Page Two: General Studies Preliminary Paper 2006

Page Two: General Studies Preliminary Paper 2006
As on page 4 series B
General Studies Preliminary Paper May 14, 2006
Time Allowed: Two Hours
MM: 150
Total Questions: 150


8. The Allahabad Pillar inscription is associated with which of the following?
(a) Mahapadma Nanda
(b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Ashoka
(d) Samudragupta


Ans. d. Samudragupta


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The inscription was written by Harishena, a poet and minister of Samudragupta holding the post of SandhiVighrahik. The pillar was erected in Kausambi now called Allahabad and the pillar is now situated in fort of Allahabad. It consists of 43 lines. The inscription tells about the military exploits of Samudragupta. The inscription was engraved on an Ashokan Pillar. The inscription is a major historic source apart from the Puranic sources. The other sources on the period of Samudragupta are the coins issued by the Guptan rulers.

Online Source: Samudragupta on Wikipedia with reference to R. K. Mookerji and R. C. Majumdar.
"Ancient Indian History and Civilization by S N Sen (I strongly recommend this book for preparation for Ancient History Section of Preliminary as well as Mains. A Cultural History of History and this book are strong enough to provide good notes on some of the popular topics which have been asked in the papers.)

Category: Indian History Ancient


9 What is Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)?
(a) An agency formed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to check misuse of drugs by sportspersons
(b) A non-governmental organization which specializes in international humanitarian aid and emergency medical assistance
(c) An organization to develop application of nanotechnology in medicine
(d) An organization of medical practitioners funded by the European Union which carries out research against spread of AIDS

Ans. b A non-governmental organization which specializes in international humanitarian aid and emergency medical assistance

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Médecins Sans Frontières is a French world. The English translation is Doctors Without Frontiers which is another name by which this organization is also known. It was started in 1971 by a group of French Doctors. The headquarter of this organization is in Geneva Switzerland. Presently this organization is working in nearly 70 countries. They work in war torn areas.

Sources: For a brief History Wikipedia. Home Page of US MSF.

Category: International Organization NGO Health Services, General Knowledge: World Current Affairs and General Knowledge.

10. Bermuda triangle extends up to which of the following places?
1. Southern Florida
2. Puerto Rico
3. Hawaii islands
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2, only
(c) 2 and 3, only
(d) 1 and 3, only

Ans. b 1 and 2, only

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Bermuda Triangle is also known as Devil’s Triangle. It refers to a place in Puerto Rico. It is an area of an ocean extending from Bermuda in Puerto Rico to Southern Florida in the Atlantic Ocean or to be more specific in Caribbean Ocean. Hawaii Islands are in Pacific Ocean.

This region was made popular as a mysterious region by Charles Berlitz Book, "The Bermuda Triangle" published in 1974.This region has become popular because it is believed that the identified region defies the laws of physics. Many ships and airplanes have been reported missing in this region under mysterious circumstances. However, there are counter views substantiated by statistical proves.

Source: Detailed article on Wikipedia. An article on National Geographic News.

Category: World Geography
11. Consider the following statements:
1. ELISA test is employed as the first and most basic test for an individual to detect cancer.
2. Almost 50% of human beings have Rh+ blood while the remaining have Rh- blood.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans. d, Neither 1 nor 2

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For Cancer, the basic test is FNAC i.e. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. Otherwise, the preferred test is Basic Biopsy.

ELISA is the basic test for detecting HIV infected patient or AIDS. ELISA stands for Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

Rh factor or Rhesus Factor refers to presence of proteinaceous erthrocyte antigen. It is found in Rhesus money. From there, the name Rhesus Factor or Rh Factor comes. It was discovered by Lansteiner and Wiener in 1940. They found that this antigen or protein is found among human beings also. Nearly 85% of human beings (in Indian nearly 93 %) have this antigen and they are having Rh+ factor. Those who lacks this factor are called Rh-.

The Rh factor is crucial for blood transfusion as Rh- produce anti-Rh antibodies when receive Rh+ blood. This factor becomes during pregnancy.

Source: Dinesh A to Z in Biology by K Bhatti 2007 Edition.

Online Source: University of Arizona for Rh Factor, For Detailed Version : Dr. Dennis O’Neil Palmor College California

ELISA on Wikipedia (Not Complete Article), University of Arizona-Quite Brief


Category: Biology, Human Health, diseases, cures and tests.

12. Which one of the following is printed on a commonly used fluorescent tubelight?
(a) 220 K
(b) 273 K
(c) 6500 K
(d) 9000 K

Ans. c 6500 K

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K refers to Colour temperature. Kelvin (K) is standard unit colour temperature.

Source: Colour Temperature from Cyber College.
Colour Temperature Unit by Georg Mischler. Similar article on Michael W. Davidson and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Wikipeida Article on Colour Temperature.


Category: Physics. Light (Photometry)

Comment: Generally it is not found written on the covering of the "Tubelights" but printed on the surface of the glass of the tube near to the cathodes bearing ISI mark.

13. In which one of the following films did the Nobel Laureate Pearl S. Buck collaborate?
(a) Shatranj Ke Khilari
(b) Guide
(c) Lawrence of Arabia
(d) Titanic

Ans. b. Guide

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Pearl S. Buck and Guide
"Recipient of the Nobel Prize for literature (the first American woman to have been so honored) as well as the Pulitzer Prize; inductee into the National Women's Hall of Fame; author of more than 70 books; recognized as the most-widely translated writer today (in more than 60 languages); humanitarian; visionary; and realizer of possibilities and promises for a peaceful future—this was Pearl Buck. Quoted from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College Web Sit.

The movie (Guide) was made in two versions - an English version in collaboration with Pearl S. Buck and directed by Ted Danielewski to introduce Dev Anand to western audiences and of course the Hindi version directed by Dev Anand's younger brother Vijay Anand. The film is based on the book "The Guide" by R. K. Narayan, India's best known author in the English language. It was released in 1965. Quoted from "The Internet Movie Database" IMBD and Pearl S Buck Filmograpy on IMBD

Shatranj Ke Khilari: Shatranj Ke Khilari is based on a short story by Dhanpat Rai Shrivastva popularly known as Nawab Sahib and Munshi Premchand or Premchand only. The screen play, direction and dialogue writing along with Javed Siddiqui and Shama Zaidi, by Satyajit Rai. Produced by Suresh Jindal. Reference: Shatranj Ke Khiladi 1977.

For Reference also check Munshi Premchand Stories online.
For Life Story: Munshi Premchand of Jeevan Prichaya by M. Rehman prepared for Indra Gandhi Rashtriya Kala Kendra

Lawrence of Arabia: Lawrence of Arbia is mainly known for T. E. Lawrence who was famous for fighting for the cause of Arabs. The movie was made in UK and released in 1962. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegal. The latest movie of Lean and Spiegal is "The Bridge on the River Kwai". The movie is based on the writings of T. E. Lawrence who was later called T. E. Shaw. He was a British liaison officer during the Arab revolt of 1916 to 1918 against the Ottoman Empire. His achievements were made famous by the reporting of an U. S. reporter Lowell Thomas.
There was another movie made in Canada in 1935.
For Reference: Lawrence of Arabia 1962 on Internet Movie Data Base and Wikipedia.

Titanic: The popular title of Titanic was released in 1997. It was directed by James Cameron (This question has appeared in previous General Studies paper). However, there are number of movies by the same title produced in different countries at different time. However, one which was directed by James Cameron and released in 1997, won 11 Oscars. It was released by Century Fox and Paramount Pictures.
Reference:For the complete list of other Titanic movies refer to Internet Movie Data Base. For a story outline check Wikipedia.

Category: Filmography, Culture and Literature

14. Which one of the following countries is not a member of Nordic Council?
(a) Norway
(d) Denmark
(c) Iceland
(d) United Kingdom

Ans. c. United Kingdom

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The members of the Nordic Council are five countries and three autonomous regions. It is mainly the result of the history of this region. The five members countries are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The three autonomous regions are Faroe Island(Denmark), Greenland (Denmark) and Aland (Finland). Nordic Council along with Nordic Council of Ministers is mainly a cooperation forum of Parliaments and governments of Nordic Countries. The head office is in Copenhagen. The existence of this cooperation has great significance for European Economic Community. For detailed reference visit the official site of the community. Visit Wikipedia Article here. The community has been around the history Sweden and Norway.
United Kingdom or Great Britain had adopted the policy of seclusion from the politics of Europe since the days of Glorious Revolution.

Category: Political Science: International Relations; European History.

15. Which one among the following was the first to legalize euthanasia?
(a) Austria
(b) Switzerland
(c) Netherlands
(d) Canada


Ans. c. Netherlands

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Netherlands or as popularly known as Holland, has made changes to the penal code of the country in 2002.
Category:

16. Consider the following statements:
1. Assam shares a border with Bhutan and Bangladesh.
2. West Bengal shares a border with Bhutan and Nepal.
3. Mizoram shares a border with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2, only
(c) 2 and 3, only
(d) 1 and 3, only


Ans. b. 1 and 2

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Category: Geography: India: Political