UPSC CSE 2024: These questions on environment and ecology were asked in Prelims, will you be able to answer?

UPSC Prelims Exam: The first phase prelims of Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by UPSC is to be conducted on 26 May. This is a qualifying examination, whose marks are not added to the final list of UPSC CSE, but only after passing this examination you can appear in the next stage i.e. Mains examination. For the candidates who are going to appear in this exam, we are going to tell about the questions on Environment and Ecology asked in UPSC Prelims exam, which were asked in last year’s Prelims exam.

1. Consider the following trees:

(1) Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

(2) Mahua (Madhuca Indica)

(3) Teak (Tectona grandis tree)

How many of the above are deciduous trees?

Answer: Deciduous trees are those whose leaves fall every year and after some time the leaves grow again. Among the given options, Jackfruit is an evergreen tree, whose leaves do not fall seasonally. Whereas Mahua and teak are deciduous trees.

2. Consider the following animals.

(1) Lion-tailed macaque

(2) Malabar Civet

(3) Sambar deer

How many of the above are usually nocturnal or most active after sunset?

Answer: The lion-tailed macaque is a diurnal species (meaning it is active during the day). While both the Malabar civet and the sambar deer are nocturnal (meaning they are most active after sunset).

3. Which of the following organisms performs the waggle dance to tell its relatives the direction and distance to its food source?

(1) Butterflies

(2) Dragonflies

(3) Bees

(4) Wasp

Answer: Bees perform ‘waggle dance’ to tell their relatives the direction and distance to their food source.

4- Consider the following statements regarding Indian squirrels.

(1) They make their homes by making holes in the ground.

(2) They store their food items like nuts and seeds in the ground.

(3) They are omnivores.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Answer: This statement is true that Indian squirrels make a hole in the ground and use it as their home. They also store their food items in it and are also omnivores.