Zoology 2022 Paper I 50 marks Describe

Q6

(a) Describe various types of social groupings in primates. Write a note on importance of social grouping. (20 marks) (b) (i) Differentiate between primary and secondary pollutants. (5 marks) (ii) Explain primary and secondary treatment of waste water. (10 marks) (c) What is Chi-square analysis? Explain its applications in biology. (15 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) प्राइमेट्स में विभिन्न प्रकार के सामाजिक समूहों का वर्णन कीजिए । सामाजिक समूह के महत्व पर टिप्पणी भी लिखिए । (20 अंक) (b) (i) मुख्य एवं द्वितीयक प्रदूषकों में अंतर बताएं । (5 अंक) (ii) अपशिष्ट जल के मुख्य एवं द्वितीयक उपचार का वर्णन कीजिए । (10 अंक) (c) काइ-स्क्वेयर विश्लेषण क्या है ? जीव विज्ञान में इसके अनुप्रयोगों का वर्णन कीजिए । (15 अंक)

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'describe' demands comprehensive coverage with factual precision across all four sub-parts. Allocate approximately 40% of time/words to part (a) given its 20 marks, 30% to part (b) combined (10% to b-i, 20% to b-ii), and 30% to part (c). Structure with clear sub-headings for each part, begin with definitions, proceed to detailed descriptions, and conclude with significance/applications. For (b), explicitly use comparative tables for differentiation and stepwise flow diagrams for treatment processes.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Classification of primate social groupings—solitary, monogamous pairs, polyandrous, polygynous (single-male/multi-male), multi-male/multi-female, fission-fusion societies; with Indian examples (lion-tailed macaque, Hanuman langur, Nilgiri langur)
  • Part (a): Importance of social grouping—predator defense, resource defense, cooperative breeding, alloparental care, social learning, kin selection, reproductive success
  • Part (b-i): Clear distinction between primary pollutants (direct emission: CO, SO₂, NOx, particulates, heavy metals) and secondary pollutants (atmospheric transformation: O₃, PAN, photochemical smog, acid rain)
  • Part (b-ii): Primary treatment—screening, grit removal, sedimentation; Secondary treatment—activated sludge process, trickling filter, oxidation pond, with microbial agents (Pseudomonas, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter)
  • Part (c): Chi-square (χ²) test—formula, degrees of freedom, null hypothesis testing; assumptions and limitations; applications in genetics (Mendelian ratio testing), ecology (habitat preference, association analysis), epidemiology

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness25%12.5Accurately defines all social grouping types with correct taxonomic placement; precisely distinguishes primary vs secondary pollutants by formation mechanism; correctly describes both treatment stages with microbial roles; accurately states χ² formula, assumptions, and interpretation rulesDefines most concepts correctly but confuses one social grouping type or misclassifies a pollutant; describes treatment stages but omits key microbial agents; states χ² formula with minor errors in application conditionsFundamental errors in defining social structures, conflates primary/secondary pollutants, reverses treatment stages, or applies χ² test to inappropriate data types (parametric data, small expected frequencies)
Diagram / labelling15%7.5Includes labeled diagrams for wastewater treatment flowchart (primary and secondary stages), optional primate social organization schematic, and χ² distribution curve with critical value marking; all diagrams properly titled and annotatedProvides one relevant diagram (typically treatment flowchart) with basic labeling; or attempts diagrams with incomplete annotations or missing titlesNo diagrams despite visual opportunities in treatment processes; or diagrams present but technically incorrect, unlabeled, or irrelevant to question demands
Examples & nomenclature20%10Cites specific Indian primate examples for each social system (e.g., bonnet macaque multi-male groups, Nilgiri langur single-male groups); names specific pollutants (SO₂ from Singrauli, O₃ from Delhi-NCR photochemical smog); identifies microbial genera in treatment; provides biological applications with actual research contextsProvides generic examples without Indian specificity; mentions common pollutants without regional context; lists microbial roles without genus names; gives standard textbook applications without elaborationNo specific examples for primate groupings; vague pollutant references; omits microbial agents entirely; fails to illustrate χ² applications with concrete biological scenarios
Process explanation20%10Stepwise explanation of wastewater treatment with hydraulic retention times, microbial succession, and sludge handling; clear sequential logic in χ² calculation (hypothesis → expected frequencies → calculation → interpretation); mechanistic explanation of secondary pollutant formation (photochemical reactions)Describes processes in correct order but lacks mechanistic detail; mentions treatment steps without explaining microbial metabolism; outlines χ² steps but skips hypothesis formulation or interpretationDisordered or illogical process description; confuses primary and secondary treatment mechanisms; presents χ² as mere formula without procedural context or interpretive framework
Evolutionary / applied context20%10For (a): evolutionary drivers of sociality (predation risk, infanticide prevention, kin selection—Hamilton's rule); for (b): public health implications, CPCB/WHO standards, climate relevance; for (c): experimental design considerations, Type I/II errors, modern bioinformatics applicationsBrief mention of evolutionary benefits or environmental significance without theoretical depth; standard mention of pollution control importance; basic awareness of statistical significance without error analysisNo evolutionary framework for primate sociality; purely descriptive pollution content without policy/health context; treats χ² as computational exercise without biological inference or experimental design relevance

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