General Science Practice Questions

1. An eye defect which usually results from an unequal curvature of the cornea is–
(A) nearsightedness (B) astigmatism
(C) colour blindness (D) night blindness
Ans : (B)

2. The velocity of sound in air (under normal conditions) is–
(A) 30 m / sec (B) 320 m / sec
(C) 332 m / sec (D) 3,320 m / sec
Ans : (C)

3. A photo-electric cell converts–
(A) sound energy into electrical energy (B) light energy into electrical energy
(C) an electrical signal into sound waves (D) electrical energy into light energy
Ans : (B)

4. Which of the following sounds cannot be heard by human ear?
(A) 300 vibrations / sec (B) 1,000 vibrations / sec
(C) 10,000 vibrations / sec (D) 30,000 vibrations / sec
Ans : (D)

5. Exposure to sunlight helps a person improve his health because–
(A) the infra-red light kills bacteria in the body     
(B) resistance power increases
(C) the pigment cells in the skin get stimulated and produce a healthy tan
(D) the ultraviolet rays convert skin oil into Vitamin D
Ans : (D)

6. Small amounts of iodine are necessary in our diet to– 
(A) prevent pellagra
(B) compensate for underactivity of the thyroid gland
(C) stimulate clotting of blood
(D) stimulate pituitary gland
Ans : (B)

7. On a sudden cardiac arrest, which of the following is advised as a first step to revive the functioning of human heart ?
(A) Mouth to mouth resuscitation (B) Giving external cardiac massage
(C) Sprinkling water on the face (D) Giving cool water to drink
Ans : (A)

8. A triode differs from a diode in the way that– 
(A) it can amplify a signal (B) it has vacuum inside
(C) it has a heated cathode (D) its current is caused by the photoelectric effect
Ans : (A)

9. Radioactive substances can be produces readily in–
(A) an electron gun (B) an atomic pile
(C) a transistor (D) a Wilson cloud chamber
Ans : (B)

10. The method of estimating the age of the crust of the earth, which is now believed to be the most accurate, makes use of the rate of–
(A) accumulation of sedimentary beds  (B) accumulation of salt in the ocean
(C) atomic disintegration (radio-activity) (D) loss of heat by the earth
Ans : (C)

11. When a given amount of air is cooled–
(A) the amount of moisture it can hold decreases (B) its absolute humidity decreases 
(C) its relative humidity remains constant  (D) its absolute humidity increases
Ans : (A)

12. With the present-day advancement in medical techniques, transplants are possible in all of the following except–
(A) artery (B) bone
(C) cornea (D) kidney
Ans : (B)

13. The reaction which converts sugar solution into alcohol is a example of–
(A) saponification (B) hydrogenation
(C) fermentation (D) hydrolysis
Ans : (C)

14. The Rh factor refers to– 
(A) a protein substance found in the blood of some people
(B) a hormone carried by the blood
(C) the ratio of red corpuscles to white corpuscles in the blood
(D) a process that speeds up the clotting of blood
Ans : (A)

15. The greatest value of bees to mankind is in–
(A) supplying of food for birds
(B) insuring pollination of certain crop plants
(C) storing honey for man’s use
(D) furnishing beeswax needed in certain specialised industries 
Ans : (B)

16. All of the following are examples of chemical changes except the–
(A) magnetising of iron (B) rusting of iron
(C) digestion of food (D) souring of milk
Ans : (A)

17. Cancer is a disease which–
(A) cannot be spread by those who have it
(B) is found only in human beings
(C) develops only in certain organs of the body
(D) is passed from generation to generation
Ans : (A)

18. The moon has no atmosphere because–
(A) no atmosphere has ever formed there 
(B) the rocky surface completely absorbed the gases 
(C) due to the low temperature, gases have condensed
(D) its gravitational pull is not strong enough to hold an atmosphere 
 Ans : (D)

19. When a moving bus stops suddenly, the passengers are pushed forward because of the–
(A) friction between the earth and the bus
(B) friction between the passengers and the earth 
(C) inertia of the passengers
(D) inertia of the bus
Ans : (C)

20. Which of the following is not an attribute of bacterium ?
(A) Ability to arise from non-living matter (B) Growth
(C) Reproduction (D) Respiration
Ans : (A)