266: A person walking barefooted in a field feels a sharp sting and on examination two puncture marks are found on his leg. He is most probably bitten by:
(a) Poisonous snake
(b) Non-poisonous snake
(c) Scorpion
(d) Rat
267: In which one of the following locations is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project to be built ?
(a) Northern Spain
(b) Eastern Germany
(c) Southern France
(d) Southern Italy
Explanation:
ITER is a joint international research and development project that aims to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. The partners in the project - the ITER Parties
- are the European Union (represented by EURATOM), Japan, the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA. ITER will be constructed in Europe, at Cadarache in the South of France.
268: What is the purpose of the US Space Agency's Themis Mission, which was recently in the news?
(a) To study the possibility of life on Mars
(b) To study the satellites of Saturn
(c) To study the colourful display of high latitude skies
(d) To build a space laboratory to study the stellar explosions
Explanation:
The Themis (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) mission built by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) and Swales Aerospace, comprising five identical probes, aims to gain new insights into the colourful displays in high-latitude skies. In particular, scientists want to understand what triggers a sudden brightening of the lights
269: Consider the following statements in respect of a jet engine and a rocket:
1. A jet engine uses the surrounding air for its oxygen supply and so is unsuitable for motion in space.
2. A rocket carries its own supply of oxygen in the gas form, and fuel.
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
Explanation:
Rockets are perfect for space travel because they carry their fuel and oxygen supply with them. In fact, most of the mass of the rocket on the ground is in the form of fuel and oxidizer.
In space, the burning fuel is ejected from the rear of the rocket. This action produces a reaction force on the rocket body which propels it forward. Note that there is no need for any air to "push against" for the rocket to work. Newton's Third Law assures us that ejection of an object from the system MUST propel the system in the opposite direction.
The propulsive force is referred to as the thrust of the rocket.
The rocket carrying the probes launched at 1801 EST (2301 GMT).
270: Fiscal deficit in the Union Budget means
(a)the sum of budgetary deficit and net increase in internal and external borrowings
(b) the difference between current expenditure and current revenue
(c) the sum of monetized deficit and budgetary deficit
(d) net increase in Union Government's borrowing from the Reserve Bank of India