Everyday Science CSS Paper 1997

FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR RECRUITMENT TO POST
IN BPS-17 UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 1997
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, PAPER – I EVERYDAY SCIENCE
Time Allowed: 2 Hours Maximum Marks: 50
Note: Answer any ten questions. All questions carry equal marks. Draw diagrams where necessary. Negative marking would be done for incorrect answers in Question 13 and 14.

1. Discuss the role and achievement of Muslim physicists during the 10th century.

2. Explain the structure of Earth and its atmosphere.

3. Write short notes on any two of the following:
   (i) Solar eclipse (ii) Thermoplastics (iii) Non-renewable energy resources

4. What are pesticides? Discuss their classification, commonly in use with agronomists.

5. What is the difference between:
   (i) BIT and BYTE (ii) RAM and ROM (iii) C.U and A.L.U (iv) Hardware and Software (v) Personal computer and Mainframe

6. Explain any Five of the following terms (in not more than Four lines each):
   (i) Osmosis (ii) Glycolysis (iii) Phototaxis (iv) Transpiration (v) Saponification (vi) Emulsion

7. Fill in the blanks
   (i) A sheet of muscles called ____ separates the chest from the abdomen.
   (ii) In the human body, blood clotting factor is produced by the _____ .
   (iii) Human blood is able to carry large amounts of oxygen because of the chemical ____ .
   (iv) The living part of a plant cell is composed of a nucleus and ____ .
   (v) The pattern for building protein molecules is stored in the ____ .
   (vi) Anvil and stirrup are names of bones present in the ____ .
   (vii) The front of the eye is covered with a tough transparent material called ____ .
   (viii) The young plant inside a grain of wheat is called the ____ .
   (ix) In born behaviours that involve only one part of the body are called ____ .
   (x) The smallest branches of any artery lead into tiny blood vessels called ____ .

8. What are Exocrine glands? Give names of any four along with the names of their secretion.

9. Which quantity do the following units measure
   (i) Volt (ii) Coulomb (iii) Watt (iv) Ohm (v) Mho (vi) Ampere (vii) Dyne (viii) Celsius (ix) Joule (x) Calorie

10. Give scientific reasons (in not more than four lines each) for the following:
    (i) Meat takes longer to cook on the mountains.
    (ii) Water remains cool in Earthen pitchers.
    (iii) Ice and salt mixture is used as a freezing agent in manual ice-cream makers.
    (iv) It is not advisable to sleep under trees during the night.
    (v) Greenhouse operators paint their glass roofs while in summer.

11. Which part /organ of the human body do the following belong:
    (i) Eustachian tube (ii) Cartilage (iii) Auricle (iv) Tendon (v) Dendrites

12. Briefly describe the Solar System. Name its members, outline the main characteristics of any two members.

13. Fill in the blank with the correct choice
    (i) Insulin is produced in the human body by the ____ (Liver, Pancreas, Gall bladder)
    (ii) In an animal cell, Protein is synthesized in the ____ (Nucleus, Mitochondria, Ribosome)
    (iii) Chemically finger nails are made up of ____ (Carbohydrate, Protein, Minerals)
    (iv) Muscle stiffness is a symptom caused by the disease ____ (Polio, Tetanus, Raules)
    (v) Animals which obtain their food from dead organisms are called ____ (Carnivores, Scavengers, Saprophytes)
    (vi) ____ is not affected by cooking (Ascorbic acid, Thiamin, Riboflavin)
    (vii) Rickets is caused by the deficiency of vitamin ____ (A, D, K)
    (viii) The number of chromosomes in the spermatozoa is ____ (Twenty-two, Twenty-three, Forty-six)
    (ix) The fat in our food is digested by the enzyme ____ (Lipase, Lactase, Trypsin)
    (x) The most abundant element in the human body ____ (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen)

14. Which of the following statements are false and which true:
    (i) Sound is a form of energy.
    (ii) A fraction of sunlight is refracted as it enters the earth’s atmosphere.
    (iii) The energy possessed by a waterfall is kinetic energy.
    (iv) Rainbows are produced by the reflection of light through raindrops.
    (v) Light switches in our homes are connected in parallel series.
    (vi) Generators convert mechanical; energy into electricity.
    (vii) Modern incandescent bulbs contain filaments made of copper.
    (viii) A steam engine cannot be powered by Fossil Fuels.
    (ix) Nuclear Energy is a cheap source of abundant electricity.
    (x) Oil burns cleaner and is less damaging to the environment than coal as a fuel.

15. Match words of list A with those of list B:
    LIST A
    Protein
    Magnesium
    Carotene
    Bauxite
    Haematite
    Casein
    Pancreas
    Quartz
    Chlorofluoro carbon
    Urea

LIST B
Fat
Milk
Ozone
Nitrogen
Amino Acid
Vitamin A
Aluminium
Chlorophyll
Silicon