UPSC Prelims 2004 · General Studies
Question 12: Environment and Ecology
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Toothless mammals such as pangolins are not found in India.
- 2.Gibbon is the only ape found in India.
Which of these statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Pangolins, the scaly toothless mammals, are found in India: the Indian pangolin over much of the peninsula and the Chinese pangolin in the north-east. Statement 1 is therefore false. The hoolock gibbon of the north-east is the only ape found in India, so statement 2 is correct. India has no great apes.
- 1. Indian and Chinese pangolins are both found in India.
- 2. The hoolock gibbon is India's only ape.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The hoolock gibbon is India's only ape.
The red flag in statement 2 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 1.
What you needed to know: Indian and Chinese pangolins are both found in India.
Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Statement 1 is false because India has pangolins.
- (b) Correct: only statement 2 holds.
- (c) Statement 1 is false.
- (d) Statement 2 is true (the hoolock gibbon).
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2004, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.