UPSC Prelims 2014·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow each passage. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Passage - 2 It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases. and thus avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change that would take place in coming years and decades. Mitigation would require a major shift in the way we produce and consume energy. A shift away from overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels is now long overdue, but unfortunately, technological development has been slow arid inadequate largely because government policies have not promoted investments in research and development, myopically as a result of relatively low prices of oil. It is now, therefore, imperative for a country like India treating the opportunity of harnessing renewable energy on a large scale as a national imperative. This country is extremely well endowed with solar, wind and biomass sources of energy. Where we have lagged, unfortunately, is in our ability to develop and to create technological solutions for harnessing these resources. One particular trajectory for carrying out stringent mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions assessed by the Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly shows the need for ensuring that global emissions of greenhouse gases peak no later than 2015 and reduce rapidly thereafter. The cost associated with such a trajectory is truly modest" and would amount, in the estimation of IPCC, to not more than 3 percent of the global GDP in 2030. In other words, the level of prosperity that the world would have reached without mitigation would at worst be postponed by a few months or a year at the most. This is clearly not a very high price to pay for protecting hundreds of millions of people from the worst risks associated with climate change. Any such effort, however, would require lifestyles to change appropriately also. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions is not a mere technological fix, and clearly requires changes in lifestyles and transformation of a country's economic structure, whereby effective reduction in emissions is brought about, such as through the consumption of much lower quantities of animal protein. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has determined that the emissions from the livestock sector amount to 18 percent of the total. The reduction of emissions from this source is entirely in the hands of human beings, who have never questioned the impacts that their dietary habits of consuming more and more animal protein are bringing about. Mitigation overall has huge co- benefits, such as lower air pollution and health benefits, higher energy security and greater employment. According to the passage, how does the mitigation of greenhouse gases help us? 1. Reduces expenditure on public health 2. Reduces dependence on livestock 3. Reduces energy requirements 4. Reduces rate of global climate change Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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  1. A1, 2 and 3
  2. B1, 3 and 4Correct
  3. C2, 3 and 4
  4. D1 and 4 only

Explanation

The question asks how the mitigation of greenhouse gases helps us, according to the passage. We need to evaluate each statement based *only* on the provided text. 1. Reduces expenditure on public health: The passage states, "Mitigation overall has huge co-benefits, such as lower air pollution and health benefits". "Health benefits" directly imply a reduction in health issues, which would in turn reduce expenditure on public health. So, statement 1 is correct. 2. Reduces dependence on livestock: The passage mentions that "effective reduction in emissions is brought about, such as through the consumption of much lower quantities of animal protein." This suggests a change in dietary habits to reduce emissions *from* the livestock sector, not a general reduction in dependence *on* livestock for all purposes. It's about reducing consumption of animal protein, not necessarily reducing overall dependence on livestock. So, statement 2 is not directly supported as a general benefit of mitigation. 3. Reduces energy requirements: The passage states, "Mitigation would require a major shift in the way we produce and consume energy." While it doesn't explicitly say "reduces energy requirements," a "major shift" in how we consume energy in the context of climate change mitigation typically involves improving energy efficiency and conservation, which leads to a reduction in overall energy requirements. This is an implied benefit within the broader context of mitigation strategies. So, statement 3 can be inferred as correct. 4. Reduces rate of global climate change: The passage begins by stating, "It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases, and thus avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change that would take place in coming years and decades." Avoiding the worst impacts of climate change means reducing its rate or severity. So, statement 4 is correct. Based on this analysis, statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct. The final answer is B
Reading Comprehension: Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow each passage. Your answers to these items should be bas

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