Q.1 What is the main goal of sustainable development?
To maximize profits without considering environmental impact
To meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations
To exploit natural resources as fast as possible
To focus only on technological growth
Explanation - Sustainable development aims to balance current economic, social, and environmental needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Correct answer is: To meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations
Q.2 Which of the following is a renewable resource?
Coal
Petroleum
Solar energy
Natural gas
Explanation - Renewable resources are naturally replenished. Solar energy is renewable because it is continuously available from the sun.
Correct answer is: Solar energy
Q.3 The greenhouse effect is primarily caused by the accumulation of which gas?
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen
Hydrogen
Explanation - Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Correct answer is: Carbon dioxide
Q.4 Which international agreement aims to reduce global carbon emissions?
Kyoto Protocol
Bretton Woods Agreement
Geneva Convention
NAFTA
Explanation - The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that sets binding targets for industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Correct answer is: Kyoto Protocol
Q.5 What is meant by 'biodiversity'?
Variety of plants and animals in an ecosystem
Number of humans in a city
Amount of renewable energy used
Level of air pollution in an area
Explanation - Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or the entire planet.
Correct answer is: Variety of plants and animals in an ecosystem
Q.6 Which of the following is a non-renewable energy source?
Wind energy
Hydropower
Coal
Solar energy
Explanation - Non-renewable resources cannot be replenished on a human timescale. Coal takes millions of years to form and is finite.
Correct answer is: Coal
Q.7 Which of these is an effect of deforestation?
Increase in biodiversity
Reduction of soil erosion
Climate change and habitat loss
Improved air quality
Explanation - Deforestation reduces tree cover, causing loss of habitat, reduced carbon absorption, and contributing to climate change.
Correct answer is: Climate change and habitat loss
Q.8 Which practice helps in sustainable agriculture?
Excessive use of chemical fertilizers
Crop rotation and organic farming
Clear-cutting forests for farmland
Monoculture farming
Explanation - Sustainable agriculture involves practices like crop rotation and organic farming that maintain soil health and reduce environmental harm.
Correct answer is: Crop rotation and organic farming
Q.9 Which of the following is a consequence of water pollution?
Increased soil fertility
Decline in aquatic life
Reduced greenhouse effect
Increase in renewable resources
Explanation - Water pollution introduces harmful substances into water bodies, negatively affecting fish, plants, and overall aquatic ecosystems.
Correct answer is: Decline in aquatic life
Q.10 What is the concept of 'carbon footprint'?
The amount of water consumed by humans
The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or organization
The number of trees planted
The energy produced from fossil fuels
Explanation - Carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gases, primarily CO2, emitted directly and indirectly by an activity or entity.
Correct answer is: The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or organization
Q.11 Which of these energy sources is considered clean and sustainable?
Coal
Nuclear power
Wind power
Petroleum
Explanation - Wind power generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases and uses an inexhaustible energy source (wind).
Correct answer is: Wind power
Q.12 Which of the following is a key indicator of sustainable development?
High GDP alone
Low unemployment alone
Environmental quality, social equity, and economic growth
High industrial output without regulation
Explanation - Sustainable development considers a balance of environmental, social, and economic factors for long-term progress.
Correct answer is: Environmental quality, social equity, and economic growth
Q.13 What is 'ecological footprint'?
The impact of human activities on natural resources
The number of factories in a city
Total money spent on energy
Population density in a country
Explanation - Ecological footprint measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and absorb its wastes.
Correct answer is: The impact of human activities on natural resources
Q.14 Which of these contributes most to air pollution in urban areas?
Vehicular emissions
Planting trees
Wind energy
Rainwater harvesting
Explanation - Exhaust from vehicles releases pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, causing air pollution in cities.
Correct answer is: Vehicular emissions
Q.15 The concept of 'reduce, reuse, recycle' primarily aims at:
Increasing industrial output
Conserving resources and reducing waste
Promoting fossil fuel usage
Maximizing landfill space
Explanation - This concept encourages reducing resource consumption, reusing materials, and recycling waste to minimize environmental impact.
Correct answer is: Conserving resources and reducing waste
Q.16 Which ecosystem service is crucial for regulating the climate?
Pollination by insects
Carbon sequestration by forests
Provision of timber
Soil mining
Explanation - Forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping regulate the Earth's climate and mitigate global warming.
Correct answer is: Carbon sequestration by forests
Q.17 Which of the following is a major cause of land degradation?
Deforestation and overgrazing
Afforestation
Rainwater harvesting
Solar energy utilization
Explanation - Removing trees and overgrazing by livestock reduce soil fertility and increase erosion, leading to land degradation.
Correct answer is: Deforestation and overgrazing
Q.18 Which of the following international days promotes environmental awareness?
World Environment Day
World Health Day
International Literacy Day
World Tourism Day
Explanation - World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, raises awareness about environmental issues and sustainable practices.
Correct answer is: World Environment Day
Q.19 Which sector is most responsible for freshwater consumption globally?
Agriculture
Industry
Transport
Tourism
Explanation - Agriculture consumes the largest share of global freshwater, primarily for irrigation purposes.
Correct answer is: Agriculture
Q.20 Which of the following is an example of sustainable urban development?
Expanding cities without public transport planning
Green buildings and renewable energy integration
Uncontrolled industrial expansion
Dumping untreated waste into rivers
Explanation - Sustainable urban development integrates eco-friendly infrastructure, energy efficiency, and reduced environmental footprint.
Correct answer is: Green buildings and renewable energy integration
Q.21 What does the term 'desertification' mean?
Conversion of fertile land into desert
Planting trees in arid areas
Increased rainfall in deserts
Formation of new rivers
Explanation - Desertification is caused by factors like deforestation, overgrazing, and climate change, resulting in loss of productive land.
Correct answer is: Conversion of fertile land into desert
Q.22 Which of these practices helps in reducing soil erosion?
Deforestation
Terracing and contour plowing
Overgrazing
Excessive irrigation
Explanation - Terracing and contour plowing slow water runoff, reduce soil erosion, and conserve soil fertility.
Correct answer is: Terracing and contour plowing
Q.23 Which of these human activities directly contributes to ozone layer depletion?
Use of CFCs in refrigerants and aerosols
Wind energy production
Planting more trees
Solar panel installation
Explanation - Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) release chlorine atoms that destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
Correct answer is: Use of CFCs in refrigerants and aerosols
Q.24 Which of the following is NOT a principle of sustainable development?
Equity within and between generations
Environmental protection
Unlimited resource exploitation
Economic efficiency
Explanation - Sustainable development emphasizes responsible use of resources; unlimited exploitation is contrary to its principles.
Correct answer is: Unlimited resource exploitation
Q.25 Which of the following contributes to global warming?
Afforestation
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels
Renewable energy
Wind power
Explanation - Burning fossil fuels releases CO2, a greenhouse gas, which traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming.
Correct answer is: Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels