Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in Current Affairs.

1. Female reproductive system of cockroach consists a pair of ovaries, a pair of oviducts, vagina, spermatheca and accessory glands. 

2. Ovaries are primary reproductive organs. They are paired and lie lateral in position in 2nd – 6lh abdominal segments. Each ovary is formed of a group of 8 ovarian tubules or ovarioles, containing a chain of developing ova. All ovarioles of an ovary open in lateral oviduct of respective side. 

3. The lateral oviducts unite to form a common oviduct or vagina. Common oviduct or vagina opens into the Bursa copulatrix (genital chamber), the female organ of copulation. 

4. Spermatheca, is a sperm storing structure present in the 6th segment opens into genital chamber. It receives the sperms during copulation and store them for fertilization. 

5. Collaterial glands are accessory paired glands that open in genital chamber. 

6. Female gonapophyses consists of six chitinous plates surrounding the genital pore. In males, genital pouch or genital chamber lies at the hind end of abdomen which is bounded dorsally by 9th and 10th terga and ventrally b; male genital pore and gonapophysis.

(i) Style of the novel: 

The language and the techniques used by the author for the narration of the course of events is known as the ‘style’. An author can use extensive vocabulary and difficult phrases or he may be brief and could write only to the point or he may mix both according to the requirement of his story. He may use linguistic devices like figures of speech to make the narrative effective. All these factors decide the ‘texture’ of the narration and create an impact on the readers.

(ii) Stream of consciousness novel: 

The phrase ‘Stream of consciousness’ means the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters. This phrase was coined by William James in his treatise ‘Principles of Psychology.’ (1890). In such a novel, incidents in the plot are in the sequence of their occurrence. The novelist narrates them just as they occur in the minds of the characters. Sometimes they do not make sense; but they truthfully represent the thoughts without any censoring or editing.

(iii) Novella: 

The word ‘Novella’ which means new is originated from the Italian word ‘novelle’. A Novella is a type of prose fiction which is shorter than a full length novel and longer than short stories. It is a well-structured yet short narrative, often satiric or realistic in tone. Novella usually focuses on one incident or issue with one or two main characters and takes place at a single location. 

Given below are some of the famous novellas in English:

1. ‘The Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad 

2. ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James 

3. ‘Billy Budd’ by Hermann Melville 

4. ‘Death in Venice’ by Thomas Mann 

5. ‘Seize The Day’ by Saul Bellow 

6. ‘Pearl’ by John Steinbeck 

(iv) Indian tradition of novels: 

Indians have also played a major role in the writing of English Novels. ‘Rajmohan’s Wife’, by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya was the first novel in English written by an Indian. The period after that is marked by a few more navels written by Indian writers. These novels were based on either nationalistic virtues or social issues. Mulkraj Anand, R.K. Narayan and Raja Rao were the major trio who prevailed in the period after that.

Novelists like Anita Desai, Nayantara Sahgal, Arun Joshi and Manohar Malgaonkar changed the current of Indian English novel through their works. Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth and Upamanyu Chatterjee improved upon the Indian novel in English by adding new features to it. In recent years, Indian novelists like Salman Rushdie, Arvind Adiga, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai and Kiran Nagarkar have come into the limelight. The tradition of the Indian English novel has undergone a vital change since its birth and has undoubtedly a very bright future.

B) Swami and Friends

1. Adolf Hitler Was the founder of the National Socialist party, generally known as the Nazi party.

2. His great oratorical skill, his promise to bring back the glorious past of Germany, his support for the German race and hatred towards the Jews helped him to get people support. 

3. He came to power in 1933 and ruled Germany till 1945.

4. He began to re-arm Germany and recruitment of new armed forces. 

5. The manufacture of armaments and machinery for the army, navy and air force with large spending from government resulted in the revival of the economic condition and helped to solve the unemployment problem in the economy.

6. He followed aggressive policy and therefore in 1936, he invaded Rhine land, the demilitarized zone.

7. His alliance with Italy and Japan became RomeBerlin-Tokyo axis. 

8. He signed Munich pact stating Germany would not conquer any other territory, rather in 1939, he invaded Czechoslovakia. 

9. His attack on Poland resulted in the declaration of war by Britain and France against Germany. 

10. In 1941, German army invaded Russia. But the resistance of the German army and Russian winter defeated German army. 

11. When the allied forces fought back, Germany also retaliated. Finally, Hitler committed suicide in 1945. 

12. In 1945, allies occupied Berlin and Germany was divided as two sections after the war.

Compound eyes: Compound eyes are paired, dark, kidney — shaped structures placed on the dorsolateral sides of the head. They are made up of large number of hexagonal ommatidia i.e. around 2000 ommatidia (sing, ommatidium). These ommatidia are the structural and functional unit of compound eye, each forming an image of very small part of visual field. Collectively, the compound eye produces a mosaic image. Even though the compound eye gives a mosaic or hazy vision yet the animal can detect the slightest movement of the object. Compound eyes provide low resolution and more sensitive vision.

On coming to know from Swaminathan that he wants the doctor to give him a certificate stating that he should be exempted from evening classes, the doctor wants to know whether there is any real problem with Swaminathan. The doctor is greatly amused when Swaminathan tells him that he has been suffering from delirium.

However, from Swami’s explanation that delirium was some kind of stomach ache, the doctor realises that Swami has a total misunderstanding of the term. On examining Swami, the doctor also comes to know that Swami is in the pink of health. Hence the doctor refuses to give him a Medical Certificate stating that he would be prosecuted if he did so. However, he wishes Swami well and offers to speak to the Head Master about Swami’s inability to attend the compulsory sessions in the evenings.

C) He asks Rajam to speak to the Head Master.

Swami knew that if he had to be exempted from drill for a whole week, his pretence of illness alone wouldn’t suffice. He knew that he needed a more authentic proof of his illness. That is why he decides to go to a doctor before going to school to get a medical certificate. With the doctor, however, he is honest. He tells him about the cricket match and the need to get time for practice sessions. He hopes that the doctor would understand his predicament and give him the false medical certificate.

D) None of the above

Swami has missed many practice sessions of the cricket match and there is only one more week for the match against YMU Cricket Team.

Rajam has already given a stern warning to Swami. Hence Swami is determined to miss his Drill Class in school. He knows that his Drill Master will not let him go easily. So, he pretends to be ill. When the Drill Master refuses to let him off, he keeps following him making the same request. Finally, the Drill Master, who is annoyed, asks him what his problem is. Swami claims to be suffering from delirium.

He says that he was unable to sleep even a wink the previous night. He adds that his doctor had advised him not to attend Drill for a week. After all this, the Drill Master permits Swami to skip the Drill Session adding that he didn’t believe a word of what Swami said. Thus we see that against all odds Swami manages to get the permission of the Drill Master to skip drill.

Birbal grew a pumpkin in a pot and gave it to Akbar.

Swami claimed to be unwell to escape the drill class. He said that he had the problem of delirium.

Meghavahana became the king of Kashmir. He passed a law against killing of living beings. Once, on his expedition, he and his army were taking rest in the shadow of the palm groves. He heard the plaintive call of a man.

Meghavahana went in search of the man and came near a Durga temple where a barbarian was about to kill a man. Meghavahana ordered the barbarian to stop and asked him why he was killing the man. The barbarian said that his son was suffering from a fatal disease and was on his death bed. He wanted to kill the victim in sacrifice and appease the gods. He hoped the gods would save his son’s life.

He pleaded with the king to allow him to kill the innocent man to save his son and relatives. Meghavahana decided to save the victim and the dying boy. He asked the barbarian to kill him and offer his body in sacrifice to goddess Durga. When the barbarian refused to kill him, Meghavahana drew out his sword and was about to strike himself. Then, someone held back his hand. He turned round and saw god Varuna appear before him. The ailing boy, the victim and the barbarian had vanished by then. God Varuna said that he had created that illusion to test Meghavahana’s nobility of mind.

The neighbouring king asked King Akbar to send him a potful of wisdom.

A ‘Swayamvara’ was arranged for her to choose her husband.

a. The king of Pragjyotisha said this.

b. It was said to Meghavahana.

c. When the parasol of Varuna appeared beside Meghavahana and cast its shadow over him.

Amritaprabha was the name of the princess of Pragjyotisha.

Meghavahana wanted to conquer other kingdoms and impose the law against killing of living beings on them.

It is used as a protection from the hot sun

The suitors had heard tales of Amritaprabha’s beauty. So, they came to Pragjyotisha to win her hand.

Amritaprabha was the princess of Pragjyotisha. She was a beautiful young lady. When she attained the age of marriage, the king arranged a swayamvara. She was free to choose her husband. Many suitors, who had heard of her great beauty, came to Pragjyotisha to marry her.

Meghavahana, the prince of Kashmir, also came there. Amritaprabha entered the court hall, had a look at all the suitors and then put the garland around Meghavahana’s neck. He became very happy. Meghavahana and Amritaprabha moved towards the king to take his blessings. The priest cried out in surprise saying that the parasol of Varuna had cast his shadow over the prince. The king also noticed it and said to Meghavahana that he was favoured by the gods. Meghavahana saw by his side, a beautiful, dazzling, white parasol with exquisite decorations that was casting its shadow over him.

The king explained that it was the parasol of Varuna, the god of the seas, and it cast its shadow only on a sovereign of the whole world. The king was sure that Meghavahana was destined to become great and famous. Meghavahana was happy with the good omens. He returned home with Amritaprabha and the heavenly parasol. The then ruler of Kashmir had taken to a life of prayer and neglected the affairs of the kingdom. The ministers requested Meghavahana to become their king for he was brave, famous and good natured. Meghavahana accepted their offer and became the king.

Meghavahana passed a law against the killing of living beings in his kingdom. His ambition was to conquer other kingdoms and impose that law on them also. He set out to fulfil his ambition. Once, he was resting near the sea in the shade of palm groves, with his army. He thought of conquering the island of Lanka and teach the demons the peaceful ways of life. But, he did not know how to cross1 the sea with his army. All of a sudden he heard a cry in the air and a call which said even under the rule of Meghavahana, he was being killed. It seemed to come from a wood nearby. Meghavahana was agitated. He ran towards the wood. He came near a Durga temple and saw some sort of human sacrifice in progress on the steps of the temple. He found a man pleading for mercy and a barbarian standing over him with a raised sword.

Meghavahana ordered him to stop. The barbarian recognised the king and fell at his feet. He said that he was the leader of the barbarians and his son had fallen prey to a deadly disease and was on his death bed. He wanted to kill the man and appease the gods to save his son. He also said, if his son died, the rest of his group would give up their lives. Meghavahana felt sorry for the boy.

The barbarian said that the man was wandering about alone and friendless in the forest. According to the barbarian, the life of the victim was insignificant when compared to the lives of his son and troop members. Meghavahana looked at the terrified man and made his decision. He told the barbarian that he would save his son as well as the victim. He asked the barbarian to kill him and offer his body in sacrifice to the goddess.

The barbarian could not believe his ears. He told Meghavahana that he was the king and his life should be protected at all times. He requested the king to kill the victim as his life was of no value. Meghavahana insisted on being killed to save the lives of the victim and the barbarian’s son. The barbarian hung his head and kept quiet. Meghavahana decided to kill himself. He drew his sword and was about to strike himself with it. Then someone held back his hand. God Varuna appeared before him.

God Varuna praised Meghavahana for his nobility of mind and compassion. He said that he had created that illusion to test Meghavahana. God Varuna said that he hyd come to reclaim his parasol, which was carried away by King Bhauma, the father of Meghavahana’s father-in-law. The parasol had the powers to suppress the calamities in his land. Meghavahana bowed to god Varuna and returned the parasol to him. He requested god Varuna to help him cross the seas and conquer the island of Lanka. God Varuna granted him the boon and promised to pull away the water whenever Meghavahana wanted.

The next day, Meghavahana rode into the sea on his horse. The sea water parted and Meghavahana was able to reach Lanka with his army. He befriended Vibhishana, the king of Lanka, and everything ended peacefully. When Meghavahana returned home, Amritaprabha found the parasol missing. She asked him about it. Meghavahana told her that it was not his at any time, but its owner’s blessings would guide him through his life.

If you help others someone else will help you. Kindness begets kindness.

Alexander Fleming was farmer Fleming’s son.

St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London.

After arriving in India, Mahatma Gandhi organised several Satyagraha Movements in various places:

(i) Champaran: In 1917 he travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the exploitative plantation system. 

(ii) Kheda: In 1917, he organised a Satyagraha Movement in support of the Kheda peasants in Gujarat. These peasants were very much worried due to crop failure and a plague epidemic. Since they could not pay the revenue, they demanded relaxation in revenue collection. 

(iii) Ahmedabad: In 1918, he went to Ahmedabad to organise Satyagraha Movement among the workers of cotton mills.

B) a sort of human sacrifice

B) the great grandson of a former king of Kashmir

As Meghavahana was about to strike himself, his head was covered with divine flowers of exquisite colour and perfume. Someone held back his arm from killing himself.

Women participated in large numbers in the Civil Disobedience Movement. 

(i) During the Salt March thousands of women came out of their homes to participate in protest marches, boycott of foreign clothes and liquor shops and the manufacture of salt. 

(ii) Many women even went to jail. 

(iii) In urban areas women came from high caste families. 

(iv) In rural areas women who participated belonged to rich peasant households. 

(v) Women were moved by Gandhi’s call to see the service to the nation as a sacred duty of women. So they responded by giving their whole hearted participation. 

(vi) Though for a long-time Congress was reluctant to allow women to hold any position of authority within the party.

Amritaprabha, the princess of Pragjyotisha, was a beautiful young girl. When she attained marriageable age, her father, the king, arranged a swayamvara, so that she could choose her husband. Many famous young men who wanted to marry her assembled in Pragjyotisha. Meghavahana, the prince of Kashmir, also came there. Amritaprabha came into the court where her suitors were sitting. She garlanded Meghavahana. Meghavahana was very happy. He and his bride went near the king to seek his blessings. All of a sudden the heavenly parasol of Varuna appeared beside Meghavahana and cast its shadow over him. The king said that the parasol favoured only the sovereign of the whole world and that he was going to be very famous.

Several Satyagraha movements were launched by Mahatma Gandhi after his return from South Africa. Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad etc., were some of those places.

Champaran:

Mahatma Gandhi went to Champaran in the state of Bihar in the year 1916 and started Satyagraha along with the peasants as a struggle against the exploitative plantation system.

Ahmedabad: 

Another Satyagraha movement was launched in the year 1918. This movement was organised among the workers of cotton mills. 

Kheda: 

Gandhiji started another Satyagraha movement in Kheda in the year 1918, demanding relaxation in revenue collection. The peasants of Kheda were unable to pay the revenue due to crop failure and a plague epidemic. 

After these movements, Gandhiji decided to launch another Satyagraha movement against the Rowlatt Act in the year 1919.

C) a sovereign of the whole world

Meghavahana was the great grandson of a former king of Kashmir.

D) he wanted to test Meghavahana’s nobility of mind

Correct Answer is: B) Vibhishana

A) pulling away the water of the ocean

correct Answer is: B) Varuna

The parasol would cast its shadow over a sovereign of the whole world and no one else.

The parasol of Varuna had cast its shadow over Meghavahana. So, the priest cried out in surprise.

Correct option is (b) West

Correct option is (a) a day is added

World Standard Time (GMT) is determined using Prime Meridian at 0° longitude.

• The IDL passes through the Pacific Ocean.
• With reference to the IDL, the day on Earth starts in the West and ends in the East. 
• It is one and the same day only at 12 o’clock midnight at the 180° meridian. 
• For the countries lying to the east of it i.e. the USA, Chile, etc., it is the end of the day while for the countries lying to the west of it i.e. Japan, Australia, etc. it is the start of a new day.

Thus, a new day starts in the Pacific Ocean on Earth.

Correct option is (a) Professor Davidson

Correct option is (c) eastern, western

Correct option is (c) 180°

Even in heaven, records are kept. Further, though everything is expected to be perfect in heaven, mistakes are made.

(a) The artist.

(b) The girl was filled with pity to see that the artist had no work.

(c) She offered him work.

Several years ago, while attending a communications course, I attended a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list anything from our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty of, incomplete about or that we regretted. The next week he invited participants to read their lists aloud. This seemed like a very private process, but there’s always some brave soul among the crowd who will volunteer. As people read their lists, mine grew longer. After three weeks, I had 101 items. The instructor then suggested that we find ways to make amends, apologize to people or take some action to right any wrongdoing. I seriously wondered how this could ever improve my communication and had visions of alienating just about everyone in my life.

 The next week, a man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: While making my list, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town in Iowa. There was a sheriff in town that none of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a trick on Sheriff Brown. After drinking a few beers, we found a can of red paint, climbed a tall water tank in the middle of town, and wrote on the tank, in bright red letters: Sheriff Brown is a S.O.B. The next day, the town arose to see our glorious sign. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had the three of us in his office. My friends confessed and I lied, denying the truth. No one ever found out.

Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name appeared on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still alive. Last weekend, I dialed information on my hometown back in Iowa. Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed. I dialed his number. After a few rings, I heard: “Hello?” I said: Sheriff Brown?” Pause. “Yup.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins. And I want you to know that I did it.” Pause. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a lively discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt badly about you because your buddies got it off their chests, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years. I want to thank you for calling me… for your sake.” Jimmy inspired me to clear up all 101 items on my list. It took me almost two years, but it became a springboard and true inspiration for my career as a conflict mediator. No matter how difficult the conflict, crisis or situation, I always remember that it’s never too late to clear up the past and begin resolution.

• Our 24-hour day starts at 12 midnight. Because of the earth’s rotation, the midnight occurs at different times, at different places. 
• As the Earth is spherical in shape, every place has a place to its East. 
• So, it was necessary to determine at what location to the East does the day start on Earth. 
• Hence, representatives of many nations got together, under the leadership of an American Professor, Davidson, in the year 1884 and decided the International Date Line.
• The line was drawn opposite to the Greenwich Prime Meridian i.e. with reference to the 180° Meridian.