All from Nine and Last from Ten

Vedic maths comes from the Vedic tradition of India. The Vedas are the most ancient record of human experience and knowledge, passed down orally for generations and written down about 5,000 years ago. Medicine, architecture, astronomy and many other branches of knowledge, including maths, are dealt with in the texts. Perhaps it is not surprising that the country credited with introducing our current number system and the invention of perhaps the most important mathematical symbol, 0, may have more to offer in the field of maths.

The remarkable system of Vedic maths was rediscovered from ancient Sanskrit texts early last century. The system is based on 16 sutras or aphorisms, such as: “by one more than the one before” and “all from nine and the last from 10”. These describe natural processes in the mind and ways of solving a whole range of mathematical problems. For example, if we wished to subtract 564 from 1,000 we simply apply the sutra “all from nine and the last from 10”. Each figure in 564 is subtracted from nine and the last figure is subtracted from 10, yielding 436.

1000 – 5 6 4 = 436
Subtract subtract subtract
from from from
9 9 10

This can easily be extended to solve problems such as 3,000 minus 467. We simply reduce the first figure in 3,000 by one and then apply the sutra, to get the answer 2,533.

Global Warming

Warming: A Deadly Threat for Human Life
The recent activity in Iceland-Volcano brought the whole world to a grinding halt. This was the most recent reminder of the natural-power, and shows how feeble human being is in front of mother-nature; however, advance the human race have excelled in technology. The natural catastrophes similar to above are grim reminders to respect nature.
What is Global warming: There is a perceptible change in the average temperature of the atmosphere through out the world. This increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere is known as GLOBAL WARMING. The summers are becoming hotter and longer, and the winters are turning out to be more freezing (recent increased snowfall witnessed in Northern Hemisphere) and longer. Not to mention that the spring and autumn are becoming shorter. Let us try to understand on what has resulted to this change in climate, and what are the affects of this change?

Earth is the only planet suitable to Human life known to us in the Universe. Other planets are either too hot or too cold to support the life. What makes planet Earth apart is the Earth’s atmosphere, and Green House Effect. Planet Earth receives the heat from Sun in form of radiation during the day. The heat radiation from Sun enters in the earth atmosphere, and gets reflected back from the earth surface. Earth atmosphere consists of different gases, and some gases atoms have the property to trap the heat; these gases are termed as green house gases (e.g. CO2, CH4 e.t.c.), and the phenomenon of heat-trapping is called as GREEN HOUSE EFFECT. Owning to GREEN HOUSE EFFECT a part of the reflected heat is trapped in the atmosphere. The heat trapped by the atmosphere during the day saves the earth from cooling down to the freezing temperate during night when there is no heat radiation received by Earth.

This is a very delicate balance and directly depends on the quantity of Green house gases in the atmosphere. Higher the percentage of the green house gases in atmosphere composition the higher the amount of heat will be trapped in atmosphere; therefore results an increase in the temperature of the Earth. Some of the major green house gases are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Methane (CH4).

The major human activities contributing in higher percentage of green house gases are:

Burning of Fossil Fuels: The ever increased burning of the fossil fuels (Petrol, Coal e.t.c.) produces more and more CO2, and CO in the Atmosphere.

Intensive Agriculture: The intensive agriculture of Rice and Corn results in release of Methane in the atmosphere.

Construction activities: The human constructions (e.g. Buildings and Roads etc) absorb heat radiation from Sun, and increase the temperature of the atmosphere. >

Perils of Global Warming?:
Climate Change: Longer and Hotter Summer, Longer and cooler winter, and shortening of the Spring and Autumn is a direct result of the Global Warming. There are some plants that bear flower in spring or Autumn, and the shorter Autumn or Spring means no time for the flowers to bloom or fruits to ripe. Due to the climate change the migratory birds no longer know when to start the migration. That means more species becomes endangered. Climate change would result in more unpredictability of weather and could lead to increased occurrence of hurricanes, storms. The climate change would result in disturbances of El Nino and El Dido, the adverse impact of such disturbances cannot be fully estimated but can only be feared (e.g. disturbance of the Monsoon cycle).
Melting of Polar Ice, Mountain Glaciers: The melting of Mountain Glaciers threatens the existence of many important fresh water sources: the perennial rivers in the world (e.g. Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra river system in South Asial). Increase in temperature would also mean that the lakes would dry up sooner. All this will result in fresh water scarcity.

Increase Sea level: Due to the increased temperature the Polar Ice, Mountain-Glaciers would melt and increase the sea-level. The increase in sea level threatens the existence of many countries in world (e.g. UK, Bangladesh, and Netherlands).

It is no secret that climate change (Ice age) wiped out the entire race of mighty Dinosaurs, who once ruled the Planet. It is not hard to imagine the fate of Human race if Human does not act in time. Human race owes its survival and success in “Adaptability”. The global consensus in understanding the Global warming and its peril (Global warming and earth Summits) will help in adapting the human-lifestyle towards more environment friendly measures (cleaner fuels, greener technology and environment friendly building architecture and construction). Perhaps this human-trait of “Adaptability” will rescue humans again.

General Awareness

(RRB) Railway Recruitment Board Exam – 2008 Solved Paper Question paper

1. When a ray of light passes from an optically denser medium to a rarer medium, it
(a) Remains undeviated (b) Bends towards normal
(c) Bends away from normal (d) None of these

2.Who is the author of “Anandmath” ?
(a) Rabindranath Tagore b) Bankim chandra Chattopadhyaya
(c) Sarojini Nayadu (d) Jyotiba Phule

3. Thimpu is the capital of –
(a) Nepal (b) Bhutan
(c) Thailand (d) Myanmar

4. The time period of a seconds pendulum is
(a) 1 second (b) 4 seconds
(c) 3 seconds (d) 2 seconds

5. The nuclear fuel in the sun is
(a) Helium (b) Uranium
(c) Hydrogen (d) Oxygen

6. The second’s hand of a watch is 2 cm long. The velocity of its tip is
(a) 0.21 cm/sec. (b) 2.1 cm/sec.
(c) 21 cm/sec. (d) None of these

7. In diesel engine, ignition is caused by
(a) Spark (b) Automatic starter
(c) Compression (d) Friction

8. The mass-energy equivalence, relationship E = mc2 was propounded by
(a) Max Plank (b) Einstein
(c) Newton (d) Hertz

9. The filament of bulb is made of
(a) Tungsten (b) Iron
(c) Nichrome (d) Carbon

10. Anti-knocking can be lessened by
(a) Iso Octane (b) N Heptane
(c) TEL (d) Benzene

11. In which of the following oxidation shows a positive oxidation state.
(a) CO (b) N2O
(c) NO (d) F2O

12. Which of the following is used in photography?
(a) Silver Bromide (b) Sodium Bromide
(c) Potassium Chloride (d) Sodium Sulphate

13. Which of the following is used in accumulator cell?
(a) Copper (b) Iron
(c) Lead (d) Zinc

14. Choose the wrong statement :
(a) Single magnetic poles can exist
(b) Magnetic poles are always of equal strength
(c) Like poles repel each other
(d) None of these

15. Laws of electrolysis are given by:
(a) Farady (b) Maxwell
(c) Lenz (d) Bohr

16. Flemings left hand rule is used to fine out:
(a) Direction of magnetic field due to flow of current
(b) Direction of induced current due to effect of magnetic field
(c) Direction of motion of a current carrying conductor in magnetic field
(d) None of these

17. The pH of a neutral solution at 250C is :
(a) 0 (b) 1.0
(c) 7.0 (d) 1.4

18. The raw material used for the manufacture of Portland cement is :
(a) Limestone and clay (b) Alumina, clay and gypsum
(c) Gypsum and limestone (d) Gypsum and clay19.

CaOCI2 is the chemical formula for a compound commonly known as :(a) Soda Ash (b) Lime
(c) Bleaching Powder (d) Plaster of Paris

20. The glass used for making laboratory apparatus is :
(a) Pyrex glass (b) Hard glass
(c) Soft glass (d) Safety glass

21. The iron produced in blast furnace is :
(a) Pig iron (b) Wrought iron
(c) Stainless steel (d) Steel

22. Formation is a 40% solution of :
(a) Methanol (b) Methenal
(c) Methanoic acid (d) None of these

23. Which of the following is not an ore of aluminium :
(a) Cryolite (b) Feldspar
(c) Bauxite (d) Azurite

24. Rhombic monoclinic and plastic sulphur are:
(a) Isomers (b) Isotopes
(c) Allotropes (d) Hydrides of sulphur25.

The alkaline hydrolysis of oils or fats gives soap and :
(a) Glycerol (b) Ethenol
(c) Glycol (d) Ethanoic acid

26. The sight of a delicious food usually makes month watery. It is a :
(a) Hormonal response (b) Neural response
(c) Optic response (d) Olfactory response

27. Nitrogen fixing bacteria are normally found in :
(a) Parasitic plants (b) Epiphytic plants
(c) Leguminous plants (d) Aquatic plants

28. Powdery mildew of wheat is caused by:
(a) Bacteria (b) Virus
(c) Fungi (d) Protozoans

29. Septic sore throat is caused by :
(a) Bacteria (b) Virus
(c) Fungi (d) Protozoans

30. A person of blood group AB can give blood to :
(a) ‘A’ and ‘B’ (b) Only ‘AB’
(c) ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘O’ (d) All of these

31. Cell activities are controlled by :
(a) Chloroplast (b) Mitochondria
(c) Cytoplasm (d) Nucleus

32. Which of the following helps eye to adjust the focal length of the eye lens :
(a) Cornea (b) Conjunctiva
(c) Ciliary body (d) Iris

33. When pollen of a flower is transferred to the stigma of the same plant, pollination type is referred to as :
(a) Autogamy (b) Allogamy
(c) Xenogamy (d) Geitonogamy

34. Respiration is a :
(a) Catabolic process (b) Anabolic process
(c) Both of these (d) None of these

35. The structural and functional unit of kidneys are :
(a) Neurons (b) Nephrons
(c) Medula (d) None of these

36. Which of the following enzymes is generally nor present in adult human :
(a) Renin (b) Pepsin
(c) Trypsin (d) Amylopsin

37. The part of the plant which is responsible for carrying water and solutes from roots to various parts of plants is :
(a) Phloem (b) Xylem
(c) Duodenum (d) Sclercids

38. ‘Widal test’ is used for susceptibility of :
(a) Malaria (b) Typhoid
(c) Cholera (d) Yellow fever

39. Exchange of gases in plants takes place through :
(a) Stomata (b) Lenticels
(c) Cuticle (d) All of these

40. ‘Lieutenant’ in army is equivalent to following rank in navy :
(a) Lieutenant (b) Sub Lieutanant
(c) Lieutenant Commander (d) None of these

41. Pankaj Advani is associated with :
(a) Snooker (b) Golf
(c) Shooting (d) Archery

42. Which city in the world is known as the forbidden city :
(a) Aberdeen (b) Jerusalem
(c) Mecca (d) Lhasa

43. Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award carries a sum of :
(a) Rs. 3 lakns (b) Rs. 5 lakhs
(c) Rs. 1 lakh (d) Rs. 7 lakhs

44. Who is known as ‘Nightingale of India’ :
(a) Asha Bhonsle (b) Begum Akhtar
(c) Sarojini Naidu (d) Vijaylaxmi Pandit

45. Which one of the following is not included in the UNESCO’s list of world heritage site :
(a) Kaziranga National Park (b) Qutab Minar
(c) Champaner Pavagarh (d) None of these

46. Which of the following is not an electric resistant?
(a) Lead (b) Ebonite
(c) Charcoal (d) Lac

47. Which of the following is a complementary colour?
(a) Blue (b) Yellow
(c) Magenta (d) Yellow and Magenta

48. The velocity of sound increases in air by ……… for every degree Celsius increase of temperature.
(a) 60 m/sec. (b) 0.61 m/sec.
(c) 60 ft/sec. (d) 0.61 km/sec.

49. Henry is a unit of
(a) Capacity (b) Magnetic field
(c) Inductance (d) Frequency

50. The velocity of rotation of Earth is
(a) 28 km/min (b) 30 km/min
(c) 25 km/min (d) 39.5 km/min

51. What is Hubble?
(a) Warship (b) Star
(c) Telescope (d) Missile

52. Which acid is normally found in lemon and grape fruits?
(a) Citric acid (b) Tartaric acid
(c) Ascorbic acid (d) Lactic acid

53. At which temperature Fahrenheit and Celsius show same reading?
(a) -400 (b) 00
(c) -574.250 (d) 2730

54. Limestone is metamorphosed to form
(a) Graphite (b) Quartz
(c) Granite (d) Marble

55. Rift valley is formed by
(a) Earthquake (b) Folding
(c) Faulting (d) All of these

56. If a piece of ice at 00C is mixed with water at 00C, then
(a) Whole ice melts (b) Some ice melts
(c) No ice melts (d) Temperature decreases

57. Mettur Dam is built on the river
(a) Krishna (b) Cauvery
(c) Narmada (d) Mahanadi

58. Mahendra Giri peak is situated in the
(a) Eastern Ghats (b) Western Ghats
(c) Shiwaliks (d) Vindhyachal

59. In what time a sum will double itself at 20% per annum rate of interest?
(a) 2 years (b) 3 years
(c) 4 years (d) 5 years

60. The famous Dilwara Temple is situated in
(a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Maharashtra
(c) Gujarat (d) Rajasthan

61. Pneumonia affects
(a) Lungs (b) Tongue
(c) Liver (d) Kidney

62. The chemical name of Vitamin A is
(a) Retinol (b) Jhiamin
(c) Biotic (d) Riboflavin

63. A 130m long train crosses a bridge in 30 seconds at 45 kmph. The length of the bridge is
(a) 200m (b) 225m
(c) 245m (d) 250m

64. By selling an article at some price a person gains 10%. If the article is sold at twice of the price, the gain percent will be
(a) 20% (b) 60%
(c) 100% (d) 120%

65. Atoms are electrically charged as
(a) Positive (b) Negative
(c) Bi-positive (d) Neutral

66. Ionic bond exists in
(a) Kcl (b) H2O
(c) NH3 (d) Cl3

67. Which force is required to increase the momentum of an object to 40 kg m/s in 5 seconds?
(a) 2N (b) 4N
(c) 8N (d) 10N

68. The river that does not form delta is
(a) Mahanadi (b) Tapti
(c) Krishna (d) Cauvery

69. The ratio of the redius and height of a cone is 5 : 12, respectively. Its volume is 23147cc. Find its slant height.
(a) 13cm (b) 14cm
(c) 17cm (d) 26cm

70. 27 students took part in a debate of a college. What is the probability that at least 3 of them have their birth days in the same month?
(a) 3/27 (b) 3/12
(c) 12 (d) 1

71. Who was the first winner of Dada Saheb Phalke Award?
(a) B.N.Sarkar (b) Prithvi Raj Kapoor
(c) Devika Rani (d) Kanan Devi

72. How many members are nominated by the President in the Rajya Sabha?
(a) 12 (b) 15
(c) 10 (d) 20

73. Who was the founder of Brahmo Samaj?
(a) Raja Rammohan Roy (b) Aurobindo Ghosh
(c) Vivekanand (d) Dyanand Saraswati

74. The Parliamentary System in India has been taken from

(a) America (b) Britain
(c) Australia (d) Ireland

75. The electric supply in India was first started in
(a) Kolkata (b) Chennai
(c) Mumbai (d) Darjeeling

76. Bhatnagar Prize is given in the field of
(a) Peace (b) Music and dance
(c) Science & technology (d) Fine arts

77. Who discovered the solar system?
(a) Copernicus (b) Kepler
(c) Aryabhatta (d) Newton

78. The Nobel Prize in Economics was started in
(a) 1901 (b) 1936
(c) 1957 (d) 1967

79. In India, the second largest in
(a) Bengali (b) Urdu
(c) Telugu (d) Marathi

80. The first Asian Games were held in
(a) Manila (b) Tokyo
(c) Jakarta (d) New Delhi

81. The Islam was established in
(a) 7th A.D. (b) 5th A.D.
(c) 3rd B.C. (d) 5th B.C.

82. The Olympic Games 2012 will be held in

(a) Moscow (b) Paris
(c) New York (d) London

83. The main factor of air pollution is
(a) Lead (b) Copper
(c) Zinc (d) Gold

84. The bauxite ore is found in
(a) Musabani (b) Karnapura
(c) Koderma (d) Palamu

85. The first fertilizer plant in India was established in
(a) Trombay (b) Nangal
(c) Alwaye (d) Sindri

86. Which of the following had strong navy?
(a) Bahmani (b) Chalukya
(c) Chola (d) Rashtrakuta

87. The last king of Maurya Dynastry was
(a) Brihdarth (b) Kunal
(c) Samprati (d) Salishuk

88. How will the image formed by a convex lens be affected if the central part of the lens is covered by black paper?
(a) Remaining part of the lens will form no image
(b) The central position of the image is absent
(c) There will be no effect
(d) The full image will be formed with lessened brightness

89. The force between two parallel wires conducting current is used to define
(a) Ampere (b) Coulomb
(c) Volt (d) Newton

90. A body is thrown vertically upward and it reaches 10m high. Find the velocity with which the body was thrown? (g = 9.8 m/s)
(a) 10 m/sec. (b) 18 m/sec.
(c) 14 m/sec. (d) 7 m/sec.

91. The buoyancy depends on the
(a) Depth of the fluid (b) Density of the fluid
(c) Volume of the fluid (d) Weight of the fluid
ANSWERS
1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (a) 11. (d) 12. (a)
13. (c) 14. (a) 15. (a) 16. (c) 17. (c) 18. (b) 19. (c) 20. (a) 21. (a) 22. (b) 23. (d)
24. (c) 25. (a) 26. (d) 27. (c) 28. (c) 29. (a & b) 30. (b) 31. (d) 32. (c) 33. (a) 34. (a)
35. (b) 36. (a) 37. (b) 38. (b) 39. (d) 40. (b) 41. (a) 42. (d) 43. (b) 44. (c) 45. (d) 46. (a)
47. (d) 48. (b) 49. (c) 50. (a) 51. (c) 52. (a) 53. (a) 54. (d) 55. (c) 56. (c) 57. (b) 58. (a)
59. (d) 60. (d) 61. (a) 62. (a) 63. (c) 64. (d) 65. (d) 66. (a) 67. (c) 68. (b) 69. (a) 70. (c)
71. (c) 72. (a) 73. (a) 74. (b) 75. (d) 76. (c) 77. (a) 78. (d) 79. (c) 80. (d) 81. (a) 82. (d)
83. (a) 84. (d) 85. (d) 86. (c) 87. (a) 88. (d) 89. (a) 90. (c) 91. (b)