Explanation: PARAM 8000 is India's first supercomputer, developed in 1991 by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the leadership of Dr. Vijay Bhatkar. It marked India’s entry into high-performance computing and was capable of 1 GigaFLOP (one billion calculations per second).

Adolf Gaston Eugen Fick, a German physiologist, invented the first successful contact lens in 1888. His design consisted of a glass lens that covered the entire eye, resting on the sclera (the white part of the eye). Though bulky and uncomfortable by today’s standards, it laid the foundation for modern soft and gas-permeable contact lenses used in vision correction and cosmetics.

Other options (for context)

• Enrico Fermi: Known for his work in nuclear physics and development of the first nuclear reactor.
• Sandford Fleming: Introduced the concept of standard time zones.
• Benoit Fourneyron: Invented the water turbine, not related to optics or vision correction.

Explanation: A modem (short for modulator-demodulator) is a device that enables computers to communicate with each other over telephone lines. It converts digital signals from a computer into analog signals for transmission and then back into digital form at the receiving end.

Diseases like Polio and Chicken Pox are caused by viruses. The Polio virus attacks the nervous system and can lead to paralysis, while the Varicella-zoster virus causes Chicken Pox, characterized by itchy blisters and fever. Viruses are acellular infectious agents that can reproduce only inside the living cells of a host organism.

Other options (for context)

• Bacteria: Cause diseases like tuberculosis, cholera, and typhoid, not polio or chicken pox.
• Protozoa: Cause diseases such as malaria and amoebiasis.
• Algae: Generally non-pathogenic; they do not cause human diseases like polio or chicken pox.

Explanation: A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth and casts its shadow on the Earth. This happens during the new moon phase, when all three celestial bodies are almost in a straight line. Depending on the alignment, the eclipse can be total (Sun completely covered), partial (Sun partially covered), or annular (ring-shaped Sun visible). During this event, sunlight is blocked for a short time in specific areas of the Earth’s surface.

Explanation: The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake and the only snake species that builds a nest to lay its eggs. The female collects leaves, twigs, and debris to construct a mound-like nest, usually near dense vegetation or fallen logs. She lays about 20–40 eggs in the nest and guards them aggressively until they hatch, showing remarkable parental care — a rare behavior among reptiles.

Once the eggs are about to hatch, the female leaves the nest to avoid eating her own offspring, as King Cobras are carnivorous and feed mainly on other snakes.

Explanation: The Cerebrum forms about 80% of the total brain mass. It is divided into two hemispheres and is responsible for higher brain functions such as thought, action, reasoning, and emotion. The Cerebellum lies below it and controls coordination and balance, while the Medulla oblongata manages vital involuntary functions.