Methods of Separation in Everyday Life MCQs for UPSC Prelims
105 practice questions covering Methods of Separation in Everyday Life, organised into 0 topics.
105 questions include a written explanation.
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Sample questions
Q1
hard
A wide shallow tray and a narrow tall glass hold the same amount of salt solution and stand side by side in the sun. The water dries up first in
Athe glass, because the liquid in it is deeper
Bthe tray, because a larger surface of liquid is open to the air
Cneither, because evaporation happens only on boiling
Dboth at the same time, since the amounts are equal
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - the tray, because a larger surface of liquid is open to the air
Evaporation happens at the open surface, so the wide tray, with far more surface exposed, loses water faster. Greater depth in the narrow glass gives a small surface and slows drying. Equal amounts do not mean equal surfaces, and evaporation goes on well below boiling.
Q2
easy
At home, fresh fruit juice is poured through a piece of thin muslin cloth. In this use the cloth acts as
Aa sieve that separates two gases
Ba container in which the juice is boiled
Ca filter that traps the pulp and seeds
Da magnet that pulls out the seeds
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - a filter that traps the pulp and seeds
The tiny gaps in the woven cloth let the juice through and hold back pulp and seeds, which is exactly what a filter does. Cloth is not magnetic, gases are not involved, and the cloth holds nothing long enough to boil in it.
Q3
easy
To get clear water from a glass of muddy water, the suitable method among these is
Aevaporation
Bthreshing
Cchurning
Dfiltration
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - filtration
Mud does not dissolve, so a filter traps it and clear water passes through. Evaporation would drive the water away and leave the mud, which is the opposite of what is wanted. Churning is for curd and threshing is for harvested crops, so neither applies.
Q4
hard
Study these two statements about threshing. (i) Threshing separates the grains from the stalks of the harvested crop. (ii) After threshing, the grain is completely free of husk and dust. Which is correct?
AOnly (i) is correct
BBoth (i) and (ii) are correct
COnly (ii) is correct
DNeither (i) nor (ii) is correct
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - Only (i) is correct
Threshing does free the grain from the stalks, so (i) is true. The threshed heap still holds loose husk and dust, which is why winnowing follows, so (ii) is false. That rules out the choices claiming (ii) is true, and (i) cannot be dismissed.
Q5
hard
A saturated salt solution is left standing with a little undissolved salt lying at the bottom. It is then stirred for a long time without changing its temperature. The undissolved salt will
Arise up and float on the surface of the liquid
Bchange into sugar crystals
Cslowly dissolve away completely as the stirring continues
Dstay undissolved, because the water can hold no more salt
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - stay undissolved, because the water can hold no more salt
Stirring only speeds up dissolving until the limit is reached, and this solution is already at its limit, so the extra salt simply stays. It cannot dissolve further without a rise in temperature or more water. Salt is heavier than the solution and does not float, and it never changes into sugar.
Q6
hard
Read these two statements about adding alum to muddy water. (i) It makes fine particles clump together so that they settle sooner. (ii) Even after the particles settle, the clear water still has to be decanted or filtered off. Which is correct?
AOnly (i) is correct
BBoth (i) and (ii) are correct
CNeither (i) nor (ii) is correct
DOnly (ii) is correct
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - Both (i) and (ii) are correct
Alum does make particles clump and settle faster, so (i) is true. Settling only gathers the solid at the bottom, so the clear water must still be poured off or filtered, making (ii) true as well. The choices rejecting one statement or both are therefore wrong.
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