APPSC Group-I Prelims 2007

73 questions from the 2007 papers, each with the official answer and an explanation.

A question repeated across years is listed once, under one of the years it appeared.

41. Q41HUMAN BODY, NUTRITION AND DISEASE

    Why is a person belonging to AB blood group called a universal recipient?

    • aDue to the absence of all antigens
    • bDue to the presence of all antibodies
    • cDue to the absence of all antibodiesAnswer
    • dDue to the absence of all antigens and all antibodies
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because individuals with AB blood group lack both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in their plasma, meaning they can receive red blood cells from any ABO group without triggering an antibody-mediated attack. Option A: Individuals with AB blood group possess both A and B antigens on their red blood cells, so antigens are not absent. Option B: The presence of anti-A or anti-B antibodies would lead to agglutination of transfused donor red blood cells. Option D: Neither antigens nor antibodies are completely absent, as A and B antigens are present on their red blood cells.

42. Q42HUMAN BODY, NUTRITION AND DISEASE

    The gland commonly known as "Adam's Apple" in the human body:

    • aAdrenal gland
    • bLiver
    • cThyroid / BalagrandhiAnswer
    • dThymus / Balagrandhi
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because the thyroid cartilage of the larynx forms the neck protrusion known as the Adam's apple, which sits immediately above and anterior to the thyroid gland. Option A: The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys in the posterior abdomen, far away from the laryngeal prominence. Option B: The liver occupies the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, not the neck. Option D: The thymus is positioned in the upper chest behind the sternum, below the thyroid region.

43. Q43HUMAN BODY, NUTRITION AND DISEASE

    The gland that controls temperature in the body:

    • aPineal
    • bPituitary
    • cThyroid
    • dHypothalamusAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because the hypothalamus acts as the thermoregulatory control center of the human brain, maintaining core body temperature around its set point by initiating responses such as sweating, vasodilation, and shivering. Option A: The pineal gland produces melatonin to regulate circadian rhythms and sleep cycles, not temperature. Option B: The pituitary gland acts as the master gland regulating other endocrine glands, but it does not directly control thermoregulation. Option C: The thyroid gland influences overall basal metabolic rate, but set-point temperature control is coordinated by the hypothalamus.

44. Q44SCHOOL CHEMISTRY

    Cooking gas, among the following, is a mixture of what?

    • aCarbon monoxide and Carbon dioxide
    • bMethane and Ethylene
    • cButane and PropaneAnswer
    • dCarbon dioxide and Oxygen
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because Liquefied Petroleum Gas used as cooking gas is primarily composed of liquefied hydrocarbons, chiefly butane and propane. Option A: Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide form water gas or producer gas mixtures, not domestic cooking gas. Option B: Methane and ethylene are constituents of natural gas and petrochemical feeds, but do not form standard LPG. Option D: Carbon dioxide and oxygen do not produce flammable mixtures required for fuel.

45. Q45SCHOOL CHEMISTRY

    Table sugar is a:

    • aGlucose
    • bSucroseAnswer
    • cMaltose
    • dLactose
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because common table sugar is commercially purified sucrose, a disaccharide composed of one glucose unit and one fructose unit linked by an alpha-1,2-glycosidic bond. Option A: Glucose is an aldohexose monosaccharide commonly known as grape sugar, not table sugar. Option C: Maltose is a disaccharide consisting of two glucose units, commonly referred to as malt sugar. Option D: Lactose is a disaccharide found primarily in dairy products and is known as milk sugar.

46. Q46SCHOOL PHYSICS

    The principle on which a rocket works:

    • aConservation of mass
    • bConservation of energy
    • cConservation of linear momentumAnswer
    • dConservation of angular momentum
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because a rocket propels itself by expelling hot exhaust gases backward at high speed, gaining an equal and opposite forward momentum to conserve total linear momentum. Option A: Conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed, but it does not account for the directional thrust mechanism. Option B: Conservation of energy dictates how chemical energy converts into heat and kinetic energy, but does not dictate directional propulsion. Option D: Conservation of angular momentum applies to rotational systems rather than linear acceleration and forward thrust.

47. Q47SCHOOL PHYSICS

    The rear-view mirror in a car:

    • aPlane mirror
    • bConcave mirror
    • cConvex mirrorAnswer
    • dPlano-convex mirror
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because convex mirrors always form erect, virtual, and diminished images of objects, thereby providing the driver with a much wider field of view than other mirrors. Option A: A plane mirror gives a 1:1 image size and therefore provides a relatively narrow field of view. Option B: A concave mirror produces inverted images for distant objects and magnifies close objects, making it unsafe as a rear-view mirror. Option D: Plano-convex lenses are refracting elements used in optics, not standard reflective mirrors used for automotive rear vision.

48. Q48SCHOOL PHYSICS

    Used to correct the vision defect "Astigmatism":

    • aBifocal lenses
    • bCylindrical lensesAnswer
    • cConvex-spherical lenses
    • dConvex lenses
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because astigmatism is caused by an irregular, non-spherical curvature of the cornea or lens, which requires a cylindrical lens having different focal powers in different meridians to focus light onto a single plane. Option A: Bifocal lenses are designed to correct presbyopia by accommodating both near and distant vision, not corneal asymmetry. Option C: Convex-spherical lenses have uniform curvature in all directions, which corrects hypermetropia rather than asymmetric focal axes. Option D: Convex lenses provide uniform spherical convergence to correct farsightedness and cannot resolve different refractive errors along perpendicular axes.

49. Q49SCHOOL PHYSICS

    The appearance of iridescent colors on water is due to:

    • aDue to interference of lightAnswer
    • bDue to diffraction of light
    • cDue to refraction of light
    • dDue to reflection of light
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because when light strikes a thin film of oil or soap on water, reflections from the top and bottom surfaces of the film overlap and undergo optical interference, creating bright iridescent bands. Option B: Diffraction refers to the bending of light waves around sharp edges or through small slits, not interference in thin films. Option C: Refraction alters the speed and direction of light entering water, which alone does not produce multicolored iridescence. Option D: Reflection from a single interface bounces light without generating the phase differences necessary for interference colors.

50. Q50SCHOOL PHYSICS

    The color with the least angle of deviation is:

    • aViolet color
    • bRed colorAnswer
    • cYellow color
    • dBlue color
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum, encounters the lowest refractive index in a prism, and therefore undergoes the least deviation from its original path. Visible spectrum in increasing order of deviation: Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet Option A: Violet has the shortest wavelength and undergoes the maximum angle of deviation. Option C: Yellow has a shorter wavelength than red and is deviated more than red. Option D: Blue has a significantly shorter wavelength than red and is deflected more sharply.

51. Q51SCHOOL PHYSICS

    The reason why television signals can be received only from a limited distance:

    • aBecause the signals are weak
    • bDue to weak antenna
    • cBecause the signals mix with air
    • dBecause the Earth is curvedAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because television signals use high-frequency VHF and UHF waves that travel by line-of-sight propagation, meaning they cannot bend along the curved surface of the Earth and are blocked beyond the horizon. Option A: Signal strength can be amplified, but it does not overcome the physical obstruction created by the Earth's curvature. Option B: Antenna sensitivity affects signal reception quality within line of sight, not the geometric horizon limit. Option C: Radio waves are electromagnetic radiation and do not physically mix with atmospheric gases.

52. Q52SCHOOL PHYSICS

    Primary colors:

    • aBlue, Green and RedAnswer
    • bYellow, Green and Blue
    • cRed, White and Yellow
    • dWhite, Red and Yellow
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because red, green, and blue are the three primary additive colors of light, which combine in varying intensities to produce all other visible colors. Option B: Yellow is a secondary additive color produced by mixing red and green light, not a primary color. Option C: White is the composite result of all primary colors combined, while yellow is a secondary color. Option D: White is a composite color and yellow is a secondary color, so neither qualifies as a primary color of light.

53. Q53SCHOOL PHYSICS

    Alpha rays emitted from a radioactive substance are:

    • aDoubly ionized helium atomsAnswer
    • bNegatively charged particles
    • cIonized hydrogen nuclei
    • dUncharged particles
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because alpha rays consist of alpha particles, each composed of two protons and two neutrons bound together, which is structurally identical to a doubly ionized helium nucleus. Option B: Negatively charged particles emitted during radioactive decay are beta-minus particles, whereas alpha particles are positively charged. Option C: Ionized hydrogen nuclei are simply isolated protons, not alpha particles. Option D: Uncharged particles emitted during nuclear reactions are neutrons or gamma-ray photons.

54. Q54People: appointments, honours and passings

    ISRO Chairman:

    • aK. Rangarajan
    • bA. Sivathanu Pillai
    • cM.N. Swaminathan
    • dMadhavan NairAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because G. Madhavan Nair served as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 2003 to 2009. Option A: K. Rangarajan is incorrect as no such person has served as the Chairman of ISRO. Option B: A. Sivathanu Pillai is known for leading BrahMos Aerospace, not as Chairman of ISRO. Option C: M.N. Swaminathan is not an ISRO Chairman; M.S. Swaminathan was a renowned agricultural scientist.

55. Q55People: appointments, honours and passings

    Chairman of the Sixth Pay Commission:

    • aJustice B. D. Ahammed
    • bJustice Ajit Mitra
    • cJustice R. N. Pathak
    • dJustice B. N. SrikrishnaAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because the Sixth Central Pay Commission was constituted by the Government of India in 2006 under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice B. N. Srikrishna. Option A: Justice B. D. Ahammed was not appointed to head the Sixth Pay Commission. Option B: Justice Ajit Mitra never served as the chairman of any Central Pay Commission. Option C: Justice R. N. Pathak is an incorrect choice and did not chair the Sixth Pay Commission.

56. Q56People: appointments, honours and passings

    "Milkman" of India:

    • aV. KurienAnswer
    • bM. S. Swaminathan
    • cK. Rangarajan
    • dSucheta Dalal
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because Dr. Verghese Kurien is universally known as the Milkman of India for architecting Operation Flood, the world's largest agricultural dairy development programme. Option B: M. S. Swaminathan is known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India for his contributions to agricultural crop yields. Option C: C. Rangarajan is a prominent economist and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, unrelated to the dairy revolution. Option D: Sucheta Dalal is an acclaimed financial journalist known for investigating financial market irregularities.

57. Q57People: appointments, honours and passings

    Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission:

    • aAjit Mitra
    • bS. K. Thorat
    • cRajendra BabuAnswer
    • dWajahat Habibullah
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because former Chief Justice of India Justice S. Rajendra Babu served as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission from April 2007 to May 2009. Option A: Ajit Mitra has never held the office of the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. Option B: S. K. Thorat is an economist who served as the Chairman of the University Grants Commission, not the NHRC. Option D: Wajahat Habibullah served as the Chief Information Commissioner and Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, not the NHRC.

58. Q58People: appointments, honours and passings

    Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission:

    • aManmohan Singh
    • bMontek SinghAnswer
    • cKunwar Singh
    • dBhuta Singh
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because Montek Singh Ahluwalia served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission from 2004 until its dissolution in 2014. Option A: Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister and served as the ex-officio Chairman, not the Deputy Chairman, of the Planning Commission. Option C: Kunwar Singh was a notable leader of the 1857 revolt in Bihar and had no association with the Planning Commission. Option D: Buta Singh was a senior political leader and former Union Home Minister, not the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.

59. Q59People: appointments, honours and passings

    International Atomic Energy Agency Director General:

    • aAnil Kakodkar
    • bKimmitz Sten
    • cMohamed ElBaradeiAnswer
    • dE-Lerer
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because Mohamed ElBaradei, an Egyptian diplomat and law scholar, served as the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1997 to 2009 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. Option A: Anil Kakodkar is an Indian nuclear physicist and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, not a Director General of the IAEA. Option B: Kimmitz Sten is not a recognized figure associated with the directorship of the IAEA. Option D: E-Lerer is not an individual who has served as the Director General of the IAEA.

60. Q60People: appointments, honours and passings

    The recipient of the Care Award 2007:

    • aMohit Sen
    • bManmohan Singh
    • cMontek Singh
    • dAmartya SenAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was conferred the prestigious CARE Humanitarian Award in 2007 in recognition of his pioneering work on the root causes of poverty, famine, and inequality. Option A: Mohit Sen was a veteran communist leader and political commentator who passed away in 2003. Option B: Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister of India at the time and was not the recipient of this award. Option C: Montek Singh Ahluwalia was the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and did not receive this award.

61. Q61People: appointments, honours and passings

    The first Indian to win the Pulitzer Prize:

    • aN. Ram
    • bVinod Thomas
    • cGovind Bihari LalAnswer
    • dR. Laxman
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because Govind Bihari Lal became the first Indian to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1937, sharing the reporting award for his coverage of science at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Option A: N. Ram is an eminent journalist associated with The Hindu who never won a Pulitzer Prize. Option B: Vinod Thomas is an international economist who has not won a Pulitzer Prize. Option D: R. Laxman was a celebrated cartoonist who won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, not a Pulitzer Prize.

62. Q62People: appointments, honours and passings

    The winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature.

    • aGerard Etal
    • bBorolos
    • cMuhammad Yunus
    • dDoris LessingAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because British novelist Doris Lessing was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature for her lifelong contribution as an epicist of the female experience. Option A: Gerard Etal is not a recipient of any Nobel Prize. Option B: Borolos is not an author associated with the Nobel Prize in Literature. Option C: Muhammad Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in microcredit, not the Literature prize in 2007.

63. Q63People: appointments, honours and passings

    Winner of the Phalke Ratna Award 2007:

    • aDev Anand
    • bDilip KumarAnswer
    • cSaira Banu
    • dAishwarya Rai
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because veteran actor Dilip Kumar was honoured with the Phalke Ratna Award in 2007 by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy on the occasion of Dadasaheb Phalke's 137th birth anniversary. Option A: Dev Anand received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award from the Government of India in 2002 and was not the 2007 recipient of the Phalke Ratna Award. Option C: Saira Banu was not conferred the Phalke Ratna Award in 2007. Option D: Aishwarya Rai is not the recipient of this lifetime recognition award for 2007.

64. Q64People: appointments, honours and passings

    Jnanpith Award 2005 winner:

    • aRehman RahiAnswer
    • bC. Narayana Reddy
    • cPratibha Ray
    • dMahasweta Devi
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because Rehman Rahi, a celebrated Kashmiri poet, was selected for the Jnanpith Award for his poetic collection Siyah Rood Jaren Manz. Option B: C. Narayana Reddy was conferred the Jnanpith Award earlier in 1988 for Viswambhara. Option C: Pratibha Ray received the award much later in 2011 for Odia literature. Option D: Mahasweta Devi was honoured with the Jnanpith Award in 1996 for Bengali literature.

65. Q65Sports

    Where were the Fourth Military World Games held?

    • aNew Delhi
    • bHyderabadAnswer
    • cBengaluru
    • dKanpur
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because the 4th CISM Military World Games were held in Hyderabad, India, from 14 to 21 October 2007, with sailing events conducted in Mumbai. Edition: 4th Military World Games Host: Hyderabad, India Year: 2007 Option A: New Delhi hosted the 1951 and 1982 Asian Games, not the 2007 Military World Games. Option C: Bengaluru has hosted National Games, but not the Military World Games. Option D: Kanpur has never hosted the Military World Games.

66. Q66Sports

    Among the following, who successfully climbed Mount Everest (8,850 meters) for the 17th time, creating world history:

    • aLakpa Gelu
    • bApa SherpaAnswer
    • cAnatreta
    • dTenzing Norgay
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because Nepalese mountaineer Apa Sherpa successfully scaled Mount Everest for the 17th time on May 16, 2007, breaking his own world record for the highest number of ascents. Option A: Lakpa Gelu was known for setting the record for the fastest Everest ascent, not the 17-summit total. Option C: Anatreta is not a mountaineer associated with Everest summit records. Option D: Tenzing Norgay was one of the first two men to reach the summit in 1953 and climbed it twice.

67. Q67Events, summits and observances

    The 14th SAARC Summit was held at:

    • aNew DelhiAnswer
    • bColombo
    • cIslamabad
    • dDhaka
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because the 14th SAARC Summit was hosted by India in New Delhi on 3-4 April 2007, where Afghanistan was formally inducted as the eighth member state. Option B: Colombo hosted the 10th and 15th SAARC Summits, not the 14th. Option C: Islamabad hosted the 4th and 12th SAARC Summits, not the 14th. Option D: Dhaka hosted the 1st, 6th, and 13th SAARC Summits, not the 14th.

68. Q68Events, summits and observances

    World Book Day:

    • aApril 23Answer
    • bMarch 23
    • cFebruary 23
    • dJanuary 23
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because UNESCO designated 23 April as World Book and Copyright Day in 1995 to pay tribute to prominent authors such as William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, who died on or around this date. Option B: 23 March is observed globally as World Meteorological Day and in India as Shaheed Diwas. Option C: 23 February is not associated with World Book Day; it marks World Understanding and Peace Day. Option D: 23 January is observed in India as Parakram Diwas to mark Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary.

69. Q69Events, summits and observances

    Among the following, the country that elected its president for life:

    • aAzerbaijanAnswer
    • bBelarus
    • cKazakhstan
    • dVenezuela

    Official answer shown. The explanation is under review.

70. Q70Events, summits and observances

    Who among the following is Chile's first woman President ?

    • aD. Ortega
    • bM. BacheletAnswer
    • cE. Morales
    • dA. Garcia
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because Michelle Bachelet made history by becoming the first female President of Chile, serving her first term from 2006 to 2010 and her second from 2014 to 2018. Option A: Daniel Ortega is the President of Nicaragua, not Chile. Option C: Evo Morales served as the President of Bolivia. Option D: Alan Garcia served as the President of Peru.

71. Q71Launches: schemes, missions and firsts

    The metropolitan city in India that installed street lights with solar power:

    • aKolkataAnswer
    • bNew Delhi
    • cMumbai
    • dChennai
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because Kolkata was the first metropolitan city in India to introduce street lighting powered by solar energy across several major public corridors. Option B: New Delhi introduced municipal solar lighting schemes only in later phases. Option C: Mumbai adopted solar street lighting after earlier initiatives in other metros. Option D: Chennai deployed municipal solar street lighting during subsequent modernization projects.

72. Q72Launches: schemes, missions and firsts

    The American space shuttle that exploded, causing the death of geographer Kalpana Chawla:

    • aChallenger
    • bDiscovery
    • cColumbus
    • dColumbiaAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon atmospheric re-entry on February 1, 2003, during mission STS-107, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members, including Indian-origin astronaut Kalpana Chawla. Option A: Challenger suffered a catastrophic failure during launch in January 1986, not during re-entry with Kalpana Chawla in 2003. Option B: Discovery completed thirty-nine successful missions and was retired safely in 2011. Option C: Columbus is a European laboratory module attached to the International Space Station, not an American space shuttle.

73. Q73STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

    Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker:

    • aA. Kodandapani
    • bD. Srinivas
    • cA. ChakrapaniAnswer
    • dK. Keshavarao

    Explanation coming soon.