Explanation: The full form of USB is Universal Serial Bus. It is a standard interface used to connect devices such as keyboards, mice, flash drives, and printers to a computer. USB allows data transfer and power supply between connected devices.

Explanation: The S.I. unit of electric current is the Ampere (A). It is defined as the rate of flow of electric charge through a conductor. One ampere equals one coulomb of charge passing through a point in one second.

Explanation: Oceans contain the maximum amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on Earth. They act as the largest carbon sink, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it in dissolved form or as carbonates. This helps regulate the global carbon cycle and maintain atmospheric balance.

Explanation: Nucleons are the particles that make up the nucleus of an atom — namely, protons and neutrons. A positron is not a nucleon; it is the antiparticle of the electron, having the same mass as an electron but a positive charge, and exists outside the nucleus.

Explanation: The sour taste of a lemon is due to the presence of citric acid. Citric acid is a weak organic acid found naturally in citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and limes. It gives them their characteristic tangy flavor and also acts as a natural preservative.

Explanation: The nerve cell or neuron is the longest cell in animals. It consists of a cell body, dendrites, and a long fiber called the axon. In humans, the axon of a motor neuron can be over 1 meter long (from the spinal cord to the toes). This structure helps transmit electrical impulses rapidly across the body, allowing coordination and communication between organs.

Explanation: Prithvi was the first indigenously developed missile of India, designed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) launched in 1983 by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is a surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. The Prithvi missile series includes Prithvi-I (Army version), Prithvi-II (Air Force), and Prithvi-III (Navy), with ranges varying from 150 km to 350 km.

Explanation: Sound travels fastest in steel because it is a solid material where the particles are packed very closely together. Sound waves need a medium to travel, and their speed depends on how quickly vibrations can pass from one particle to another. In solids, particles are tightly bound, so vibrations are transmitted more efficiently. In contrast, sound travels slower in liquids and slowest in gases. It cannot travel through a vacuum because there are no particles to carry the vibrations.

The Widal test is used to diagnose Typhoid fever, a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi. The test detects the presence of agglutinating antibodies (O and H) in a patient’s serum against the antigens of the typhoid bacteria. It helps confirm infection during the second week of illness.

• Cholera: Diagnosed by stool culture for Vibrio cholerae.
• Tuberculosis: Detected using sputum test or Mantoux test.
• AIDS: Diagnosed through ELISA or Western blot test for HIV.