DIRECTIONS for question 1-4 : Read the given passage and answer the questions
More than a century later, the Earth seeps to be literally falling to pieces - recent environmental setbacks include billions of tonnes of ice shelves breaking off in the Antarctic and unusually warm temperatures in different parts of the world, Panic reactions range from predictions of sinking islands to lamenting the ill-effects of global warming induced by release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The trouble is that we are too obsessed with the climate change problem to even acknowledge the fact that the state of the planet hinges on much more. Climate change is at best a symptom of a far more complex malaise, just as a fever is most often only an indicator of something that's gone awry in our body. It's time for a complete and comprehensive planetary health check, that will examine the impacts of change in land use, loss of biodiversity, use of fertilizers and pesticides and consistent pollution of water bodies. This would overcome the limitations of evaluating how ecosystems work by reacting to just one major environmental concern as is happening in the case of global warming. These considerations have been responsible for the setting up of an international panel, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Financed by four major international bodies, including the UN and the World Bank, the eco-panel was set up without much fuss last June, and is expected to determine, over a period of four years and at a cost of $21 million, the state of the Earth's ecosystems. The eco-panel will source inputs from more than 2,000 natural and social scientists the world over. Put simply, the Earth will go through the equivalent of a thorough physical, so that biological, economic and social information can be collated to help scientists arrive at a final diagnosis. The newly-constituted eco-panel will have to ensure that data collection is more representative of the regions of the world. Today, we have the advantage of sourcing data from remote sensing satellites as well. The information thus gathered would have to be sorted out and analyzed by specialists and also by generalists.
What is the comparison made between fever in our body and climate changes?
Like fever increases the body temperature, climate changes are making the Earth hot.
The comparison is made just to intensify the problems being discussed about our planet.
Like fever is a symptom showing the body has some problems, climate changes show that the Earth has some problems.
The fever comparison shows how ecosystems work.
Answer: Option C
Refer sentence "Climate is at best……in our body."
What will be the task of the newly constituted eco-panel?
To collect appropriate data for different regions of the world.
To manage the finances of the whole collection activity.
To sort out the information gathered.
To stop making panic reactions regarding climatic change.
Answer: Option A
Refer sentence "The newly-constituted eco-panel will have …..of the world".
What is the primary concern of the passage?
The passage aims to convince the government to provide adequate funds to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
It shows the harmful effects of fertilizers and pesticides.
It mentions the environmental challenges being faced by our planet and the need to face them.
The passage shows concern towards the lack of proper social information to save the Earth.
Answer: Option C
Refer sentence "It's time for a complete and comprehensive…..". Read till the end of the paragraph.
Hence option C.
The tone of the passage can best be described as
Boorish
Informative
Sarcastic
Cursory
Answer: Option B
Boorish means rude or unmannerly.
Sarcastic means cutting or bitter.
Cursory means superficial.
DIRECTIONS for questions 5-8 : Each of these questions has an Assertion (A) and a Reason (R). Mark answer as
1. If both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. If (A) is true but (R) is false.
3. If both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
4. If (A) is false but (R) is true.
Assertion (A): Students should have a clear-cut objective of their future.
Reason (R): Students should be focused and committed to achieve their goal in life.
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Answer: Option C
Both the statements are true but R is not the explanation of A.
Assertion (A): One, who does not plan one’s future, plans for failure.
Reason (R): Failure is the pillar of success.
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Answer: Option C
Both the statements are true but R is not the explanation of A.
Assertion (A): Students should have a definite time-table for preparing for an exam.
Reason (R): To do well in an exam, one must prepare in a planned manner.
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Answer: Option A
R gives the correct explanation for A.
Assertion (A): As we go higher up in the mountains, the atmospheric pressure decreases.
Reason (R): The air at higher altitudes is comparatively pure.
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Answer: Option B
A is true but R is false.
DIRECTIONS for questions 9-10 : These questions have a statement followed by two conclusions I and II.
Decide which of the conclusions follows from the statement. Mark answer as
1. If conclusion I follows.
2. If neither conclusion I follow nor does II follow.
3. If conclusion II follows.
4. If both conclusions I and II follow.
Statement: There has been an unprecedented increase in the prices of essential commodities like vegetables, pulses, fruits, sugar, milk, wheat, etc., and increase in the prices of diesel and petrol has further aggravated the situation this year.
Conclusions:
I. The supply and demand must match and government must arrest the hoarders and middlemen who are creating an artificial scarcity of these essential items.
II. The items in short supply can be imported and their indigenous production be increased.
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Answer: Option B
None of the conclusion follows.
Statement: The Reserve Bank of India has, on 20.3.2010, increased the Repo Rate by 25 basis points to 50.
Conclusions:
I. This will surely anchor inflation.
II. The banks will now raise the lending rates.
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Answer: Option B
Conclusion 1 is incorrect as it may anchor inflation, but it does not guarantee that.
Conclusion 2 is correct as we can be sure that banks will increase at least the lending rates.