introduction of exotics like Eucalyptuus , Prosofis juliflora, Parthenium and  Water hyacinth benefits the nation by increasing the biodiversity	F
B9	Anthracite is hard, clean burning low sulphur coal found in Neyveli of South India	F
B10	1 tonne Uranium 235  is equivalent to 3 million tonne of coal or 12 million barrel of oil	T
B 11	Approximately 1 tonnes of  organic material yield  300m3 of biogas	T
B12	Leaching out of N compounds from fertilized agricultural lands to water sources is an example for point source of water pollution	F
B13	E. Coli, a human pathogen is a  bio-indicator of water pollution	T
B14	Detritus food chain type depends mainly on influx of organic matter produced in another ecosystem	T
B15	Minamata disease is associated with Mercury poisoning	T

Part C

Answer any 5

C1.  Write down the differences between food chain and food web with examples

C2.  What are all the criteria to qualify as Hot spots of biodiversity as per IUCN

C3. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

C4. Mention types of soil pollution?

C5. Mention four important inorganic water pollutants

Mention about nonpoint