1. Who of the following discovered the laws of planetary orbits? [Asstt Comm 2008]
Correct : C. Johanries Kepler
2. Twelve constellations referred to as zodiac are: [IAS 1989]
Correct : C. a group of stars
3. The term 'meteor' is applied to an interplanetary body:
Correct : B. after it enters the earth's atmosphere and explodes in mid air as a ball of fire
4. Which one of the following statements regarding Shooting Stars is incorrect ? [NDA 1995]
Correct : D. They are a kind of a star
5. The planets are kept in motion in their respective orbits by :
Correct : C. gravitation and centrifugal force
6. The distance of the nearest star besides the sun from the earth is :
Correct : D. 4.2 light years
7. Which of the following celestial bodies bear, 'The Sea of Tranquility' and 'The Ocean of Storms' ?
Correct : C. Moon
8. The time required by moonlight to reach the earth is :
Correct : B. 1.3 sec
9. The strongest evidence that comets are members of our solar system comes from:
[CDS 1992]
Correct : A. their composition
10. The constellations of stars appear at different positions in the sky at different times
during night mainly:
Correct : A. because earth rotates about its axis
11. If there is no Sun, the colour of the sky would be:
Correct : D. black
12. The Saturn rings were discovered by:
Correct : C. Galileo
13. The 'Solar Corona' mainly consists of:
Correct : B. molten lava
14. Comets are celestial bodies moving about the solar system in
Correct : B. elliptical orbits usually accompanied by a long shining tail
15. Foucault experiment is proof of which one of the following? [NDA 2008]
Correct : B. Rotation of Earth
16. The radiant energy of the sun is transmitted in the form of:
Correct : A. short waves
17. While Venus is seen only for one to two hours either after sunset or before sunrise, Jupiter is seen for the whole night whenever it is visible in the sky. The reason for this is that: [CDS 2000]
Correct : C. the orbit of Venus is inside the earth's orbit whereas the orbit of Jupiter lies outside the orbit of the earth
18. Which of the following statements is/are correct with regard to Milky Way? 1. It is a spiral galaxy. 2. The solar system resides in one of its spiral arms. Select the correct answer using the codes given below [NDA 2008]
Correct : C. Both 1 and 2
19. Among the following which planet takes maximum time for one revolution around the Sun? [IAS 2003]
Correct : B. Jupiter
20. Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to our solar system? [IAS 2002]
Correct : A. The Earth is the densest of all the planets in our solar system
21. The Srnith-tuttle comet will crash with Earth in: [IAS 2003]
Correct : B. 2116 AD
22. The correct sequence of the following planets in terms of gravity, in the descending order is : [IAS 2003]
Correct : D. Earth, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn
23. Which of the following gases is most predominant in the Sun?
Correct : B. Hydrogen
24. NASA's Deep Impact space mission was employed to take detailed pictures of which comet nucleus? [IAS 2007]
Correct : D. Tempel 1
25. Consider the following statements: 1. The albedo of an object determines its visual brightness when viewed with reflected light. 2. The albedo of Mercury is much greater than the albedo of the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [IAS 2008]
Correct : A. 1 only
26. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. In comparison to the Jupiter, planet Earth displays eclipses more frequently 2. On Mars, only partial solar eclipses are possible Select the correct answer using the code given below: [NDA 2011]
Correct : D. Neither 1 nor 2
27. Which of the following statements relating to the planet Venus is/are correct? 1. It is the nearest planet from the Sun. 2. It is only slightly smaller than the Earth. 3. It has no atmosphere. Select the correct answer using the code given below: [Asstt Commdt 2011]
Correct : C. 2 only
28. What is the difference between asteroids and comets? 1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material. 2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury. 3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [CSAT 2011]
Correct : B. 1 and 3 only
29. A blackhole is a : [CDS 1999, 2001]
Correct : A. contracted star with intense gravitational pull
30. Which one of the following is correct? Great Bear is a : [CDS 2008]
Correct : D. constellation
31. Asteroids have their orbits between the planets:
Correct : C. Mars and Jupiter
32. Halley's comet appears once in a period of:
Correct : C. 76 years
33. The orbits of planets around the Sun, or of satellites around the Earth, can be : [IFS 1993]
Correct : A. circular and elliptic
34. To a space traveller on moon, the lunar sky during day time appears:
Correct : C. black
35. The distance between the Earth and the Sun (in million kms.) is :
Correct : B. 149
36. Stars which appear single to the naked eye but are double stars when observed by a telescope, are known as :
Correct : C. binaries
37. What are Sun spots? [Railways 1994]
Correct : D. Dark patches on the surface of the Sun resulting from a localised fall in the temperature to about 4000 K
38. The brightest star in the sky is: [MBA 1995]
Correct : D. Sun
39. Pole Star is always seen at one point in the sky whereas other stars are not; this is because: [CDS 1993]
Correct : D. Pole star lies in the axis of spin of the earth
40. The outermost layer of Sun is called:
Correct : D. corona
41. The mapping of which of the following is most difficult ?
Correct : C. Interior of the Earth
42. Tides in the sea have stored in them: [CDS 1994]
Correct : D. a combination of all the above three forms of energy
43. In the earliest days when life originated on earth, the atmosphere contained : [UDC 1993]
Correct : D. oxygen bound to carbon
44. Which one of the following would have occured if the earth had NOT been inclined on its own axis? [CDS 2002]
Correct : B. The seasons would not have changed
45. Latitude of place is indicative of its: [Asstt Comm PF 2002]
Correct : D. temperature
46. The upper part of the mantle upon which the crust of the Earth floats is called: [IAS
2003]
Correct : D. asthenosphere
47. Tides are complied and they vary from place to place because of: [IAS 2003]
Correct : D. all of the above
48. Which of the following phenomenon is/are the effect of the rotation of the Earth? [IAS
2003] 1. Apparent movement of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. 2. Flatness of the poles and bulge at the Equator. 3. Occurrence of' sunrise, noon and sunset 4. Magnetic field of the earth.
Correct : D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
49. The earth rotates around its axis from: [RRB 1991]
Correct : D. west to east
50. The word used to describe the shape of earth is:
Correct : D. oblate spheroid
51. The mean radius of the earth is approximately:
Correct : B. 6400 km
52. What is the correct sequence of the following layers of the Earth as one moves from
the surface to the interior: 1. Mantle 2. Crust 3. Core Select the correct answer by using the codes given below: [NDA 1993]
Correct : C. 2, 1, 3
53. Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on :
Correct : A. December 22
54. One degree of the circumference of the earth measures(approx.) :
Correct : B. 111km
55. Spring tides occur when: [CDS 1993]
Correct : D. the moon, the sun and the earth are in the same line
56. Variation in duration of day and night is due to: 1. rotation of earth on its axis 2. revolution of earth around the sun 3. inclination of earth at an angle of
Correct : B. 2 and 3
57. Days and nights are caused by : 1. rotation of the earth on its axis 2. revolution of the earth around the sun 3. inclination of the earth's axis
Correct : A. only 1 is correct
58. The speed of rotation of the earth is the highest: [NDA 1994]
Correct : A. along the Equator
59. "Mohs' Scale" is used to indicate the: [IAS 2003]
Correct : B. degree of hardness of minerals.
60. At neap tide: 1. the sun and moon exert their force at right angles 2. the tidal amplitude is high 3. the low tides are very low
Correct : A. 1
61. If a solar eclipse occurs when the moon is quite far from the earth, the eclipse would be likely to be :
Correct : C. annular
62. What can be the maximum duration of totality for a solar eclipse?
Correct : B. 7 minutes 40 seconds
63. Which of the following are true regarding the crust of the earth? 1. It is the outer thin layer with a total thickness of about 100 km 2. It forms around 0.5 percent of the earth's volume 3. The outer covering of the crust is of sedimentary material 4. The lower layer of the crust consists of basaltic and ultra-basic rocks
Correct : C. I, II and IV
64. The total surface area of earth is : [CDS 2000]
Correct : A. 510 million sq km
65. What is the approximate equatorial circumference of the earth? [Hotel Management
1992]
Correct : C. 40,000 Km
66. The approximate diameter of the earth is :
Correct : C. 12,800 Km
67. The place which has the longest day and the shortest night on 22nd December, is :
Correct : C. Melbourne
68. Geostationary orbit is at a height of:
Correct : D. 36,000 km
69. Owing to the equatorial bulge and the polar flattening, the polar radius of the earth
falls short of the equatorial radius by about: [NDA 1991]
Correct : A. 22 km
70. The earth is at the least distance from the sun (Perihelion) on :
Correct : B. January 3rd
71. The earth is at the largest distance from the sun (Apehelion) on :
Correct : C. July 4th
72. The Earth rotates-around an axis pointing towards: [NDA 1991]
Correct : B. the pole star
73. Which part of the earth's surface receives the highest amount of insolation?
Correct : A. Tropical deserts
74. Which one of the following cities does not have the same clock time as that of the other
three cities at any given instant? [IAS 2007]
Correct : D. Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
75. Which of the following layers of the earth is believed to have the heaviest mineral materials of highest density ?
Correct : A. Central core
76. Assume that the moon takes exactly 30 days to complete the cycle and also assume that it rises in the east exactly at 6.48 p.m., on the first day. On the fourth day, at what time will it rise? [IAS 2002]
Correct : C. 10.00 p.m
77. Which one of the following is present in the largest amount in terms of percent by mass in the earth's crust? [IAS 1997]
Correct : B. Oxygen
78. Study the following diagram and say which of the given statements is not correct regarding it :
Correct : B. All parallels in the northern hemisphere have days equal to nights
79. The difference in the duration of day and night increases as one moves from:
Correct : D. equator to poles
80. The sun is never overhead at any time in : 1. North Temperate Zone 2. South Temperate Zone 3. North Frigid Zone 4. Torrid Zone
Correct : B. I, II and III
81. Which of the following statements with regard to the term 'great circle' is not correct?
Correct : C. Only one great circle can be drawn on a sphere
82. The term 'syzygy' is referred to when the: [IAS 2004]
Correct : D. Moon, sun and earth lie along a straight line
83. The sun reaches its maximum angular distance from the equator at the:
Correct : B. solstice
84. The South Pole experiences continuous light at:
Correct : B. winter solstice
85. The shortest day in Australia will be on:
Correct : A. June 21
86. The permanent tilt of the earth's axis and the revolution of the earth in its orbit together cause: 1. deflection of winds and ocean currents 2. differences in time between places on different meridians 3. varying length of day and night at different times of the year 4. changes in the altitude of the mid-day sun at different times of the year
Correct : C. III and IV
87. Which of the following best describes longitude?
Correct : C. The angular distance east or west of the Greenwich meridian
88. On December 22, the sun: 1. is not visible at north pole 2. is only visible for a few minutes at the Antarctic Circle 3. rises south of east and sets south of west at the Tropic of Cancer 4. rises south of east and set south of west at the equator
Correct : C. 1, 3 and 4
89. What is the correct sequence of the following in the context of the age of the earth
since its origin? 1. Cenozoic 2. Mesozoic 3. Palaeozoic 4. Protozoic
Correct : D. 4, 3, 2, 1
90. The latitude of a place expresses its angular position relative to the place of:
Correct : B. equator
91. When would you record the maximum angle of incidence of the sun's rays at the north pole?
Correct : C. When the sun's rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer
92. One degree of longitude on the equator is equal to a distance of:
Correct : B. 50 miles
93. At the summer solstice, which one of the following latitudes will have the longest night?
[NDA 2001]
Correct : D. 60°S
94. The Tropic of Cancer passes through: [CPO AC 2003]
Correct : C. India and Saudi Arabia
95. Which of these is the longest?
Correct : D. All are equal
96. Consider the following statements: 1. Earth is the fourth largest planet of the solar system 2. Earth's circumference is about 45000 km 3. Earth's polar diameter is about 43 km shorter than its equatorial diameter 4. Earth has a total surface area of 510 million sq.km Which of these statements are correct? [NDA 2002]
Correct : D. 3 and 4
97. The core of the Earth is made up of: [IAS 2003]
Correct : D. both iron and magnesium in the plastic state
98. Which one of the following is not the effect of the revolution of the Earth. [IAS 2003]
Correct : D. Change in the direction of winds and ocean currents
99. Latitudes include 181 lines while longitudes are 360 lines because:
Correct : A. longitude is divided from prime meridian while latitude is from equator
100. Which of the following statements is true?
Correct : B. Both equator and longitudes are great circles