UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The DAILY QUIZ

Q1. The wartime United States programme that designed and built the atomic bombs 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man' was constituted and administered as a district of which one of the following organisations?

  • A. The Office of Scientific Research and Development in the Executive Office of the President
  • B. The Bureau of Ordnance of the United States Navy Department
  • C. The United States Army Corps of Engineers
  • D. The Twentieth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces

Q2. With reference to the design of the two atomic bombs used against Japan in August 1945, consider the following statements: 1. 'Little Boy' used a gun-assembly design in which a conventional explosive charge fired one sub-critical mass of uranium-235 into another. 2. In 'Fat Man', a plutonium-239 core was surrounded by layers of high-explosive lenses that compressed it inwards. 3. In 'Fat Man', the fissile core was encased in a uranium-238 tamper. 4. 'Little Boy' was given its design because plutonium-240 impurities made the alternative assembly method unworkable. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. 'Little Boy' used a gun-assembly design in which a conventional explosive charge fired one sub-critical mass of uranium-235 into another.
  2. In 'Fat Man', a plutonium-239 core was surrounded by layers of high-explosive lenses that compressed it inwards.
  3. In 'Fat Man', the fissile core was encased in a uranium-238 tamper.
  4. 'Little Boy' was given its design because plutonium-240 impurities made the alternative assembly method unworkable.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q3. The officer who piloted the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima held command of which one of the following formations at that time?

  • A. The 393rd Bombardment Squadron of the Twentieth Air Force
  • B. The 509th Composite Group of the Twentieth Air Force
  • C. The 313th Bombardment Wing of the Twentieth Air Force
  • D. The XXI Bomber Command of the Twentieth Air Force

Q4. With reference to the two atomic-bombing missions of August 1945, consider the following: 1. Enola Gay — the B-29 Superfortress that released 'Little Boy' over Hiroshima. 2. Bockscar — the aircraft that struck Nagasaki after its intended primary target was obscured by cloud and haze. 3. Charles W. Sweeney — pilot of the aircraft that carried out the Hiroshima mission. 4. Tinian — the island base from which both missions were flown. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Enola Gay — the B-29 Superfortress that released 'Little Boy' over Hiroshima.
  2. Bockscar — the aircraft that struck Nagasaki after its intended primary target was obscured by cloud and haze.
  3. Charles W. Sweeney — pilot of the aircraft that carried out the Hiroshima mission.
  4. Tinian — the island base from which both missions were flown.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q5. The ultimatum of 26 July 1945 demanding the unconditional surrender of Japan was issued jointly under the authority of which one of the following combinations of powers?

  • A. The United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union
  • B. The United States, the United Kingdom, China and the Soviet Union
  • C. The United States, the United Kingdom and the Republic of France
  • D. The United States, the United Kingdom and China

Q6. Japan's acceptance of the Allied surrender terms was conveyed to the Japanese public on 15 August 1945 through a recorded imperial address carried by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Domei Tsushin, the national wartime news agency of Japan
  • B. The Board of Information of the Japanese Cabinet
  • C. Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, the public broadcasting corporation
  • D. The press bureau of the Imperial General Headquarters