CAPF (AC) 2023 (Paper-1) (Questions 1-50)

Total Questions: 50

11. Consider the following redox reaction:

2Cu₂O(s) + Cu₂S(s) → 6Cu(s) + SO₂(g)

Identify the species among the following acting as oxidant and reductant, respectively:

Correct Answer: (a) Cu(I) and S of Cu₂S
Solution:

Justify that the reaction: 2Cu₂O(s) + Cu₂S(s) → 6Cu(s) + SO₂(g) is a redox reaction. Identify the species oxidised/reduced, which acts as an oxidant and which acts as a reductant. Solution Let us assign oxidation number to each of the species in the reaction under examination.

This results into: + 1 - 2 + 1 - 2 0 + 4 - 2 2Cu₂O(s) + Cu₂S(s) → 6Cu(s) + SO₂ We therefore, conclude that in this reaction copper is reduced from +1 state to zero oxidation state and sulphur is oxidised from-2 state to +4 state.

The above reaction is thus a redox reaction. Further, Cu₂O helps sulphur in Cu₂S to increase its oxidation number, therefore, Cu(I) is an oxidant; and sulphur of Cu2S helps copper both in Cu₂S itself and Cu₂O to decrease its oxidation number; therefore, sulphur of Cu₂S is reductant.

12. Which one of the following statements is not correct regarding the setting of cement?

Correct Answer: (c) Tricalcium silicate is responsible for initial setting of cement.
Solution:

Tricalcium aluminate (C3A) is primarily responsible for the initial setting of cement, reacting quickly with water to cause immediate stiffening, known as flash setting. Tricalcium silicate (C3S), or Alite, hydrates rapidly and significantly contributes to the early strength, particularly beneficial in cold-weather concreting.

13. Which one is the most abundant of all the elements on Earth?

Correct Answer: (d) Oxygen
Solution:

On earth, oxygen is the most common element, making up about 47% of the earth's mass.Silicon is second, making up 28%, followed by aluminum (8%), iron (5%), magnesium (2%), calcium (4%), sodium (3%), and potassium (3%).

  • The Atmosphere is the region that lies above the Earth’s surface and it is one of the largest reservoirs of free oxygen on earth.
  • The Biosphere is the sum of all the Earth’'s ecosystems and also has some free oxygen produced from photosynthesis and other life processes.
  • The largest reservoir of oxygen is the lithosphere. But most of this oxygen is not free moving rather it is a part of chemical compounds such as silicates and oxides

14. Which one of the following metals does not react with oxygen directly?

Correct Answer: (c) Pt
Solution:

The noble metals are the ones that do not react with oxygen gas and do not get corroded. The metals like Gold, Platinum, Silver, Ruthenium, etc are the examples of noble metals. So, Platinum whose chemical symbol is Pt does not react with oxygen. - The other metals given in the options are Zinc, Titanium and Iron.

15. Consider the following observations about the largest stupa at Sanchi:

1. Going by information available from the inscriptions on the railings of the stupa, the construction of part of one of its gateways was financed by the Guild of Ivory workers.
2. In its original early form, this stupa was plain except for the stone railings and the gateways, which were richly carved.3. The panels on the four gateways contain sculptures only in the front and have no sculptures on the rear side.
4. In 1918, when the stupa was discovered all of its four gates were intact but the mound was in poor condition.
5. Art historians have established clear connections between the sculptures of the stupa with events described in Jataka Tales.
6. War scene, have also been depicted in these sculptures.

Which of the observations given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
Solution:The early stupas at Sanchi and Bharhut were plain except for the stone railings, which resembled a bamboo or wooden fence, and the gateways, which were richly carved and installed at the four cardinal points.

When Sanchi was "discovered" in 1818, three of its four gateways were still standing, the fourth was lying on the spot where it had fallen and the mound was in good condition. Hence statement 4 is incorrect therefore option D is correct.

Art historians who have carefully studied the sculpture at Sanchi identify it as a scene from the Vessantara Jataka. This is a story about a generous prince who gave away everything to a Brahmana, and went to live in the forest with his wife and children.

16. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

  1. Prayag Prashasti by 4th century CE Harishena
  2. Chinese traveller Fa 6th century CE Xian's Account
  3. Mudrarakshasa of 5th century CE Vishakhadatta
  4. Harshacharita of 6th century CE Banabhatta
  5. Aihole Prashasti of 7th century CE Ravikirti
  6. Kavirajamarga of 8th century CE Amoghavarsha

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 3, and 5 only
Solution:Allahabad Prashasti:- It is also known as Prayag Prashasti.It is a pillar inscription of Samudragupta found at Allahabad and written in Sanskrit (4th Century CE). It was composed by Harisena.

Line 22 of the inscription especially describes the conquests of Samudragupta over the frontier states. Lines 13-15 of the inscription refer to the conquests of Samudragupta in his first Aryavarta war in which he defeated three important rulers namely, Achyuta, Nagasena, and Ganapatinaga of the Naga Dynasty.

Lines 19-20 described his South India Campaign. Line 23 refers to Samudragupta violently exterminating a number of kings of Aryavarta. Fa xian:- visited India in the early fifth century during the reign of Chandragupta II and entered here from the northwest and reached Pataliputra.

The Mudrarakshasa ('The Signet of the Minister') is Vishakhadatta's Sanskrit-language drama about the ascension of King Chandragupta Maurya to power in India and it is written during 6th century. Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita, the biography of King Harsha in the seventh century.

Aihole inscription is associated with the Chalukya dynasty. It was written by Ravi Kirti, court poet of Chalukya King, Pulakeshin II who reigned from 610 to 642 A.D. The most famous king of Rashtrakuta dynasty, Amoghavarsha I, wrote Kavirajamarga(9th century), a seminal literary work in Kannada language.

17. Which one of the following statements is correct?

Correct Answer: (a) Brahmi, used writing many Ashokan inscriptions, shows local variations.
Solution:

Most Asokan inscriptions were in the Prakrit language while those in the northwest of the subcontinet were in Aramaic and Greek. Most Prakrit inscriptions were written in the Brahmi script; however, some, in the northwest, were written in Kharosthi. The Aramaic and Greek scripts were used for inscriptions in Afghanistan.

About Brahmi Inscription:

  • The Brahmi script is the earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus script.
  • It is one of the most influential writing systems; all modern Indian scripts and several hundred scripts found in Southeast and East Asia are derived from Brahmi.
  • Most examples of Brahmi found in North and Central India represent the Prakrit language.
  • The earliest known Brahmi inscriptions are from the edicts of Ashoka, the third Mauryan emperor of Magadha who ruled most of the sub-continent between 268 and 232 BCE.
  • Traces of the script have been discovered not just in the Gangetic plains but also in excavated sites in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Sri Lanka, mostly on pottery shards.
  • Among the many descendant scripts of Brahmi are those of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, such as Devanagari and the Bengali and Gujarati scripts; those of the Deccan region, including the scripts for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.

18. Which one of the following activities was not a part of the daily time-table for a king as prescribed in Arthashastra?

Correct Answer: (b) Visit the town incognito
Solution:

In "The Duties of a King" from Arthashastra by Kautilya, the king's daily duties are meticulously structured to ensure effective governance and well-being of his subjects. The king's day and night are divided into eight parts, with specific tasks designated for each segment. These include overseeing revenue, administration, military, and receiving intelligence reports.

His night is structured for meetings with secret emissaries, rest, review of scientific teachings, and consultations with priests, physicians, and advisors. The king's happiness is linked to his subjects' welfare, emphasizing that his duty lies in their happiness and justice. Proactive attention, efficiency, and accessibility are highlighted as critical traits for successful rule.

19. Which organelle other than nucleus in eukaryotic cells has its own DNA, ribsomes and protiens?

Correct Answer: (b) Mitochondria
Solution:

The mitochondria is also called "powerhouse of the cell". Mitochondria have their own DNA and ribosomes and are hence capable to produce some of their required proteins all by themselves.

Structural Overvie

Double-Membrane Architecture

  • Outer Membrane: The outer membrane encapsulates the organelle and contains protein channels (porins) that facilitate the transport of ions and small molecules.
  • Inner Membrane: Highly invaginated to form cristae, the inner membrane dramatically increases the surface area available for the electron transport chain (ETC) and ATP synthase complexes.
    This membrane is crucial for establishing the proton gradient necessary for ATP synthesis.
  • Inter-membrane Space: Situated between the outer and inner membranes, this compartment is integral to the generation of the electrochemical gradient during electron transport.

20. For protein synthesis, the amino acids are recognized and carried by:

Correct Answer: (d) tRNA
Solution:

Protein synthesis requires a tRNA (transfer RNA) which helps in the transfer of an amino acid molecule to the growing chain. tRNA has anti-codons for the codons present on the mRNA molecule which helps to recognize the place of single amino acid.

tRNA Function

  • tRNA plays an important role in protein synthesis.
    e It acts as an adapter molecule for linking amino acids to its specific codon present in mRNA.
  • Aminoacylation of tRNA is the first step in protein synthesis.
  • tRNA is specific to each amino acid and carries them during the translation process in the ribosomal subunits.
  • The tRNA transfers the amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain in the ribosomes, which has three binding sites for tRNA, namely A, P and E, which correspond to aminoacyl, peptidyl and exit, respectively.
  • This decoding of codons of mMRNA by specific tRNAs continues until the entire sequence for a polypeptide chain is translated.