UPSC Prelims 2022·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

The main threat to maintaining progress in human development comes from the increasingly evident unsustainability of production and consumption patterns. Current production models rely heavily on fossil fuels. We now know that this is unsustainable because the resources are finite. The close link between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions needs to be severed for human development to become truly sustainable. Some developed countries have begun to alleviate the worst effects by expanding recycling and investing in public transport and infrastructure. But most developing countries are hampered by the high costs and low availability of clean energy sources. Developed countries need to support developing countries' transition to sustainable human development. Unsustainability in production pattern is due to which of the following ? 1. Heavy dependence on fossil fuels 2. Limited availability of resources 3. Expansion of recycling Select the correct answer using the code given below

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  1. A1 and 2 onlyCorrect
  2. B2 only
  3. C1 and 3 only
  4. D1, 2 and 3

Explanation

The passage explicitly states that "Current production models rely heavily on fossil fuels. We now know that this is unsustainable because the resources are finite." 1. Heavy dependence on fossil fuels: The text directly links "heavy reliance on fossil fuels" to unsustainability in production patterns. This is a correct reason. 2. Limited availability of resources: The text states that fossil fuels are "finite," which means they have limited availability. This is given as the reason why heavy dependence on them is unsustainable. This is a correct reason. 3. Expansion of recycling: The passage mentions that "Some developed countries have begun to alleviate the worst effects by expanding recycling..." This indicates that recycling is a measure to *reduce* unsustainability, not a cause of it. Therefore, this statement is incorrect. Thus, unsustainability in production patterns is due to heavy dependence on fossil fuels and the limited availability of resources. The final answer is A) 1 and 2 only.
Reading Comprehension: The main threat to maintaining progress in human development comes from the increasingly evident unsustainability of pro
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