Important G.K. & Current Affairs Quiz – 18th December 2018

Correct Answer – E. None of these

Explanation: The National Energy Conservation Day is being celebrated every year on December 14 since 1991. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under Ministry of Power spearheads the celebrations every year. BEE recognizes and encourages endeavours of industries in reducing energy consumption by felicitating them with National Energy Conservation Awards. BEE also awards prizes to the national winners of the annual National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation.

Correct Answer – D. Bees

Explanation: Scientists in Finland have developed what they believe is the world’s first vaccine to protect bees against disease, raising hopes for tackling the drastic decline in insect numbers which could cause a global food crisis. Bees are vital for growing the world’s food as they help fertilise three out of four crops around the globe, by transferring pollen from male to female flowers. But in recent years bee populations around the world have been dying off from “colony collapse disorder”, a mysterious scourge blamed on mites, pesticides, virus, fungus, or some combination of these factors. UN-led research in 2016 found that more than 40 percent of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, are facing extinction.

Correct Answer– B. Endangered

Explanation: The Indian pangolin, thick-tailed pangolin, or scaly anteater is a pangolin found on the Indian subcontinent. It is not common anywhere in its range. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour. It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defence against predators such as the tiger. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings.

Correct Answer – B. Belgium

Explanation: In Hockey, Belgium has claimed their first ever World Cup title. They defeated Netherlands 3-2 in a dramatic shoot-out in the final of the Men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar yesterday. Both the teams, goalless at full time, were at level 2-2 after five penalties.

Correct Answer – D. Mick Mulvaney

Explanation: US President Donald Trump has named budget director Mick Mulvaney as the acting chief of staff, a week after he announced John Kelly’s scheduled departure. The latest announcement came as Trump spent almost a week considering a nominee to fill the vacancy left by Kelly, a retired U.S. Marine Corps general.

Correct Answer – A. PV Sindhu

Explanation: Ace Indian shuttler P V Sindhu lifted the prestigious season-ending World Tour Finals trophy at Guangzhou, China. The Olympic silver medallist defeated Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-19, 21-17 in the summit clash. Sindhu accomplished the feat after losing seven successive summit clashes. She had also won silvers at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships this year.

Correct Answer– A. Mushtaq Ahmad Tantray

Explanation: Prominent Kashmiri short-story writer and eminent broadcaster Mushtaq Ahmad Tantray bagged this year’s Sahitya Academy Award for his collection of short stories “AAKH’’. Mr Tantray is presently posted as Head of the Regional News Unit at Radio Kashmir Srinagar. The annual awards by the National Academy of Literature for twenty-four Indian languages were announced at a press conference in New Delhi. “AAKH” is a collection of eighteen short-stories. It was chosen amongst thirteen books that had reached the final stage for the Kashmiri language. The book published in the year 2012 has been widely appreciated by the literary circles of Kashmiri language.

Correct Answer – D. June 2019

Explanation: The government will levy a fee on ground water extraction from June next year to discourage misuse of water by industries and ensure a “more robust ground water regulatory mechanism” in the country, an official release said. The step is likely to make packaged drinking water dearer. The Central Ground Water Authority has notified revised guidelines for ground water extraction which will be effective from June 1, 2019. One of the important features of the revised guidelines is introduction of the concept of Water Conservation Fee (WCF). The WCF payable varies with the category of the area, type of industry and the quantum of ground water extraction and is designed to progressively increase from safe to over-exploited areas and from low to high water consuming industries as well as with increasing quantum of ground water extraction.

Correct Answer – D. Japan

Explanation: The European Parliament recently approved a free trade agreement between Japan and the EU, covering 635 million people and almost one-third of the world’s economy. Dubbed the world’s largest free trade agreement, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement will remove duties on almost all agricultural and industrial products as well as open up the service sector and procurement. It also moves to eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade.

Correct Answer  – A. December 15

Explanation: International Tea Day is observed annually on December 15. International Tea Day aims to draw global attention of governments and citizens to the impact of the global tea trade on workers and growers, and has been linked to requests for price supports and fair trade.