Passage-1
Ecosystems provide people with a variety of goods and services; food, clean water, clean air, flood

Question

Passage-1
Ecosystems provide people with a variety of goods and services; food, clean water, clean air, flood control, soil stabilization,

pollination, climate regulation, spiritual fulfilment 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 population has greatly modified the Earth's ecosystems 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.

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?

Accepted Answer

Statement 1: "It is imperative to modify the Earth's ecosystems for the well being of mankind."
The passage states that modifications have occurred and "have contributed substantially to human well being and economic development." However, it also highlights negative consequences: "Some people have actually been harmed by these changes" and "short- term increases in some ecosystem goods and services have come at the cost of the long- term degradation of others." The word "imperative" (absolutely necessary) is too strong. The passage describes what has happened and its mixed results, not that it is an absolute necessity for overall well-being, especially given the stated negative impacts.

Statement 2: "Technology can never replace all the goods and services provided by ecosystems."
The passage explicitly states: "Most of these benefits either are irreplaceable or the technology necessary to replace them is prohibitively expensive." If "most" benefits are either "irreplaceable" or "prohibitively expensive" to replace, it directly implies that technology cannot replace *all* of them, as some are explicitly stated as irreplaceable.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.

The final answer is B

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 only

Answer

Both 1 and 2

Answer

Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Related questions