UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Greece’s ancient sites get climate stress check-up

Q1. In the Greek Culture Ministry's three-year initiative (2022–2025), the 'climate stress check-up' carried out on the 19 shortlisted monuments refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A scientific assessment of past and present climate and geological conditions at each site to gauge its vulnerability to future extreme events
  • B. A periodic audit of visitor numbers and ticketing capacity to prevent over-tourism at each monument
  • C. An inventory of movable antiquities to be relocated from open sites into climate-controlled museums
  • D. A carbon-footprint accounting of the tourism activity generated around each archaeological site

Q2. With reference to the Greek Culture Ministry's climate-protection strategy for archaeological sites, consider the following statements: 1. The three-year study shortlisted 19 monuments as most urgently needing protection, while the ministry aims to extend the protective network to 40 sites by 2030. 2. The evaluation, running from 2022 to 2025, was described as the first nationwide assessment of its scope attempted in Greece. 3. Under the strategy, fire sensors are to be installed at over 60 sites, while fire-protection plans are to be drawn up for 21 archaeological sites. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The three-year study shortlisted 19 monuments as most urgently needing protection, while the ministry aims to extend the protective network to 40 sites by 2030.
  2. The evaluation, running from 2022 to 2025, was described as the first nationwide assessment of its scope attempted in Greece.
  3. Under the strategy, fire sensors are to be installed at over 60 sites, while fire-protection plans are to be drawn up for 21 archaeological sites.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The interim measure of shortening the Acropolis's visiting hours by closing it during peak afternoon heat is operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. The Greek Culture Ministry (through the Athens ephorate of antiquities)
  • B. The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
  • C. The Hellenic Ministry of Tourism
  • D. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Q4. Under what condition is the Acropolis's afternoon closure invoked as a climate-adaptation measure?

  • A. When temperatures rise to around 40°C or above, the site is closed during the hottest afternoon hours (roughly 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • B. The site is closed for the entire day whenever any heatwave alert is issued
  • C. The site is closed to visitors throughout the whole of every summer
  • D. Closure occurs only during night hours to allow the marble to cool

Q5. In assessing the 19 monuments, the scientific team studied each site's exposure to how many principal climate-related hazard categories — namely fire, floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q6. At sites such as the Heraion of Samos, the study identified 'coastal erosion' as the leading climate-linked threat. In this context, coastal erosion is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The progressive wearing away and loss of shoreline land and structures through wave action, currents and rising sea levels
  • B. The burial of coastal structures under wind-blown sand accumulating over time
  • C. The chemical dissolution of limestone surfaces by acidic rainfall
  • D. The sudden collapse of rock faces triggered by seismic tremors

Q7. With reference to UNESCO World Heritage properties in Greece, consider the following: 1. Acropolis of Athens — inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987 2. Meteora — a mixed (cultural and natural) World Heritage property 3. Delphi — an inscribed World Heritage Site 4. Mount Olympus — an inscribed World Heritage Site Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Acropolis of Athens — inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987
  2. Meteora — a mixed (cultural and natural) World Heritage property
  3. Delphi — an inscribed World Heritage Site
  4. Mount Olympus — an inscribed World Heritage Site
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. With reference to the inscription of Greek World Heritage properties, consider the following statements: 1. The Acropolis of Athens and Delphi were both inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. 2. Mycenae and Tiryns were jointly inscribed as a single World Heritage property in 1999. 3. Meteora and Mount Athos are Greece's two properties inscribed on natural criteria alone. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Acropolis of Athens and Delphi were both inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987.
  2. Mycenae and Tiryns were jointly inscribed as a single World Heritage property in 1999.
  3. Meteora and Mount Athos are Greece's two properties inscribed on natural criteria alone.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. In the context of climate-driven salt damage to coastal ASI monuments such as the Konark Sun Temple, the term 'efflorescence' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The deposition of crystalline salts on a stone surface as saline moisture within the stone evaporates
  • B. The growth of algae and lichen colonies on persistently damp stone surfaces
  • C. The flaking of stone caused by repeated freeze–thaw cycles
  • D. The blackening of stone by the accumulation of air-pollution soot

Q10. The 13th-century Konark Sun Temple, an ASI-protected coastal monument now facing salt-laden climate stress, was conceived as the chariot of the Sun God Surya. In its design the chariot is depicted with how many stone wheels?

  • A. 12
  • B. 16
  • C. 24
  • D. 7

Q11. The scientific assessment of the 19 Greek monuments (2022–2025) was carried out principally by researchers from which one of the following?

  • A. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the National Research Foundation
  • B. The Academy of Athens and the Hellenic Statistical Authority
  • C. UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
  • D. The European Space Agency and the Copernicus programme

Q12. With reference to international frameworks on climate change and cultural heritage, consider the following statements: 1. The updated Policy Document on climate action for World Heritage was adopted by the General Assembly of States Parties in November 2023. 2. ICOMOS, an advisory body to the World Heritage Committee, declared a 'Climate and Ecological Emergency' in 2020. 3. UNESCO estimates that about one in six cultural World Heritage sites already experiences the impacts of climate change. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The updated Policy Document on climate action for World Heritage was adopted by the General Assembly of States Parties in November 2023.
  2. ICOMOS, an advisory body to the World Heritage Committee, declared a 'Climate and Ecological Emergency' in 2020.
  3. UNESCO estimates that about one in six cultural World Heritage sites already experiences the impacts of climate change.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3