UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies

Question 111: Science and Technology

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Disease) I. Malaria II. Poliomyelitis III. Tuberculosis IV. Ringworm List II (Organism) A. Fungi B. Bacteria C. Virus D. Protozoan Codes:

aI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A

bI-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B

cI-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B

dI-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A

AnswerThe answer is (a).

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium, a protozoan, spread by Anopheles mosquitoes. Poliomyelitis is caused by the poliovirus. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Ringworm is a fungal skin infection, not a worm. So I-D, II-C, III-B and IV-A. A quick check: the two easiest matches, malaria with a protozoan and ringworm with a fungus, already point to option (a).

I. Malaria is caused by a protozoan, Plasmodium (D).
II. Poliomyelitis is caused by a virus (C).
III. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria (B).
IV. Ringworm is caused by a fungus (A).

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Right: malaria-protozoan, polio-virus, TB-bacteria, ringworm-fungi.
(b) TB is bacterial and ringworm is fungal, so III and IV are reversed.
(c) Swaps malaria with polio, and TB with ringworm.
(d) Swaps malaria (protozoan) with polio (virus).

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1998, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.