Here are 25 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations on Climate Change (General Issues), targeted for JKSSB and similar competitive exams:
Climate Change (General Issues)
Q1. Which of the following is the primary greenhouse gas responsible for the enhanced greenhouse effect on Earth?
(a) Oxygen
(b) Nitrogen
(c) Carbon Dioxide
(d) Methane
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the most significant greenhouse gas emitted by human activities, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels, and is the largest contributor to the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Q2. Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to which of the following?
(a) Volcanic eruptions
(b) Human activities enhancing the greenhouse effect
(c) Changes in solar radiation without human influence
(d) Natural climate cycles only
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Global warming specifically refers to the ongoing increase in Earth’s average temperature caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, predominantly from human activities.
Q3. What is the main source of anthropogenic (human-caused) methane emissions?
(a) Ocean warming
(b) Industrial manufacturing
(c) Agriculture (livestock and rice cultivation) and fossil fuel extraction
(d) Deforestation
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Major anthropogenic sources of methane include livestock farming (enteric fermentation), rice cultivation, and the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil.
Q4. The ‘Paris Agreement’ is an international treaty that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. When was it adopted?
(a) 1997 (Kyoto Protocol)
(b) 2015
(c) 2009
(d) 1992 (Rio Earth Summit)
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015.
Q5. Which of the following is NOT considered a direct impact of climate change?
(a) Sea-level rise
(b) Increased frequency of extreme weather events
(c) Ozone layer depletion
(d) Ocean acidification
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Ozone layer depletion is primarily caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, while related to atmospheric chemistry, it is a separate environmental issue from the direct impacts of greenhouse gas-induced climate change.
Q6. What does the term “carbon footprint” represent?
(a) The total amount of carbon present in a person’s body.
(b) The measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced.
(c) The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by plants in a specific area.
(d) The ecological impact of walking on natural surfaces.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Your carbon footprint is a measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product.
Q7. Which international body is responsible for assessing scientific information related to climate change?
(a) World Health Organization (WHO)
(b) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
(c) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
(d) World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The IPCC is the leading international body for assessing climate change. It does not conduct its own research but synthesizes thousands of scientific papers.
Q8. What is the term for actions taken to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases or remove them from the atmosphere?
(a) Adaptation
(b) Resilience
(c) Mitigation
(d) Geoengineering
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Mitigation in the context of climate change refers to efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.
Q9. Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt, contributing to which of the following?
(a) Decreased ocean salinity
(b) Increased global freshwater reserves
(c) Sea-level rise
(d) Enhanced absorption of atmospheric CO2 by oceans
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The melting of glaciers and ice sheets significantly contributes to global sea-level rise, threatening coastal communities.
Q10. The phenomenon where the ocean absorbs excess CO2 from the atmosphere, leading to a decrease in the ocean’s pH, is known as:
(a) Ocean warming
(b) Ocean stratification
(c) Ocean acidification
(d) Ocean deoxygenation
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth’s oceans, caused by the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
Q11. What is the primary cause of deforestation in many parts of the world, contributing to climate change?
(a) Natural forest fires
(b) Urbanization and infrastructure development
(c) Agricultural expansion (e.g., for livestock and crops like palm oil)
(d) Sustainable logging practices
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Agricultural expansion, particularly for cattle ranching, soybean cultivation, and palm oil plantations, is a leading driver of deforestation globally.
Q12. What role do forests play in mitigating climate change?
(a) They increase atmospheric carbon dioxide.
(b) They act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
(c) They reflect solar radiation back into space.
(d) They only contribute to local weather patterns, not global climate.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Forests are crucial carbon sinks, meaning they absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Q13. Which of the following renewable energy sources is considered to have the lowest carbon footprint over its lifecycle?
(a) Hydropower
(b) Solar PV
(c) Wind power
(d) Geothermal
Answer: (c)
Explanation: While all listed are low carbon, wind power generally has one of the lowest carbon footprints per unit of electricity generated over its entire lifecycle, from manufacturing to operation and decommissioning.
Q14. The term “climate refugees” refers to people who are forced to leave their homes due to which of the following?
(a) Political conflicts
(b) Economic hardship
(c) Climate change impacts like extreme weather, drought, or sea-level rise
(d) Voluntary migration for better opportunities
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Climate refugees are individuals displaced primarily due to the severe impacts of climate change on their environment and livelihoods.
Q15. The ‘Greenhouse Effect’ is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. What would happen without it?
(a) The Earth would be significantly colder, making it uninhabitable.
(b) The Earth would be significantly hotter.
(c) There would be no weather patterns.
(d) All oceans would evaporate.
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The natural greenhouse effect keeps the Earth’s average temperature at about 15°C (59°F), without which it would be around -18°C (0°F), far too cold to sustain life as we know it.
Q16. What does “adaptation” mean in the context of climate change?
(a) Reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.
(b) Adjusting to actual or expected future climate.
(c) Developing new weather forecasting models.
(d) Restoring degraded ecosystems.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Adaptation involves taking action to adjust to the current or expected effects of climate change and minimize its negative impacts.
Q17. Which continent is often cited as being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its reliance on rain-fed agriculture and limited resources?
(a) Europe
(b) North America
(c) Africa
(d) Australia
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, with significant challenges in food security, water scarcity, and extreme weather, exacerbated by existing socio-economic vulnerabilities.
Q18. The thinning of the Arctic sea ice is a clear indicator of global warming. This melting ice contributes to sea-level rise primarily because:
(a) It causes immediate displacement of water.
(b) Warmer temperatures cause the ocean water itself to expand.
(c) Less solar energy is reflected back by the white ice surface.
(d) Land-based glaciers and ice sheets melt more rapidly due to regional warming.
Answer: (d)
Explanation: While melting sea ice does expose darker ocean surfaces (reducing albedo), the primary contribution to sea-level rise comes from the melting of land-based ice sheets (like Greenland and Antarctica) and glaciers. The melting of floating sea ice itself does not significantly raise sea levels (Archimedes’ principle).
Q19. Which of the following is a potential positive feedback loop in climate change?
(a) Increased cloud cover leading to more reflection of solar radiation.
(b) Reforestation leading to more carbon absorption.
(c) Melting permafrost releasing methane, further increasing warming.
(d) Increased ocean absorption of CO2, reducing atmospheric concentrations.
Answer: (c)
Explanation: A positive feedback loop amplifies the initial change. Melting permafrost releases stored methane (a potent greenhouse gas), which in turn causes more warming, leading to further permafrost melt.
Q20. The concept of ‘Net-Zero Emissions’ refers to:
(a) Eliminating all carbon emissions globally.
(b) Balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere.
(c) Reducing emissions for a specific sector only.
(d) Increasing emissions in one sector while decreasing in another.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Net-zero emissions means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out, effectively resulting in no net addition.
Q21. Which natural phenomenon can temporarily cool the Earth’s climate by injecting aerosols into the stratosphere, reflecting sunlight?
(a) El Niño
(b) La Niña
(c) Major volcanic eruptions
(d) Sunspot cycles
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Large volcanic eruptions can inject sulfur dioxide and other aerosols into the stratosphere, which reflect incoming solar radiation and can cause a temporary cooling effect globally.
Q22. India is a signatory to which major international agreement aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases?
(a) Montreal Protocol (primarily for ozone depletion)
(b) Convention on Biological Diversity
(c) Paris Agreement
(d) Basel Convention (for hazardous waste)
Answer: (c)
Explanation: India is a key signatory to the Paris Agreement, committing to nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to combat climate change.
Q23. What is the primary gas targeted by efforts to reduce the “Short-Lived Climate Pollutants” (SLCPs)?
(a) Carbon Dioxide
(b) Nitrous Oxide
(c) Methane and Black Carbon
(d) Water Vapour
Answer: (c)
Explanation: SLCPs include methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Methane and Black Carbon are often highlighted due to their significant warming potential and relatively short atmospheric lifetimes.
Q24. A forester’s work is directly linked to climate change mitigation through which primary activity?
(a) Monitoring air pollution in urban areas.
(b) Managing and expanding forests (afforestation and reforestation).
(c) Designing renewable energy systems.
(d) Predicting extreme weather events.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Foresters play a vital role in climate change mitigation by managing forests, promoting afforestation (planting new forests), and reforestation (replanting existing forests), which enhances carbon sequestration.
Q25. The warming of the Earth’s atmosphere leads to thermal expansion of ocean water, which is another significant contributor to:
(a) Increased frequency of tsunamis
(b) Ocean acidification
(c) Sea-level rise
(d) Decreased marine biodiversity
Answer: (c)
Explanation: As ocean water warms, it expands, contributing significantly to global sea-level rise alongside the melting of glaciers and ice sheets.
