RC UPSC CSAT 2017 PRACTICE

Directions for the following 6 (six) items: 

Read each of the following two passages and answer to these items that follow. Your answers to items should be based on the passages only. 

Ecosystems provide people with a variety of goods and services; food, clean water, clean air, flood control, soil stabilization, pollination, climate regulation, spiritual fulfillment and aesthetic enjoyment, to name just a few. Most of these benefits either are irreplaceable or the technology necessary to replace them is prohibitively expensive. For example, potable fresh water can be provided by desalinating sea-water, but only at great cost. 

The rapidly expanding human their increased requirements of some of the goods and services, particularly food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel. These modifications have contributed substantia economic development. The benefits have not been equally distributed. Some people have actually been harmed by these changes. Moreover, short goods and services have come at the cost of the long efforts to increase the production of food and fibre have decreased the ecosystems to provide clean water, regulate flooding and support biodiversity.

1 . With reference to the passage, consider the following statements.

Expanding human population has an adverse effect on :

1. Spiritual fulfillment

2. Aesthetic enjoyment

3. Potable fresh water

4. Production of food and fibre

5. Biodiversity

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 4 and 5 only

(c) 3 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

2. The passage mentions that “some people have actually been harmed by these changes”. What does it imply?

1. The rapid expansion of population has adversely affected some people.

2. Sufficient efforts have not been made to increase the production of food and fibre.

3. In the short term some people may be harmed, but in the long term everyone will benefit from modifications in the Earth’s ecosystems.

Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2

(c) 1 and 3

(d) None of the statements given above

3. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements:

1. It is imperative to modify the Earth’s ecosystems for the well being of mankind.

2. Technology can never replace all the goods and services provided by ecosystems.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 Only

(b) 2 Only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 

Answers :

1.(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

2.(a) 1 only

3. (b) 2 Only