Concept Application and Fact for Prelims Day-30

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This is the Day-30 questions of the CAF Revision plan for prelims. The questions are based on the syllabus as provided in the schedule. Aspirants are requested to go through the detailed CAF strategy to understand the need of the UPSC prelims and to prepare well for the same. Attempt the questions honestly. The link to key answers and explanations of this test is at the end of the questions. The maximum time to attempt the 15 questions is 20 minutes.


Q.1) Which of the following is/are the fissile fuel material for a reactor?

  1. Uranium-235
  2. Plutonium-239
  3. Uranium-238

Choose the correct answers from the codes given below

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1, 2 and 3


Q.2) Consider the following statements.

Assertion (A): In Fast Breeder Reactor uranium-238 transmuted to Plutonium-239.

Reason (R): Uranium-238 cannot sustain a chain reaction. So it is transmuted to Plutonium-239.

In the context of the statements above, which of these is true?

(a) A and R both are true, and R is the correct explanation for A.

(b) A and R both are true, and R is the NOT the correct explanation for A.

(c) A is correct, R is incorrect.

(d) A and R both are incorrect


Q.3) Which among the following is/are moderators used in nuclear fission reactors?

  1. Light water
  2. Solid graphite
  3. Heavy water
  4. Boron

Choose the correct answers from the codes given below

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 4

(c) 2 and 4

(d) 1, 2 and 3


Q.4) In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the ‘Additional Protocol’ with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’?

(a) The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.

(b) The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA.

(c) The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

(d) The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.


Q.5) Consider the following statements:

  1. The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations.
  2. The International Panel on Fissile Materials is an organ of International Atomic Energy Agency.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2


Q.6) India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?

(a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation

(b) It can attain a global role in satellite navigation

(c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation

(d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation


Q.7) The radiant energy of the sun is due to

(a) Nuclear fission

(b) Nuclear fusion

(c) Sinking of the sun

(d) Violent explosions


Q.8) The fuel used in Fast Breeder Test Reactor at Kalpakkam is

(a) Enriched Uranium

(b) Thorium

(c) Plutonium

(d) None of the above


Q.9) With respect to thermonuclear weapon, consider the following statements.

  1. It is based on the principle of both fusion and fission reactions.
  2. In this weapon first fusion reaction occurs followed by fission.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) None


Q.10) With reference to moderators used in nuclear reactors consider the following statements:

  1. Graphite is used as a moderator in nuclear reactions.
  2. Moderators made out of neutron absorbing material are used to control rate of the nuclear reaction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2


Q.11) With reference to neutrinos, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a subatomic particle with no electrical charge and a very small mass.
  2. It travels close to the speed of sound.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2


Q.12) Fission reactors can be divided roughly into two classes, depending on the energy of the neutrons that sustain the fission chain reaction: thermal reactors and fast neutron reactors. Consider the following statements.

  1. Thermal reactors (the most common type of nuclear reactor) use slowed or thermal neutrons to keep up the fission of their fuel.
  2. Fast neutron reactors use fast neutrons to cause fission in their fuel.
  3. Heavy water reactors (HWR) operate with thermal neutrons.
  4. The light-water reactor (LWR) is a type of thermal-neutron reactor

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) All the above


Q.12) Consider the following statements.

  1. Heavy Water Board not only produces heavy water but also undertakes the task of boron enrichment.
  2. The Nuclear Fuel Complex at Hyderabad manufactures fuel assemblies for pressurized heavy water reactors, boiling water reactors and fast breeder reactor.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) None


Q.14) ‘Uranium enrichment’ often in news. It is best defined by?

(a) Increasing the concentration of U-238 isotope in the fuel

(b) Increasing the concentration of thorium in the fuel.

(c) Increasing the concentration of U-235 isotope in the fuel.

(d) All the above


Q.15) Consider the following statements about applications of Nuclear science in agriculture.

  1. Carbon-13 is used to soil quality.
  2. Nitrogen-15 is used to know about how efficiently the crops use the nutrients assess.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) None


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