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13.
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 cab be provided by desalinating sea-water, but only at great cost.
The rapidly expanding human population has greatly modified the Earth's ecosystem to meet their increased requirements of some of the goods and services, particularly food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel. These modifications have contributed substantially to human well being and economic development. The benefits have not been equally distributed. Some people have actually been harmed by these changes. Moreover, short-term increases in some ecosystem goods and services have come at the cost of the long-term degradation of others. For example, efforts to increase the production of food and fibre have decreased the ability of some 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:
(A) Spiritual fulfilment
(B) Aesthetic enjoyment
(C) Potable fresh water
(D) Production of food and fibre
(E) Bio diversity
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(1) A, B and C only
(2) B, D and E only
(3) C and E only
(4) A, B, C, D and E[2] The passage mentions that "some people have actually been harmed by these changes". What does it imply?
(A) The rapid expansion of population has adversely affected some people.
(B) Sufficient efforts have not been made to increase the production of food and fibre.
(C) 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 statements given above is/are correct?
(1) A only
(2) B
(3) A and C
(4) None of the statements given above[3] With reference to the passage, consider the following statements:
(A) It is imperative to modify the Earth's ecosystems for the well being of mankind.
(B) Technology can never replace all the goods and services provided by ecosystems.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(1) A only
(2) B only
(3) Both A and B
(4) Neither A nor Basked in UPSC
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14.
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15.
A species that exerts an influence out of proportion to its abundance in an ecosystem is called a keystone species. The keystone species may influence both the species richness of communities and the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems. The sea star Pisaster ochraceus, which lives in rocky intertidal ecosystems on the Pacific coast of North America, is also an example of a keystone species. Its preferred prey is the mussel Mytilus californianus.In the absence of sea stars, these mussels crowd out other competitors in a broad belt of the intertidal zone. By consuming mussels, sea star creates bare spaces that are taken over by a variety of other species.
A study at the University of Washington demonstrated the influence of Pisaster on species richness by removing sea stars from selected parts of the intertidal zone repeatedly over a period of five years. Two major changes occurred in the areas from which sea stars were removed. First, the lower edge of the mussel bed extended farther down into the intertidal zone, showing that sea stars are able to eliminate mussels completely where they are covered with water most of the time. Second, and more dramatically, 28 species of animals and algae disappeared from the sea star removal zone. Eventually only Mytilus, the dominant competitor, occupied the entire substratum. Through its effect on competitive relationships, predation by Pisaster largely determines which species live in these rocky intertidal ecosystems.[1] What is the crux of the passage?
(1) Sea star has a preferred prey.
(2) A preferred prey determines the survical of a keystone species.
(3) Keystone species ensures species diversity.
(4) Sea star is the only keystone species on the Pacific coast of North America.[2] With reference of the passage, consider the following statements :
(A) Mussels are generally the dominant species in intertidal ecosystems.
(B) The survival of sea stars is generally determined by the abundance of mussels.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(1) A only
(2) B only
(3) Both A and B
(4) Neither A nor B[3] Which of the following is/are implied by the passage?
(A) Mussels are always hard competitors for sea stars.
(B) Sea stars of the Pacific coast have reached the climax of their evolution.
(C) Sea stars constitute an important component in the energy flow intertidal ecosystem.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(1) A and B
(2) B only
(3) A and C
(4) C only[4] Consider the following assumptions :
(A) The food chains/food web in an ecosystem are influenced by keystone species.
(B) The presence of keystone species is a specific characteristic of aquatic ecosystems.
(C) If the keystone species is completely removed from an ecosystem, it will lead to the collapse of the ecosystem.
With reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
(1) A only
(2) B and C only
(3) A and C only
(4) A, B and C
asked in UPSC
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16.
A country under foreign domination seeks escape from the present in dreams of a vanished age, and finds consolation in visions of past greatness. That is a foolish and dangerous pastime in which many of us indulge. An equally questionable practice for us in India is to imagine that we are still spiritually great though we have come down in the world in other respects. Spiritual or any other greatness cannot be founded on lack of freedom and opportunity, or on starvation and misery. Many western writers have encouraged that notion that Indians are otherworldly. I suppose the poor and unfortunate in every country become to some extent other–worldly, unless they become revolutionaries, for this world is evidently not meant for them. So also subject peoples.
As a man grows to maturity he is not entirely engrossed in, or satisfied with, the external objective world. He seeks also some inner meaning, some psychological and physical satisfactions. So also with peoples and civilizations as they mature and grow adult. Every civilization and every people exhibit these parallel streams of an external life and an internal life. Where they meet or keep close to each other, there is an equilibrium and stability. When they diverge conflict arises and the crises that torture the mind and spirit.[1] The passage mentions that “this world is evidently not meant for them”. It refers to people who
(A) seek freedom from foreign domination.
(B) live in starvation and misery.
(C) become revolutionaries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(1) A and B
(2) B only
(3) B and C
(4) C only
[2] Consider the following assumptions :
(A) A country under foreign domination cannot indulge in spiritual pursuit.
(B) Poverty is an impediment in the spiritual pursuit.
(C) Subject peoples may become other-worldly.
With the reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
(1) A and B
(2) B only
(3) B and C
(4) C only[3] The passage thematically centres on
(1) the state of mind of oppressed people
(2) starvation and misery
(3) the growth of civilization
(4) body, mind and spirit of people in general[4] According to the passage, the torture of the mind and spirit is caused
(1) by the impact of foreign domination.
(2) by the desire to escape from foreign domination and find consolation in visions of past greatness.
(3) due to lack of equilibrium between an external life and an internal life.
(4) due to one’s inability to be either revolutionary or other-worldly.asked in UPSC
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17.
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18.
The concept of ‘creative society’ refers to a phase of development of a society in which a large number of potential contradictions become articulate and active. This is most evident when oppressed social groups get politically mobilised and demand their rights. The upsurge of the peasants and tribals, the movements for regional autonomy and self-determination, the environmental movements, and the women’s movements in the developing countries are signs of emergence of creative society in contemporary times. The forms of social movements and their intensity may vary from country to country and place to place within a country. But the very presence of movements for social transformation in various spheres of a society indicates the emergence of a creative society in a country.
[1] What does the author imply by “creative society”?
(A) A society where diverse art forms and literary writings seek incentive.
(B) A society where social inequalities are accepted as the norm.
(C) A society where a large number of contradictions are recognised.
(D) A society where the exploited and the oppressed groups grow conscious of their human rights and upliftment.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(1) A, B and C
(2) D only
(3) C and D
(4) B and D
[2] What according to the passage are the manifestations of social movements?
(A) Aggressiveness and being incendiary.
(B) Instigation by external forces.
(C) Quest for social equality and individual freedom.
(D) Urge for granting privileges and self-respect to disparaged sections of the society.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(1) A and C only
(2) B and D only
(3) C and D only
(4) A, B, C and D[3] With reference to the passage, consider the following statements:
(A) To be a creative society, it is essential to have a variety of social movements.
(B) To be a creative society, it is imperative to have potential contradictions and conflicts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(1) A only
(2) B only
(3) Both A and B
(4) Neither A nor Basked in UPSC
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