A diversity of natural assets will be needed to cope with climate change and ensure productive agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. For example, crop varieties are needed that perform well under drought, heat, and enhanced CO_2 . But the private- sector and farmer- led process of choosing crops favours homogeneity adapted to past or current conditions, not varieties capable of producing consistently high yields in warmer, wetter, or drier conditions. Accelerated breeding programmes are needed to conserve a wider pool of genetic resources of existing crops, breeds, and their wild relatives. Relatively intact ecosystems, such as forested catchments, mangroves, wetlands, can buffer the impacts of climate change. Under a changing climate, these ecosystems are themselves at risk, and management approaches will need to be more proactive and adaptive. Connections between natural areas, such as migration corridors, may be needed to facilitate species movements to keep up with the change in climate. With reference to the above passage, which of the following would assist us in coping with the climate change? 1. Conservation of natural water sources 2. Conservation of wider gene pool 3. Existing crop management practices 4. Migration corridors Select the correct answer using the code given below

The passage explicitly states what would assist in coping with climate change: 1. Conservation of natural water sources: The passage mentions "forested catchments, mangroves, wetlands" as "relatively intact ecosystems" that "can buffer the impacts of climate change." Forested catchments are natural water sources. Thus, conserving them assists in coping with climate change. (Statement 1 is correct) 2. Conservation of wider gene pool: The passage states, "Accelerated breeding programmes are needed to conserve a wider pool of genetic resources of existing crops, breeds, and their wild relatives." This directly supports the need for conserving a wider gene pool. (Statement 2 is correct) 3. Existing crop management practices: The passage highlights that "the private- sector and farmer- led process of choosing crops favours homogeneity adapted to past or current conditions, not varieties capable of producing consistently high yields in warmer, wetter, or drier conditions." This implies that existing practices are *not* suitable for coping with future climate conditions and, in fact, contribute to homogeneity, which is detrimental. Therefore, relying on existing crop management practices would not assist in coping with climate change; rather, it suggests a need for change. (Statement 3 is incorrect) 4. Migration corridors: The passage clearly states, "Connections between natural areas, such as migration corridors, may be needed to facilitate species movements to keep up with the change in climate." This directly supports the role of migration corridors. (Statement 4 is correct) Based on the analysis, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct. The final answer is B