Question

Singareni Collieries still uses canaries to detect the presence of _________ gas.
Fill in the blank with the correct option.

• A. methane
• B. ozone
• C. sulphur oxide
• D. carbon monoxide

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Singareni Collieries, like many other mining operations in the past, relied on using canaries in mines to detect hazardous gases. Canaries were used because they are very sensitive to changes in the air quality. The gas that is most commonly detected using canaries is carbon monoxide.

When present, carbon monoxide would affect the canaries much quicker than humans, providing an early warning system which allowed miners to evacuate or increase ventilation. None of the other options - methane, ozone, or sulphur oxide - align historically with the specific role that canaries played in mining, making carbon monoxide the correct answer to fill in the blank.

Answer 2

Canaries have historically been used as an early warning system in coal mines to detect the presence of toxic gases, particularly carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas because it is colorless, odorless, and highly toxic, making it difficult for miners to detect with their senses. Canaries, on the other hand, are much more sensitive to the presence of this gas than humans.

When carbon monoxide builds up in the mine, it affects the canary's ability to breathe, and the bird shows signs of distress, such as becoming lethargic or even dying, which serves as a clear signal to miners that the air quality is hazardous. The use of canaries in this way helped save many lives, as miners could evacuate before they were exposed to dangerous levels of the gas. Although the practice of using canaries has been replaced by modern detection equipment, it remains an important part of mining history.