May 15 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Tidal locking is a phenomenon where the rotation period of a celestial body matches its orbit around another body.
• In the case of the Moon, it takes roughly the same amount of time to complete one rotation on its axis as it does to orbit the Earth.
• As a result, the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• While it’s true that the gravitational pull of the Earth affects the Moon, causing tidal forces, it’s not accurate to say that it’s stronger on one side.
• Tidal locking primarily occurs due to the interaction between the gravitational forces of the two bodies and the deformation of the Moon caused by these forces, rather than one side experiencing stronger gravity than the other.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Nearly one in five TB patients have extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB).
• Tuberculosis (TB) typically infects the lungs (pulmonary TB).
• However, 20% of cases affect other organs, such as lymph nodes, the brain, the gut, and the eyes (extra-pulmonary TB).
• The WHO reports over 10 million new cases of TB every year.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• EPTB is often stain-negative.
• Therefore, it is not detectable on regular TB stain tests.

Statement 3 is correct

• Currently, there are no diagnosis and treatment protocols for all organs affected by EPTB.
• Access to care is limited to specialist facilities.
• Prolonged presence of disease markers even after the infection is resolved with treatment.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• India Volatility Index (VIX), an indicator of market volatility expectations, surpassed 21 recently.

• The surge indicates increased fear among traders regarding expected volatility.
• Also known as the Fear Index, it measures the market’s expectation of volatility in the near term.
• During volatile market periods, prices move sharply up or down, causing the volatility index to rise.
• As volatility decreases, the Volatility Index declines.

Statement 2 is correct

• Introduced by the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE) for the US markets in 1993.
• The index is based on the order book of the underlying index options, such as the S&P 500 Index options for the US markets and the NIFTY Options for the Indian markets, and highlights its importance as a tool for investors to gauge market sentiment.

Answer: (b) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched

• Bandar Abbas:
  • Bandar Abbas is one of the major ports in Iran and serves as a vital hub for trade in the Persian Gulf.
  • It is strategically situated on the southern coast of Iran, overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, making it a crucial gateway for maritime trade in the region.
  • The port handles a significant portion of Iran’s imports and exports, particularly in oil, petrochemicals, and other commodities.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched

• Port of Jebel Ali:
  • The Port of Jebel Ali is one of the largest and busiest ports in the Middle East, situated in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  • It is a key hub for maritime trade and logistics in the region, serving as a major transshipment center and industrial zone.
  • The port offers state-of-the-art facilities for container handling, cargo logistics, and maritime services, contributing significantly to the UAE’s economy.

Pair 3 is correctly matched

• Port of Salalah:
  • The Port of Salalah is a major seaport situated in Salalah, Oman, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
  • It is renowned for its strategic location along international shipping routes, serving as a crucial trans shipment hub for trade between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
  • The port boasts modern facilities and infrastructure, handling various types of cargo, including containers, bulk cargo, and petroleum products.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched

• Port of Jeddah:
  • The Port of Jeddah is a significant maritime gateway situated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, overlooking the Red Sea.
  • It serves as the principal seaport for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, facilitating trade and commerce with various international markets.
  • The port handles diverse cargo types, including containers, bulk cargo, and general cargo, contributing to the economic development of Saudi Arabia.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Mamallapuram Temple is located in the coastal town of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), which is a town on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• In 1984, UNESCO declared Mamallapuram a World Heritage Site due to its cultural significance.
• It was one of two major port cities in the Pallava kingdom.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The temple was constructed during the reign of the Pallava dynasty in the 7th century AD, under the patronage of Narasimhavarman I.
• It is celebrated for its Pallava architecture and monolithic rock-cut sculptures.
  • The Pallava dynasty, which ruled the region during the 7th and 8th centuries AD, was known for its distinctive architectural style, characterized by intricately carved sculptures, rock-cut temples, and monolithic structures.
• It includes monuments like the Pancha Rathas, Cave Temples, Arjuna’s Penance or Descent of the Ganges, and Shore Temples.
• It was also the Seven Pagodas. The ancient town had seven pagodas on the shore, of which only one, known as the Shore Temple, now survives.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• While the temple complex indeed consists of three shrines, they are dedicated to different deities.
• The central shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva, specifically as Kshatriya Varaha.
• The other two shrines, often referred to as the “Rathas,” are not dedicated to Lord Shiva but are instead associated with Lord Vishnu.
• One of these shrines is dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Kshatriya Sthala Shayana Perumal, and the other to Lord Vishnu as Kshatriya Sthala Sayana Perumal.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• Geomagnetic storms are disturbances in the Earth’s magnetosphere, resulting from fluctuations in the solar wind and leading to rapid changes in the planet’s magnetic field. These storms can have significant effects on Earth’s space environment and technological infrastructure.
• Geomagnetic storms are primarily caused by solar phenomena such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), not volcanic eruptions on the Sun’s surface.
• Geomagnetic storms can have significant impacts on technological infrastructure, including power grids, communication systems, and GPS navigation, by inducing electric currents in the Earth’s surface.
• Geomagnetic storms are more likely to occur during periods of high solar activity, such as the solar maximum phase of the solar cycle, when solar flares and CMEs are more frequent.

  

Answer: (a) Geomagnetic storms occur when disturbances in the Earth’s magnetosphere, caused by solar wind variations, lead to rapid changes in the planet’s magnetic field; Difficulty Level: Easy