Q.1 Which of the following is the primary cause of acid rain?
Carbon dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Methane
Ozone
Explanation - Sulfur dioxide (SO2) released from burning fossil fuels reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, causing acid rain.
Correct answer is: Sulfur dioxide
Q.2 E-waste mainly consists of which of the following?
Plastic, metals, and glass
Organic waste
Hazardous chemicals only
Water pollutants
Explanation - Electronic waste (e-waste) contains metals, plastics, and glass from discarded electronic devices.
Correct answer is: Plastic, metals, and glass
Q.3 Which gas is a major contributor to global warming?
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen
Hydrogen
Explanation - Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
Correct answer is: Carbon dioxide
Q.4 Which of the following is a biodegradable waste?
Plastic bottles
Food scraps
Glass jars
Styrofoam cups
Explanation - Biodegradable waste is organic and can decompose naturally. Food scraps fall into this category.
Correct answer is: Food scraps
Q.5 The main source of noise pollution in urban areas is:
Industrial chimneys
Vehicles
Deforestation
Plastic waste
Explanation - Traffic and vehicular movement are the primary sources of noise pollution in cities.
Correct answer is: Vehicles
Q.6 Which of the following is considered a persistent organic pollutant (POP)?
DDT
Methane
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Explanation - DDT is a synthetic pesticide that persists in the environment, accumulates in the food chain, and is toxic.
Correct answer is: DDT
Q.7 Which method is commonly used for the treatment of sewage?
Incineration
Biological treatment
Pyrolysis
Landfilling
Explanation - Sewage treatment often involves biological processes using microbes to decompose organic matter.
Correct answer is: Biological treatment
Q.8 Which type of pollution is primarily caused by fertilizers and pesticides?
Air pollution
Water pollution
Noise pollution
Thermal pollution
Explanation - Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides can run off into water bodies, causing nutrient pollution and toxicity.
Correct answer is: Water pollution
Q.9 Which gas is mainly responsible for ozone layer depletion?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Carbon monoxide
Methane
Sulfur dioxide
Explanation - CFCs released from refrigerants and aerosols break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
Correct answer is: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Q.10 The largest contributor to solid waste in India is:
Industrial waste
Domestic waste
Medical waste
E-waste
Explanation - Household or domestic waste contributes the largest portion of solid waste in India.
Correct answer is: Domestic waste
Q.11 Which of the following is a non-point source of water pollution?
Factory discharge
Agricultural runoff
Sewage outlet
Oil spill from tanker
Explanation - Non-point sources are diffuse and not from a single location; agricultural runoff carrying fertilizers is an example.
Correct answer is: Agricultural runoff
Q.12 Biomagnification refers to:
Increase in energy flow in food chains
Increase in concentration of toxins in higher trophic levels
Decomposition of organic matter
Water purification process
Explanation - Biomagnification is the process by which toxins accumulate in higher levels of the food chain.
Correct answer is: Increase in concentration of toxins in higher trophic levels
Q.13 Which of the following wastes cannot be composted?
Vegetable peels
Paper
Plastic bags
Fruit wastes
Explanation - Plastic is non-biodegradable and cannot be decomposed naturally through composting.
Correct answer is: Plastic bags
Q.14 Which Indian legislation regulates hazardous waste management?
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016
Environment Protection Act, 1986
Explanation - These rules provide guidelines for the management of hazardous and other wastes in India.
Correct answer is: Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016
Q.15 Which pollutant is mainly responsible for smog formation?
Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
Oxygen and nitrogen
Carbon dioxide and methane
Sulfur dioxide and ozone
Explanation - Smog is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react under sunlight.
Correct answer is: Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
Q.16 Which type of landfill is designed to prevent leachate from contaminating groundwater?
Open dump
Sanitary landfill
Controlled landfill
Composting site
Explanation - Sanitary landfills use liners and leachate collection systems to prevent contamination of soil and water.
Correct answer is: Sanitary landfill
Q.17 Which of the following is an effect of thermal pollution?
Increase in aquatic biodiversity
Decrease in dissolved oxygen in water bodies
Formation of acid rain
Ozone layer depletion
Explanation - Thermal pollution raises water temperature, reducing dissolved oxygen and harming aquatic life.
Correct answer is: Decrease in dissolved oxygen in water bodies
Q.18 Which of the following is a method for controlling vehicular air pollution?
Installing scrubbers in factories
Using catalytic converters
Composting organic waste
Constructing sanitary landfills
Explanation - Catalytic converters in vehicles reduce emissions of CO, NOx, and hydrocarbons from exhaust gases.
Correct answer is: Using catalytic converters
Q.19 Which waste management practice follows the '3Rs' principle?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reuse, Repair, Replace
Recycle, Recover, Reject
Reduce, Reclaim, Remove
Explanation - The 3Rs principle focuses on minimizing waste by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.
Correct answer is: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Q.20 Which of the following is a major source of indoor air pollution in rural households in India?
Cigarette smoke
Biomass cooking fuels
Vehicle emissions
Industrial fumes
Explanation - Burning biomass like wood or dung indoors releases particulate matter and harmful gases, causing indoor air pollution.
Correct answer is: Biomass cooking fuels
Q.21 Which of the following is the main component of municipal solid waste in India?
Plastic
Paper
Food and vegetable waste
Glass
Explanation - The majority of municipal solid waste in India consists of biodegradable food and vegetable waste.
Correct answer is: Food and vegetable waste
Q.22 Which of the following is an example of point source pollution?
Oil spill from a pipeline
Agricultural runoff
Urban stormwater
Atmospheric deposition
Explanation - Point source pollution originates from a single, identifiable source such as a pipeline leak.
Correct answer is: Oil spill from a pipeline
Q.23 Which of the following gases is primarily released from landfills and contributes to global warming?
Methane
Carbon monoxide
Ozone
Nitrogen dioxide
Explanation - Methane is produced from anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills and is a potent greenhouse gas.
Correct answer is: Methane
Q.24 Which international agreement aims to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases?
Kyoto Protocol
Montreal Protocol
Basel Convention
Stockholm Convention
Explanation - The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that commits countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Correct answer is: Kyoto Protocol
Q.25 Which of the following is a sustainable way to manage e-waste?
Open dumping
Recycling and refurbishing
Incineration without filters
Landfilling without segregation
Explanation - E-waste should be recycled or refurbished to recover valuable materials and reduce environmental hazards.
Correct answer is: Recycling and refurbishing