In organic farming, chemical fertilizers are not used. Instead, farmers rely on natural manures, compost, and biofertilizers to enrich the soil. Organic farming avoids synthetic pesticides and focuses on maintaining ecological balance, soil fertility, and sustainable crop production.

• Intercropping: Often used to increase productivity naturally.
• Manures: Essential in organic farming for soil health.
• Biofertilizers: Widely used to promote natural nutrient availability.

Explanation: Internet is the odd one out because it is a global network, whereas Linux, Unix and Windows are operating systems.

A rocket functions based on Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The rocket expels gases downward at high speed (action), and in response, the rocket is propelled upward (reaction). This principle enables space rockets to move even in the vacuum of space where no air resistance exists.

• Newton’s First Law: Deals with inertia, not propulsion.
• Newton’s Second Law: Explains force and acceleration but doesn’t directly describe rocket thrust.

Explanation: Seismology is the branch of geophysics that deals with the study of earthquakes and the propagation of seismic waves through the Earth. Scientists who study earthquakes are called seismologists. Seismology helps in understanding the origin, intensity, and effects of earthquakes, as well as the internal structure of the Earth. The intensity of an earthquake is measured using instruments like the seismograph and scales such as the Richter scale or Moment Magnitude scale.

Explanation: Saliva, secreted by the salivary glands, begins the process of carbohydrate digestion in the mouth. It contains the enzyme salivary amylase (also known as ptyalin), which catalyzes the breakdown of starch (polysaccharide) into maltose (disaccharide). This is the first step in digestion, and it occurs while food is chewed and mixed with saliva before being swallowed.

Chemical Reaction:

Starch → (Salivary amylase) → Maltose

Thus, saliva plays an essential role in the digestion of carbohydrates, making the food slightly sweet when chewed for a longer time.

Explanation: All enzymes are proteins (except a few RNA-based enzymes called ribozymes). Enzymes act as biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process. They work by lowering the activation energy of reactions, ensuring that metabolic processes occur efficiently at normal body temperatures. Each enzyme is specific to a particular substrate, forming an enzyme-substrate complex to carry out its function effectively.

Explanation: Malaria is not caused by a virus; it is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. The disease spreads through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The parasite enters the human bloodstream, infects liver cells, and then red blood cells, leading to recurring fever, chills, and anemia. In contrast, Smallpox, AIDS, and Flu are all viral diseases caused by the Variola virus, HIV, and Influenza virus respectively.

Explanation: Vitamins are classified into two categories based on their solubility — fat-soluble and water-soluble. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and the B-complex vitamins are water-soluble, meaning they dissolve in water and are not stored in the body. Therefore, they must be consumed regularly through diet. Deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums and delayed wound healing.

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.