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. Pick a topic below, or try the samples first.

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

  1. A neither, because evaporation happens only on boiling
  2. B the glass, because the liquid in it is deeper
  3. C the tray, because a larger surface of liquid is open to the air
  4. D both at the same time, since the amounts are equal
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - 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

  1. A a magnet that pulls out the seeds
  2. B a container in which the juice is boiled
  3. C a sieve that separates two gases
  4. D a filter that traps the pulp and seeds
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - 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

  1. A threshing
  2. B evaporation
  3. C filtration
  4. D churning
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - 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?

  1. A Only (i) is correct
  2. B Neither (i) nor (ii) is correct
  3. C Only (ii) is correct
  4. D Both (i) and (ii) are 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

  1. A change into sugar crystals
  2. B stay undissolved, because the water can hold no more salt
  3. C rise up and float on the surface of the liquid
  4. D slowly dissolve away completely as the stirring continues
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 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?

  1. A Neither (i) nor (ii) is correct
  2. B Only (i) is correct
  3. C Both (i) and (ii) are correct
  4. D Only (ii) is correct
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - 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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