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FST-01: FOUNDATION COURSE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FST - 01

FOUNDATION COURSE IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Solved December 2013

Solved June 2013

Solved December 2012

Solved June 2012

Solved December 2011

Solved June 2011

Solved December 2010

Solved June 2010

Solved December 2009

Solved June 2009

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

Dec, 2013

Note: All questions of section-A are compulsory. In sections-B and C, give answers as per

instructions given.

Section - A

Fill in the blanks:

Q1. (a) ________ discovered circulation of blood in the human body.

Ans. Harvey

(b) Scurvy is a disease caused by deficiency of __________.

Ans. Vitamin C

(c) _________ system in our body protects us from invading germs.

Ans. Vaccination

(d) __________ are producers.

Ans. Green plants

(e) Wind is a __________ source of energy.

Ans. Renewable

Q2. State if the following statements are true (T) or false (F):

(a) The innermost layer of the atmosphere is Troposphere.

Ans. True

(b) Method of science is based on the speculations prevalent in the society.

Ans. True

(c) Man can occupy second or third trophic level in a food-chain.

Ans. True

(d) Oil is a non-renewable source of energy.

Ans. True

(e) AIDS is caused by bacteria.

Ans. False

Q3. Give short answers for the following questions (not more than 50 words):

(a) What is meant by essential amino acids?

Ans. Go to June 2010, [Link].3(d)

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(b) What is an artificial satellite?

Ans. Artificial satellites are human-built objects orbiting the Earth and other planets in the Solar

System. This is different from the natural satellites, or moons, that orbit planets, dwarf planets and even

asteroids. Artificial satellites are used to study the Earth, other planets, to help us communicate, and

even to observe the distant Universe. Satellites can even have people in them, like the International Space

Station and the Space Shuttle.

(c) Photochemical smog

Ans. Go to Dec 2009, [Link].1(d)(II)

(d) Ergonomics

Ans. Go to Dec-2010, Section-B, [Link].-1

(e) Bio-technology

Ans. Go to Dec 2012, [Link].14

Section - B

Note: Answer any eight questions. Limit your answer to 100 words for each question:

Q4. Briefly explain the impacts of Miller’s experiment on the classical theories of origin of life.

Ans. Proteins are the essential building blocks for living organisms. With the making, in the laboratory,

of molecules related to life, the credibility of the Oparin-Haldane theory of chemical evolution greatly

increased. Many amino acids have been obtained, since by Miller’s method. So also some sugars and

nitrogenous bases which are otherwise found in the nucleus of a cell, which is a unit of living organisms.

Similar experiments have led to the production of various compounds which form many kinds of fats and

important natural pigments. Miller’s experiment thus forms a turning point in our approach to the

problem of the origin of life. The evidence, we get from Miller’s experiment, is supported by evidence of

similar chemical reactions occurring in space even today. Chemical analysis of a meteorite which fell near

Murchi Murchison in Australia, in 1969, showed the presence of organic molecules. The types and

relative proportions of these molecules were very similar to the products formed in Miller’s experiment.

The presence of organic molecules like methane, ethane, formaldehyde, acetylene etc. has been shown in

interstellar space by radio astronomy also.

Q5. Explain the water cycle with the help of a diagram only.

Ans.

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Q6. What were the different methods of production used by the primitive society and the Bronze

age civilization?

Ans. In order to live, man needed to eat and to protect himself from the weather and animals. For both

purposes he found it better to be in groups. Wherever human beings lived, they looked for food in plants

and trees and also dug the earth for roots. In this way they came to know what the right kind of food was,

and where they could get it from. They also found out which animals were dangerous and which were not,

and how to protect themselves. This knowledge had to be passed on from one generation to the next, so

that the group could survive.

The next period in the evolution of human society is known as the Bronze Age, named after the new alloy which replaced

stone during this period. This period was, in fact, the beginning of a new type of productive activity, namely, agriculture.

There is no historical evidence to tell us exactly how agriculture arose. We can only imagine what may

have happened. Cultivation of grain may have arisen without any violent break from food gathering. In regions well stocked

with wild grains, enough seeds would get scattered around to produce crops worth reaping. Agriculture, probably, resulted

from the understanding that plants could be grown from seeds and that the crops had some relation to the seasons. And,

probably, the availability of water helped in this process. Cultivation, however, marked a break from the primitive era, as

human beings stopped being dependent on nature and started to control their livelihood and destiny.

Q7. What are the conditions that determine whether the fruits of science are used for human

good or for destructive purposes?

Ans. Go to June 2011, [Link].5

Q8. What features in Indian society led to the decline of science in the post-Gupta period?

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Ans. Go to Dec-2010, Section-A, [Link].-3 (i)

Q9. How can saline and alkaline soils be reclaimed?

Ans. Go to June 2009, [Link].5(b)

Q10. What is carbon dating? How is the age of fossils determined?

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-4 (a)

Q11. List the different ways of technology transfer. Briefly describe any one of them.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-6

Q12. Oceans are known as the largest and thickest ecosystems. Justify this statement.

Ans. Go to June 2011, [Link].3(b)

Q13. Write short notes (Any two)

(a) Big Bang

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-7

(b) Hormones

Ans. Go to June 2009, [Link].3(a)

(c) Non-renewable source of energy

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-5(c)

Section - C

Note : Answer any four questions. Limit your answer up to 200 words for each question:

Q14. Explain the theory of natural selection as proposed by Darwin.

Ans. Go to Dec 2010, [Link].8

Q15. What are infectious diseases? Name any two diseases caused by bacterial and give their

symptoms and preventions also.

Ans. Go to Dec 2009, [Link].5(a)

Typhoid

Symptoms

Once the bacterium is ingested it quickly multiplies within the stomach, liver or gallbladder and finally

enters the blood stream causing symptoms like fever (usually between 1030F- 1040F), rashes (flat, rose-

coloured spots), vomiting, loss of appetite, headaches, general fatigue. In severe cases, one may suffer

from intestinal perforations or internal bleeding, diarrhoea or constipation.

Prevention

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There are some basic things that one can take care of in order to avoid the typhoid:

• Do not eat food cooked on the roadside. This is because it is very difficult to judge the water source

they use and the cleanliness of the food handler.

• Do not have ice or popsicles prepared locally. Since the water source and cleanliness of the

manufacturing facility is unknown, it is best avoided.

• Do not eat fruits and raw vegetables that have been precut.

• Always drink either bottled water or boiled water. It is essential that the water is brought to a rolling

boil. This means that the water reaches a boiling point and is allowed to boil for about two to three

minutes.

Tetanus

Symptoms

The time between an injury and the occurrence of the first symptoms is typically less than two weeks

but may range from 5 days to 15 weeks.

The presenting symptoms are often jaw or neck stiffness, difficulty swallowing, and irritability. There

may be pain or tingling at the site of inoculation (where the tetanus bacteria entered), followed by

spasticity of nearby muscles. Later, there may be spasm of the neck, back, and abdominal muscles.

Spasms of the respiratory muscles may cause acute asphyxia. Airway obstruction is common. The patient

remains awake and alert throughout the illness.

Prevention

Tetanus is completely preventable by active immunization. For practical purposes, tetanus should be considered a disease

against which there is no naturally acquired immunity.

Tetanus toxoid is available by itself, or frequently as one of three components in a vaccine. It can be

combined with diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (DTP) for primary immunization of children, and

with reduced diphtheria toxoid (Td) for immunization of older adults and children.

For primary immunization in adults, tetanus toxoid is given in two doses 4 to 6 weeks apart, with a third dose 6 to 12

months later. Booster doses are recommended every 10 years to ensure the maintenance of protective antitoxin levels.

Q16. Methodology of reward and punishment helps in learning process. Discuss.

Ans. Among different kinds of learning forms, one form of learning comes about through reward and

punishment. For example, if you have a pet puppy and you want to train it to ‘sit down’, he would not

understand the words ‘sit down’ as he doesn’t understand English. But if, while giving the command, you

physically make him sit down and give him a biscuit, then on the experience being repeated a few times,

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the puppy will learn to obey the command. The puppy will associate the sound of the command to sit with

the reward of a biscuit. After training, the puppy will sit down as soon as he is given the command – ‘sit’

even if he is not given any reward. In some situations, punishment would also lead to the same result. We

learn a lot of things by such processes. For example, when a baby is hungry it may cry which attracts the

attention of the mother and may result in his being fed some milk. The child will soon learn the trick.

Similarly, a student in the math’s class solves a problem correctly. He receives the praise of his teacher.

The next time he will approach other math’s problem with greater zeal so as to get the teacher’s approval.

All of us are familiar with situations where punishment is used to reduce undesirable behavior. Spanking,

reprimands or holding back privileges are common means. For example, the traffic police impose fines on

motorists if they cross a red light or parents do not allow their children to watch television if the home

work is not done. This principle of reward and punishment is used in the educational field widely

performance or good actions and discouraging or punishing poor performance, or activities. The same

principle is used in society and public organizations. Bonus for productivity in a factory, or cut in wages if

there is low production, are examples or the same kind.

Q17. Briefly discuss the advances in the areas of science in India during Iron-Age.

Ans. Go to Dec 2011, [Link].1(c)(xii)

Q18. Discuss the impact of increasing population on environment.

Ans. Go to Dec 2011, [Link].9(a)

Q19. Describe the role of television in creating awareness in India.

Ans. Go to June 2013, [Link].6

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FST-01: FOUNDATION COURSE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

June, 2013

Note: All questions of section-A are compulsory. In sections - B and C, give answers as per

instructions given.

SECTION – A

Q1. Fill in the blanks:

(a) The entry point of solar energy in an Ecosystem is_______.

Ans. Producers

(b) AIDS is caused by a_______.

Ans. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

(c) Functional unit of Nervous system is called_______.

Ans. Neuron

(d) _______amino acids are those which our body cannot synthesise.

Ans. Essential

(e) _______is the branch of science that deals with the interaction of organisms with their

environment.

Ans. Ecology

Q2. State if the following statements are True (T) or False (F):

(a) The cosmic distances are measured in miles.

Ans. False

(b) Fossil fuel is a renewable source of energy.

Ans. False

(c) Ergonomics relates to the study of efficiency of a person in the working environment.

Ans. True

(d) Louis Pasteur postulated the theory of natural selection.

Ans. False

(e) Small pox is caused by fungus.

Ans. False

Q3. Give short answers for the following questions (Not more than 50 words)

(a) Major contribution of the following scientists.

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(i) C.V. Raman

Ans. Go to June-2011, [Link].-3 (e)(ii)

(ii) Albert Einstein

Ans. Albert Einstein was a famous scientist who completely changed the way that people saw our

world and the universe. He majorly contributed to the four areas of the science—Light, Time, Energy, and

Gravity. For example, one of Einstein’s theories states that time is not as constant as the light is. In

addition, Albert Einstein accomplished a famous equation, E=MC2. It explains the links between the

energy and mass.

(b) What are persistent pollutants? Give an example.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-3(e)

(c) Lead time of scientific development.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(IV)

(d) List the socio-economic needs that led to the advances in techniques in the early phase of

growth of cities.

Ans. The transition from the primitive society to an agricultural based society was brought about by a

change in the method of production; cities came into existence the socio-economic needs have more times

led to the advances in science and techniques. The need for having better tools for agriculture, houses for

shelter, pottery for storage, carts and boats for transport and trade, planned layout, etc. in growing cities,

led to the advances in techniques.

(e) n-type and p-type semiconductors.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-6(c)

SECTION – B

Answer any eight questions. Limit your answer to 100 words for each question.

Q4. Describe Kepler’s laws related to planetary motion.

Ans. Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion can be described as follows:

(a) The path of the planets about the sun is elliptical in shape, with the centre of the sun being located

at one focus. (The Law of Ellipses)

(b) An imaginary line drawn from the centre of the sun to the centre of the planet will sweep out equal

areas in equal intervals of time. (The Law of Equal Areas)

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(c) The ratio of the squares of the periods of any two planets is equal to the ratio of the cubes of their

average distances from the sun. (The Law of Harmonies)

Q5. Explain the carbon cycle with the help of a labelled diagram.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-11

Q6. Describe the role of radio and TV in education.

Ans. This present age is fondly described by many as the age of information. The fastest agents to

bring the information from place to place are radio and television. No doubt the main function of the two

transmitting media is entertainment, but their most important function is education. With radio and

television, the world itself has become a large school of formal and informal education.

As far as formal education goes, radio and television programmes go a long way to broadcast

programmes to supplement the school syllabus. In many countries, there are even channels which are

exclusively for students. The entertainment channels too, broadcast programmes which are calculated to

help students in their schoolwork. Shakespeare’s plays are broadcast so that students can see the plays

performed rather than just read them.

The importance of radio and television to education is that they overcome distance. This is especially true for television.

Q7. Describe in brief the structural components of central nervous system.

Ans. Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) is the processing center for the nervous system. It receives information from

and sends information to the peripheral nervous system. The two main organs of the CNS are the brain and spinal cord. The

brain processes and interprets sensory information sent from the spinal cord. Both the brain and spinal cord are protected by

three layers of connective tissue called the meninges.

Within the central nervous system is a system of hollow cavities called ventricles. The network of linked

cavities in the brain (cerebral ventricles) is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord. The

ventricles are filled with cerebrospinal fluid which is produced by specialized epithelium located within

the ventricles called the choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid surrounds, cushions, and protects the brain

and spinal cord from trauma. It also assists in the circulation of nutrients to the brain.

Central Nervous System: Brain

The brain is the control center of the body. It consists of three main components: the forebrain, the

brainstem, and the hindbrain. The forebrain is responsible for a variety of functions including receiving and processing

sensory information, thinking, perceiving, producing and understanding language, and controlling motor function. The

forebrain contains structures such as the thalamus and hypothalamus which are responsible for such functions as motor

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control, relaying sensory information, and controlling autonomic functions. It also contains the largest part of the brain, the

cerebrum. Most of the actual information processing in the brain takes place in the cerebral cortex.

The midbrain and the hindbrain together make up the brainstem. The midbrain is the portion of the

brainstem that connects the hindbrain and the forebrain. This region of the brain is involved in auditory

and visual responses as well as motor function.

The hindbrain extends from the spinal cord and contains structures such as the pons and cerebellum.

These regions assist in maintaining balance and equilibrium, movement coordination, and the conduction

of sensory information. The hindbrain also contains the medulla oblongata which is responsible for

controlling such autonomic functions as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

Central Nervous System: Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is a cylindrical shaped bundle of nerve fibers that is connected to the brain. The spinal

cord runs down the center of the protective spinal column extending from the neck to the lower back.

Spinal cord nerves transmit information from body organs and external stimuli to the brain and send information

from the brain to other areas of the body. The nerves of the spinal cord are grouped into bundles of nerve fibers that travel in

two pathways. Ascending nerve tracts carry sensory information from the body to the brain. Descending nerve tracts send

information pertaining to motor function from the brain to the rest of the body.

Central Nervous System: Neurons

Neurons are the basic unit of the nervous system. All cells of the nervous system are comprised of

neurons. Neurons contain nerve processes which are “finger-like” projections that extend from the nerve

cell body. The nerve processes consist of axons and dendrites which are able to conduct and transmit

signals. Axons typically carry signals away from the cell body. They are long nerve processes that may

branch out to convey signals to various areas. Dendrites typically carry signals toward the cell body. They

are usually more numerous, shorter and more branched than axons. Axons and dendrites are bundled

together into what are called nerves. These nerves send signals between the brain, spinal cord, and other

body organs via nerve impulses. Neurons are classified as either motor, sensory, or interneurons. Motor

neurons carry information from the central nervous system to organs, glands, and muscles. Sensory

neurons send information to the central nervous system from internal organs or from external stimuli.

Interneurons relay signals between motor and sensory neurons.

Q8. Describe the ways to manage water resources.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-8

Q9. Who, in the society, should decide about the purpose and scope of science?

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Ans. The rich dominate people in the society decide about the purpose of science and technology.

Society can be as organised as to maximise profits or to maximise human welfare. Society may develop on

economic growth, which may make the rich richer and the poor poorer, or it may choose to combine

growth with proper distribution of benefits. Society may emphasis in distribution of benefits. Society may

emphasis in distribution irrespective of what impact it has on human environment or the finite resources

of the earth as has been happening in some countries ever since the industrial revolution in the middle of

18th century.

Q10. What is meant by balanced diet? Why is it necessary for us?

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(iii)

A balanced diet is one that provides the body with all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals

required to maintain cells, tissues and organs as well as to function correctly. A diet that is lacking in

nutrients can lead to many different health problems ranging from tiredness and lack of energy to serious

problems with the function of vital organs and lack of growth and development.

Q11. What do you understand by nuclear fission? Give any one of its application.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(iv)

Use of Fission to produce radioisotopes

During the fission reaction of uranium-235, the nucleus is bombarded with neutrons, which results in

the fission fragments of barium-141 nucleus, and krypton-92 nucleus. In addition three neutrons are

released (the original bullet neutron, and two neutrons from the U-235 nucleus) along with an energy.

Q12. Describe Pasteur’s Experiment that disproved the theory of spontaneous generation.

Ans. It was once believed that life could come from nonliving things, such as mice from corn, flies from

bovine manure, maggots from rotting meat, and fish from the mud of previously dry lakes. Spontaneous

generation is the incorrect hypothesis that nonliving things are capable of producing life.

Louis Pasteur, the notable French scientist, accepted the challenge to re-create the experiment and

leave the system open to air. He subsequently designed several bottles with S-curved necks that were

oriented downward so gravity would prevent access by airborne foreign materials. He placed a nutrient-

enriched broth in one of the goose-neck bottles, boiled the broth inside the bottle, and observed no life in

the jar for one year. He then broke off the top of the bottle, exposing it more directly to the air, and noted

life-forms in the broth within days. He noted that as long as dust and other airborne particles were

trapped in the

S-shaped neck of the bottle, no life was created until this obstacle was removed. He reasoned that the

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contamination came from life-forms in the air. Pasteur finally convinced the learned world that even if

exposed to air, life did not arise from nonlife.

Q13. Write short notes (any two):

(a) Vitamins

Ans. Vitamins are substances that our body needs to grow and develop normally. There are 13

vitamins our body needs. They are vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin,

pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). We can usually get all our vitamins from

the foods we eat. Our body can also make vitamins D and K. People who eat a vegetarian diet may need to

take a vitamin B12 supplement.

Each vitamin has specific jobs. If we have low levels of certain vitamins, we may develop a deficiency

disease. For example, if we don’t get enough vitamin D, we could develop rickets. Some vitamins may help

prevent medical problems. Vitamin A prevents night blindness.

The best way to get enough vitamins is to eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods. In some cases, we

may need to take a daily multivitamin for optimal health. However, high doses of some vitamins can make

us sick.

(b) Laser

Ans. A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the

stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The term “laser” originated as an acronym for Light

Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers differ from other sources of light because they

emit light coherently. Its spatial coherence allows a laser to be focused to a tight spot, and this enables

applications like laser cutting and laser lithography. Its spatial coherence also keeps a laser beam

collimated over long distances, and this enables laser pointers to work. Laser also have high temporal

coherence which allows them to have a very narrow spectrum, i.e., they only emit a single color of light.

Their temporal coherence also allows them to emit pulses of light that only last a femtosecond.

Lasers have many important applications. They are used in common consumer devices such as DVD

players, laser printers, and barcode scanners. They are used in medicine for laser surgery and various

skin treatments, and in industry for cutting and welding materials. They are used in military and law

enforcement devices for marking targets and measuring range and speed.

(c) Communicable disease

Ans. It is an illness caused by an infectious agent, such as bacteria, virus, fungi or parasites and/or

toxin. Most of these diseases can be passed from one person to another.

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Some examples of the reportable communicable diseases include Hepatitis A, B & C, influenza,

measles, and salmonella and other food borne illnesses.

Some ways in which communicable diseases spread are by:

(a) Physical contact with an infected person, such as through touch (staphylococcus), sexual

intercourse (gonorrhea, HIV), fecal/oral transmission (hepatitis A), or droplets (influenza, TB)

(b) Contact with a contaminated surface or object (Norwalk virus), food (salmonella, E. coli), blood (HIV,

hepatitis B), or water (cholera);

(c) Bites from insects or animals capable of transmitting the disease (mosquito: malaria and yellow

fever; flea: plague); and travel through the air, such as tuberculosis or measles.

SECTION – C

Answer any four questions. Limit your answer up to 200 words for each question.

Q14. Describe the developments in science and technology in India, from the fourth century BC

to the seventh century AD.

Ans. Go to June-2011, [Link].-15

Q15. Explain the theory of origin of universe as given by Big-Bang theory.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-7

Q16. Compare the state of science and technology during renaissance with that of post-

renaissance period in Europe.

Ans. Renaissance

Science and art were very much intermingled in the early Renaissance, with artists such as Leonardo

da Vinci making observational drawings of anatomy and nature. Yet the most significant development of

the era was not a specific discovery, but rather a process for discovery, the scientific method. This

revolutionary new way of learning about the world focused on empirical evidence, the importance of

mathematics, and discarding the Aristotelian “final cause” in favor of a mechanical philosophy. Early and

influential proponents of these ideas included Copernicus and Galileo. The new scientific method led to

great contributions in the fields of astronomy, physics, biology, and anatomy. With the publication of

Vesalius’s De humani corporis fabrica, a new confidence was placed in the role of dissection, observation,

and a mechanistic view of anatomy.

Post-Renaissance

By the mid-1700s, Science was beginning to get more sophisticated. French chemist Antoine-Laurent

Lavoisier was most influential in developing an experimental approach, laid the foundation of modern

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chemistry. In 1789, Lavoisier published a list of pure substances. By the early 1800s, John Dalton’s

atomic theory and the concept of atomic weights developed. In 1829 Johann Döbereiner noted that there

were triplets of elements in which the central species’ properties were almost exactly midway between the

outer two. In 1860, Stanislao Cannizzaro presented analyses at an international chemistry meeting that,

when merged with previously ridiculed hypotheses by fellow Italian Amedeo Avogadro, yielded

unambiguous atomic weights.

Q17. Briefly discuss the impediments to the growth of science in medieval India.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-4

Q18. Describe in detail the life-story of a star.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-14

Q19. What do you understand by recycling? How recycling of wastes improves resource

utilisation?

Ans. Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown

away as trash and turning them into new products.

Following recycling of wastes improves resource utilization:

Scraps and used metals

Scrap metal is produced in large quantities in mills and factories. Old used metal of discarded vehicles,

machine, aircrafts, ships, buildings etc. can be melted and recycled for useful purposes. Used aluminium

utensils, for example, can be collected, melted and shaped into new utensils. We can meet the growing

demand of such scarce metals as copper, zinc, lead, platinum etc. by recycling the used materials.

Waste water

Domestic and municipal waste water is rich in organic nutrients. If this kind of water is made free from

disease carrying germs and poisonous elements, it can be used for irrigation of farms, gardens and other

vegetations.

For the removal of germs and toxic elements, the waste water or sewage is treated in a tank or in ponds

for several days. In doing so, the heavy particles settle down to the bottom by themselves, while the finer

particles are made to settle down by adding alum and caustic soda. The clear liquid is then allowed to

pass through filters or sand or earth and finally air is blown through it. This treatment not only removes

carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, which is generally dissolved in waste water, but also adds oxygen

to the filtered water, thus helping in purification. Treatment of water with appropriate doses of chlorine,

known as chlorination, kills all the harmful germs and makes water usable.

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Growing of algae or water hyacinth, a wild plant that grows in floating masses in rivers, lakes etc.

serves a double purpose. It cleans the water of pollutants like phosphates and nitrates that act as

nutrients for these plants, and these plants can also be utilised for the production of biogas.

Solid waste

Solid waste in some cases can be a resource. A good example is the factory at Yokohama in Japan

which is engaged in converting waste paper into toilet paper. In our country, the main street of Patna city

is being illuminated by biogas produced from night soil of the city dwellers. In Delhi, the sewage

treatment plant produces cooking gas. Fermentation of wastes such as cattle dung, human excreta,

garbage and aquatic weeds like algae and water hyacinth, produces biogas, which can be used for a

variety of purposes.

Fermentation takes place at temperatures between and and gases produced are predominantly

methane and carbon dioxide with a small quantity of hydrogen sulphide and nitrogen.

Slag, a waste product left when the metal has been extracted from its ore, can be powdered and added

to cement for construction. Flyash is another material used as a valuable cementing material.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

December, 2012

Note: All questions of section-A are compulsory. In sections - B and C, give answers as per

instructions given.

SECTION – A

Q1. Fill in the blanks:

(a) Our main rabi crop is _______.

Ans. Wheat

(b) The technique of making rust-proof iron, and copper alloys belongs to _______ period.

Ans. Gupta

(c) _______ neurons help in taking messages from sensory organs to central nervous system.

Ans. Sensory (afferent)

(d) Flyash is used as valuable material for _______.

Ans. Building bricks

(e) As a result of soil erosion, we not only lose soil but also many _______.

Ans. Minerals

Q2. State if the following statements are true (T) or False (F):

(a) In Iron age, Indians knew how to make steel.

Ans. False

(b) Insulin, a drug to combat diabetes, is now prepared synthetically.

Ans. True

(c) The effect of hormones is faster than the nervous action.

Ans. True

(d) Intelligence is to find a single solution to a problem, and creativity is to look many possible

solutions.

Ans. False

(e) Emergence of a centralised state power in Mauryan empire led to technical developments of

those time.

Ans. True

Q3. Give short answer for the following questions (in not more than 50 words).

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(a) What are the causes of alkalinity and salinity of soil?

Ans. Soil alkalinity or salinity is a condition that results from the accumulation of soluble salts in soil.

Causes of soil alkalinity

The causes of soil alkalinity are natural or they can be man-made. The natural development is due to the

presence soil minerals producing sodium carbonate upon weathering. The man-made development is due to the application of

irrigation water (surface or ground water) containing a relatively high proportion of sodium bicarbonates)

Causes of soil salinity

Salt affected soils are caused by excess accumulation of salts, typically most pronounced at the soil

surface. Salts can be transported to the soil surface by capillary transport from a salt laden water table

and then accumulate due to evaporation. They can also be concentrated in soils due to human activity,

for example the use of potassium as fertilizer, which can form sylvite, a naturally occurring salt. As soil

salinity increases, salt effects can result in degradation of soils and vegetation.

(b) What observations led to the discovery of Neptune and Pluto? Why is the search of planet X

still on?

Ans. After observing the motion of Uranus for approximately 50 years, astronomers concluded that its

motion could not be explained by the effects of gravity of the known objects in the solar system. The

motion could only be explained if the gravity of another planet was included in the calculation. These

calculations allowed astronomers to predict the precise location of this unseen planet, and Neptune was

quickly discovered exactly where it had been predicted.

Once the moon was discovered and its orbit determined, we were able to determine the mass of Pluto

and able to estimate the size of Pluto more accurately than before. With this information, we found that

Pluto is an icy body that is much smaller than many had thought – much too small to affect the orbits of

the other planets.

Pluto’s orbit crosses that of Neptune’s. No other planetary orbits cross in this way, and it is possible

that Pluto is an escaped satellite of Neptune. Pluto’s discovery had led astronomers to believe that it was

the Planet X. But now calculations show that, the mass of Pluto is too low to cause irregularities in

Uranus’ orbit. Thus, the search for the elusive Planet X goes on.

(c) State the reasons why there were such few developments in science in British India.

Ans. The Britishers were interested only in exploiting India’s natural resources. Thus, developments

took place in a few areas like botany, Geology, Geography, etc. However, the long-standing Indian

tradition of science was destroyed. All creative thoughts were sought to be stifled by the colonial masters to

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keep the Indians backward. The local people responded by setting up institutions of their own that worked for the

popularisation of science. The freedom movement gave further impetus to this cause. Several Indian scientists received

international recognition for their work. But, above all, there emerged a conscious thinking about using science and technology

for the benefit of all Indians.

(d) What features in Indian society led to the decline of science in post-Gupta period?

Ans. Go to Dec-2010, [Link].-3(i)

(e) Explain the term artificial intelligence.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(v)

SECTION – B

Answer any eight questions. Limit your answer to 100 words for each question.

Q4. Describe the achievements of Bronze age in broad areas of quantitative science.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(I)

Q5. Explain the terms producers, consumers and decomposers by giving appropriate examples.

Discuss their relationships.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-6 (b)

Consumers: Any organism that can’t make its own food.

Consumers have to feed on producers or other consumers to survive. Deer are herbivores, which mean

that they only eat plants (Producers). Bears are another example of consumers. Black bears are

omnivores and scavengers, like skunks and raccoons, which means that they will eat just about anything.

In a forest community, Black Bears will eat blueberries, bugs, acorns, and many kinds of nuts.

Relationship: Producers like plants make their own food, which are in turn eaten by the primary

consumers like herbivores. Secondary consumers, on the other hand, eat the herbivores. Decomposers

make up the last part of food chains. They eat nonliving plant and animal remains.

Q6. What are the important environmental considerations that should be taken into account

while implementing technology policy?

Ans. The important environmental considerations that should be taken into account while

implementing technology policy are:

(a) Making the Air less followed: This can be done by controlling the combustion processes. For this,

the chimney must be high enough to ensure that the gases don’t spoil our environment. These chimneys

must also be filled with pollution reducing mechanisms.

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(b) Disposing of Solid Waste: For e.g. the ash from thermal power plants or the waste from cement

factories should be properly disposed off.

(c) Trailing Industrial Effluent: Effluents, that are discharged from chemical factories into river or

oceans should be appropriately treated to make them free from toxic materials

(d) Prevention of soil erosion: Through social forestry, farm forestry, grassland and wasteland development,

measures must be taken to control soil erosion.

Q7. [Link] mentioned

by you.

Ans. There are many waste products that can be reused after recycling, these includes waste water, solid waste, etc.

Treatment of wastewater is actually a remarkably simple process that utilizes very basic physical, biological, and chemical

principles to remove contaminants from water.

Physical Systems

Physical processes are the first step in the water recycling process. Raw sewage passes through bar

screens which are simply metal rods immersed in the influent flow to separate large objects such as

sticks and rags from the water. They are used to protect pumps and other rotating mechanisms further

in the treatment process. After the water passes through bar screens, it enters a grit chamber. Here the

influent flow is slowed so that sand and gravel simply fall to the bottom of the chamber. Primary clarifiers

allow further slowing of the wastewater so that settleable organics precipitate to the bottom while fats,

oils, and greases float to the top. These physical processes remove approximately half of the

contaminants in wastewater.

Biological Systems

Biological processes remove most of the rest of the contaminants. Water flows into aeration basins

where oxygen is mixed with the water. Microorganisms consume the organic material as food, greatly

reducing the BOD in the water. They convert non-settleable solids to settleable solids and are later

themselves captured in final clarifiers, ending up in wastewater biosolids. Many operators of WRC’s

consider themselves “bug farmers”, since they are in the business of growing and harvesting a healthy

population of microorganisms. Since the process is biological, any chemical or substance harmful to life

can interfere with the operation of a water recycling plant. This is why cities prohibit discharges of

untreated industrial wastes to sewers and promote education among citizens regarding the harmful

effects that dumping household chemicals. When the water recycling plant cannot operate properly

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because chemicals are killing the microorganisms, water reuse programs are jeopardized and the quality

of water discharged to receiving streams is lowered.

Chemical Systems

After the bugs do their work, chemical systems such as chlorine contact chambers are used to kill the

remaining microorganisms not captured in final clarifiers. It is not desireable to have residual chlorine in

the rivers and lakes, however, so often chlorine is then removed using sulfur dioxide (SO 2). This protects

the aquatic life in the receiving stream. Using and storing highly toxic chlorine gas poses risks, so many

facilities are beginning to use ultraviolet radiation instead of chlorine to provide final disinfection of water.

The point where treated water is discharged into a stream or body of water is called the outfall.

Q8. Comment briefly on the advancements made in Indian agriculture in:

(a) Arid zones

Ans. Arid and semi-arid or subhumid zones are characterized by low erratic rainfall of up to 700mm

per annum, periodic droughts and different associations of vegetative cover and soils. The chief arid areas

of our country are confined to Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Ladakh. The area covered by them is

400,000 square kilometres. There is a considerable scope of growing fruit trees like ber, kikar,

pomegranate and fuel wood in arid zones. Barrenness and low temperature limit the agricultural season

to about five months in a year. Therefore, crops which require a short period to mature and can withstand

severe cold are grown. Excellent breeds of cattle, sheep and goats and handy animals like camel are also reared in

these regions. In the hot regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana, there is abundance of sunshine which causes high rate of

evaporation. Many of these areas, however, have inadequate reserves of ground water which need to be scientifically tapped. In

these areas, the rainfall is high unpredictable and varies. Nevertheless, many excellent breeds of cattle, sheep and goats are

found in these regions. At many places, the cattle even out-number human population. This region is also endowed with very

well-adapted grasses and trees and the lands are amendable to management. While the population of grazing animals is

increasing every year, the area used for grazing is decreasing because more and more of it is diverted for raising crops. There is

need to reverse this trend which is likely to disturb the ecological balance.

(b) Hilly regions

Ans. In the hilly regions of our country, tribals practise an age-old methods of cultivation known as jam or slash-and-

burn or podu cultivation. Under this system, a patch of land on the hills is cleared of vegetation, and the plants are burnt. This

ash was mixed with soil, which can support millet crop. This gives a modest yield to meet the immediate needs of the tribal

farmer. When the crop is harvested, the land is abandoned and the tribals shift to adjoining areas, where the process is

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repeated. In about five years, the first piece of land put under slash-and-burn cultivation, by and large, recovers its natural

fertility and supports shrub vegetation. The tribals come back to this land and start their primitive method once again. All this

sounds very good, but actually it is not so. This system worked well, in the days when the population was small and shrub

jungles were plentiful.

Q9. What is meant by lead times of a scientific discovery? Explain giving two examples.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(IV)

From the Indian example we can say, that in such sophisticated areas like nuclear science and

technology and nuclear power production, our lead times have been very short. This was possible as

appropriate facilities were created, resources were made available, and scientific responsibility clearly

given to an organisation. On the other hand, in agricultural technology, India is one of the most backward

countries in the world, in spite of the fact that 70% of our population lives on agriculture and our primary

products are our major foreign exchange earners.

Q10. Explain how vaccination helps to resist diseases.

Ans. Vaccines protect us by preparing our immune system to recognize and fight serious, and

sometimes deadly, diseases.

A vaccine contains a specific part of a germ (bacteria or virus), called an antigen. The antigen is killed or

disabled before it’s used to make the vaccine, so it can’t make us sick. Vaccines, and the antigens they

contain, stimulate our immune system’s B cells to develop protective substances called antibodies. These

antibodies are responsible for killing germs that enter our body. Once activated, B cells can stay in our

body for a lifetime and allow our body to remember the germ that stimulated their creation. Throughout

our life, these cells will recognize and fight the actual disease caused by the germ when and if we come

into contact with it.

Q11. StatethedevelopmentsthathelpedtheadvancesofscienceandtechnologyduringRenaissance.

Ans. Go to Dec-2011, [Link].-4 (b)

Q12. What is the ideal way of pest management?

Ans. Integrated pest management (IPM), also known as Integrated Pest Control (IPC) is a broad-based

approach that integrates a range of practices for economic control of pests. IPM aims to suppress pest populations below the

economic injury level (EIL). The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN defines IPM as “the careful consideration of all

available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest

populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to

human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-

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ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.” Entomologists and ecologists have urged the adoption of IPM

pest control for many years. IPM allows for a safer means of controlling pests. This includes managing insects, plant pathogens

and weeds.

Q13. Discuss the factors that affect the psychological stability of an astronaut in space.

Ans. Human beings have to travel in the most unnatural circumstances. If there is a single astronaut,

he has absolutely no company for as long as he travels and most unfamiliar scenes, i.e. looking out of the

window, he sees nothing except stars. This loneliness and absence of sensations from outside has been found to be a

source of great mental stress. Man is a social animal and he has to receive sensations through his eyes, ears, nose, skin, etc. to

feel normal. Travelling in a satellite, one feels “weightless” if we turn a glass upside down the liquid does not fall out. So, food

also does not naturally move down the throat even water is not easy to swallow. If seems our whole body (digestive system and

even blood circulation) is accustomed to earth’s gravity, and if it is nullified, we cannot be at ease.

Thus, our body and mind are attuned to live under normal conditions of pressure, gravity, sensations

and communication. Abnormal physical environment puts out system under great stress, which shows

serious physical as well as psychological effects. But many of these aspects have come to light only

because space had to be conquered and human beings had to get adjusted to new living conditions. If a

colony is made on the moon or elsewhere, there will be other conditions to be experienced and hopefully

man will prove equal to the task.

SECTION – C

Answer any four questions. Limit your answer upto 200 words for each question.

Q14. What is biotechnology? Describe its main techniques. List any two applications each in the

fields of agriculture and medicine.

Ans. “Biotechnology” means the application of science and engineering in the direct or indirect use of

living organisms, or parts or products of living organisms, in their natural or modified forms. This term is

very broad and includes the use of traditional or conventional breeding, as well as more modern

techniques such as genetic engineering. The two main techniques in biotechnology are (a) genetic

engineering and (b) enzyme immobilisation. The most ancient biotechnological art is fermentation. Living micro-organisms have

been used for centuries to make curds, condiments, cheese and vinegar, to prepare dough for bread and to brew alcohol. But

today biotechnology provides much more simple processes with the help of powerful microscopes and carefully done

experiments in the laboratory, we have came to understand that the microbes involved in these processes are small

biochemical factories. And they can be used for a variety of purposes, related to health, medicine, food, pollution control, etc.

Applications of biotechnology in the field of medicine:

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(a) Use of genetic engineering and enzyme mobilisation in the field of medicine.

(b) Artificial nitrogen fixation, tissue culture of plants, breeding of improved plants is some applications

of biotechnology in medicine agriculture.

Now, Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-7 (b)

Q15. State and explain the ways by which communication media can help minimise inequalities

in society.

Ans. Communication media plays a very vital role in identifying and minimising inequalities in society.

With the help of proper communication media people living in different countries can easily share their

understanding and knowledge. In the present scenario of communication media there are mobile phones,

telephones and a very fast growing source is that of Internet, which hardly take a second or so in

communicating. With the help of Internet facility a man sitting at the extreme end of the world can

identify and share his thoughts without wastage of time as well as money. It is also very much possible to

have a balanced and equitable sharing of information between the developed and the developing

countries, which is identified and minimise inequalities in society.

Followings ways by which communication media can help minimise inequalities in society are:

(a) The main reason of inequality is that of lack of education, but the media like Television, Radio are

telecasting/broadcasting some educational programmes to wash the mind of people against inequality.

(b) Campaigning with the help of trained young boys and girls.

(c) Personal interaction with poor people.

(d) By carrying out surveys along with local people.

(e) Meeting with ‘Pradhan/Sarpanch’ of the villages and getting them apprised about the facts, so that

they are able to tell the people of village.

Q16. “Science influences social adifice, and in turn society influences scientific developments”.

Justify the statement.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-19

Q17. What do you understand by biological evolution? Explain, with the help of appropriate

diagram, how biological evolution has taken place.

Ans. Biological evolution refers to the cumulative changes that occur in a population over time. These

changes are produced at the genetic level as organisms’ genes mutate and/or recombine in different ways

during reproduction and are passed on to future generations. Sometimes, individuals inherit new

characteristics that give them a survival and reproductive advantage in their local environments; these

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characteristics tend to increase in frequency in the population, while those that are disadvantageous

decrease in frequency. This process of differential survival and reproduction is known as natural

selection. Non-genetic changes that occur during an organism’s life span, such as increases in muscle

mass due to exercise and diet, cannot be passed on to the next generation and are not examples of

evolution.

We must have seen mushrooms sprouting under the trees during the rainy season. These and the

unicellular yeast are members of the Kingdom Fungi. They are placed in a separate kingdom because they

are one of the most complex organisms that feed on decaying organic matter. Some fungi are also

parasitic causing serious diseases in plants, animals and human beings while some fungi have given us

the most useful group of medicines, i.e. antibiotics. We must have heard about penicillin, streptomycin,

etc. are produced by fungi. The next two kingdoms, Plants and Animals, evolved later as a result of

adaptations to the changing environment of the earth. Plants began to evolve about 600 million years ago

and most of these organisms possess a green pigment, chlorophyll, which helps them in manufacturing

their own food by the process of photosynthesis. They first appeared in the seas as unicellular algae. The

green algae are believed to be ancestral links to the land plants like gymnosperms, i.e. non-flowering

plants and angiosperms or flowering plants. Today, these plants are diversified and increased in numbers

tremendously.

eukaryotic
eukaryotic multicellular eukaryotic
multicellular ingest multicellular
photosynthesize motile absorb
nonmotile sexual nonmotile
sexual sexual

Animals
Fungi

Plants
eukaryotic
unicellular
or multicellular
absorb, ingest or
photosynthesise sexual
Protists
and asexual
prokaryotic
unicellular
absorb or photosynthesize
motile or nonmotile
Monera asexual

Fig. Classification of Kingdoms

While plants are multicellular organisms, which synthesise their food through photosynthesis, animals

are multicellular organisms that survive on food produced by the plants. The animals are divided into

invertebrates or animals without a backbone and vertebrates, i.e. animals with a backbone. It is possible to

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arrange the various animal groups so that one can see an increase in their complexity. The insects and worms are

invertebrates, while the fishes, frogs, toads, snakes, birds and mammals like cows, deer, horses, elephants and even man, all

belong to the group–vertebrates.

Thus, we see that biological evolution proceeds slowly and over these billions of years, various species

have evolved and have adapted themselves to their environment.

Q18. What are the reasons for declining forest area in our country? Discuss the problems associated with

depletion of forest cover. Name the states in India where maximum deforestation has occurred.

Ans. Our population is increasing geometrically therefore, there is an increased demand for the basic

requirements of man such as food, clothes, shelter, etc. to meet the increasing demand of natural

resources we have to expand the nature for natural resources like trees, forests to a greater extent than

they can be regenerated. So, due to increasing demand for shelter, raw materials and food items, humans have to cut

trees at a faster rate due to which the area under forests is declining. The cause for cutting down forests is directly associated

with the high demand for wood to manufacture paper products and lumber for other manufacturing. Another major direct

cause for forest depletion is simply burning forests for farmland.

The Major Problems associated with depletion of forest cover are:

(a) Deforestation makes the fertile soil into a barren land

which is unsuitable for growing vegetation.

(b) Less rainfall in the area.

(c) Sharp decrease in the soil fertility.

(d) Destruction of natural habitat for wildlife.

(e) Creation of disturbance in water and nutrient cycles.

(f) Soil erosion.

(g) Frequent flooding in the area.

States where maximum deforestation has occurred are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil

Nadu, Rajasthan, etc.

Q19. Enumerate the various features of scientific knowledge. Elaborate each one of them giving

suitable examples.

Ans. The scientific knowledge is never at a standstill. It is a dynamic, and an ongoing process. It is an

ever-growing enterprise which will never end. This is because, in science, there is no single ultimate truth

to be achieved after which ail the scientists can retire. A remarkable feature of scientific knowledge is that

it is never complete. The more we add to this knowledge, the more questions arise about the unknown

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mysteries of nature. New information is, thus, continuously gathered. New theories arise if new facts can’t

be explained by the existing ones. Practitioners of science can never lay claim to a complete or ultimate

knowledge. We have seen that science is not static. Going a step further, we may say that scientific

knowledge is also not immutable. Nothing can remain unchallenged in science. In fact, some of the most

honoured scientists are those who try to alter, modify or replace existing theories by providing

revolutionary evidence or argument. In this sense, science is a self-correcting enterprise, i.e. it is open to

change. Many hypotheses proposed by scientists turn out to be wrong. Science is generated by and

devoted to the idea of free inquiry, the idea that any hypothesis, no matter how strange, deserves to be

considered on its merits. Thus, science is not dogmatic. It does not unreasonably insist on standing by

preconceived notions, concepts or ideas that have been proved wrong through careful experimentation.

Science progresses by disproving. It has no high priests who cannot be questioned. What would be

considered highly undesirable in science is the unquestioned acceptance of things as they are. Any new

discovery, finding or interpretation of phenomena is carefully scrutinised, discussed and verified by the

scientific community before its general acceptance. In this sense, the scientific ‘truths’ are truths by

consensus, and, therefore, always tentative. The consensus is arrived at after carefully following the

method of science. But, if new facts emerging from the natural world challenge this ‘truth’, scientists are

always ready to re-examine their theories. Last but not the least, scientific knowledge is objective. That is,

scientific results are repeatable and verifiable by anyone anywhere if proper facilities are available. This

feature of science is related to the ultimate test of any scientific statement; that it should be in accord

with the observations of the natural world. Science prefers hard facts to the dearest illusions of scientists.

To be accepted, all new ideas must survive rigorous standards of evidence. Sometimes it takes years, or

even hundreds of years, before the ideas are verified. Nonetheless, in the long run, no brilliant arguments,

high authority or aesthetic appeal can save a scientific theory which disagrees with experiment or

observation of nature.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

June, 2012

Note: All questions of section-A are compulsory. In sections - B and C, give answers as per

instructions given.

SECTION – A

Q1. Fill in the blanks:

(a) The decimal system of numbers was discovered in _______ period.

Ans. Bronze Age

(b) Deficiency of Vitamin A causes ________.

Ans. Night blindness

(c) Cloning of animals has been possible due to advances in _______.

Ans. Biotechnology

(d) IQ measures a person’s _______.

Ans. Mental age

(e) The non-conventional renewable source of energy that can be trapped for domestic and

industrial use is _______.

Ans. Solar energy

Q2. State if the following statements are True (T) or false (F).

(a) Nuclear wastes are persistent pollutants.

Ans. True

(b) Chicken pox is water borne disease.

Ans. False

(c) Use of steam powered engine led to the Industrial Revolution.

Ans. True

(d) The mass of resulting nucleus is the same as the sum of masses of fusing nuclei, in nuclear

fusion.

Ans. True

(e) The INSAT series of satellites are used only for telecommunication.

Ans. False

Q3. Give short answers for the following questions (in not more than 50 words):

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(a) State two innovations made in the field of technology in Medieval India.

Ans. Technical Innovations of medieval India are as follows:

Belt-drive: It is a comparatively simpler device than gearing for transmission of power and for

increasing or decreasing the speed of motion. Belt-drive came to India in the form of the spinning wheel,

which has resulted in reducing the prices of yarn and, thus of cloth.

Paper manufacture: Paper was not used in India until the eleventh century. This first century AD

invention of Chinese reached India mainly through the Ghorian conquerors. Once introduced, its

manufacture spread rapidly and by the middle of the fourteenth century, paper became very cheap, which

was not only used in writing but also for wrapping purposes by the sweetmeat sellers.

(b) Differentiate between quasars and pulsars.

Ans. The difference is in that pulsars are highly magnetized neutron stars while a quasar is a powerful nucleus.

The pulsar emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio waves and creates an effect known as lighthouse

effect. A quasar is known to be a very large object and it emits radio waves as matter is dragged into it.

(c) Give the applications of optical fibres in medicine and telecommunication.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-3(a)

(d) Name two areas where we do not depend on imported technology.

Ans. Areas where we do not depend on imported technology are nuclear science and missile

technology.

(e) What are the salient features of mixed and relay-cropping systems?

Ans. In mixed cropping system, numbers of crops which are compatible in nature are sown together in the field. Whereas

in the relay cropping system, one crop is harvested before the second one is sown.

SECTION – B

Answer any eight questions. Limit your answer to 100 words for each question.

Q4. “The Theories of science are influenced by the general intellectual atmosphere and ideas

prevailing in the society”. Justify the statement with the help of suitable examples.

Ans. Major advances in science occurred when a particular theory was proved or disproved. However,

in science, theory is intimately linked with practice. It has often happened that an important theory

became very formal and came to be used mechanically, without any fresh ideas or new approaches. Then

a new contact with practical experience brought forth its limitations. And it had to be modified or rejected,

leading to another major advance in science.

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We have also seen that the level of practical application of science in a society depends on the prevailing

social conditions. For example, there are scientific methods to prevent births and control population, but

social conditions in many countries do not allow such an application of science. Or, in agriculture,

mechanisation could increase productivity. But, in the regions where farmers have small pieces of land,

mechanisation is not possible.

Similarly, the theories of science are also influenced by the general intellectual atmosphere in the

society in which scientists works. It often happens that a theory which fits into the general intellectual

atmosphere and so is accepted universally, impedes further scientific advance. New theories based on

newly discovered facts may be radically different from the existing ones. Therefore, they come into conflict

with the prevailing ideas and social thought. This conflict has, in the past, even resulted in the

persecution of scientists.

Q5. State five factors that cause water pollution.

Ans. The factors that cause water pollution are as follows:

(a) Insecticides: Insecticides are chemicals that are sprayed onto crops to kill the insects that eat crops. One of

the more poisonous insecticides are DDT and organo-phosphates. Some specialists believe that these insecticides have caused

even greater environmental damage and that they are more toxic. Insecticides are easily washed by the excess water and rain

into streams and groundwater where they poison fish and domestic animals and also pollute food chain.

(b) Fungicides: Copper and mercury are two heavy metals, which are found in fungicides. Fungicides

are also sprayed on crops and easily washed into rivers. These heavy metals are toxic to biological life

including the people who may have to drink from the polluted water bodies.

(c) Fertilisers and Sewage: Some chemicals like fertilisers are made up of substances that do occur

naturally in the environment, but only in small amounts. When too much fertiliser is washed from

farmlands into a river then that water will also become polluted. Human sewage or cattle excrement that

is untreated also causes water pollution in the same way as fertilisers do.

(d) Chlorine and Detergents: Paper and pulp mills and textile factories are amongst the worst water

polluters. Paper and pulp mills use up large amounts of water and produce a lot of polluted wastewater.

The wastewater contains strong chemicals such as chlorine, which is used to make paper white and soft.

Textile factories also release strong chemicals like caustic soda, acids, dyes and detergents into water.

(e) Detergents: Detergents are excessively used in industries and household as cleaning agents. The

amount of disposed detergents in waste water is increasing day by day. This waste water when discharged

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in rivers or sea greatly affects aquatic life. The detergent contents of waste water mobilize the bound toxic

ions of heavy metals like Pb, Cd and Hg from sedimentary rock into water.

Q6. Explain the term ergonomics. List two examples where application of ergonomics can

improve the output.

Ans. Go to Dec-2010, [Link].-1

Two examples where application of ergonomics can improve the output:

• The typewriter’s keyboards have been designed so that the letters that are most often used are easier

to reach.

• Brooms with long handles do not strain the back as much as short handles.

Q7. Describe two evidences that support the evolution of homo sapiens.

Ans. Palaeontological Evidence

Palaeontology is a branch of earth sciences, which is essentially a study of plant and animal life in the

past geological periods, millions of years ago. It deals with the successive plants and animals which have

inhabited the earth since the earliest times. Evidence of their existence is left in the form of skeletons and

bones buried in the rocks. These are known as fossils. Crucial evidence of human evolution is provided by

the study of these fossils.

Sometimes, the buried body and the skeleton of an animal disintegrate entirely. If the surrounding

material is sufficiently firm, a cavity may remain, having the exact outlines of the structures that

disappeared. Such a cavity is called mold, Similar to molds are the impressions. These are left by extinct

objects or parts of the body upon the surrounding material. The impression is made while the

surrounding material is soft, like footprints in clay or lava. Footprints of extinct animals are also

impressions affording valuable information about the animals that made them.

Archaeological Evidence

The study of human antiquities, especially of prehistoric period is known as archaeology. The biological

and cultural evolution of man proceeded side by side and the two influenced each other. Like the physical

remains of man, his cultural remains also lie buried in the ancient deposits. Often, the two categories of

evidence are found together in the same layers of the rock. With the passage of time, and the increasing

capacity of his brain and development in other bodily organs, man’s culture became more and more

varied and complex. He learnt the use of new materials for making tools and developed new techniques

for improving them. The use of tools had a tremendous impact on increased access to food and therefore

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on cooperative living in colonies. In many areas, archaeological remains show reindeer to be the principal

source of meat they ate.

Q8. What do you understand by Big Bang theory? Give one evidence in support of this theory.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-7

Q9. What factors were responsible for the breakdown of feudal economy?

Ans. Several factors which were responsible for the breakdown of feudal economy are as follows:

(a) Itinerant Merchant: From the eighth century onward a class of itinerant or roving merchants arose,

who would move from village to village with their merchandise. This class brought the first breath of

commerce and commercial intercourse to a Europe which had sunk to an almost tradeless and self-

sufficient manorial organization by weaving a web of economic interdependence.

(b) Urbanisation: Federal system was essentially rural and agrarian. But since the eleventh century,

slowly tons were rising. The towns developed as independent entities outside the main framework of social

power. These towns had their own code of law and own institutions in contrast to the feudal countryside.

The cities were the vessels of civilization. They were like “free oases in an unfree society.” The

spontaneous growth of urban life provided a strong stimulus to monetization and commercialization of

the Europe society.

(c) The Crusades: The crusades during the 11th and 12th centuries also helped in the slow evolution of

a market society. The crusades acted as a bridge of contact between the “slumbering society of European

feudalism, with all its rural inertia, its aversion to trade and its naïve conceptions of business” and the

“brilliant society of Byzantine and Venice, with its urban vitality, its unabashed enjoyment of money

making and its sophisticated business ways.” The crusades provided a new economic impetus. The

crusades discovered a new means of wealth in money in the place of land. The crusades thus played a

significant role in shaking a sluggish feudal society out of its put and thus hastened the economic

transformation of Europe.

(d) The Growth of National Power: We had seen earlier that feudalism was born out of the

disintegration of the old Roman Empire in Europe. The areas of govt. were isolated and

compartmentalized. Trade was extremely hampered due to the absence of a unified market. But gradually

a process of political unification set in. There was more and more of centralization of power. This gave rise

to unified legal and monetary system, paying the way for the development of trade and industry. During

the 16th century there was an intellectual and scientific awakening leading to an age of exploration.

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Various explorations led to the established of colonies in India, Africa and the Americas. All these

provided a magnificent commercial stimulus on Europe.

Q10. Why is social forestry important for a farmer?

Ans. Social forestry means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands

with the purpose of helping in the environmental, social and rural development. With the introduction of

this scheme, the government formally recognised the local communities’ rights to forest resources and is

now encouraging rural participation in the management of natural resources. Through the social forestry

scheme, the government has involved community participation, as part of a drive towards afforestation

and rehabilitating the degraded forest and common lands.

Thus, need for a social forestry scheme was felt as India has a dominant rural population that still

depends largely on fuelwood and other biomass for their cooking and heating. This demand for fuel wood

will not come down but the area under forest will reduce further due to the growing population and

increasing human activities. Yet the government managed the projects for five years then gave them over

to the village panchayats (village council) to manage for themselves and generate products or revenue as

they saw fit.

Social forestry schemes have been started all over the country has made a considerable difference in

overall forest cover in a short time.

Q11. Mention the salient problems associated with modern agriculture.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-18

Q12. Explain the principle of remote sensing method for exploring natural resources.

Ans. Go to Dec-2010, Section-C, [Link].-5

Q13. What are the consequences of deforestation?

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-3(b)

SECTION – C

Answer any four questions. Limit your answer upto 200 words for each question.

Q14. Discuss the need for scientific approach in overall planning. In this approach what factors

should be taken into account while planning a large dam or an electric power plant?

Ans. Over the years, many more scientists all over the world will continue to challenge the theory of

succession of communities. When after repeated investigations no one can dispute the findings, the

scientific community accepts the results and refers to it as a scientific principle. In the case of the

principle relating to the succession of communities, botanists and ecologists have described the

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universality of succession as “a universal tendency towards ecological community succession which is an

orderly, progressive sequence of communities which replace each other at a given place”.

This scientific finding, together with many others, has great relevance and need to land-use planning.

For example, when changing land uses, such as the building of transmission lines, result in the clearing

of large areas of the native vegetation, the principle relating to the succession of communities is useful to

planners for an understanding of the degree and speed of regeneration possible in different regions and

climatic zones.

At present, hundreds of useful scientific principles are available for application to the land-use planning

process. For example, in ecology alone, Cain (1968) described 17 principles relating to the structure of

plant communities, 15 relating to the function of communities and 11 principles of conservation. Similarly, geology, soil

science and climatology among other natural sciences have developed many pertinent principles for land-use planning.

Besides land-use planning and management, it also requires resource planning, soil management, forest resources

management and water resources management. Thus, there is a great need for scientific approach is overall planning.

There are various factors, which should be kept in mind while planning a large dam or a thermal power

station. Some of these are as follows:

• Total capacity of the dam, thermal power and the total number of people benefiting from them.

• Location, whether away from the city or not.

• Effect on the environment.

• Number of people that will be displaced.

Q15. Describe the stages in the life cycle of a star.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-14

Q16. What are endocrine glands? List major types of endocrine glands. Give functions of any five

of them.

Ans. Endocrine glands are glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones,

directly into the blood rather than through a duct. The main endocrine glands include the pituitary gland,

pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, and adrenal glands.

Majortypesofendocrineglandswiththeirfunctions

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Glands Hormones Functions

Thyroid Thyroxine Increases metabolic rate
Pituitary ACTH Adrenal control
FSH Gonad regulation
Pancreas Insulin Enables body to
metabolise sugars,
regulate storage of fats
Ovaries Estrogen Regulates functions of
uterus, Promotes
secondary sexual
characters
Testes Testosterone Promotes growth of
primary and secondary
characteristics in male

Q17. What measures are being taken in India to encourage research in science and technology

and their application in industry?

Ans. The following measures being taken in India to encourage research in Science and technology and

their applications in industry are:

(a) Invention of new process of production.

(b) Improvements as the existing one.

Technology is essential for our industry. Our country desperately needs to improve our productivity.

Traditional methods cannot help us to improve our productivity beyond a certain limit. And even this limit

will not be sufficient to provide food and essentials to our increasing population. Our manual work cannot

attain the same level of accuracy and precision as that achieved by machines. To achieve high standard in

the quality of our products we have to take the help of technology. In this respect, India should follow the

example of Japan. If some other countries have already developed modern technologies we should try and

import them to develop our industry but once we have imported these technologies we should keep them

uptodate with our own R&D efforts.

Q18. List various modes of spread of diseases. Discuss any two of these modes along with

methods of prevention.

Ans. Infectious diseases and even certain contagious diseases spread through the following agencies.

(a) Air borne transmission

(b) Water borne transmission

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(c) Food borne transmission

(d) Diseases spread by Insects or other carriers

The spread of diseases like cholera and dysentery in India takes place in many ways. Diseases are

spread due to micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi by entering the body and multiplying.

As they grow and reproduce, they cause damage to the cells of the body, resulting in diseases. Dirty water

and garbage are perfect places for micro-organisms, to grow. To prevent diseases spread by micro-

organisms the first step is not to allow micro-organisms and insects that carry these organisms to breed.

For this, we must do the following activities:

(a) Our surroundings as well as our food and water must be kept clean.

(b) Water and garbage should not be allowed to accumulate at any place and do not throw in open

places.

(c) Drains and garbage dumps must be regularly cleaned and sprayed with chemicals to kill micro-

organisms and insects.

(d) Food and water must be properly stored in covered containers so that they are kept away from

micro-organisms and insects.

Q19. How do living organisms maintain a normal external and internal structure and

environment in spite of change in outside surroundings? Illustrate with an example.

Ans. Everything that affects an organism from outside during its life is collectively known as its

environmental changes. These environmental influences can be divided into two categories, the living and non-

living things that are not alive are called abiotic factors, where as that are living known as biotic factors. For example, consider a

fish in a stream, we can identify many different environmental factors that are important in its life. The temperature of water is

an important biotic factor, but it may be influenced by the presence of trees, which are biotic, along the bank of the stream that

shade the stream and prevent the Sun from heating it. Also the kind and number of organisms that serves as food for the fish

in the stream are important biotic factors.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

December, 2011

Note: Question no. 1 is compulsory. Attempt any seven questions from [Link]. 2 to 9.

Q1. (a) Fill in the blanks:

(i) Micro, mini and monsters are types of _______.

Ans. Computers

(ii) Excessive organification of a lake is called _______.

Ans. Eutrophication

(iii) Laser beams travel large distances without spreading apart due to a property called _______.

Ans. Coherence

(iv) A sudden release of a large amount of energy from the surface of the sun is called _______.

Ans. Corona

(v) _______ flow in an ecosystem is unidirectional.

Ans. Energy

(b) State whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

(i) DPT stands for Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus.

Ans. True

(ii) In relay cropping, a crop is sown before the preceding crop is harvested.

Ans. True

(iii) MIC was responsible for Bhopal disaster.

Ans. True

(iv) Stars have fixed positions in space.

Ans. True

(v) Deficiency of vitamin D causes rickets in children.

Ans. True

(c) Write short answers (in not more than fifty words each) for any ten of the following:

(i) In a food chain explain why the number of trophic levels are seldom more than four and five.

Ans. During the transfer of energy through successive trophic levels, only 10 per cent of energy is

available for the transfer to the next trophic level. If the food-chain consists of more than 5 trophic levels,

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then a negligible amount of energy is insufficient for its survival. Hence, most food chains are restricted to

four or five steps, e.g.

Grass Grass Insects Frogs Snakes Hawks

1000 J hopper 10J 1J 0.1J 0.01J
100J

(ii) List the four types of resource maps.

Ans. The four types of resource maps are as follows:

(a) Soil Maps: As the name suggests, it shows different types of soils and their composition.

(b) Mineral Maps: It shows the location of various kinds of mineral deposits.

(c) Hydrological Maps: It gives information of depth of water table.

(d) Snow-cover Maps: It gives information of snow packs on high mountains.

(iii) Which two factors determine the energy requirement of a person in a day?

Ans. The two factors determine the energy requirement of a person in a day are as follows:

• Internal or basic processes of the body which is also called Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and

• Physical activity.

(iv) Classify the following as infectious or non-infectious diseases: Leprosy, haemophilia, mumps,

arthritis.

Ans. Leprosy: Infectious

Haemophilia: Non-Infectious

Mumps: Infectious

Arthritis: Non-Infectious

(v) What is the difference between a red giant and a neutron star?

Ans. A red giant occurs when a mature star grows old and begins to run out of fuel which sustains the

fusion process to which it had become accustomed. To maintain its life, it must have more fuel- hydrogen.

A neutron star is formed as a result of a supernova explosion or the collapse of a star in the later stages

of its life that is between 1.4 to 3.0 times the mass of our Sun - a solar mass (SM).

(vi) What factors decide the broad areas of scientific activity?

Ans. The broad areas of scientific activity in a society are decided by its socio-economic conditions and

the prevailing ideological atmosphere. For instance, if, in a society, it is more important to provide for the

basic needs of the people. Science will be used to first satisfy these needs.

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(vii) What are fossils? Where have the first human fossils been found?

Ans. Fossils are the preserved evidence of past life. They may include organic remains such as wood,

shells, bones and teeth that have been buried, mineralised, and turned to stone. The first human fossils

have been found in Ethiopia’s harsh Afar Desert at a site called Aramis in the Middle Awash region.

(viii) Briefly mention any two popular means of mass communication in India.

Ans. The two popular medium for mass communication in India are:

(a) All India Radio (AIR): AIR, officially known since 1956 as Akashvani, is the radio broadcaster of

India. It was established in 1930. Today it has 229 broadcasting centres with 148 medium frequency

(MW), 54 high frequency (SW) and 168 FM transmitters. AIR broadcasts coverage is 91.79% of the area,

serving 99.14% of the people in the largest democracy of the world.

In early 60’s, the transistor revolution was largely responsible for expanding the effectiveness of radio

broadcasting because it made receivers cheaper and really portable. AIR covers 24 Languages and 146

dialects in home services. In External services, it covers 27 languages; 17 national and 10 foreign

languages. Programmes for youth, children and other special groups like, women and the rural listeners

are carried by it. As India’s National Broadcaster and also the premier Public Service Broadcaster, All

India Radio (AIR) has been serving to inform, educate and entertain the masses since it’s inception, truly

living up to its motto – ‘Bahujan Hitaya : Bahujan Sukhaya’.

(b) Films: Films are an important medium for communication. We produce over 800 films every year

and are probably, the largest producers of films in the world. The Films Division of the Government of

India produces news reels, news magazines and documentary films, while commercial films are produced

in the private sector. Commercial films claim to have social themes but most of them have entertainment.

Themes dealing with violence and sex in pictorial presentation may attract the audiences for the

moment but do not bring about “a social change” or awareness. This may be a controversial statement

and we can have our own views on this subject.

(ix) State two examples where biotechnology has helped Indian agricultural produce.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-7(b)

(x) What is ergonomics? Give one example.

Ans. Go to Dec-2010, Section-B, [Link].-1

(xi) Briefly mention the development of implements and tools during the Stone Age.

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Ans. Implements and tools used during Stone Age: (a) composite bow; (b) Skin boat; (c) grain milling

stone; (d) bow drill for boring stone; (e) weaving loom, reconstructed according to available remains and

descriptions; (f) boat hewn out of a tree trunk.

(xii) Briefly discuss the advances in the areas of Chemistry and Botany during Iron Age.

Ans. Chemistry

The level of chemical knowledge and practices in the new ordered society is reflected in the pottery, iron

tools and glass objects found at various Iron Age sites. By the fifth or the fourth century B.C., the Indian

metalworkers had attained a high degree of perfection in the techniques of producing iron and steel. Glass

objects unearthed in over 30 sites indicate that production of glass came to be known only towards the

end of this period. Ceramic bowls, dishes, lids and carinated jars (‘handis’) dated from about the sixth

century B.C. to the second century B.C. were also found in these sites. Fermentation methods, dyeing

techniques, the preparation and use of a number of chemicals and colour pigments were well known.

Botany

In the Bronze and the Iron Ages, agriculture became the principal mode of production of man in all

lands. It is, thus, not surprising that in India, botany and elementary plant physiology developed with the

advances made in agriculture. The developments in medicine also helped these sciences. For example, in

Rigvedic hymns, Atharvaveda, Taittiriya Samhita etc., scattered references are made to the following:

(a) Different parts of the plant such as mula (root), tula (shoot), kanda (stem), valsa (twigs) etc.

(b) Classification of plants such as osadhi (medicinal), valli (climber), guccha (bushy) etc., according to

their morphology and use, and

(c) Physiology of plants in terms of what nourishes a plant through addition to the soil, such as

cowdung etc.

A systematic study of botany, ‘Vrksayurveda’ by Parasara, however, came into being by only about the

first century B.C. The treatise formalised a lot of the earlier botanical and medicinal knowledge.

Q2. (a) What is the theory of Spontaneous Generation?

Ans. Spontaneous generation, the hypothetical process by which living organisms develop from

nonliving matter; also, the archaic theory that utilized this process to explain the origin of life. According

to this theory, pieces of cheese and bread wrapped in rags and left in a dark corner, for example, were

thus thought to produce mice, because after several weeks there were mice in the rags. Many believed in

spontaneous generation because it explained such occurrences as the appearance of maggots on decaying

meat.

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(b) Describe the theory of chemical evolution that explains the origin of life on earth.

Ans. Go to June-2011, [Link].-17

Q3. What is a hypothesis? Giving suitable examples, describe the inductive and deductive logic

to frame a hypothesis.

Ans. A hypothesis is a preliminary or tentative explanation or postulate by the researcher of what the

researcher considers the outcome of an investigation will be. It is an informed/educated guess. It

indicates the expectations of the researcher regarding certain variables. It is the most specific way in

which an answer to a problem can be stated.

Inductive and deductive logic

Logic is often divided into two parts, inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. The first is drawing

general conclusions from specific examples, the second is drawing logical conclusions from definitions

and axioms.

Example of inductive logic: For example, if we know that the population of a country has doubled in a

given period of time, we may use induction to hypothesise that it will double again in the same time.

Again, if we study the shadows of simple objects like triangles, rectangles and circles cast on a wall due to

light from a small bulb, we may conclude that light travels in a straight line. The conclusion is a big jump

in thinking, and it is a sweeping, general statement based on induction.

Example of deductive logic: Examples of deduction are: roses can be of any colour, hence some roses

can be red. All birds have wings; therefore, a sparrow, which is a bird, will have wings. Deductive logic is

extensively used in chemistry. For example, if a group of chemical salts exhibit some properties or

behaviour, we can safely say that any salt belonging to this group will exhibit the same property or

behaviour.

Q4. (a) What features in Indian society led to the decline of science in the post – Gupta period?

Ans. Go to Dec-2010, Section-A, [Link].-3 (i)

(b) List five significant scientific and technical developments during the Renaissance.

Ans. Study of human anatomy; representing three-dimensional figures in two-dimensions; detailed

observations of nature; pumping and hydraulic devices in mining; building new ships and instruments of

navigation; Copernican Revolution.

Q5. With the help of suitable examples, discuss the social function of science.

Ans. The events of the past few years have led to a critical examination of the function of science in

society. It used to be believed that the results of scientific investigation would lead to continuous

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progressive improvements in conditions of life; but first the War and then the economic crisis have shown

that science can be used very easily for destructive and wasteful purposes and voices have been raised

demanding the cessation of scientific research as the only means of preserving a tolerable civilisation.

The growth of science not only increases production but also leads to an improvement in the methods of

production. And when methods of production evolve and develop to a new stage, societies transform. For example, when

agriculture was the prime means of production, human habitations were scattered over large rural areas with their own

lifestyles.

But, when factory-based production became common, industrial towns grew up, because a large

number of people were working in one place, with a life very different from the rural life.

In this process of change, societies may even break up. Social classes come into conflict in this process

and create new social organisations. In Europe, at a certain stage of development, the big landlords who

jealously guarded their territories, and the merchants and tradesmen who wanted free passage through

such territories, as also common laws for large geographical areas, came into conflict. A few centuries

ago, science and industry developed together so that the growth of science and the improvement in the

methods of production were intimately related. In the present stage, science has grown to such a point

that it leads to the development of industry.

Q6. What do you mean by alternate food resources? Briefly discuss the advancements our

country has made in their production.

Ans. Alternative food sources in a world of shrinking resources are those that offer a diverse profile in

terms of availability, nutrition and other important uses. Some of the alternate food resources are cattle,

sheep, goat, pig, poultry and fish. The advancements made in different food resources are as follows:

Livestock

Livestock provide us milk, meat, eggs, wool, skins and other by-products. All these contribute about

20,000 million a year to our national economy.

India today has about 185 million cattle, 61 million buffaloes, 45 million sheep, 97 million goats, one

million horses and ponies, one million camels, about one million other livestock and 156 million poultry,

fowls, ducks, quails, turkey-birds, etc.

• Cattle: The humped, zebu cattle originated in India. The Brahman bull is a hardy disease resistant

animal that quickly gains weight is much in demand in the west for siring beef breeds. We have several

good milch, draught and dual-purpose breeds.

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Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Deoni are our milch breeds. The draught breeds include Nagari,

Kenkatha, Malvi, Hallikar, Amrith Mahal, Khillari, Kangayam, Ponwar and Siri. Among the important

dual purpose breeds are Hariana, Danji, Rewati, Ongol and Tharaparkar (or Kankrej).

Besides that, India has the best riverine (water) buffaloes in the world. Some of them like Murrah,

Mehsana, Jaffarabadi, Surti, Nili-Ravi are imported by many countries for developing animals, suiting to

their requirements.

• Milk Production: The country, today, has less than half a million good dairy cows and about 25

million buffaloes that give a medium yield of 1,000 to 1,500 litres per lactation. High-yielding breeds of

cows such as the Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss and Red Dane averaging 5,000 to 6,000 litres per

lactation and Jersey cows averaging 4,000 litres per lactation were imported and used in crossbreeding

programmes. Their progenies yield on an average about 3,000 litres of milk.

• Sheep and Goats: Income from sheep and goats sustain 12-15 million people in India living in regions

where agricultural activities are restricted.

Our common breeds of sheep are Kashmir, Gaddi, Chokla, Bhakarwal, Magra, Kali, Marwari, Bellary,

Deccani and Nilgiri. They produce short wool suitable for making carpets. Goat is considered the poor

man’s cow in India.

The milk-breeds of goat such as Toggenberg, Saanan, Alpore and Nubian were introduced to develop better

breeds that suit our conditions. Goat meat and skin are in great demand in our country. Pashmina and Chegu breeds

produce soft and warm fibres used for making shawls and similar apparel. The Angora breed produces the valuable textile

hair called mohair. Jamunapari, Beetal, Barbari, Black Bengal, Deccan and Malabari are other quality breeds of goat.

• Pigs: The pig is nature’s protein factory on land. It has the capacity to turn most of its feed into high-

quality protein. To improve the productivity of indigenous pigs, breeds like White Yorkshire, Landrace,

Tamworth and Berkshire have been introduced.

Poultry

During the last two decades, our poultry industry has shown a phenomenal growth. The value of our

poultry products today is about 9,000 million. The growth of production during the last decade is 400 per

cent that is unmatched either by any branch of agriculture or industry. Some of the best broiler strains

are B 77, JBL 80, IBB 83, ILI 80 and ILI 82.

Almost all the world’s fowls trace their origin to the Red Jungle Fowl of India. In addition to our famous

Assel breed, we have Kadaknath, short-legged Nicobari and large number of diverse hardy breeds. Ducks

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constitute about 10 per cent of the total poultry population and deserve more attention than given at

present.

Fisheries

Marine and freshwater fishes are an excellent source of animal protein. In 1984, we produced about 3

million tonnes of fish, ranking eighth in the fish-producing countries of the world. Our production can

still be increased up to 12 million tonnes, because we have a long coastline and a large adjoining area of

water.

• Marine Fisheries: Our present catch from the seas is about 1.2 million tonnes. Improved techniques

have been devised for the culture of mussels, pearl, oysters, shrimps, lobsters and seaweed. Mechanised

fishing boats and vessels have also been introduced, together with facilities for cold storage and canning.

• Inland Fisheries: Inland fisheries are categorised as of ‘capture’ or ‘culture’ type. Capture fisheries

refer to the catch from rivers and reservoirs. Pond culture of fish is conventional in our country and the

average production is about 600 kg per hectare in a year.

Q7. (a) Discuss the aspects of management of water resources.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-8

(b) Describe the notable contributions in science during Freedom Movement.

Ans. Go to June-2011, [Link].-16

Q8. (a) Why has Global warming become a serious issue?

Ans. The cost and benefits of global warming will vary greatly from area to area. For moderate climate

change, the balance can be difficult to assess. But the larger the change in climate, the more negative the

consequences will become. Global warming will probably make life harder, not easier, for most people.

This is mainly because we have already built enormous infrastructure based on the climate we now have.

People in some temperate zones may benefit from milder winters, more abundant rainfall, and

expanding crop production zones. But people in other areas will suffer from increased heat waves, coastal

erosion, rising sea level, more erratic rainfall, and droughts.

The crops, natural vegetation, and domesticated and wild animals (including seafood) that sustain

people in a given area may be unable to adapt to local or regional changes in climate. The ranges of

diseases and insect pests that are limited by temperature may expand, if other environmental conditions are

also favorable.

The problems seem especially obvious in cases where current societal trends appear to be on a

“collision course” with predictions of global warming’s impacts.

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At the same time that sea levels are rising, human population continues to grow most rapidly in flood-

vulnerable, low-lying coastal zones; places where famine and food insecurity are greatest in today’s world

are not places where milder winters will boost crop or vegetation productivity, but instead, are places

where rainfall will probably become less reliable, and crop productivity is expected to fall; the countries

most vulnerable to global warming’s most serious side effects are among the poorest and least able to pay

for the medical and social services and technological solutions that will be needed to adapt to climate

change.

(b) What is aging? Discuss different symptoms of aging.

Ans. Go to June-2011, [Link].-12

Here are many different signs and symptoms of aging. Most of these develop gradually and are very

diverse, but it should be remembered that it is not possible to diagnose aging based on isolated signs and

symptoms alone. Different people possess widely varying degrees of these signs and symptoms. Some of

these include:

An overall decrease in energy and vigor; The tendency to become easily tired; Changes in sleeping

patterns; Decreased memory; Behavioural changes; Skin and hair changes such as wrinkles, brown spots

on the skin, loss of skin elasticity, and hair loss affecting the limbs; Changes in hair colour; A loss or

decrease in vision and hearing; Changes in bowel function; Decrease in libido; Sexual dysfunction;

Urinary problems such as incontinence, dribbling, and changes in frequency of urination; Changes in

menstrual cycle; Abdominal obesity and inability to lose weight.

Q9. (a) What has been the impact of population increase on environment?

Ans. Over six billion people exist on earth today and an increase of about 97 million people occurs

annually. A growing population leads to several environmental issues as well as social problems. An

increasing population can be attributed to several variables. Within countries, we can credit the growth to

increased immigration or lack of migration. Lack of education and contraceptive use and the need or

desire for more children also adds to the population. In more developed countries we can attribute the

population rises to better medical care, thus a longer lifespan and/or fewer deaths. As a result of this

overpopulation we experience social issues such as increased rates of poverty, crime, disease, and

environmental problems such as increased global warming, natural disasters, loss of habitat, pollution,

and more.

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As the 21st century begins, growing number of people and rising levels of consumption per capita are

depleting natural resources and degrading the environment. The poverty-environmental damage nexus in

India must be seen in the context of population growth as well. The pressures on the environment

intensify every day as the population grows. The rapid increase of human numbers combine with

desperate poverty and rising levels of consumption are depleting natural resources on which the

livelihood of present and future generations depend. Poverty, is amongst the consequences of population

growth and its life style play major role in depleting the environment either its fuel demands for cooking

or for earning livelihood for their survival. The unequal distribution of resources and limited opportunities

cause push and pull factor for people living below poverty line that in turn overburdened the population

density in urban areas and environment get manipulated by manifolds, consequently, urban slums are

developed in urban areas. The growing trends of population and consequent demand for food, energy and

housing have considerably altered land-use practices and severely degraded India’s forest vis-à-vis

environment also. The relationship between population growth, resource depletion and environmental

degradation has been a matter of debate for decades.

(b) What is AIDS? Discuss different modes of HIV transmission.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-1(d)(iii)

The following are the modes of HIV transmission:

Sexual Contact

Any type of unprotected intercourse with someone who is infected with HIV can transmit the virus. This

includes oral, vaginal and anal sex. The withdrawal method, in which a male withdrawals the penis

during ejaculation, is not a safe sex procedure. To protect against HIV it is important to talk to intended

sexual partners and always use protection in a non-monogamous relationship. The best form of

protection during anal and vaginal sex is condoms, and dental dams for oral sex. Simple blood tests can

be done after every sexual partner or upon deciding to enter a monogamous relationship to ensure safety

of everyone involved.

Needles

Many injectable-drug users use the same needle over and over again and will share needles. Needles

come into direct contact with the veins and retain blood. Sharing needles will someone infected by HIV

will put the infected blood directly into contact with the new vein.

Mother to Child

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A pregnant mother who has HIV can transmit the virus to the fetus or baby. The infant can become

infected in utero, during delivery or through feeding on infected breast milk.

Blood Transfusion

This was a more common way to contract HIV in the 1970s and ’80s. Since 1985 the United States has

been testing for HIV in all donated blood, blood products and organs.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

June, 2011

Note: All the questions of Section A are Compulsory. Your answers should be brief and to the

point.

SECTION – A

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

(a) Light year is the unit of _______.

Ans. Distance

(b) The study of interactions of organisms with their environment is called _______.

Ans. Ecology

(c) Excessive nourishment leading to loss of life in stagnant water is called _______.

Ans. Deoxygenation

(d) The process by which green plants produce their own food is called _______.

Ans. Photosynthesis

(e) The range of electro-magnetic radiations to which our eyes are sensitive is _______.

Ans. Paramagnetic rays

Q2. State if the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

(a) Splitting of nucleus into two parts is called fusion.

Ans. False

(b) The theory “Origin of species” was proposed by Lamarck.

Ans. False

(c) The loudness of noise is measured in Hertz.

Ans. False

(d) Hormones are secretions of ductless glands.

Ans. True

(e) Man can occupy more than one trophic level.

Ans. True

Q3. Give short answers for the following question (in not more than 50 words).

(a) Give any two roles of communication in promoting education.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-8(b)

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(b) Oceans are known as the largest and thickest ecosystems. Explain briefly.

Ans. Oceans are considered as store house of many minerals. Various minerals are found in the Sea

basins, which include some salts of sodium, magnesium, potassium, lumps of anamneses oxides,

sulphides of cobalt, nickel, copper and iron, also fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas. India

mostly uses petroleum and natural gas as a fuel. There are many petroleum resources in India. Petroleum

is used as a fuel in the vehicles, as an industrial fuel and it compensate around 60 per cent as total

energy need in India.

(c) Role of radio isotopes in dating the past.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-4 (a)

(d) Draw a well - labelled diagram of a neuron.

Ans.

(e) Major contribution of the following scientists:

(i) Galileo Galilei

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-1 (c)(i)

(ii) C.V. Raman

Ans. C.V. Raman (1988-1970) was one of the prominent personalities of the 20th century. His

contribution to science influenced the growth of science in India. He discovered that when light traverses

a transparent material, some of the light changes in wavelength. It is called the Raman Effect. He also

carried out research on the sound of musical instruments, sense of sight and the color of flowers.

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SECTION – B

Answer any eight questions. Limit your answer to 100 words for each question.

Q4. Differentiate between the renewable and non – renewable resources of energy.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-5(c)

Q5. What are the conditions that determine whether the fruits of science are used for human

good or for the destructive purpose?

Ans. Since in nature everything has two aspects good or bad. Science and technology can benefit people on one

hand, i.e. we can protect our environment, make good use of earth’s resources, provide enough food for all and cure diseases.

On the other hand, nations could develop weapons of mass destruction, for war, etc. which can destroy the life on earth.

Q6. Write the major factors which were responsible for the decline of Bronze Age civilisation.

Ans. The major factors which were responsible for the decline of Bronze Age civilisation was the

unequal distribution of the produce resulted in the rise of a dominant group of priest-kings, ‘the thinkers’

who isolated themselves from farmers and urban craftsmen, ‘the doers’. In the attempt of the priest-kings

to consolidate their power, the gulf between the two increased, leading to stagnation in society and in

science. Barbarian invasions further weakened the city states.

Q7. What developments took place in the field of astronomy in medieval India?

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-4 (a)

Q8. Write any five features of planet Jupiter.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-4 (b)

Q9. List any five advantages of using nuclear energy to fulfil our energy needs.

Ans. Advantages of using nuclear energy to fulfil our energy needs are as follows:

(i) A small amount of nuclear material can produce a lot of energy; a single kilogram (2.2 pounds) of

uranium, for example, can produce at least as much energy as 200 barrels (8,400 gallons or 31.8 m3) of

oil or 20,000 kg (44,092 pounds) of coal.

(ii) They can be sited almost anywhere unlike oil which is mostly imported.

(iii) It is used in manufacture of atomic bomb for warfare.

(iv) A small amount of matter creates a large amount of energy

Q10. What is meant by a balanced diet? Suggest the composition of a balanced diet needed by an

adult working man.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(iii)

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For adult and laborious person, a balance diet contains mixed food 475 grams, pulses 80 grams, green

vegetables 125 grams, milk 200 grams, fruit 130 grams, vegetable oil 40 grams, sugar 40 grams. The total

food should contain 2800 kilo calorie energy.

Q11. “Hypotheses are accepted as ‘laws’ only if they are supported by a great deal of

experimental evidence”. Explain by giving a suitable example.

Ans. From the observations and the results of experiments comes a good deal of scientific knowledge.

But scientific knowledge is not simply a list of such results. The results are tied up and related to each

other in the form of logical, coherent theories or laws. In general, a relationship between things covering

results of observations and experiments over a wide range of individual cases is called a law. Hypotheses

are accepted as ‘laws’ only if they are supported by a great deal of experimental evidence and there are no

known exceptions to them. Some examples of laws are as follows:

(i) In chemistry, “a chemical substance in its pure form will always have the same chemical

composition”. For example, water is always made up of the elements hydrogen and oxygen which combine

together in the ratio of 1 : 8, i.e. one part of hydrogen for eight parts of oxygen by weight. This is known

as the Law of Constant Chemical Composition.

(ii) Heat does not flow on its own from a cold body to a hot body. This is the Second Law of

Thermodynamics.

Q12. Give different factors for aging. How we can slow down this process?

Ans. Aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Aging is an integral part of the life

cycle of an organism. Even if an individual meets no fatal accident, or is not eaten up by other organisms

or does not suffer a killing disease, of Life death still comes as the natural final result of old age. We are

all familiar with the symptoms of aging in man, some of which are dry and wrinkled skin, brittle bones,

reduced blood circulation and thin shrivelled body. These outward signs of aging are the result of changes

taking place within the cells and the loss of ability of cells to divide.

During a life time, millions of cells are destroyed and replaced rapidly by the process of cell division.

When more cells are destroyed than are replaced, aging takes place. The ability of cells to divide is fixed

and is always characteristic of an organism. This explains why some animals age more rapidly than

others and have shorter life span than others. The division rate of different body cells is also specific. In

human beings, the cells, forming the skin are continually destroyed and rebuilt, while the cells

constituting the brain undergo no division at all from a time about 5-6 years after birth. Thus, the

different cell types within the same individual age at different rates.

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In recent years, much attention has been paid to study the process of aging, and how to slow it down. If

this could be done and we could remain active physically and mentally for longer periods of life span, it

would be wonderful. Physical exercises which counter sluggish blood circulation and other body

processes are known to be of some help.

Q13. With the help of an example, explain various aspects of cognitive learning.

Ans. Go to June-2010, [Link].-10

SECTION – C

Answer any four questions. Limit your answer upto 200 words for each question.

Q14. Discuss the impact of technology on environment in present day situations.

Ans. The word “technology” is a broad term and does not simply refer to high-tech inventions or

computerization, which is actually the misconception. Technology comprises the crafting of materials and

transforming them into implements that allow man to control or manipulate natural resources in order to

meet his needs. Technology dates as far back as the Stone Age, when man discovered how to make fire,

1.4 million years ago. In fact, no one could have thought back then that fire, including its wood burning

technology could create an impact on today’s natural environment through its greenhouse gas emissions.

The cavemen learned how to make fire that provided them heat, light and protection against the wild

animals that attacked them. They needed something to illuminate the darkness and to provide warmth

when the great big ball of fire started to disappear from the sky. The cavemen’s first technological tools

were stone axes and spears which were used as protection and hunting implements. Henceforth,

succeeding steps were taken to improve what was initially invented. This further made man’s living conditions better

and can be called technological advancements. The impact of technology on the environment back then was not too significant

because it was mainly utilized to improve the supply of man’s basic needs.

As years passed, technological advancement was no longer confined to the mere purpose of meeting

man’s needs for food, clothing and shelter. Different forms of technological developments described the

era of each civilization. It started from Stone Age and was elevated to the Bronze Age and finally reached

the Iron Age, which brought technological advancements in weaponry.

Neighboring countries and regions came to wage war against each other and often the victor was the

one with better technology as far as weapons were concerned. Even today, major countries spend billions

of dollars for warfare technology to ensure that no foreign leader or ruler can invade and claim a country

or territory as his own. Thus, the negative impact of technology on the environment began to surface as

more of the Earth’s natural resources and ecological habitats were being depleted or disrupted.

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Advancements in technology also brought the finer things in life, making it necessary for man to

accelerate his economic growth. Technology was used to speed up production and manufacture of goods,

to provide better transport and delivery as well as make the methods of communication not only faster

but also, far reaching. Trade and commerce flourished at faster rates due to technological advancements

and brought about globalization. As trade and commerce grew, the more it heightened the impact of

technology on natural environment wherein air, land and water reached certain degrees of pollution,

degradation and contamination.

Q15. Describe the development in science and technology in India, from the fourth century BC

to the seventh century AD.

Ans. A powerful centralised state had emerged in India by the fourth century B.C. The rising state not

only needed land for agriculture but also the methods to improve agricultural produce. They needed

mineral resources to make agricultural tools, as well as to make weapons for the huge army that was

maintained to consolidate the empire. In this process, they subjugated the tribal people and took over

their land. They also needed the help of the tribals for tilling the land and exploiting the resources. For

this, they assimilated the tribals and a cultural synthesis took place, leading to a flexibility in social

relations.

The period also saw the emergence of Buddhism and Jainism, with their liberal philosophy and outlook.

These developments provided a stimulus to the growth of science and technology in the Maurya period.

There was significant improvement in various techniques and crafts.

However, the Mauryan empire declined following Asoka’s reign. The period from about the first century

B.C. to the second century A.D. was one of the most flourishing periods in the history of crafts and

commerce in southern India. In the Gupta period, the highly centralised state power gave way to a more

flexible and local administration. The artisans and traders had their guilds and were represented in the

local administration. The Gupta kings made land grants to the Brahmins on a large scale which resulted

in the emergence of priestly landlords. These social changes led to initiative at local level. Thus, they

provided an incentive for increasing agricultural output and introducing new crafts and techniques. But,

this also resulted in lowering the status of the local tribal peasant. Mathematics and astronomy made

major advances as revealed in the works of Jaina mathematicians and astronomers like Aryabhatta. The

Gupta craftsmen distinguished themselves by their work in iron and bronze. The Iron Pillar (dated around

400 A.D.), at Mehrauli in Delhi, is a testimony of their technological skill. With the decline of Gupta

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empire, the development of science suffered a setback. Hereafter, there were a few advances made solely

by individual efforts.

Q16. Describe the impact of freedom movement on the development in science in pre-

independence India.

Ans. By the early twentieth century, the Indian society had started witnessing the first stirrings for

freedom from colonial rule. While their political aspirations led to a demand for self-rule, the frustration

resulting from economic stranglehold found expression in their insistence on using only goods made in

India. Swadeshi Movement provided further impetus for:

Promotion of education along national lines and under national control with special reference to science

and technology, industrialization of the country. In 1904, an Association for the Advancement of Scientific

and Industrial Education of Indians was formed. The object was to send qualified students to Europe,

America and Japan for studying science-based industries.

In colonial India, the environment was not conducive to higher studies, much less to research. Indians

were allowed only subordinate posts and even those who had distinguished themselves abroad were given

less salary than the Europeans of the same grade and rank. This ‘apartheid’ in science made the Indians

react strongly. J.C. Bose, the first noted Indian physicist, refused to accept this reduced salary for three

years. Not only this, till the Royal Society recognized Bose, the college authorities refused him any

research facility and considered his work as purely private. J.C. Bose was unorthodox in one more sense.

He was one of the first among the modem scientists to take to interdisciplinary research. He started as a

physicist but his interest in electrical responses took him to plant physiology.” Whether it is education,

agriculture or mining, the Congress touched several problems under its wide sweep.

Q17. Explain the theory of chemical evolution and give its scientific basis.

Ans. To understand the problem of origin of life, one must have a knowledge of the origin of ‘organic

molecules’ on the earth. In the early stages of its development, with the hot gases condensing and molten

matter which was solidifying to form what are rocks, today, the Earth acted as the huge factory,

producing many kinds of compounds. The sources of energy available for the formation of numerous type

of molecules were cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiations, electrical discharges such as lightning, radioactivity,

and heat from volcanoes and hot springs. Molecules of all sorts were being continuously created and

destroyed due to their state of agitation. The lighter gases of the atmosphere such as hydrogen, helium,

oxygen, nitrogen, etc. escaped into space unless they could combine with other elements to form liquids

or solids. In such cases they remained on the earth. In particular, oxygen could not remain as free

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oxygen. It combined with other elements to form compounds. For example, hydrogen and oxygen

combined to form water vapour, and remained in the Earth’s atmosphere. Similarly, oxygen combined

with calcium and carbon to form calcium carbonate, i.e. limestone. Again, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen

combined together to form ammonium nitrate. Compounds of carbon and hydrogen were also formed

sometimes along with nitrogen or oxygen. These compounds are, today, called “organic compounds”.

The Earth had at the same time started cooling down. As the Earth cooled sufficiently, torrential and

prolonged rains were caused due to condensation of steam. The rains began to accumulate in the

depressions on the earth and so the oceans were formed. These hot bodies of water contained abundant

and varied organic compounds washed down from the atmosphere. Continued interaction among these

compounds in the warm waters resulted in the formation of yet more compounds. The waters of this stage

of the Earth’s development have been referred to as “hot dilute soup”, which amongst other things also

contained “amino acids” having a composition of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. The molecules

of amino acids combined together to form large complex molecules, the “proteins” which are the building

blocks of life. It is from this accumulation of complex organic molecules that the first extremely simple

self-replicating molecular systems accidentally originated. Because of the property of self-replication, they

are called living organisms. The Sun’s deadly ultraviolet (UV) radiations would have killed any exposed

living molecules unless they were under the protective cover of water. Such primitive life also had a very

limited food supply, since it depended on the slow sinking of organic materials synthesised by radiation in

the upper layers of water. Thus, for millions of years, life must have existed under these special

conditions. Again, random combinations may have led to the formation of chlorophyll containing

organisms which could produce their own food by a process called photosynthesis. Such organisms had a

better chance of survival. During the process of photosynthesis, light from the Sun helps to synthesise

carbohydrates like sugar and starch out of carbon dioxide and water. Oxygen is given off in the process.

As such organisms grew and photosynthesis proceeded, the atmosphere grew richer in free oxygen. This

had a profound effect on the course of subsequent events. Oxygen when acted upon by ultraviolet

radiation, forms ozone, a gas through which ultraviolet radiation cannot pass. This happens at a height of

about 25 km above the surface of the earth, giving a protective ‘ozone layer’. We have, therefore, the

happy chain of events-more photosynthesis, more oxygen produced. And in its turn, more ozone produced

out of oxygen in the atmosphere, screens the earth from the ultraviolet radiation of the Sun. This allowed

living organisms to come to the surface of water and to survive even on land, if they got thrown out of the

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swirling and splashing water. The oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere was very significant from biological

point of view, as organisms of greater complexity and even intelligence could eventually arise.

Q18. Give the different types of agrotechniques used for increasing food production in our

country.

Ans. Cropping Systems: Since cultivable land is limited, the only way to meet our growing food needs

is by growing two or more crops in a year from the same piece of land. Such multiple-cropping practices

would generate more employment in rural areas and also fulfil our food needs. In a relay cropping system,

a crop is sown before its preceding crop is harvested. The last irrigation given to a crop also serves as a

pre-sowing irrigation to the next crop. This results in saving of water. In mixed cropping, compatible crops

like chick-pea and mustard are sown in parallel rows with wheat. Pigeonpea, mungbean, groundnut,

soybean and cowpea can be grown in between rows of either sorghum, or maize, or sugarcane or cotton.

Such intercropping system has a high production potential and generate additional employment

opportunities.

Input of Fertilisers: Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the major nutrients that plants require.

In addition, zinc, iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum and cobalt are also needed by plants in small

quantities for healthy growth. Deficiency of any of these elements reduces yields, even when all other

nutrients are available in adequate amount. But, the excessive presence of some of these nutrients may

result in toxicity to plants.

Cereals require more nitrogen than phosphorus and potash. But pulses, whose root nodules harbour

bacteria that fix nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, need adequate doses of phosphorus. As the

nutrient needs may vary not only from crop to crop but also from soil to soil. It is essential, therefore, that

the soil is tested and the required amount of nutrients supplied according to the needs of the crops.

Generalised application of commercially available fertiliser mixtures such as the one having nitrogen,

phosphorus and potassium in the ratio of [Link], is often quite wasteful and may even reduce yields.

The time and depth of application of fertilisers is also very important. Research has shown that most

farmers over-irrigate their crops when plenty of water is available. Consequently, not only precious input

water is wasted but the yields get depressed. Thus, crop management is as important as the crop variety

in releasing optimum yields.

Crop Protection: Several kinds of insects, diseases, weeds, rodents and birds may cause immense

damage to the crops both in fields and in storage. Pests are present on Earth even before man came into

existence. It is not possible to eliminate them entirely, either by developing varieties which resist attacks

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of pests or by using potent pesticides, for pests are adept in their struggle for existence and have always

countered man’s attempts to exterminate them. The integrated pest management keeps the damage due

to pests at the barest minimum. Integrated pest management will be effective when we grow resistant

varieties in regions where incidence of pests is severe, ensure that crops grown one after another do not

have common pests, instead for chemicals of pest control use biological organisms that attack the pest,

apply pesticides only when the pest population has reached its thresh-old value and take coordinated

community action on pest control in adjoining fields over harmless the whole village or block.

The war against pests is so long-drawn-out and difficult that farmers often use very high doses of

pesticides at frequent intervals. This is a dangerous tendency. Excessive dose of pesticides leave harmful

residues which find their way into the human body either directly from the consumed agricultural

products or through the milk of animals that feed on plants. It is, therefore, essential that pesticides are

applied only in recommended quantity.

Q19. Describe in detail the problems faced by any country while importing technology.

Ans. The import of technology has a lot of problems and disadvantages. Some of them are as follows:

(a) The buying of technology may be very expensive. Take, for example, the buying of the latest defence

aircraft from France. Though we have saved money on going through the various stages of research and

development, we still have to pay large sums of money to buy these aircraft outright. This is because the

price includes the developmental expenditure that France incurred in this connection.

(b) Imported technology often comes with restrictions or “political strings” attached to it by the supplier.

For example, India used to import enriched uranium from the United States to use in its fission reactors.

A time came when the US Government insisted that we sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty,

otherwise they would stop the supply. India refused to do so and argued that this was not a condition in

the original agreement. However, India’s argument was of no use, and the US stopped the supply.

(c) The supplier often unloads obsolete technology on the recipient, sometimes at a very high cost. Since

the receiving country does not have the technology, it may not even know how outdated the offered

technology may be. An example is the automobile industry in which we continue to be saddled with

models that are no more in demand in the developed countries or in the parent country. Also, since the

end of World War II, one of the major areas of industrial development has been that of domestic

conveniences, such as air conditioners, refrigerators and electronic goods like the TV, VCR, etc. Once the

domestic market in Europe & USA was saturated, markets were created in the developing countries for

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the finished products, and later, for the sale of related technologies. Since, in these areas, the

technologies are quick change ones, what is transferred to the developing countries is outdated.

(d) The receiving country may permanently have to depend on the donor country, especially in crucial

areas like defence equipment. The donor may sell a modern defence aircraft, but with the condition that

the receiver always buys the spares and ancillaries from them. This way the receiving nation will not be

allowed to be self-sufficient.

(e) When a country imports technology from more than one country for an industry, then the spare

parts may not fit into various models. For example, the technology for Maruti, Fiat and Ambassador cars

was imported from three different countries, namely, Japan. Italy and Britain; and the spare parts of one

don’t fit into the others. So the scale of production of spare parts will vary, thus increasing the cost of

production.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

December, 2010

Note: All the questions of Section A are Compulsory. Your answers should be brief and to the

point.

SECTION – A

Q1. Fill in the blanks:

(i) Johannes Kepler discovered the laws of _______.

Ans. Planetary Motion.

(ii) The disc part of the galaxy consists of _______, and clouds of dust and gas.

Ans. Water vapour

(iii) Home sapiens arose in _______ and migrated rest of old world via middle east.

Ans. Greece

(iv) Carbon dioxide is utilised during photosynthesis and released during _______.

Ans. Oxygen

(v) About 78 per cent of gaseous component of our atmosphere is _______.

Ans. Nitrogen

Q2. State if the following statements are true (T) or false (F):

(i) Carbohydrates and fats are called body-building foods.

Ans. True

(ii) Ergonomics is the study of the interaction of organisms with their environment.

Ans. False

(iii) Man occupies more than one trophic level in an eco-system.

Ans. True

(iv) Use of satellite communication has revolutionised communication technology.

Ans. True

(v) Research and development programmes are important for the growth of any industry.

Ans. True

Q3. Give short answer for the following (in not more than 50 words):

(i) Write any two factors which were responsible for the decline of science in post-Gupta period.

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Ans. (a) The emergence of small fiefdoms which encouraged a self-sufficient village economy and

discouraged trade.

(b) The caste system became rigid and firmly entrenched.

(ii) Give any two examples of materials that are used as semiconductors.

Ans. Brass, silicon

(iii) Give any four examples of plantation crops.

Ans. Rice, Tea, Coffee, Rubber

(iv) List any two bacterial and any two viral diseases of human beings.

Ans. Two bacterial diseases: Skin allergy, whooping cough

Two viral diseases: HIV (AIDS), TB.

(v) Write two applications of LASER.

Ans. The largest application is fiber-optic communication. Other common applications of lasers are bar

code readers, laser printers and laser pointers.

SECTION – B

Note: Answer any eight questions. Limit your answers to 100 words for each question.

Q1. What do you understand by science of ergonomics? How has it helped to improve the life of

humans?

Ans. Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of

interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory,

principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system

performance.”

Ergonomics is commonly thought of in terms of products. But it can be equally useful in the design of

services or processes.

It is used in design in many complex ways. However, what you, or the user, is most concerned with is,

“How can I use the product or service, will it meet my needs, and will I like using it?” Ergonomics helps

define how it is used, how it meets you needs, and most importantly if you like it. It makes things comfy

and efficient.

Q2. ‘Science has always played a crucial role in production’. Justify this statement.

Ans. Science has always played a crucial and important role in production. In the last few centuries,

the means of production have become very complex and we can refer to the Industrial age, Atomic age or

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Space age etc. on a very different basis. Early man strived to extract, fashion materials so that they could

be used as tools to satisfy his prime needs, techniques were discovered.

Social classes came into conflict in this process and create new social organisations. In Europe, at a

certain stage of development, the big land lords who jealously guarded their territories, and the

merchants and tradesman, as also common laws for large geographical areas, came into conflict. A few

centuries ago, science and industry developed together so that the growth of science and the improvement

in the methods of production were intimately related. In the present stage, science has grown to such a

point that it leads to the development of industry.

Q3. Briefly describe how development in the area of transport has affected the living style of

people.

Ans. At some early date, the sail was invented making the first use of inanimate power for locomotion.

When river transport was extended to the sea, it posed new problems of boat construction and navigation.

Due to stronger winds, there was a need of stronger fabrics for making a sail and construction of heavy

frames and structure to hold them. Woodwork had to be very strong and durable, too. The river went in a

know direction, it was like a road, but one could easily lose one’s way on the high seas. New ways of

finding location and direction had to be searched.

The rise of cities would have required heavy transportation over short distances on land. Land transport

began with the invention of pulley and wheel. Wheel was used for making carts only at that time. These

carts transported passengers and goods from one place to another. Thus, the transport affects the life of

people a lot as the development in science and technology increases.

Q4. With the help of a suitable example, explain how a persistent pollutant gets accumulated in

organism of various trophic levels.

Ans. The pollutants both degradable and conservative, which can be accumulated by organisms in

their bodies, are often called persistent pollutant. The stable pollutant is distributed in remote places through

food chains. For example DDT, a persistent pesticide, has been found even in the of Penguins of Antartica where it has never

been used.

The biomagnifications is a process where the concentration of a pollutant increases successively in the

higher trophic level along the food chains. This occurs after the pollutant gets accumulated in the lower

plant and animal life. Each organism at successively higher trophic level then feeds upon the organisms

of the lower trophic level; the food is metabolized and excreted while the persistent pollutants are

retained.

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Q5. List five essential components of land management.

Ans. The five essential components of land management are as follows:

(i) Drawing up of a land capability mal indicating soil productivity and ability to support various human

activities in rural and urban areas. This kind of map is prepared with the help of aerial photos and satellite imageries. The

map can also give information regarding the properties of rock soil and underground potentials of water reserves.

(ii) A detailed study of various aspects of land, such as type of soil, physical features of the earth’s

crust, water resource input, its distribution, utilisation, surface flow, surface storage, for example in

ponds and ground water. A programme of land use can be worked out on the basis of such information.

(iii) Changes resulting from hand use have to be monitored. This can be done by remote sensing.

(iv) Investigation and estimation anticipated intensity of natural hazards likely to threaten a particular

area of region.

(v) A comprehensive study of the programme and plan of land management with a view to preserve the

land by reducing or checking the intensity of erosion or soil sickness.

Q6. Name the virus that causes AIDS. Why does AIDS patient generally suffer from secondary

infections? What are the three ways by which AIDS can be transmitted?

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-1(d)(iii)

Q7. Briefly discuss the role of Biotechnology in agriculture.

Ans. Go to Dec-2009, [Link].-7 (b)

Q8. Briefly describe Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection.

Ans. In 1859, Charles Darwin set out his theory of evolution by natural selection as an explanation for

adaptation and speciation. He defined natural selection as the “principle by which each slight variation [of

a trait], if useful, is preserved”. The concept was simple but powerful: individuals best adapted to their

environments are more likely to survive and reproduce. As long as there is some variation between them,

there will be an inevitable selection of individuals with the most advantageous variations. If the variations

are inherited, then differential reproductive success will lead to a progressive evolution of particular

populations of a species, and populations that evolve to be sufficiently different eventually become

different species.

Darwin’s process of natural selection has four components.

(a) Variation: Organisms (within populations) exhibit individual variation in appearance and behavior.

These variations may involve body size, hair color, facial markings, voice properties, or number of

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offspring. On the other hand, some traits show little to no variation among individuals—for example,

number of eyes in vertebrates.

(b) Inheritance: Some traits are consistently passed on from parent to offspring. Such traits are

heritable, whereas other traits are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and show weak

heritability.

(c) High rate of population growth: Most populations have more offspring each year than local

resources can support leading to a struggle for resources. Each generation experiences substantial

mortality.

(d) Differential survival and reproduction: Individuals possessing traits well suited for the struggle for

local resources will contribute more offspring to the next generation.

Q9. With the help of suitable diagrams, differentiate between the solar and lunar eclipses.

Ans.

Solar Eclipse

Moon Earth

Sun

Lunar Eclipse

Sun Earth Moon

Q10. With the help of a suitable example, explain how hormones work in co-ordination with

nervous system, to control the internal functioning of a person.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-3(a)

SECTION – C

Answer any four questions. Limit your answers upto 250 words for each question.

Q1. What do you understand by cycling of materials in an Ecosystem? Describe the Nitrogen

cycle in detail.

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Ans. Cycling of materials in an Ecosystem: Water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus all take paths

from the nonliving environment to living organisms, such as trees, and then back to the nonliving environment. These paths

form cycles, known as biogeochemical cycles. In these cycles, a pathway is formed when a substance enters living organisms,

stays for a long time, then returns to the nonliving environment. Such substances are referred to as cycling within an

ecosystem between an organism that lives in the ecosystem and a nonliving reservoir.

Nitrogen cycle: The nitrogen cycle represents one of the most important nutrient cycles found in

terrestrial ecosystems. Nitrogen is used by living organisms to produce a number of complex organic

molecules like amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The store of nitrogen found in the atmosphere,

where it exists as a gas (mainly N2), plays an important role for life. This store is about one million times

larger than the total nitrogen contained in living organisms. Other major stores of nitrogen include

organic matter in soil and the oceans. Despite its abundance in the atmosphere, nitrogen is often the

most limiting nutrient for plant growth. This problem occurs because most plants can only take up

nitrogen in two solid forms: ammonium ion (NH4+ ) and the ion nitrate (NO3-). Most plants obtain the

nitrogen they need as inorganic nitrate from the soil solution. Ammonium is used less by plants for

uptake because in large concentrations it is extremely toxic. Animals receive the required nitrogen they

need for metabolism, growth, and reproduction by the consumption of living or dead organic matter

containing molecules composed partially of nitrogen.

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In most ecosystems, nitrogen is primarily stored in living and dead organic matter. This organic

nitrogen is converted into inorganic forms when it re-enters the biogeochemical cycle via decomposition.

Decomposers, found in the upper soil layer, chemically modify the nitrogen found in organic matter from

ammonia (NH3) to ammonium salts (NH4+). This process is known as mineralization and it is carried out

by a variety of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi.

Nitrogen in the form of ammonium can be absorbed onto the surfaces of clay particles in the soil. The

ion of ammonium has a positive molecular charge is normally held by soil colloids. This process is

sometimes called micelle fixation. Ammonium is released from the colloids by way of cation exchange.

When released, most of the ammonium is often chemically altered by a specific type of autotrophic

bacteria (bacteria that belong to the genus Nitrosomonas) into nitrite (NO2 -). Further modification by

another type of bacteria (belonging to the genus Nitrobacter) converts the nitrite to nitrate (NO 3-). Both of

these processes involve chemical oxidation and are known as nitrification. However, nitrate is very soluble

and it is easily lost from the soil system by leaching. Some of this leached nitrate flows through the

hydrologic system until it reaches the oceans where it can be returned to the atmosphere by

denitrification. Denitrification is also common in anaerobic soils and is carried out by heterotrophic

bacteria. The process of denitrification involves the metabolic reduction of nitrate (NO 3-) into nitrogen

(N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O) gas. Both of these gases then diffuse into the atmosphere.

Almost all of the nitrogen found in any terrestrial ecosystem originally came from the atmosphere.

Significant amounts enter the soil in rainfall or through the effects of lightning. The majority, however, is

biochemically fixed within the soil by specialized micro-organisms like bacteria, actinomycetes, and

cyanobacteria. Members of the bean family (legumes) and some other kinds of plants form mutualistic

symbiotic relationships with nitrogen fixing bacteria. In exchange for some nitrogen, the bacteria receive

from the plants carbohydrates and special structures (nodules) in roots where they can exist in a moist

environment. Scientists estimate that biological fixation globally adds approximately 140 million metric

tons of nitrogen to ecosystems every year.

Q2. Discuss the role of communication technology in imparting education through distance

mode.

Ans. The mass communication media can be used to effectively impart education in the distance mode

because transmission of knowledge and information, which is the first step in education, is obviously

possible only through different modes of mass communication. This happens in a classroom situation, in

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a factory, a workshop or even in a group discussion. It is through the process of communication, that the

knowledge is transferred from one person to another or to a group. The training in skills and the

technique of doing a job go through the same process. The availability of media, radio, TV, films, slides,

charts or other illustrations, has supplemented books and teachers in the task of transmitting knowledge

as well as skills. Some recent technological developments in media have opened up new horizons.

Besides, increasing use of media, to support and expand education, has created what may be called an

‘educational environment’. In this new environment, both young and old may learn all the time. In a wider

sense, new opportunities of intellectual development have been created. Media have also extended the

benefit of knowledge to deprived men, women and children. These sections may not be enrolled for formal

education in the classrooms but may have access to radio and TV, perhaps at community centres.

The role of media in distance education needs a specific mention. It is implied that teaching is done

from a distance. It is also understood that education is imparted through correspondence, audio-visual

aids, like radio, television and telephone, besides personal contacts. As against a university, which enrolls

students of a similar age, has definite time schedule and is confined to a geographical area or campus, an

open university can cater to all kinds of students of various ages living in different and even far places,

who wish to combine education with employment or work at home. One of the principle objectives of open

universities is to provide education to those who have been denied opportunity for higher education,

either because they live in remote and rural areas or because of any other handicap, including financial

constraints and family obligations. The study centres with audio-visual and library facilities are an

important part of the University.

Q3. With the help of two examples discuss the importance of technology in small scale

industries.

Ans. Many people have a misconception that application of science and technology is important only

for big industry. Since India consists of more than 600,000 villages, we cannot ignore the relevance of

village and small scale industry for giving employment to a large number of our population, who are now

dependent on primitive methods of agriculture. Science and technology are equally important in the

handicrafts and small scale Industry. Agriculture also has been modernised with the help of machines

like tractors, power tillers, mechanized harvesters, etc.

The use of electric power and electronics in small scale and village level industries can make efficient

quality production possible, as has been demonstrated in Japan. There has to be, therefore, a planning

process to make the production methods in village level industries more efficient by the use of appropriate

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devices and to use the produce from these industries as the feed material for large scale production units.

This has been done partially in India, in states like Punjab and Haryana in the engineering industry and

also, to a smaller extent-; in other states. The role of technology in improved productivity will always be a

major role and there will be a need for skilled human resource for this. But a part of them may be

deployed in training human resource for the village level industries, miniaturisation of machines, and

using the right type of electronic or other devices for working them.

Paucity of capital is one of the difficulties in establishing industries, particularly for small and medium

scale entrepreneurs. However, after the nationalisation of banks and creation of financial institutions

such as lndustrial Development Bank of India (I.D.B.I.), State lndustrial Development Corporations,

Industrial Credit and Finance Corporation, Unit Trust of India and other financial institutions, nowadays

institutional finance is available in the form of loans to any creditworthy industrial enterprise. Both the

State and the Central Governments are strengthening these institutions through various savings

programmes. The development of such programmes as Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Parks

(STEP) in which new entrepreneurs are helped in testing a new technology on a small scale through a

pilot plant, to gain confidence before they go in for large scale production by themselves, is also very

encouraging. These programmes are assisted by banks. Therefore, a beginning has been made in the right

direction.

Q4. Discuss the reasons for development of science in European society during post-renaissance

period. Describe the factors responsible for Industrial Revolution.

Ans. Looking back over the development of the new science in the fifteenth to the seventeenth

centuries, we can understand why the birth of science occurred when and where it did. We have seen that

it closely followed the revival of trade and industry. The profit from expanding trade and successful

voyages was being invested in new activities giving rise to a climate of intellectual enterprise. The birth of

modern science follows closely after that of capitalism. The merchant and gentlemen of the seventeenth

century had cleared the ground for the flourishing of a humbler set of manufacturers. These were the

ones who made use of and developed the traditional techniques beyond all recognition in the next

century. In science, as in politics, a break with tradition also meant venturing into hitherto unknown

areas. No part of the universe was too distant, no trade too humble, for the interest of the new scientists.

The fact that these scientists often interacted with each other, established societies and published

journals also helped the advance of science.

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Science was also able to flourish as it did because of the Church’s internal feuds, its friction with the

emerging merchant class and a general erosion of its authority. The resistance of the Church to scientific

ideas seemed to be quite strong in the beginning. This was evidenced by the trial of Galileo and by the

execution of Bruno who uttered the heresy that just like our own world, there may be other worlds in the

heavens. But later on the success of the new scientific thinking based on observations was unstoppable.

A compromise was being sought between science and religion. Hence, ways and means were explored to

find a way of coexistence between science and religion. This was to be on the basis that science should

deal with the phenomena which affect the senses, but it should leave aside their matters which are

spiritual or aesthetic in nature. An artificial divide which we see even today was, thus, created between

science, social science, arts and humanities. On the other hand, from the time of Newton onwards,

scientists were able to work with greater freedom, and with practically no interference from religion. As we

have seen, scientific societies were established to see that the advancement of science was linked to

practical benefits, to business or to society at large.

The success of science in this period was also due to the working together of the people who produced

or manufactured different articles and the scientists who tried to understand the properties of materials

that were being handled. This was because manual work was given greater social prestige as it was a

source of great profit. The economic and social world had changed from one with the fixed hierarchical

order of the classical and feudal period where each human being knew his or her place. Now, it was a

world of individual enterprise where each human being paved his own way.

Factors responsible for Industrial Revolution: The Revolution occurred due to the confluence of

several factors in Europe in the mid-18th century, and can be argued is still occurring in other countries

today. With no incentive for science to develop new techniques, science lost its essential quality of

inquiring into nature. The smaller production of goods was changed almost overnight with the introduction of the

Industrial Revolution. Industrial Revolution, great economies of the World relied heavily on guilds to produce skilled products,

and large labour groups whose main goal was the output of agriculture. Production of goods in manufacturing and agriculture

was local manual labour, and larger village groups came together for harvesting and building of streets. Slavery was used for

the mass production of commercial goods like sugar and tobacco. These are the factors responsible for industrial revolution.

Q5. Describe the remote sensing method used for exploration of land and water resources. Give

the importance of resource mapping.

Ans. Remote sensing methods are manipulations or analysis of image data that comes from one or

more Remote Sensor Types. From the perspective of rangeland management, the goal of a remote sensing

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method is to extract information that is directly related to a management question or to create additional data layers that are

correlated to what you’re ultimately interested in.

Remote sensing of Water Resources: Radio waves of the shortest known wavelengths are called

‘gamma rays’. These are given off by atoms of several elements. As a result, the ground soil sends out

gamma rays which can be picked up by detectors in the aeroplanes or satellites. This emission is affected

by the presence of moisture or water in the soil and hence, it can be easily detected whether the soil holds

water or not. Moreover, in the pictures taken from space, the wet soil will have altogether different

appearance compared to dry or waterless soil. Due to the presence of moisture, the water rich soil will not

only show day time (diurnal) variation in temperature on its surface, but will also have a cover of

vegetation. Analysis of the type, density and pattern of the vegetation growing on the wet soil helps us in

locating the areas of potential ground water. Similarly, the belts of hotsprings may be identified and will

show up in thermal or infra-red detectors.

Remote sensing of vegetation cover: Forests of deciduous trees which shed leaves in a certain season

can be easily identified with the help of pictures taken from spacecraft specially during autumn when the

deciduous trees shed leaves and there is no snowfall as yet to conceal the vegetation.

Vegetation cover can be surveyed by measuring and analysing infra-red reflection, or with the help of

photographs. The density of vegetation, shape and size of the plants and even size, orientation and health

of the leaves can be studied from afar. The pattern of seasonal growth of deciduous trees is different from

that of the coniferous trees like pine and deodar and thus the difference can be detected in the photos

taken by the spacecraft.

Plants absorb solar energy to make carbohydrates. A part of the absorbed energy is given out and

therefore the leaf temperature remains higher than the surrounding air temperature during sunniest part

of the day, and about below the air temperature at the coolest hour of the night. So by measuring ground

temperature from a distance, the presence or absence of vegetation can be detected.

Importance of resource mapping: Resource map itself gives information to local users about the

generic snapshot at micro level. This plays important role in utilization and maintains sustainability

because local people may have only individual and very minor level of perception on utilization of

resources which is mainly needed and demand driven. The resource map can help to have generic level of

perception at least in micro level to the local users. The resource mps also give information about the

generic level for the micro level resources for externals, resource managers and researchers which could

help to get generic information at community level and help to apply system approach to manage and to

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recommend the utilization approaches. Thus resource map could help during the plan formulation,

implementing the plan in action, applying management actions and harvesting and marketing strategies

which could lead resource and community towards the sustainability.

Q6. Explain the following:

(i) Artificial Intelligence

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-1 (d)(v)

(ii) Technology forecasting

Ans. Technology forecasting is a prediction of the future characteristics of useful machines, techniques

or procedures. In a time of rapid technological change, our business plans must be based on a sound

forecast of future technology. Proven analytical methods are available to help us prepare rational

forecasts of technology. The forecasts prepared by these methods can be readily explained to others and

are more acceptable to non-technological managers.

A technological forecast can help us:

• To determine whether our current technical approach is reaching some fundamental barrier to

progress, requiring the use of a successor approach

• To estimate the likely performance of our competitors’ designs at the time we plan to introduce a new

design

• To estimate the future performance of components which will be available from our suppliers at the

time we plan to introduce a new design

• To anticipate technological changes which will allow us to gain a competitive advantage by altering

our firm’s organization or distribution methods.

In order to foresee the technology of tomorrow, on the other side, one has to keep an eye on the various

areas of scientific research as well as on social and economical aspects – not only in one counter but in

the world at large. And one, who is effectively able to do so, stands to gain tremendously. Thus, more

scientific research and technological development can be directed so as to obtain highly useful products,

even weapons. For this, some countries spend hugely for technology forecasting. It has become a science

in itself and its importance is increasing due to mainly two reasons:

• To meet the future socio-economic trend of a given society.

• To generate capacity of doing so, i.e. to create knowledge base by having appropriate scientific

research and other inputs for converting a likely technology into an actual technology of social use.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

June, 2010

Note: All the questions of Section A are Compulsory. Your answers should be brief and to the

point.

SECTION – A

Q1. (a) Fill in the blanks:

(i) The disease scurvy is caused by the deficiency of _______.

Ans. Vitamin C.

(ii) The theory of universal gravitation was given by _______.

Ans. Newton.

(iii) Endocrine glands are glands without _______.

Ans. Endocrine System (Brain, Heart).

(iv) Nuclear _______ is the splitting of a large nuclear into two small nuclei.

Ans. Fission

(v) The distance travelled by light in one year is called _______.

Ans. Light Year.

Q2. State if the following statements are true (T) or false (F)

(i) Pythagoras contributed in the development of astronomy in the iron age.

Ans. True

(ii) Some energy is always lost during its transfer from one trophic level to the next.

Ans. True

(iii) Telephone is a device mainly used for mass communication.

Ans. False

(iv) Causative agent for dengue fever is a virus.

Ans. True

(v) Wind is a non-renewable energy resource.

Ans. True

Q3. Give short answers for the following (in not more than 50 words):

(a) Write any two applications of optical fibres.

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Ans. Communication: Telephone transmission method uses fibre-optic cables. Optical fibres transmit

energy in the form of light pulses.

Medical uses: Optical fibres are well suited for medical use. They can be made in extremely thin,

flexible strands for insertion into the blood vessels, lungs, and other hollow parts of the body. Optical

fibres are used in a number of instruments that enable doctors to view internal body parts without having

to perform surgery.

(b) Any two adverse effects of deforestation.

Ans. Erosion of Soil

When forest areas are cleared, it results in exposing the soil to the sun, making it very dry and

eventually, infertile, due to volatile nutrients such as nitrogen being lost.

Flooding and Drought

One of the vital functions of forests is to absorb and store great amounts of water quickly when there

are heavy rains. When forests are cut down, this regulation of the flow of water is disrupted, which leads to alternating

periods of flood and then drought in the affected area. Thus, leading to disruption of human settlements and loss of life in

thousands.

(c) List any two achievements of Bronze age.

Ans. Scientific achievements: Medicine, Astronomy and Quantitative science.

Technical achievements: The use of metals and transport

(d) What do meant by essential amino acids?

Ans. An essential amino acid is an amino acid which an organism needs to ingest because it is

necessary for nutrition and cannot be synthesized in the body. The 20 amino acids that are found within

proteins convey a vast array of chemical versatility. These amino acids are essential, therefore known as

essential amino acids.

(e) What are persistent pollutants?

Ans. Persistent Pollutants are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate

through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment.

For example, pesticides, nuclear wastes plastic, etc. are persistent pollutants. With the evidence of long-

range transport of these substances to regions where they have never been used or produced and the

consequent threats they pose to the environment of the whole globe, the international community has

now, at several occasions called for urgent global actions to reduce and eliminate releases of these

chemicals.

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SECTION – B

Q4. The separation of theory from practice becomes an impediment in the growth of science.

Justify the statement with an example.

Ans. After the end of eighteenth century, Indian society had become very complex. Hence, it is difficult

to discuss even one aspect of science, as it arose from this society and contributed to it, without over-

simplifying. In fact, the Britishers were able to subjugate this country, and make it their colony, on the

basis of science, technology and industry which had developed there. The question that naturally arises is

what the difference between Europe of sixteenth century and India of that period was. Basically, the

difference in two societies was in their social structure, in the degree of the hold of religious orthodoxy,

and the intellectual atmosphere. Another reason was that those worked with their hands did not

contribute to the stock of knowledge. And those, who possessed even out-dated knowledge never had to

test it on the touchstone of practice. Either the kingdoms fought wars or settled down to long periods of

peace. It seems natural to think that in such a society there was no clamour to develop new products or

new processes. Social stability and stagnation can easily go hand in hand. The rich had no need for

change, the poor had no power to bring about change.

It is seen that when Islamic influence entered India in successive waves, it tended not to disturb the life

of the common people who lived in rural communities. It is found that at the level of administering the

country, and in the armed forces there was mutual support between the higher strata of people in the two

communities. Muslim kings with Hindu Commanders-in-Chief and Hindu Rajas with Muslims at the head

of their armies are known to be fought and also defended each other. Naturally, there was give and take,

and intermingling of cultures. At the level of religion, there was coexistence between Islam and Hinduism,

perhaps, out of necessity, since the Muslims were in a small minority. They could certainly not afford a

confrontation with the vast majority if their rule was to last in India and was to be extended in the

centuries to come. This was also because priests had a great hold over people and any interference in

each other’s affairs would have had serious political consequences. It could have led to turmoil. So, each

steered clear of the other. Within the two religious systems too, there were no active controversies and no

strong movements of reform. This was perhaps due to the absence of printing. Typically, when a printed

book was presented to Jahangir, he is said to have thrown it away, saying that it was ugly and

unaesthetic as compared to the beautiful calligraphy in which they prided. He little realised or was,

perhaps, little interested in the possibility of enriching people’s life on a large scale through the

availability of cheaper books. This was in contrast to the sixteenth century Europe where the availability

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of printed word greatly helped the spread of knowledge that created a wider and deeper impact for

bringing about social change.

By and large, in India, education was limited to religious teaching and the intellectual atmosphere was

not in favour of challenging the established ways of thinking or of propounding new theories. In such an

atmosphere few would venture to propose freedom of thought. It was still more difficult to accept such

new things as a sun-centered universe demonstrated by Galileo. Indeed, astrology was, perhaps,

esteemed enough to let astronomy go on! Alchemy still held some promise of converting base metals to

gold, howsoever mysteriously or irrationally, to allow dabbling in chemical techniques! The reign of the

orthodoxy with its belief in eternal or revealed truths never allowed free thinking and imaginative

adventure of ideas. To put it in another way, the learned had fixed ideas which they did not need to

change. And those whose social status was low and who were exploited by the feudal order had no access

to learning. In Europe, comprehensive books of Arab authors like Howi, Liber Continens by al-Razi, the

Canon of Ibn Sina and the Colliget of Averroes (all medical treatises) were used as text books in the

seventeenth century. All these books were available in India and could have been used, but were not. The

exciting advances made in science during the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries in Europe, such as

the works of Copernicus, Galileo and even Newton did not attract widespread attention, since they were

not close to the hearts of such scholarship as existed in India at that time. Due to this indifference and

neglect and the other factors mentioned earlier, we lost the race.

Q5. In what ways development of horse-collar and mills helped the transformation of medieval

economy?

Ans. The horse collar and the mills were more efficient means of using power. The horse collar

originated in seventh century China and reached Europe in the eleventh century. Its use resulted in a

manifold increase in the horse’s ability to pull loads and work longer. Horses took the place of oxen at the

plough and more acres of land could be cultivated. The water-mills were also invented in the classical

period. But they came to be widely used only in the middle Ages. The wind-mills and water-mills

harnessed nature for performing mechanical work. These mills were used for grinding grains, extracting

oil from seeds and drawing water from wells, thus helping agriculture. They were also used for blowing

bellows, forging iron or sawing wood. Mills became so popular that a mill and a miller were found in every

lord’s domain. The task of making and servicing the wind and water-mills was beyond the skill of most

village smiths. Therefore, there grew a trade of mill-wrights who went about the country, making and

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mending mills. These men were the first mechanics who knew all about the making and working of gears.

They also had a hand in the development of mechanical clocks and watches.

Q6. What is a neuron? List the three types of neuron citing one function of each.

Ans. A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons are

similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference between

neurons and other cells. Neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the body. The

Neurons are of following types:

Motor Neurons: Motor neurons send signals from the Nervous system to muscles and glands.

Sensory Neurons: Sensory Neurons carry signals from the receptor cells in sense organs in the body to

the Nervous System, e.g. signals of touching, smelling and hearing.

Inter Neurons:InterNeuronsprocessthesensoryinformationreceivedfromotherNeuronsandconveymessage,[Link] human body, the

fingers are given a command to scratch that place where irritation occurs.

Q7. Describe any two evidences that support the Big Bang Theory of creation of universe.

Ans. One piece of evidence comes from the expansion of the universe. The expanding universe suggests

that the matter was packed much more densely in the early stages of the universe. The proof for this also

comes from the distant objects quasars. When we ‘look’ at quasars situated 6 to 8 billion light years away, we are looking

at them as they existed then. If the universe were more dense in that epoch, we should be able to see some evidence of that

density in the quasars. We do see such high density among the quasars.

Another substantial bit of evidence for the Big Bang theory comes from the cosmic background

radiation. For many years, the astronomers believed that if there was a cosmic explosion long ago,

radiation from that event should still exist within the universe. This radiation may be weak, it may have

lost its energy due to the expansion and cooling of the universe, but it should exist. Radio-astronomers

have, indeed, discovered faint signals-a constantly present background radio noise that pervades all

space. Calculations done by astrophysicists show that this radiation, called the cosmic microwave

background radiation, is a relic of the ancient past when the universe was in its first throes of creation in

the Big Bang.

Q8. List any four non-conventional sources of energy. Briefly describe any two of these.

Ans. Energy generated by using wind, tides, solar, geothermal heat, and biomass including farm and

animal waste as well as human excreta is known as non-conventional energy. Examples are: Wind

energy, Tidal energy, Solar energy, Geo-Thermal energy, etc.

Wind Energy:

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Wind power is harnessed by setting up a windmill which is used for pumping water, grinding grain and

generating electricity. The gross wind power potential of India is estimated to be about 20,000 MW, wind

power projects of 970 MW capacities were installed till March. 1998. Areas with constantly high speed

preferably above 20 km per hour are well-suited for harnessing wind energy.

Solar Energy:

Sun is the source of all energy on the earth. It is most abundant, inexhaustible and universal source of

energy. AH other sources of energy draw their strength from the sun. India is blessed with plenty of solar energy because

most parts of the country receive bright sunshine throughout the year except a brief monsoon period. India has developed

technology to use solar energy for cooking, water heating, water dissimilation, space heating, crop drying etc.

Q9. What is Carbon dating? How is it used to determine the age of fossils?

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-4 (a)

Q10. With the help of an example, explain various aspects of cognitive learning.

Ans. Cognitive learning is a powerful mechanism that provides the means of knowledge, and goes well

beyond simple imitation of others. Conditioning can never explain what we are learning from reading our

web-site. This learning illustrates the importance of cognitive learning.

Every student experiences it and all of us acquire knowledge. Very interesting work has been done by

the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget on how mental ability of an individual grows and develops with age. He

observed children during prolonged scientific experiments and came to interesting and useful

conclusions.

We have to remember that all these are based on general observations on children in Switzerland. Our

country provides different type of family life to children and hence our children may not exactly conform

to these average situations. Again, individuals can be widely different because of biological factors; some

children may be ahead of averages and some may be behind. If we have children around us, we may try to

find out for ourselves some of these stages in their mental development.

On the other hand, the course of mental development from the youngest to the age of 12-15 years

shows that there are limitations to what children can learn at different stages of their lives. This is a fact

of great significance for educationists who design courses of study. If we do not pay any attention to this

fact and try to give abstract concepts to a child who hasn’t developed the mental ability to handle such

concepts, it will have no option but to memorise answers and give a false impression about his learning.

Unfortunately, this is very common in our lives and memorisation or rote-learning has become more

important in the practice of our schools and colleges, then the learning process as a whole.

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Q11. Draw a schematic diagram of carbon cycle. In what way human activities have caused

intrusion into the carbon cycle?

Ans.

Intrusion into the Carbon Cycle

In the carbon cycle, as long as the average amount of carbon dioxide in air and in water remains the

same, a happy situation prevails. If the tendency is for it to increase, a point will come when some

animals will find it intolerable for their breathing. If the tendency is for carbon dioxide to decrease, then,

over a large number of years, a point will be reached when plants would not be able to photosynthesise

and produce oxygen for animal life. In the present century, the carbon cycle has been impaired by non-

judicious utilisation of fossil fuels, indiscriminate cutting of forests and changes in land use from

agriculture to the cement and concrete roads and buildings, which reduces the area under plantation.

The enormous amount of smoke emanating from some of our industries, vehicles, accidental fires,

aeroplanes and some also from kitchens. This adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in amounts much

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larger than can be tackled in natural course. Carbon dioxide input has been increasing since the

beginning of Industrial Revolution some 100 years ago, and since then, its concentration has increased

considerably in the atmosphere. The major concern over increased carbon dioxide content is its possible

effect on the temperature of the air surrounding the earth. Excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

tends to trap the heat radiated by the earth.

Q12. Briefly describe the technique of genetic engineering.

Ans. Techniques of Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering is the technique of biotechnology which helps in preparing recombinant DNA. DNA

molecule is cut into small pieces in in vitro environment. There are numerous techniques which have

been used in genetic engineering for example, recombinant DNA technology, microinjection, bioballistics,

electro and chemical poration.

Recombinant DNA:- Following steps are involved in recombinant DNA technique;

(a) Gene of interest is isolated from the DNA molecule using the restriction enzymes.

(b) After isolation, gene is inserted into a vector and is cloned to make multiple copies of gene of

interest.

(c) When the cloning is done, the gene is incorporated into the plasmid.

(d) Now the gene or DNA along with the plasmid is called as recombinant DNA.

Plasmids and vectors used for the recombinant technique are usually bacteria or viruses. They have the

ability to carry foreign genes into the host cell where they release the gene of interest and this gene

replaces the diseased gene.

Plasmid is a circular piece containing the genetic material. When new gene is inserted in it, it opens it

ring and new gene is attached to its ends through the enzyme called as ligase. New gene replicates along

with the plasmid’s genetic material. For example, if plasmid is carrying a gene of insulin, it will start

producing the protein of insulin along with other gene products. Bacteria are of great significance in the

pharmaceutical industry because they are used to produce insulin and other useful proteins.

Vectors are usually viruses which are also helpful in genetic engineering. Virus is an infectious

organism, so when a new gene is inserted in it, it transfers that gene into the host cell during causing

infection. Scientists mostly block the function of virus when they insert the foreign gene; this way virus

will only be able to replicate only the gene of interest and will insert it into the host cell.

Electro and chemical poration:- In this method, pores are created in the membrane of the cell and

genes can be transferred easily. Special chemicals are used to make pores in the cell surface. Sometimes

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cells are exposed to weak electric current, it also makes pores in the surface of the cells and genes can

easily pass through these pores.

Bioballistics method:- In this method, small silver particles are used to insert the genetic material into

the recipient cell. These silvers are coated with the genetic material and when released in the cell, genetic

material incorporates with the genes of the host cell. In one projectile method, shot gun is used to insert

the silvers into the host cell.

Microinjection:- It is not necessary that only plasmids and vectors should be used for the transfer of

genes into the cells. There are methods which are not dependent on plasmids and vectors. One of these

methods is microinjection. In this method, foreign gene is integrated into the cell by just injecting it into

the recipient cell. When large cell of plants and animals are concerned, then a fine glass needle is used.

The injected genes automatically enter into the nucleus where they incorporate with the host cell’s genetic

material and replicate.

Q13. List the three ways of technology transfer. Briefly describe any one of them.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-6

SECTION – C

Q14. Describe the Life Story of a star.

Ans. Stars are a fascinating component of our universe. A young star is thought to be composed

largely of hydrogen gas. Hence, the most likely place for a star to be born is in one of the numerous

clouds of hydrogen gas that exist in the interstellar space. Stars are now believed to form inside large

dense interstellar clouds of gas. It may happen that for some reasons, not fully known so far, a gas cloud

starts contracting. Under the influence of gravitational pull of the gas, its contraction may continue

further. Once such a process begins, a very large volume of gas clouds is affected. As gravity pulls in the

clouds, the pressure in the cloud increases. Also, as the cloud contracts, the temperature at its centre

increases. At this stage, it is called a protostar.

When the temperature becomes sufficiently high (about 4 million degrees centigrade), a nuclear reaction

starts in the protostar, in which the hydrogen nuclei fuse together to make helium nuclei. In this process,

a large amount of energy is released. The energy travels to the surface of the star and is radiated in the

form of light, heat and other electromagnetic radiation. This energy creates an outward pressure and

force. The contraction of the star stops only when the inward pull of gravity is balanced by the outward

force of this radiant energy. At such a time, the star becomes stable in size and temperature.

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The Sun has been in such a stable situation for the past 5 billion years. Nuclear reactions in the Sun

convert about four hundred million tons (4×1014 gms) of hydrogen into helium every second. It is

expected that the Sun will remain in this state for another 5 billion years.

As the star consumes a significant percentage of the hydrogen fuel in its core, the nuclear reaction

decreases and the outforce of the radiant energy weakens. The core of the star further contracts because

its gravitational pull becomes more than the out-force of radiant energy.

But this raises the temperature of the core. Meanwhile, the hydrogen nuclei ‘burn’ in the outer layer or

shell surrounding the core. The extra heat from the core as well as the heat generated in the outer layers

cause the star’s outer region to ‘boil’ and expand. The star becomes big and its brightness increases. But, as

the outer layer expands farther away from the nuclear furnace, its temperature falls. The puffed-up star looks red and cool. If it

is many times more massive than the Sun, it becomes a red super giant like the Betelgeuse. If it is sun-sized or only slightly

more massive than the Sun, it becomes a slightly swollen red giant.

The red giant stage of a star is a relatively short stage. In this stage, the star consumes its hydrogen at

a very fast rate, piling’ up helium in its core. As the fuel burns, the core contracts further, producing

temperatures as high as 100 million degree Celsius. At this point, the helium nuclei in the core fuse

together in another nuclear reaction to form carbon nuclei. This is a critically unstable moment in a star’s life with two layers of

the star burning at the same time-an outer layer where hydrogen is being turned into helium and inner core where helium is

being turned into carbon. Hereafter, the fate of the star depends on the mass of its core.

If the mass of the core is less than 1.4M , where M is the Sun’s mass, the contraction of the core halts

when it is about the size of the Earth. This limit of 1.4M is known as the Chandrasekhar limit, after S.

Chandrasekhar, the famous Indian scientist who won the Nobel Prize for this work. He had settled in the

USA. Such a star is known as a white dwarf. From the Earth it would be seen as very small and very faint

but it is hotter than the Sun. One of the first stars recognised as a white dwarf was Sirius B, the faint

companion of the bright star Sirius. Sometimes a white dwarf suddenly flashes millions of times more

brightly. Such a phenomenon is known as ‘nova’. As it cools, a white dwarf may turn into a black dwarf,

disappearing from our vision. If the core mass of the star is in the range 1.4M —3M, or the star mass is

between 8M to 15 M, the core shrinks to a radius of about 10 km and a neutron star is formed. If a

neutron star is born rotating very fast, it emits electromagnetic radiation, which astronomers detect as

pulses of radiowaves. Such stars are called pulsars. Pulsars were discovered in 1967 and about 400 are

now known.

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In stars with higher mass, the helium in the core turns into carbon. However, it continues burning in

the outer layer. The core goes on contracting and becoming hotter. It sets the carbon nuclei burning to

form oxygen nuclei. As each nuclear fuel is exhausted in the core, it contracts, increasing the temperature

and sets the fuel in the core burning. Meanwhile, the earlier fuel keeps burning in the shell surrounding

the core. Thus, the star contains several nuclear burning shells. This process may go on in massive stars

all the way upto a core of iron.

If a star starts with a mass of more than 20M, its contraction continues. Then the core of the star

collapses to become a black hole. Its gravity is now so strong that nothing, not even light, can leave it.

Obviously, we cannot see a black hole.

Sometimes, massive stars (with the core mass between 3 M and 15 M) explode, releasing a tremendous

amount of energy. Such explosions are called ‘supernova’. The brightest of the supernova hurl out almost

as much light as the entire galaxy-its brightness becoming equal to hundred million Suns. A supernova

was seen in the Milky Way Galaxy as recently as in 1987 AD.

Q15. In the present condition, why is it important to manage our resources? Suggest ways to

manage our forest and water resources.

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-8

Q16. With the help of an appropriate example, explain various aspects of method of science.

Ans. The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new

knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry

must be based on empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning.

The science is an endeavour to understand nature and to satisfy human needs. In this process, we have

collected a lot of information and distinct body of scientific knowledge has grown. Familiar with the terms

observation, hypothesis, experiment, theories and laws. These are the various mental and physical

operations that make up the method of science.

DNA example

The basic elements of the scientific method are illustrated by the following example from the discovery

of the structure of DNA:

Question: Previous investigation of DNA had determined its chemical composition (the four nucleotides),

the structure of each individual nucleotide, and other properties. It had been identified as the carrier of

genetic information by the Avery–MacLeod–McCarty experiment in 1944, but the mechanism of how

genetic information was stored in DNA was unclear.

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Hypothesis: Francis Crick and James D. Watson hypothesized that DNA had a helical structure.

Prediction: If DNA had a helical structure, its X-ray diffraction pattern would be X-shaped. This

prediction was determined using the mathematics of the helix transform, which had been derived by

Cochran, Crick and Vand (and independently by Stokes).

Experiment: Rosalind Franklin crystallized pure DNA and performed X-ray diffraction to produce photo

51. The results showed an X-shape.

Analysis: When Watson saw the detailed diffraction pattern, he immediately recognized it as a helix. He

and Crick then produced their model, using this information along with the previously known information

about DNA’s composition and about molecular interactions such as hydrogen bonds.

Q17. With the help of a suitable example, describe the concept of systems view of life.

Ans. A systems view of life treats environmental fluxes and biological fluxes together as a “reciprocity of

influence” and a reciprocal relation with environment is arguably as important for understanding life as it

is for understanding ecosystems. As Harold J. Morowitz (1992) explains it, life is a property of an

ecological system rather than a single organism or species. He argues that an ecosystemic definition of life

is preferable to a strictly biochemical or physical one. Robert Ulanowicz (2009) also highlights mutualism

as the key to understand the systemic, order-generating behaviour of life and ecosystems.

For example, in an animal body, the parts concerned with the in-take of food and digesting it, the bones

arranged as a skeleton to support the body, the heart circulating blood to different parts of the body

through the arteries and veins and the brain receiving signals and giving orders of various kinds together

compose the system.

The assemblage of all plants and animals in an environment provided by each other as well as by the

land, air and water works collectively. The way these diverse forms of life depend on each other makes

one imagine this planet itself as a huge system.

If we touch a snail, it withdraws into its shell. This is a kind of information and control device for

protecting its life. If we sit in the sun and we feel hot, a signal which is internally generated causes

perspiration and produces cooling by evaporation of the sweat.

One example of the feedback system in the human body which maintains the right amount of water in

the blood. Kidney is able to control or check the loss of water from our body. For this, water is reabsorbed

by the collecting tubes in the kidney so as to prevent its undue loss in the form of urine. This absorption

of water is under the control of a chemical called antidiuretic hormone (ADH) which is produced by

specialisation of nerve cells in one of the parts of the fore brain. If more water begins to be lost by the

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blood due to greater evaporation during summers, a decrease of water in the blood will take place,

changing its internal environment for which our body is very sensitive. At the time of need a positive

signal to the brain causes the production of this particular chemical (ADH) which increases the

absorption of water in the kidneys and reduces excretion of urine. The absorbed water gets back into the

blood to maintain the Normal concentration of the fluid.

Q18. Describe the three basic resources needed for agriculture. Discuss any two problems

associated with modern agriculture.

Ans. The basic resources required for agriculture are as follows:

Soil: A variety of soils are found in our country, and each supports different types of crops. Before

growing crops in any of the soils, they should be checked for their nutrients and other physical

characteristics.

Water: Indian agriculture mostly depends on nature, i.e. monsoon. Rainfall, however, is not uniform in

our country. During rainfall, a considerable amount of water seeps-into the soil. The water in the top

layer is utilised by plants. The groundwater can also be used for irrigation, after testing its quality.

Sunlight: It is the most useful resource for agriculture and present in abundant quantity on earth.

During monsoons, the clouds cut down the incoming sunlight considerably. Plants can, however, make

maximum use of the sunlight if other factors like water, carbon dioxide and nutrients are not limited.

Problems associated with modern agriculture:

Problems associated with modern agriculture are as follows:

Weather/Natural Disasters

Modern agricultural techniques continue to uphold the trend of outdoor growth and cultivation.

General Rain: Field work is impeded by a simple rain shower as tractors may get stuck in muddy areas

of the field.

Droughts: In Midwestern America, farmers continue to cope with droughts and even though rain is

detectable, rain patterns are not predictable. Difficulties caused by droughts are obvious: crops spread

over a vast amount of acreage which rely on regional rain do not receive adequate amounts of water- and

though the occasional rain would produce in a still-soiled environment enough saturation to last until the

next shower, a farmer’s worst nightmare is a dry season.

Torrential Rain Storms/ Hail Storms: Flooding is another serious impairment on a farmer’s crop. Though

necessary, too much saturation may drown the crop leaving it unusable. Hail storms are of equal concern

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in considering the damage which can be made on crops. Heavy storms may ruin boundaries which hold

farm animals and may disperse the animals.

Insect Infestation/Pollution

Destruction caused by insects and pollution is incessant in outdoor cultivation.

Insects: The agricultural world withstands the constant threat of pest problems. Chemical riddance of

pests is effective and though scientists are looking for ways to imply biological options to ridding pests,

chemical solutions (such as pesticides) may never be ruled out.

Pollution From water bodies: Wastes may reach plantations near bodies of water. The wastes may be

transported to the soil through saturation of water from the body.

Pollution From pesticides: Pesticides used in eliminating insect infestations may leave malignant residue

within the soil debilitating the crop.

Pollution From the air: Smog (ground-level ozone) originating mainly from industrial areas travels

through the air and threaten the crop cycles.

Q19. ‘Science influences social edifice, and in turn society influences scientific developments’:

justify the statement.

Ans. Science and technology have played a vital role in the transformation of human society. They

have allowed us to use the resources of the earth, the oceans and the air, and to harness the energy

which makes the wheels of production or of transport to move, and communication to take place. We also

need education and training for the people to man the vast network of production, distribution,

communication and administration. Therefore, there is the need to continuously advance knowledge and

to improve all products and systems for the benefit of humankind. Men and women of ideas are needed,

whom an educational system suited to a particular society could help to train. Such an education system

itself would be based on science and technology. For instance, printing presses to produce books,

factories to produce paper, audio-visual aids, all kinds of apparatus needed for laboratories are products

of science and technology. In addition, science and technology would also influence the ideas, philosophy

and attitudes prevailing in our times.

But just as science and technology provide all the “nuts and bolts”, as well as many of the ideas that

hold our society together, society itself provides the environment and atmosphere for science and

technology to either grow fast, or stagnate or even decay!

Science and technology do not exist independent of the society, its culture and the value system. They

are a part of the socio-economic and political framework of a given society. Motivation for the practical

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application of science and, hence, its growth and use comes from the economic needs of the society. The

economic planning and policy of a society determine its social programmes and the purposes and goals of

society’s production activity, which in turn provides the incentive for scientific growth. However, answers

to questions like what kind of economic policy will be pursued, whether the social programmes will be

implemented, and to what extent, depends on the political and social organisation of a society. Thus,

science and technology can be more directly influenfed by the general policies and social structure of a

society. For example, when economic growth is purely determined by market demands, artificial demands

for goods are created by advertising, even though there is no pressing need for them Ideas of people are

sought to be moulded by propaganda carried on by radio or television or even by education. The

competition to produce more goods, increase profits or the desire to provide fancy goods to an influential

section of a population results in one kind of development of science and technology. On the other hand,

if a society desires and plans to improve rural life or give priority to public health or provide a certain level

of nutrition to all citizens, the tasks and consequent development of science and technology should follow

a different path.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

December, 2009

Note: Question no. 1 is compulsory. Attempt any seven questions from [Link]. 2 to 9.

Q1. (a) Fill in the blanks:

(1) _______ amino acids are those which our body cannot synthesise.

Ans. Alanine

(2) The _______ milky way galaxy consists of stars, and gas and dust clouds.

Ans. spiral

(3) _______ is the branch of study that deals with the interaction of organisms with their

environment.

Ans. Biology

(b) Give one word term for each of the following:

(1) The species during the course of human evolution that was first tool maker.

Ans. Oldowan

(2) The single chip that contains large number of semiconductor devices to perform specific

functions.

Ans. Integrated Circuit

(3) Defence system consisting of WBC in our body to protect it from invading micro-organisms.

Ans. Immune System

(4) The range of electromagnetic radiations to which our eyes are sensitive.

Ans. Electromagnetic radiation

(c) Write in one or two sentences, the major contribution of the following scientists.

(I) Kepler

Ans. Johannes Kepler was known for his contribution of eponymous laws of planetary motion. He was

a mathematician, astrologer, and astronomer. He was important in the scientific revolution of the 17th

century.

(II) Susruta

Ans. The contributions of Sushruta are mainly in the field of Plastic and Cataract surgery.

(III) Louis Pasteur

Ans. Louis Pasteur’s main contributions to microbiology and medicine were;

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• instituting changes in hospital/medical practices to minimize the spread of disease by microbes or

germs,

• introducing the medical world to the concept of viruses.

(IV) Newton

Ans. Sir Isaac Newton’s greatest contribution to science was the discovery of the nature of gravity, laws

of motion and the reflecting microscope

(d) Explain each of the following briefly, within 50 words.

(I) Quantitative science in Bronze Age

Ans. Some standards, such as numbers and measures of amounts of grain etc. and weights, became

necessary so that proper quantities of goods could be set apart or marked off for collection and

exchanged.

For the record, the symbol for measure was followed by a picture or shorthand symbol of the particular

object which was to be traded. Gradually, symbols were introduced to cover actions as well as objects,

and so writing emerged. The standardization of exchange in the form of weight led to the use of balance, a

scientific invention of great consequence. Exchange also necessitated simple calculations such as

addition and subtraction of numbers which led to arithmetic.

The ability to count and calculate found immediate use in certain other areas such as making of

calendars and in the consequent development of astronomy.

(II) Photochemical smog

Ans. Photochemical smog is a unique type of air pollution which is caused by reactions between

sunlight and pollutants like hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide. Although photochemical smog is often

invisible, it can be extremely harmful, leading to irritations of the respiratory tract and eyes. In regions of

the world with high concentrations of photochemical smog, elevated rates of death and respiratory

illnesses have been observed.

(III) Balanced diet

Ans. A balanced diet means getting the right types and amounts of foods and drinks to supply

nutrition and energy for maintaining body cells, tissues, and organs, and for supporting normal growth

and development. A balanced diet is variety. A balanced diet helps us to stay healthy, especially when

coupled with exercise.

(IV) Lead time of scientific development

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Ans. When we compare the current status of scientific development and technological fall-out from the

same, we find that the lead time of scientific discovery and its applications is much shorter in the

developed countries. This is because of their constant efforts of research and development for technology

up-gradation which, unfortunately, have been lacking in our country.

(V) Importance of experiment in science

Ans. Experiment plays many roles in science. One of its important roles is to test theories and to

provide the basis for scientific knowledge. It can also call for a new theory, either by showing that an

accepted theory is incorrect, or by exhibiting a new phenomenon that is in need of explanation.

Experiment can provide hints toward the structure or mathematical form of a theory and it can provide

evidence for the existence of the entities involved in our theories.

Q2. Describe the functioning of a nuclear reactor. What are the hazards associated with nuclear world?

Ans. Functioning of a nuclear reactor

Fission: When a large fissile atomic nucleus such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239 absorbs a

neutron, it may undergo nuclear fission. The heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei,

releasing kinetic energy, gamma radiation and free neutrons collectively known as fission products. A

portion of these neutrons may later be absorbed by other fissile atoms and trigger further fission events,

which release more neutrons and so on. This is known as a nuclear chain reaction.

Heat generation: The reactor core generates heat in a number of ways:

• The kinetic energy of fission products is converted to thermal energy when these nuclei collide with nearby atoms.

• Some of the gamma rays produced during fission are absorbed by the reactor, their energy being

converted to heat.

• Heat produced by the radioactive decay of fission products and materials that have been activated by

neutron absorption. This decay heat source will remain for some time even after the reactor is shutdown.

Cooling: A nuclear reactor coolant is usually water but sometimes a gas or a liquid metal or molten salt

is circulated past the reactor core to absorb the heat that it generates. The heat is carried away from the

reactor and is then used to generate steam. Most reactor systems employ a cooling system, i.e. physically

separated from the water that will be boiled to produce pressurised steam for the turbines, like the

pressurised water reactor.

Reactivity control: The power output of the reactor is controlled by controlling how many neutrons are

able to create more fission. Control rods that are made of a nuclear poison are used to absorb neutrons.

Absorbing more neutrons in a control rod means that there are fewer neutrons available to cause fission,

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so pushing the control rod deeper into the reactor will reduce its power output and extracting the control

rod will increase it.

Electrical power generation: The energy released in the fission process generates heat, some of which

can be converted into usable energy. A common method of harnessing this thermal energy is to use it to

boil water to produce pressurised steam, which will then drive a steam turbine that generates electricity.

Hazards associated with nuclear world: There are many risks associated with the use of nuclear

fission energy. These risks have caused worldwide debates, controversies and at times fear. Accidents

have happened in nuclear power plants everywhere in the world.

In 1986, there was a major nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the then USSR.

Rare as they are such accidents raise demands for a complete ban on nuclear power plants. However, an

unbiased assessment of the past accidents indicates that this is not the answer. A better solution lies in

the need to reassess plant safety, devise improved method of avoiding or containing the extent of

mishaps. In India, there has been heated discussion on this issue, but on the basis of several precautions

and safety measures, it has been decided to go ahead with the programme of generating about 4000

Megawatt power by this method, by the year 2000 AD

Another major problem is the disposal of radioactive waste material from the spent uranium rods of the

nuclear reactors. Several alternatives are being tried out everywhere in the world, for example, buying it thousands of feet deep

in the earth or in the ocean bed. Some western countries were recently reported to be dumping the highly injurious radioactive

waste in African or South American countries.

From mining of the ore, to nuclear waste disposal, each step in the nuclear fuel cycle carries risks. The

risks and benefits of each step depend largely on a strict watch over malfunction and human error. The

challenge is to eliminate the risks and to increase the benefits.

Q3. Name two global environment problems that have made the nations work collectively. What

corrective and remedial actions have been taken so far towards these problems?

Ans. The two global environment problems that have made the nations work collectively are:

(a) Air pollution: Air pollution reduces the quality of air we breathe by limiting the availability of

oxygen. Besides, we are forced to breathe in substances that are harmful to lungs. We often experience

that exposure to smoke or fine dust immediately causes irritation to eyes, nose, throat, etc. while other

pollutants may cause watering of eyes, burning in and blocking of nose, sneezing and headache. This may

be followed by irritation in throat, change in voice, dry cough and so on. Some gases on deeper

penetration cause irritable cough, difficulty in breathing, increased rate of respiration and other severe

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problems that may be fatal. These are the acute effects, which are immediately manifested after exposure

to pollutants. Various studies have shown that most air pollutants cause respiratory problems. Long

exposure may result in diseases like emphysema, bronchitis, chronic cough and asthma.

Corrective and remedial actions to reduce air pollution: The following remedial actions can be taken

to control air pollution:

• Conserve energy - turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

• Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. (This conserves energy and

reduces production emissions.)

• Keep woodstoves and fireplaces well maintained.

• Plant deciduous trees in locations around our home to provide shade in the summer, but to allow

light in the winter.

• Buy green electricity-produced by low-or even zero-pollution facilities.

(b) Water pollution: Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and

groundwater). Water pollution occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water

bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water. In almost all cases the

effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological

communities.

Corrective and remedial actions to reduce water pollution: The following remedial actions can be

taken to control water pollution:

• Domestic and industrial wastewaters should be disposed off after treatment.

• Proper sewage and industrial effluent systems can reduce incoming point source of pollution.

• Bathing, washing etc. should be prohibited in the vicinity of sources.

• Ponds, river, lakes etc. should be protected by suitable methods for the prevention of waste entry.

• For domestic sewage Treatment plant should be designed.

Q4. (a) What is the role of radioactive isotopes in dating the objects of past?

Ans. Radioactive substances can be easily detected using certain instruments. They have built-in

“clocks” in the form of ‘radioactive isotopes’ that change or decay at a constant rate into non-radioactive

form.

The method most commonly used, now, for estimating the age of fossils is radio-carbon dating.

Radioactive isotope of carbon is commonly known as carbon- 14. Since carbon- 14 is chemically the same

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as ordinary carbon, both are absorbed by plant and animal tissues in the same proportion as they are

present in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Plants use this carbon dioxide in making their food.

Animals eat the plants. Hence, the proportion of carbon- 14 in the tissues o f plants and animals is the

same as in the atmosphere, as long as the plant or the animal is living. But as soon as it dies, no more

carbon can enter its body as photosynthesis or food intake stops. Following death, the carbon-14, already

present in the body, decays steadily into ordinary carbon. So the smaller the number of carbon-14 atoms

remaining, the older is the fossil. Thus, if we take a piece of ancient wood or bone and measure the

amount of carbon-14 present in it, we can estimate the age of the material. This technique has been

applied to materials of known age, and thus its accuracy was tested giving confidence in the age

determinations of unknown samples.

(b) Describe any five characteristic features of the planet Jupiter.

Ans. The characteristic features of the planet Jupiter are as follows:

(a) Jupiter is the most massive planet in our solar system, more than twice as massive as all the other

planets combined, and had it been about 80 times more massive, it would have actually become a star

instead of a planet.

(b) The colorful bands of Jupiter are arranged in dark belts and light zones created by strong east-west

winds in the planet’s upper atmosphere traveling more than 400 miles per hour (640 kilometers per

hour). The white clouds in the zones are made of crystals of frozen ammonia, while darker clouds of other

chemicals are found in the belts. At the deepest visible levels are blue clouds.

(c) The most extraordinary feature on Jupiter is undoubtedly the Great Red Spot, a giant hurricane-like

storm seen for more than 300 years. At its widest, the Great Red Spot is three times the diameter of the

Earth, and its edge spins counterclockwise around its center at a speed of about 225 miles (360

kilometers) per hour.

(d) Jupiter spins faster than any other planet, taking a little under 10 hours to complete a turn on its

axis, compared with 24 hours for Earth. This rapid spin actually makes Jupiter bulge at the equator and

flatten at the poles, making the planet about 7 percent wider at the equator than at the poles.

(e) Jupiter broadcasts radio waves strong enough to detect on Earth. These come in two forms — strong

bursts that occur when Io, the closest of Jupiter’s large moons, passes through certain regions of

Jupiter’s magnetic field, and continuous radiation from Jupiter’s surface and high-energy particles in its

radiation belts.

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Q5. (a) What do you understand by infectious diseases? List any four infectious diseases and

their causative organisms.

Ans. Infectious diseases, also known as transmissible diseases or communicable diseases, comprise

clinically evident illness (i.e., characteristic medical signs and/or symptoms of disease) resulting from the

infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism. In certain

cases, infectious diseases may be asymptomatic for much or even their entire course in a given host. In

the latter case, the disease may only be defined as a “disease” (which by definition means an illness) in

hosts who secondarily become ill after contact with an asymptomatic carrier. An infection is not

synonymous with an infectious disease, as some infections do not cause illness in a host.

Communicable diseases and their causative organisms are:

Disease Causative organisms

(i) Typhoid Bacteria
(ii) Tetanus Bacteria
(iii) Malaria Protozoa
(iv) Leprosy Bacteria

(b) List any two products made from each of the following: Polymer, Synthetic fibre, liquid

crystal, fibre glass, alloys.

Ans. Polymer: Packaging materials, containers, coatings, etc.

Synthetic fibre: Nylon, Rayon, etc.

Liquid crystal: Display panels in watches, monitors, TV screens, etc.

Fibre glass: Sturdy furniture, suitcases, etc.

Alloys: Steel, brass, glass, etc.

Q6. Difference between the following pairs:

(a) Solar wind and Solar flare

Ans. Solar flares and solar winds originate within the sun’s atmosphere, but differ greatly from one

another. Satellites on Earth and in outer space allow a look at solar flares, but we cannot see solar winds

directly. However, the effects of solar winds reaching Earth appear to the naked eye when the aurora

borealis and aurora australis electrify the night sky.

Solar Winds

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Solar winds originate in the corona, the sun’s outermost layer. As the corona expands, it releases in all

directions energized protons and electrons made of plasma. With a temperature of nearly 2 million

degrees Fahrenheit and traveling at 559 miles per second, solar winds reach not only the Earth’s

atmosphere but also the atmosphere of every other planet in the solar system.

Solar Flares

The surface of the sun contains large magnetic loops called prominences. For perspective, Northwestern

University’s Qualitative Research Group explains that 15 planets the size of Earth could fit into a single

prominence. The initiation of a solar flare starts when two magnetic loops touch, causing each to short

circuit and spew high-energy plasma away from the sun at the speed of light.

(b) Producers and decomposers

Ans. Producers: Photosynthesizing organisms

Producers are any kind of green plant. Green plants make their food by taking sunlight and using the

energy to make sugar. The plant uses this sugar, also called glucose to make many things, such as wood,

leaves, roots, and bark. Trees, such as they mighty Oak, and the grand American Beech, are examples of

producers.

Decomposers: An organism that primarily feeds on dead organisms or the waste from living organisms.

Decomposers are the garbage men of the animal kingdom; they take all the dead animals and plants

(consumers and decomposers) and break them down into their nutrient components so that plants can

use them to make more food. Decomposers in the forest come in many different shapes and sizes. Shelf

fungus is a fungus that grows on the sides of trees. It grows into the tree and decomposes it slowly. Have we ever

been walking through the woods and come across a dead log that falls apart and is full of dirt? That is because decomposers

have been eating and digesting that log for several years, turning it into dirt that is wonderful for plants.

(c) n-type and p-type semiconductors

Ans. n-type Semi-Conductor

• It is an extrinsic semi-conductor which is obtained by doping the impurity atoms of Vth group of the

periodic table to the pure Ge and Si semi-conductor.

• The impurity atoms added, provide extra electrons in the structure and are called donor atoms.

• The electrons are majority carriers and holes are minority carriers.

• The electrons density (ne) is much greater than the hole density (nh) i.e.>> nh.

• The donor energy level is close to the conduction band and for away from the valence band.

• The Fermi-energy level lies in between the donor energy level and conduction band.

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p-type Semi-Conductor

• It is an extrinsic semi-conductor which is obtained by doping the impurity atoms of III group of the

periodic table to the pure Ge and Si semi-conductor.

• The impurity atoms added, create vaccines of electrons (i.e. holes) in the structure and are called

acceptor atoms.

• The holes are majority carriers and electrons are minority carriers.

• The holes density (nh) is much greater than the electrons density (ne) i.e.>> ne.

• The acceptor energy level is close to the Valence band and for away from the Conduction band.

• The Fermi-energy level lies in between the acceptor energy level and valence band.

(d) Renewable and non-renewable resources

Ans. Go to June-2009, [Link].-5(c)

Q7. (a) Discuss the impact of technological developments in the area of transport on our society

and environment.

Ans. River Valley civilizations were characterized by settlements along the rivers and growth of cities

which needed, among other things, stones and wood from distant places to make houses and

monuments. Cities also signified that everyone need not depend on land. There was surplus production

so that some people could trade or take up other occupations. The surplus had to be traded for goods

produced in different pans of the world. For example, we have evidence that Mesopotamians traded

extensively with India through Bahrain. Besides copper, the Indians exported peacocks and apes, ivory

and ivory combs, pearls and some textiles. In return, they received silver and other commodities. Trade,

as well as the desire to control large territories, led to the need for efficient transport. Since the rivers

were easy flowing, water transport was most probably developed first. We also find evidence to suggest

that dugout canoes and rafts made of reed and bamboo were used for canying goods in bulk. At some

early date, the sail was invented marking the first use of inanimate power for locomotion. When river

transport was extended to the sea, it posed new problems of boat construction and navigation. Stronger

winds meant stronger fabrics for making a sail, and construction of heavy frames and structures to hold

them. Woodwork had to be very strong and durable, too. The river went in a known direction, it was like a

road, but one could easily lose one’s way on the high seas. New ways of finding location and direction had

to be searched. The most primitive method was of the land finding bird. Navigation by sun and stars had

also become a common practice. The rise of cities would also have required heavy goods to be transported

over short distances by land. This may have been done by the use of sledges to begin with. Heavy sledges

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could be eased downhill. However, along the plains, tree trunks came in handy as rollers. The discover of

wheel revolutionized land transport, though it is not possible for us to say, from historic evidence, where

the wheel was first invented. Its use for making carts which transported goods and passengers was

possibly one of the most significant developments of the Bronze Age. The real ingenuity in developing this

mode of transport was in joining the solid roller or wheel to the body of the cart in such a way that it

could turn without coming off. In other words, the wheel and the axle were twins from birth. Carts pulled

by animals soon developed in Mesopotamia, lndus Valley and much later in Egypt where the boat

remained the main mode of transport. In early Mesopotamian carts and even in some present-day Indian

carts, the axle turns and is held in place by leather straps. The motion of the wheel, use of the lever to

dislodge boulders use of the inclined plane to push things up or slide them down in the construction of

granaries and temples, provided a great impetus for the understanding of mechanics. Mechanics was to

have a dramatic impact in increasing man’s mobility. Today, we can move anywhere on earth at high

speeds, span the oceans, fly in the sky and go out into space.

(b) In what ways can biotechnology plays an important role in agriculture?

Ans. Production of enough food to meet the demands of an ever-increasing population in the world is a

major task and a challenge to agricultural scientists. The conventional agricultural methods can no

longer cope with the situation. In recent years, biotechnology has emerged as an important discipline

which may offer solutions to many problems presently being faced by agriculture. Biotechnology deals

with the use of biological systems or their products in large-scale industrial processes.

Today, agricultural biotechnology has progressed to a stage that plants with several improved

characters can be produced. The examples of these improved characters are high yields, resistance to

diseases, improved nutritional quality, and adaptation to adverse environmental conditions. An important

aspect in the production of improved plants is the breeding process. This enables one to combine, one or

more, favourable characters of the parents to be passed on to their progeny. For this purpose, scientists

use several methods for raising the plants. The most common methods are: (i) the traditional method, in

which seeds and root stocks have been used as basic materials for raising plants, (ii) the other method

that makes use of the important quality of plant cells, that is, any plant cell can give rise to a complete

plant. Based on this fact, any cell or a group of cells, or part of a plant such as a piece of stem, leaf etc.

can be grown on a nutrient medium under suitably controlled conditions in the laboratory. This method

is commonly known as tissue culture. It, however, enables us to get true breeding types without going

through the stages of flowering, production of seeds and their germination. This technique has a great

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potential in our crop improvement programmes, and it has already been used in the improvement of

varieties of wheat, rice, com and several other plants. This method is useful not only for the improvement

of present-day crops, but also for the creation of novel plants and new crops, which are of short duration,

high-yielding-type, and resistant to diseases and other adverse environmental conditions. One of the

problems faced by the agricultural scientists engaged in crop improvement is that the embryos of many

new crops developed abort, i.e., they do not survive in nature. Therefore, one is not able to obtain their

adult plants. This difficulty, however, has been overcome by the application of tissue culture, whereby,

these embryos are grown on a nutrient medium, under controlled conditions in the laboratory and later

planted in the field.

In the recent years, another technique known as genetic engineering has held the attention of the

agricultural scientists. It involves the alteration of genetic material of a particular plant, by the

substitution or addition of new genetic material from some other plants.

If we apply the principles of biotechnology and raise orchards, the fruit trees will be of desired,

manageable height and form. The fruits will be of uniform size, shape, colour and weight. They will have

the same flavour and nutritional value, and will ripen at the same time. This will make harvesting,

storage, packing, transport, canning and processing easy.

Q8. (a) What is a computer? How does it help in communication?

Ans. A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or “data.” It has the ability to

store, retrieve, and process data. We can use a computer to type documents, send email, and browse the

internet. We can also use it to handle spreadsheets, accounting, database management, presentations,

games, and more. With computers, we can make minor &/or significant changes with rarely a need to

rewrite the whole document.

Also, email has helped make communications easier. No longer does an actual mailman have to take

your handwritten letter, give it to the post office who has to process it, transport the letter to a different

city (if applicable), and give it to another mailman to give to the recipient. Now we can just type it up, click

send, and it’s there (assuming no server problems, etc).

The whole idea of shopping on the web has made communications easier. One can type in almost any

item they wish to buy, get several price quotes, and actually go through the transaction to purchase the

item without need to go to the store or pick up the phone.

Computers have also led up to many other communications tools like cell phones, VoIP, encryption, etc.

(b) Discuss the role of communication in creating cultural awareness and promoting education.

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Ans. Role of communication in creating cultural awareness: In the area of cultural promotion,

communication media can be used to meet the two fundamental needs. Firstly, the media like radio,

cinema, and above all television, can provide information, spread-awareness and create motivation to

appreciate the characteristics of our varied culture. Secondly, apart from creating knowledge about

culture, the media can be used in the preservation of the heritage. Cultural identity, i.e., pride in one’s

cultural heritage, is today an important factor for keeping the people together. This can happen even in a

small community like a tribe which has common attitudes, customs or ceremonies, or at the national

level through bonds of history and sharing of values. In fact, a sense of belonging and of national

integration can be created through the use of media. The media can be used to foster and to deepen

loyalty to the nation.

Media, Religion, Language and culture

Ours is a multi-lingual and a multi-religious society. To a large extent, the states within the Indian

union are organised on the basis of a common language. The many cultural diversities that we have, need

to be related to this background. Each region or language claims to have its own cultural characteristics.

Several of our cultural expressions also emerge from religious beliefs. Although religions are different yet

in centuries of living together in a common environment, even these cultural expressions have been

influenced by each other. At philosophical level, each religion stands for humanism, tolerance, justice and

other civilized values. Thus, in spite of the fact that religious communities here and there adopt a course

of conflict and confrontation, religious diversities and religious regard for each other is a part of our

composite culture and tradition. Therefore, the media, with their power of carrying messages far and

wide, and also straight to the heart, have a unique role to play in India’s unity and progress.

Media and General Cultural Awareness

Today, in several regions, people come to know of each other only through the media. The valley of

Kashmir, for example, is surrounded by mountains. The valley is linked with the rest of the country

through air or through road transport; there is, as yet, no rail link. Besides the geographical isolation and

the lack of rail link, there are climatic reasons, why people of Kashmir do not very frequently travel

outside the valley. It is not surprising, that their knowledge of other regions in the country has been

inadequate and vice versa. Since early 70s, however, the introduction of television in the valley has made

a tremendous difference. Kashmiris are now able to have glimpses of all parts of the country and an

understanding of the cultural mosaic of the entire people. It is, therefore, not difficult to imagine that

Doordarshan programmes would have helped create, among the people of Kashmir valley, a vision of India

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as a whole. What is true of the people of Kashmir valley, is also true of people living in many parts of the

country, who live as isolated communities in distant locations.

Role of communication in promoting education: Transmission of knowledge and information, which

is the first step in education, is obviously possible only through communication. This happens in a

classroom situation, in a factory, a workshop or even in a group-discussion. It is through the process of

communication, that the knowledge is transferred from one person to another or to a group. The training

in skills and the technique of doing a job go through the same process. The availability of media, radio,

TV, films, slides, charts or other illustrations, has supplemented books and teachers in the task of

transmitting knowledge as well as skills. A vastly larger number of persons can now be benefitted through

the use of mass media. The media like TV, films and video, which have hearing and seeing components,

can create impact as well as understanding, which is sometimes not possible in a class-room situation.

The mere fact of providing illustrations through moving pictures on a TV set or video screen gives to such

media great potential.

Q9. “Aggression is basic instinct in animals while it is a learned behaviour in human beings.”

Discuss the statement and justify your answer.

Ans. Aggression is any form of behavior by one person which is intended to cause pain, suffering, or

damage to another person. Aggression includes many types of behaviors. Although most people usually

only think of aggression in terms of physical attacks, verbal behavior meant to cause psychological harm

is also aggression.

For aggression, some psychologists believe that aggression is a natural instinct and give at least two

kinds of arguments for it. Firstly that it is so widespread in our history, which is largely a history of wars

and we hear about the violent acts that take place daily in our society. Secondly we know that aggressive

behaviour in animals is observable at every stage. We can even breed animals selectively for their

aggressiveness for example bull dogs, hounds and terriers are more aggressive than dog, say poodles.

Such dogs are trained for hunting and as police dogs. In the older days, the kings and nawabs bred and

trained rams, cocks, eagles etc. for fighting matches. The pedigree was maintained for their

aggressiveness. On the other hand, another group of psychologists believe that aggressiveness is a result

of frustration and conflict and is a learned response and it must not be there. Thus, aggression is a

behaviour that is intended to harm another person or property. Aggression is instinctive behaviour in

animals while in human beings it is costly learned. It is often the response to streets, conflict or

frustration.

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FST-01: Foundation Course in Science and Technology

June, 2009

Note: Question no. 1 is compulsory. Attempt any seven questions from [Link]. 2 to 9.

Q1. (a) Fill in the blanks:

(i) The distance traveled by light in one light year is ______.

Ans. 9.46 × 1012 km.

(ii) The concept of the floating bodies and hydrostatics was given by _______.

Ans. Copernicus.

(iii) Complete the equation for photosynthesis:

Carbon dioxide + water + solar energy Food +_______.

Ans. Carbon dioxide + water + solar energy Food + Oxygen

(b) Give one word/term for each of the following:

(i) The phenomenon where excessive nourishment in a water body by sewage waste eventually leads

to loss of life.

Ans. Eutrophication

(ii) A techniqu e by which age of organic fossils is determined.

Ans. Carbon dating technique

(iii) The area of study related to the efficiency of a person in the working environment.

Ans. Human engineering ability

(iv) Layer of atmosphere closest to our planet earth.

Ans. Troposphere

(c) Write in one or two sentences, the major contributions of the following scientists:

(i) Galileo Galilei

Ans. Galileo improved the telescope and was the first to use it to observe the heavens. He discovered

the 4 largest moons of Jupiter (the so called Galilean moons). He discovered that Venus had phases like

our moon. He championed Copernicus’ heliocentric theory of the solar system opposing the Church’s

position at the time.

(ii) Stanley Miller

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Ans. Stanley Miller conducted experiments that showed that simple organic molecules can form from

an inorganic ‘soup’. These experiments show that organic molecules could have formed from the inorganic

components of the earth early in its history.

(iii) Charles Darwin

Ans. He created the theory of natural selection and signified its importance as the force of evolutionary

movement. He was also the foundation of biology.

(iv) Van Leeuwenhoek

Ans. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch scientist and he created one of the world’s first microscope, and used that

microscopes to study single and multi-cellular organisms.

(d) Briefly explain the following. Answer each question within 50 words:

(i) Displaced aggression

Ans. It means that we are taking our anger at one person or situation and venting it towards an

unrelated situation or person. An example would be getting in a fight with a parent and benign very angry

but yelling at our sibling for no reason.

(ii) Role of radio in mass communication

Ans. Radio proved far more effective in mass communication. The property of radio which did not

require transportation of the message drew immense attention of common people and investors in the

field of mass media. Radio served hugely the human instinct to know about events taking place around

him and at distant lands.

(iii) AIDS

Ans. AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a

disease caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The illness alters the immune

system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the disease progresses.

HIV can be transmitted in many ways, such as vaginal, oral sex, anal sex, blood transfusion, and contaminated

hypodermic needles.

(iv) Nuclear fission

Ans. Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts,

often producing free neutrons and lighter nuclei, which may eventually produce photons (in the form of

gamma rays). Fission of heavy elements is an exothermic reaction which can release large amounts of

energy both as electromagnetic radiation and as kinetic energy of the fragments.

(v) Artificial intelligence

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Ans. Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology and a branch of computer science that studies and

develops intelligent machines and software. Major AI researchers and textbooks define the field as “the

study and design of intelligent agents”, where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its

environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success.

Q2. “The growth of science in any society is influenced by its needs and its capacity to absorb

ideas”. Justify this statement.

Ans. Growth of science in a given society is influenced by the prevailing conditions of society, which

can be illustrated by following example:

Stagnation in a given geographical area or society does not always lead to radical changes in same area

or society. New ideas are sometimes transmitted through human interaction due to trade and other

means of communication to other geographical locations. There the society may be more conducive to a

rapid change in a particular epoch. In a different epoch same locality changes may be extremely slow. We

have to understand specific social, cultural and economical condition of a given society to encourage the

scientific status of society. We also have to understand the world situation in which a society functions. It

also reflects the developments which influences social development.

Q3. (a) What are hormones? With the help of any two examples, explain how the hormones are

vital for proper functioning of the body?

Ans. Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by cell or gland. These messengers are sent out from

one part of the body to affect cells in other parts of the body. Hormones are often released directly into the

bloodstream, but they may also be secreted into ducts.

Hormones can have a wide range of effects on the body. They can cause mood swings, regulate the

metabolism, control the reproductive cycle, induce hunger and cravings, stimulate or inhibit growth and

prepare the body for changes such as puberty, childbirth or menopause. Hormone signals also play a

major role in homeostasis, or the control and regulation of the body’s internal environment.

The hormones work in close coordination with our nervous system. For example, in a situation of

danger or fear, the sense organs convey the information to the central nervous system and the autonomic

system is activated within seconds. The adrenal glands are also activated to release a hormone called

adrenaline. When adrenaline reaches the alimentary canal and the skin their blood vessels contract,

diverting the blood supply to the muscles; the pupils of the eyes are dilated and glucose is released in the

blood to speed up the rate of breathing. All these changes help a person who requires increased activity

such as running away or fighting.

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(b) How does stimulus and response methodology help in learning process? Explain by giving an

example.

Ans. Scientists concerned with human behaviour and attitudes, namely psychologists, have tried to

understand the basic process of learning, starting from simple models and situations. The simplest model

is that of stimulus and response. The Russian Nobel Prize winner, Ivan Pavlov in early-1900s carried out some

experiments on dogs which are perhaps the best examples of a stimulus producing a certain kind of response. While studying

the physiology of digestion in dogs, he wanted to measure the flow of saliva. For this, he inserted a tube in the cheek of the dog

and placed a bowl of meat in front of it and the dog began to salivate.

This, of course, is a natural response of any dog. He begins to salivate when he gets his food. But a

strange thing happened. The dog began to salivate at the sight of the apparatus or the experimenter even

before the food was placed in front of it. Pavlov could have treated this as an experimental nuisance but

being a scientist he started asking questions.

Pavlov knew that salivation at the sight of is was a natural reflex action. It happens in every dog since

birth, but the other reaction was something new, what we can call a learned reflex. Now he decided to

investigate if the dog could be made to associate food with other stimuli.

In a typical experiment, a bell was sounded just before the meat was given to the dog. This was

repeated several times. Pavlov noticed that the dog now began to salivate as soon as the bell was rung

even if food was not given. The animal associated the two stimuli, food and bell, therefore, one could be

substituted for the other.

Even human beings learn things according to this simple model. If a person has done well to you many

times, you may begin to associate goodness with the person. Sometimes, cheats use this technique to first

gain your confidence by a few simple acts, and then when your trust has grown, they might run away

with your belonging!

Q4. (a) What developments took place in the field of chemistry and astronomy in medieval India?

Ans. Chemistry: The Arab doctors, perfumers and metallurgists made their greatest contribution in

chemistry. This was mainly due to the fact that Arab scholars, unlike their predecessors in Greece, never

hesitated to take part in laboratory practices in handling drugs, salts and precious metals. The Arabs

continued the Egyptian and Babylonian traditions and learnt extensively from the Indians and the

Chinese sources. To these, they added their own rich contributions, giving rise to the first statements of

scientific chemistry.

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Arab chemists greatly improved the earlier distillation apparatus and used it for large scale production

of perfume. They also undertook large scale production of soda, alum, copperas, nitre and other salts

which could be exported and used particularly in textile industry. While they perfected new techniques,

they were not satisfied till they were able to get at the bottom of the reactions which made these

techniques possible. Arab chemists stipulated the positive and negative nature of two reacting

constituents. This was the first time that chemical transformation was approached rationally, to lay the

basis for modern chemistry.

Astronomy: Arabs carried on the Greek tradition in astronomy. They translated Ptolemy’s Almagest

and continued astronomical observations in spite of occasional religious interference. Although they did

not add substantially to the Greek methods, the continuity that they provided was to prove invaluable to

the sixteenth century astronomers.

(b) What is meant by nutritional deficiency diseases? Give the cause and symptoms of any two

such diseases.

Ans. The inadequacy of food results in nutritional deficiencies and reduces the intake of one or more

nutrients. This results in poor health, increased susceptibility to disease and in reduction of the life span.

Money spent on treatment of ill health and disease could possibly have improved nutrition to avoid

disease! Following are the examples of nutritional deficiencies diseases:

(a) Kwashiorkor

It is a malnutritional disease, which is caused by the deficiency of proteins in the diet of children. This

disease develops in children of age upto 1 to 5 years, when mothers stop feeding the babies with their

breast milk and start feeding them instead with a diet consisting mainly of carbohydrates, but having less

protein contents.

Causes of Kwashiorkor: Kwashiorkor is most common in areas where there is: Famine, Limited food

supply, Low levels of education (when people do not understand how to eat a proper diet)

This disease is more common in very poor countries. It often occurs during a drought or other natural

disaster, or during political unrest. These conditions are responsible for a lack of food, which leads to

malnutrition.

Symptoms of Kwashiorkor: Swelling of abdomen, scaly skin, enlarged liver, hair becomes reddish and

mental disturbance.

(b) Marasmus

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It is a malnutrition disease, caused by the deficiency of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in diet of

infant children. This disease develops when the infants/babies upto 1 year of age are weaned too soon

from breast milk of mothers and instead are fed artificially with a feed, which is deficient in proteins as

well as energy- rich nutrients.

Causes of Marasmus: Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of nearly all nutrients, especially

protein and carbohydrates.

Symptoms of Marasmus: Loss of muscles, the child looks widened and shrunken, digestive upsets and

diarrhoea.

Q5. Differentiate between the following pairs:

(a) Food chain and Food web

Ans. A food chain is a single line of organisms, where each is preceded by something that it consumes

and is followed by something that consumes it. A food web branches out in all directions with arrows

pointing from organisms to any number of organisms that consume it.

A food chain is the hierarchy of consumption of food from Sun to Plant to Herbivore (1st level consumer)

to Carnivore (2nd and higher level consumers). It acknowledges only 1 single string of connected

plants/animals.

A food web is a diagram showing the various different plants and animals in an ecosystem in relation to

each other. It encompasses many consumers of each different level, acknowledging that one predator may

eat several different kinds of prey, and that one kind of prey may be eaten by several kinds of predators.

There are many food chains within a food web, and one creature is not necessarily at the top of the

hierarchy.

The difference between a food chain and a food web is that a chain is a single strand of different levels

of energy transfers, where as a food web will show the many food chains in a particular ecosystem such

as a forest.

(b) Reclamation processes used for alkaline and saline soils

Ans. The process of reclamation means to create new form of soil or to make soil better by planting soil

resistant plants, such as barley, millets, soya, cotton, etc. Alkaline soils contain high amounts of

carbonates and bicarbonates of sodium, whereas saline soils contain chlorides and sulphates of sodium,

calcium and magnesium. As a result, the soils are deteriorated. Thus, to reclaim, alkaline soils are

cultivated with the cultivation of fodder grasses like Brachiaria mutica (Para ghas), Panicum antidotale

(Neelon ghas) and Cynodon dactylon (Doob) and tree species like Prosopis chilensis (Vilayati khejri),

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Acacia nilotica (Kikar) and hybrid Eucalyptus. The trees established quickly if they are planted in small

holes filled with manure to which a little gypsum is added. In the very first year after reclamation with

grasses, this soil can be used for planting other crops like wheat and rice.

Whereas the crucial factor in the management of saline soils is drainage. Saline soils have a very high

water table. Drainage channels 1 m deep and 30 m apart effectively bring down the water table and help

in reducing soil salinity. Drainage costs are no doubt high. Increasing salinisation caused by improper

drainage forced Mesopotamia to completely abandon wheat cultivation and saline soils played an important role in the break-

up of Sumerian Civilisation. Thus, to reclaim saline soils are cultivated with sorghum, maize and wheat. Before reclamation,

such soils would not have supported any plant growth.

(c) Renewable and non-renewable energy resources

Ans. Non-renewable energy sources are those types of energy that may be depleted. In other words, when the supply

runs out, there is no more. Some examples of non-renewable sources of energy are oil, coal and natural gas. Even nuclear

energy is non-renewable despite its longevity. There is a limited source of material to fuel nuclear power plants.

Renewable sources of energy are those sources that will not suffer depletion. Most sources of renewable

energy are derived from the natural environment and from natural processes.

Some of the more familiar types of renewable energy include solar power and wind power. As long as

the Sun is shining and the wind is blowing, power from these two sources will be available.

Tidal power from the ocean is another renewable form of energy as is hydro power derived from inland

water sources. Biomass energy and geothermal energy from the ground are also important renewable

energy sources.

(d) Galaxy and Solar system

Ans. Our Solar System consists of our star, the Sun, and its orbiting planets (including Earth), along

with numerous moons, asteroids, comet material, rocks, and dust. Our Sun is just one star among the

hundreds of billions of stars in our Milky Way Galaxy. If we shrink the Sun down to smaller than a grain

of sand, we can imagine our Solar System to be small enough to fit onto the palm of our hand. Pluto

would orbit about an inch from the middle of our palm.

On that scale with our Solar System in our hand, the Milky Way Galaxy, with its 200 – 400 billion

stars, would span North America. Galaxies come in many sizes. The Milky Way is big, but some galaxies,

like our Andromeda Galaxy neighbor, are much larger.

The universe is all of the galaxies – billions of them! NASA’s telescopes allow us to study galaxies

beyond our own in exquisite detail, and to explore the most distant reaches of the observable universe.

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The Hubble Space Telescope made the one of the deepest images of the universe called the Hubble

Extreme Deep Field (image at the top of this article). Soon the James Webb Space Telescope will be

exploring galaxies forming at the very beginning of the universe.

Q6. Explain the concept of technology transfer. Describe three ways of transfer of technologies.

Ans. Technology transfer is the movement or flow of technical knowledge, data, designs, prototypes,

materials, inventions, software, and/or trade secrets from one organization to another organization or

from one purpose to another purpose.

The forms of technology transfer are as follows:

(i) Import of technology: The import of technology involves transferring the essential expertise

associated with the capabilities of more developed nations to the lesser developed nations, who require it

for accelerated industrialization. This can be done in several ways, i.e. through licensing, joint ventures

with foreign firms, direct foreign investments, etc. Its efficiency depends on many factors like the

supplier’s ability and desire to transfer, the recipient’s capacity and desire to absorb, the recipient’s socio-

economical and cultural environment and communication processes. If these all factors are not present,

then a nation has to face economical problems.

(ii) Transfer of technology from laboratory to field: The transfer of technology from laboratory to

field has been the policy of the Government of India, from the time of Independence, to achieve self-

reliance by developing indigenous technology in as many areas of Industry as possible. We, therefore, had

created a chain of laboratories in all areas. The National Research and Development Corporation of India

(NRDC) was set up in 1953 for facilitating the transfer of technology from the laboratories of national R &

D institutes to the field. These institutes offer their processes for commercial exploitation to NRDC.

If indigenous efforts are not considered adequate at the policy-making level of the different ministries, a

new policy is formulated for updating technology and for the import of technology from the developed

countries. The Department of Science and Technology, Planning Commission, Science and Engineering

Research Council and various Scientific Advisory Committees attached to the ministries monitor the

technological needs of India.

(iii) Export of technology: India has gained experience and expertise in various fields of technology.

Thus, we are in a position to assist a lot of developing nations in the process of technological

advancement. India exports technology to a large number of Asian, Middle-Eastern, African and Latin

American nations. For example, India exports switchgears and electrical distribution material, steel work

for buildings to Burma through supply and installation technology.

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Source Heat available for

Sun warming bodies

Radiant energy Consumers

captured by Herbivores
photosynthesis
Carnivores

Produces
Water, Carbon
Green
oxygen dioxide
Plants
Reduces
organism
Essential substances
of decay
to soil, water and
atmosphere Sink
Breakdown of Energy
organic matter dissipated as heat

Q7. (a) What is a semiconductor? Write any four applications of semiconductor devices.

Ans. A semiconductor is a material which has electrical conductivity to a degree between that of a

metal (such as copper) and that of an insulator (such as glass). Semiconductors are the foundation of

modern solid state electronics, including transistors, solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), quantum

dots and digital and analog integrated circuits.

A semiconductor may have a number of unique properties, one of which is the ability to change

conductivity by the addition of impurities (“doping”) or by interaction with another phenomenon, such as

an electric field or light; this ability makes a semiconductor very useful for constructing a device that can

amplify, switch, or convert an energy input.

Some applications of semiconductors are as follows:

• Computer chips, both for CPU and memory

• Communication devices

• Electrical and electronic gadgets

• Converting electric supply from A.C. to D.C.

• Amplify signals

• Audio and video systems, etc. are composed of semi-conductor materials

• Transistors

• Integrated circuit chips

• p-n junction diode/triode

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(b) Is technology essential for our industries? With the help of two examples, explain what will

happen if we continue to use age-old methods.

Ans. Technology is essential for our industry. Our country desperately needs to improve its

productivity. Traditional methods cannot help us to improve our productivity beyond a certain limit. And

even this limit will not be sufficient to provide food and essentials to our increasing population. We have

to use modern technologies to make a quantum leap in our progress.

Q8. Discuss the management of water and forest resources.

Ans. Management of water resources: The uneven distribution of rainfall has often threatened

human welfare, livelihood and economic development. The growing scarcity of water is due to the rapid

growth of population, rising demand for food and cash crops, increasing urbanisation and rising standard

of living. All these have increased the acuteness of the problem of water scarcity in future.

For efficient water conservation and management, the following points are to be kept in mind:

(a) To aware people about the necessity of water and its conservation.

(b) To involve people in all the activities of water management.

(c) To make people aware that treated water should not be used in gardening, washing toilets and wash

basins and so on.

(d) Drying up of underground aquifers should be prevented.

(e) Water-bodies should be kept pollution-free.

Management of forest resources: Forest management is a branch of forestry concerned with the

overall administrative, economic, legal and social aspects and with the essentially scientific and technical

aspects, especially silviculture, protection, and forest regulation. This includes management for

aesthetics, fish, recreation, urban values, water, wilderness, wildlife, wood products, forest genetic

resources and other forest resource values. Management can be based on conservation, economics, or a

mixture of the two. Techniques include timber extraction, planting and replanting of various species,

cutting roads and pathways through forests, and preventing fire.

Q9. In your opinion what are our social objectives? How can science and technology help in

achieving these objectives?

Ans. Science and technology are a major national resource and a vital element in the task of achieving

self-reliance the needs for food, shelter, clothing, health and education for all are still the most pressing

needs of our society. A rapid fulfilment of these needs would need new advancements in agriculture, food

technology, health science and medicine, building materials, clothing, tapping new resources, etc.

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Solution of problems relevant to our own society or economy poses a fundamental challenge before our

scientific and technological activity. And in pursuing this challenge, new questions and new answers, new

technologies and new areas of scientific work are bound to emerge. To tackle the problems experienced in

such an endeavour would need the ingenuity and resources of men. In India, we have a great potential of

material resources and intelligent people. We have also a democratic system where ideas can be tested

and the best can prevail. The task is to optimize knowledge of all kinds, whether in social science, natural

sciences or technology, by making it available to the largest number.

The task of getting out of the vicious circle of under-development should not be under-estimated.

Science, technology and other kinds of knowledge have played a crucial role in establishing the present

structure of societies, their trade, industry and distribution of benefits.

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