Answer: D

Explanation:

• Orangutans (Genus Pongo) are known for their intelligence, long arms, and distinctive reddish-brown hair.
• They are native to Indonesia and Malaysia, found exclusively in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.
• Orangutans have an arm span of about 2 m (over 7 ft) from fingertip to fingertip.
• Orangutans’ are arboreal apes as they spend much of their time (some 90 percent) in the trees of their tropical rain forest home.
• They are known for constructing sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage.
• They use large leaves as umbrellas and shelters to protect themselves from the common rains.
• Also use tools, like sticks to get termites, ants or bees out of tree holes.
• Diet: Omnivore ( mainly eat fruits, such as mangoes, lychees and figs, but they also feed on young leaves, flowers, insects, and even small mammals).
• Threats: All three orangutan species (The Bornean, the Sumatran and the Tapanuli) are critically endangered due to habitat destruction, primarily for palm oil production, illegal logging, and fragmentation of their forest home.

Answer: B

Explanation:

• The phenomenon where cities experience higher temperatures than their rural surrounding areas, particularly at night, is known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect.
• This effect is exacerbated by urban structures such as buildings and roads made from heat-absorbing materials like concrete, which retain and re-emit heat.
  • Reduced greenery in urban settings further intensifies this effect, especially during nighttime, making the environment significantly warmer compared to less urbanized, greener areas.
• Measures to mitigate UHI typically involve increasing green cover (recommended by UN Habitat to be accessible within 400 metres for all citizens), using reflective building materials, and enhancing public transit to reduce vehicular usage.

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: A canopy bridge is a type of wildlife crossing that is specifically designed for arboreal (tree-dwelling) species.
  • These bridges are constructed above the ground, usually connecting fragmented patches of forest that have been divided by roads, railways, or other human constructions.
• Statement 2 is Correct: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is set to build canopy bridges in the Hoolock gibbon inhabited areas of Assam.
  • These bridges aim to aid the movement of Hoolock gibbons over a railway line that splits their main territory within the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary.
  • The canopy bridges are being developed by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in partnership with NFR.
    • The initiative includes contributions from NFR, the Assam State Forest Department, WII, and other involved parties.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Correct: GDP includes net taxes on products which GVA does not. GVA focuses on the value added by each sector of the economy and does not include taxes minus subsidies on products which are considered in GDP.
• Statement 2 is Correct: GVA offers a measure from the producer’s perspective by assessing the contribution of individual industries or sectors to the economy, whereas GDP measures the total value of all goods and services from the consumer’s viewpoint.
• Statement 3 is Incorrect: Gross Value Added (GVA) is lower than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in economies where subsidies on products exceed the taxes on them.
  • This is because GVA is calculated by subtracting the cost of inputs and raw materials from the value of goods and services produced, and then adjusting for taxes and subsidies. The formula for GVA in relation to GDP is:
    • GVA = GDP + Subsidies on products − Taxes on products
  • So, if the subsidies are greater than the taxes, the GVA will be reduced when you adjust the GDP accordingly. Conversely, if taxes on products are higher than the subsidies, then GDP will be lower than GVA.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• China’s Chang’e- 6 probe has lifted off from the far side of the moon to start its journey back towards Earth.
• This mission was followed by the success of Chang’e-5.
• Chang’e-6 will collect lunar samples from the moon’s far side, a first for China.
• Chang’e 6 aims to land on the northeastern side of the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the oldest known impact crater in the solar system. This region is considered highly valuable for lunar exploration.
• The goal of Chang’e-6 mission is to collect samples and return is expected to provide valuable insights into the early evolution of the moon and the inner solar system, enhancing our understanding of celestial dynamics.
• Due to the lack of direct line of sight with Earth, Chang’e-6 will depend on a relay satellite for communication during its 53-day mission.
• This mission includes the challenging task of ascending from the moon’s hidden side.
• Chang’e-6 will carry scientific payloads from France, Italy, Sweden, and Pakistan.
• The mission features international partnerships, including contributions from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French space agency CNES.
  • ESA is supplying a lunar surface ion tester, and CNES is providing devices to measure radon gas and its decay products.
  • Additionally, the mission includes an Italian laser corner reflector for calibrating radar instruments and Pakistan’s ICUBE-Q CubeSat.