Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Mar 21, 2016

1)   Scientists have developed a new blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s at the pre dementia stage. What kind of proteins can the test pick up?

a. tell tale proteins
b. amino acids
c. aymloid beta peptides
d. Both a and c
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both a and c

Explanation:
Scientists have developed a novel blood test to facilitate detection of Alzheimer’s at an early stage. The test gives people up to 15 years warning before the disease developed. Novel test can pick up tell tale proteins called amyloid beta peptides to characterise the disease as it seeps through the bloodstream. In association with the immune chemical analysis using the infrared sensor. Surface is coated with specific antibodies that extract biomarkers for Alzheimer’s from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Infrared sensor analyses shows if there are pathological changes in the biomarkers.


2)   Which player beat Marc Zwibler of Germany to win the second Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament title?

a. Rajiv Ouseph
b. Kadambi Sriknath
c. HS Prannoy Roy
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: HS Prannoy Roy

Explanation:
HS Prannoy clinched his second Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament title by notching up straight game victory over Germany’s Marc Zweibler in a summit clash of the Swiss Open. Prannoy, seeded 13th outclassed 7th seeded German player in a 45 minute final. 23-year-old Prannoy also won the Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold in 2014.


3)   When did the Republic of Namibia celebrate its National Day?

a. March 20th
b. March 21st
c. March 22nd
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: March 21st

Explanation:
President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended greetings and felicitations to government and people of Republic of Namibia on the eve of their national day which is March 21, 2016. President of the Republic of Namibia is currently His Excellency Dr. Hage Geingob.


4)   Who have won the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur so far?

a. Tikka Shatrujit Singh
b. Pandit Ravi Shankar
c. Amitabh Bachchan
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The royal scion of the Ahluwalia dynasty of Kapurthala, Tikka Shatrujit Singh was on 17th March 2016 honoured with the Knight of the Legion of Honour or Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. He is currently adviser to chairman of LVMH group and also known as the guru of luxury. He is the heir of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala who was a celebrated Francophile.


5)   What is the first day of spring also called?

a. Vernal equinox
b. equinox
c. Both a and b
d. Neither a nor b
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Vernal equinox

Explanation:
The Vernal Equinox is an astronomical event marking the start of spring in the northern hemisphere. It is the only day when daytime and nighttime are of equal length. It happens on 19th, 20th or 21st March each year usually. Spring starts in September south of the equator on the same day as north highlights the start of Autumn. Vernal is the Latin word for spring and it is one of two equinox that occur each year. The other is the Autumnal Equinox in September.


6)   When was Nowroz day observed in Iran?

a. March 20th
b. March 21st
c. March 22nd
d. March 23rd
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: March 21st

Explanation:
President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended greetings to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the eve of Nowruz day of this country. The date it was held was March 21st, 2016. The current president of Iran is His Excellency Dr. Hassan Rouhani.


7)   UNESCO has added how many new sites to its network of biosphere natural reserves?

a. 18
b. 20
c. 21
d. 22
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: 20

Explanation:
UNESCO has added 20 new sites to the network of protected biosphere natural reserves including 2 in Canada and Portugal each. This brought the total number of biosphere reserves to 669 across 120 nations. In Cananda, Tsa Tue area in the NW region including last pristine arctic lake was added to the list. Britain’s Isle of Man and Mexico’s Isla Cozumel were also included. In Portugal, the complete island of Sao Jorge. the 4th largest in the Azores Archipelago was designated as a reserve . List of new UNESCO reserves includes Haiti, India, Iran and Peru. Spain is the country with the largest number of reserves on the list.


8)   What is the third zone of the solar system also known as?

a. Milky Way
b. Solar System
c. Kuiper Belt
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Kuiper Belt

Explanation:
NASA scientists linked to the New Horizons probe have revealed the former astronomer’s planet with its intriguing system of small moons transforms the view of Pluto. The planet was revealed to have active geology, exotic surface chemistry, a complex atmosphere and an intricate system of small moons. Pluto is the largest brightest and most explored planet in the third zone or the Kuiper belt.


9)   Palm Sunday was observed on which day?

a. March 19th
b. March 20th
c. March 21st
d. Neither of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: March 20th

Explanation:
Pope Francis blessed palm fronds and olive branches held by faithful at St. Peter’s Square. Holy week ceremonies began at the Vatican. The Palm Sunday ceremony begins with a procession from the packed squares with Cardinals, priests and Catholics clutching braided palm fronds and olive branches in recollection of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem following his impending death on the wooden cross.