10 Important Questions That Test ‘How Good Are You At Elementary Astronomy’?

10 Important Questions That Test ‘How Good Are You At Elementary Astronomy’?

1. At some time in the night a person saw a half moon setting in the west. What time is likely to be?

(a)Midnight                                                                                   (b)Before sunrise

(c)Approximately 3 am                                                            (d)The time depends on the month

2. When a crescent moon is seen to be setting, will the convex edge or the concave edge be downwards?

(a)Always the concave edge

(b)Always the convex edge

(c)Concave edge if before sunset

(d)Concave edge if after sunset

3.Some planets when seen through a telescope show phases like the moon does. Of the following, which is one of them?

(a)Jupiter

(b)Saturn

(c)Mars

(d)Venus

4.The biggest units that are the first subunits constituting the universe are

(a)Planets

(b)Stars

(c)Galaxies

(d)Objects bigger than galaxies called clusters of galaxies

5.We know that during a total solar eclipse, there is a brief nightfall for about two to three minutes in the region it occurs. The sky becomes star-studded, so much so that birds start returning to their nests! The stars that are seen during this eclipse time

(a)will all again be seen on the night that follows

(b)will be seen again on the night that follows, only if they were to the east of the sun

(c)will be seen again on the night that follows, only if they were to the west of the sun

(d)will not be seen on the night that follows

6.Why do planets closer to the sun lack moons?

(a)They are too small to harbour a satellite

(b)The tidal effect of the sun's gravitational does not allow moons

(c)The giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn have captured all their moons

(d)Comets passing close by have knocked off their moons

7. Suppose today evening, the star Sirius is rising in the east. After 3 months, in the evening,

(a)It will not be seen in the sky

(b)It will be seen in between the zenith and the eastern horizon

(c)It will again be seen rising

(d)It will be seen in between the zenith and the western horizon

8. Suppose it is daytime at a place on the moon. How many heavenly objects are seen in the lunar sky?

(a)Exactly one: the sun

(b)Exactly two: the sun and the Earth

(c)Almost as many as you can see at night from the Earth

(d)One or two depending upon the location

9. In a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse

(a)In the latter the sun is farther from the earth than in the former

(b)In the former the sun is farther from the earth than in the latter

(c)In the latter the moon is farther from the earth than in the former

(d)In the former the moon is farther from the earth than in the latter

10. If conditions are favourable for an annular solar eclipse to occur, in which season of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is it likely to occur?

(a)Winter

(b)Summer

(c)Fall

(d)Spring

For Answers of the above questions, Click Here.

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Know More About Whole Grain And It’s Importance For Good Health.

Know More About Whole Grain And It’s Importance For Good Health.

With the increasing trends of vegetarianism and healthful nutritious diet, whole grain foods are on the rise. Companies are working with dieticians to make wholesome foods offering wider variety, quicker meals and richer taste.

What are unrefined grains?

In traditional Indian diets, grains were consumed either in whole form, or as coarse flours made from stone grinding. Today, however, much of the grain is milled and refined and this process removes most of the bran and the germ, and leaves only endosperm.

Whole grains are not processed or refined but used as whole, retaining the germ, endosperm and the outer shell (bran) intact.

What is the use of germ?

The germ of any grain has high nutrition value (vitamin B, vitamin E, antioxidants and unsaturated fats) while the outer shell is rich in fibre, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and vitamin B. The endosperm is the storehouse rich in carbohydrates and protein to provide energy. They are better sources of fibre and other important nutrients, such as selenium, potassium and magnesium.

Whole grains are either single foods, such as brown rice and popcorn, or ingredients in products, such as buckwheat in pancakes or wholewheat in bread. Refined foods include white flour, white rice and white bread. Many breads, cereals, crackers, desserts and pastries are made with refined grains, too.

Nutritionists advise to include whole grains in your diet rather than refined grains to maintain the healthy lifestyle one needs to follow.

Advantages of whole grain diet

A slice of commercially prepared white bread has 66 calories, 1.9 grams protein and 0.6 grams fibre. A slice of wholewheat bread has 69 calories and provides 3.6g protein and 1.9g fibre. Studies show that eating whole grains, instead of refined grains, lowers the risk of many chronic diseases. Epidemiological studies conducted till date have revealed that people who consume three servings of whole grains on a daily basis are at a lower risk of being affected by hormone-related cancers by 10-40 per cent, digestive system cancers by 21-43 per cent and stroke by 37 per cent.

Those who consume whole grain products on a regular basis are less likely to gain weight. Whole grain products have been found to have beneficial effects on those suffering from hypertension. Including whole grain products in the diet can help one prevent osteoporosis and many other bone-related ailments. The consumption of whole grains has been linked to reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Whole grains have a slow digestibility, making them contribute positively to the glucose and insulin responses. This in turn, has been found to lower the risk of diabetes. Every whole grain item in your diet helps. They are full of nutrients; including fibre, B vitamins, and magnesium. The dietary fibre (the indigestible part of the plant that is also found in fruits and vegetables) present in whole grains consists of soluble and insoluble fibre. The insoluble dietary fibre prevents constipation. It also lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases by reducing total and LDL cholesterol levels. Soluble dietary fibre (found in oats and barley) is associated with lowering cholesterol levels and offers a protection against cardiovascular abnormalities.

Management of Diabetes Mellitus:

Whole grains may play a role both in prevention and management of diabetes mellitus. In diabetics, soluble fibre in whole grains causes a slower rise in glucose levels; what is generally referred to as an improved glucose response. This is also because they are more slowly digested than the cereals and thus permit a slower increase in blood sugar levels.

The best way to consume whole grain products is to flake them, grind or eat them whole, cracked or split.

How To Make Your Meal Palatable

Eating a variety of whole grains not only ensures that you get more health-promoting nutrients but also helps make your meals and snacks more palatable. Enjoy breakfasts that include whole grains cereals, such as bran flakes, shredded wheat or oatmeal. Substitute whole wheat toast or whole grain bagels for plain bagels. Substitute low-fat bran muffins for pastries. Make sandwiches using wholegrain breads or roll. Replace with rice with brown rice. Add whole grains, such as cooked brown rice or whole grain bread crumbs, to ground meat and poultry. Try and incorporate whole grains in your chappaties. Prepare them with whole wheat, bajra, jowar, and ragi for maximum health benefits instead of flours. Whole wheat breads, oats, wheat flakes and cornflakes can be used as healthful breakfast cereals. Breads made of rye are also available. Whole wheat pitas and pizza bases are also available now-a-days.

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Know More About The Most Melodious Bird Nightingale

No bird has been written so much by poets as the nightingale. Its song is supposed to be the most beautiful of all and nobody has been quite able to describe it. As a matter of fact, this attempt at describing it goes back to Aristophanes, the ancient Greek writer!

According to the poets, the nightingale sings only at night and at almost any season of the year. But this isn't true. The nightingale is a migratory bird and in England, for example, can only be heard between the middle of April and the middle of June. The nightingale does not visit Ireland, Wales or Scotland. On the continent of Europe it is quite abundant in the South, and even goes as far as Iran, Arabia, Abyssinia, Algeria, and the Gold Coast of Africa.

Only the male nightingale sings. His melody is the song of courtship to his mate, which remains silent in a neighbouring bush or tree. He sings during the day as well as at night, but because of other birds, his song is not noticed so much then.

The male keeps singing until the female has hatched out her brood. Then he remains quiet so as not to attract enemies to the nest. He stays on guard, and his notes are short calls to tell his mate that all is well, or to warn her of some danger.

While the nightingale sings one of the most beautiful songs of all birds, its plumage is very inconspicuous. Male and female are very much alike- a reddish-brown above and dull grayish-white beneath.

The nest the nightingales build is somewhat unusual. It is placed on or near the ground. The outside of the nest consists mostly of dead leaves set up vertically. In the midst of this is a deep cuplike hollow, neatly lined with fibres from roots. It is very loosely constructed and a very slight touch can disturb it. There are from four to six eggs of a deep olive colour.

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