UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 148: Environment and Ecology
Consider the following regions:
- 1.Eastern Himalayas
- 2.Eastern Mediterranean region
- 3.North-western Australia
Which of the above is/are Biodiversity Hotspot(s)?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
The Eastern Himalayas fall within the Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, and the Eastern Mediterranean region lies in the Mediterranean Basin hotspot, so statements 1 and 2 are correct. North-western Australia is not a hotspot; the Australian hotspot is South-west Australia. Hotspots are regions rich in endemic species that have lost much of their original vegetation.
- 1. The Eastern Himalayas are part of the Himalaya hotspot.
- 2. The Eastern Mediterranean lies in the Mediterranean Basin hotspot.
- 3. The Australian hotspot is South-west Australia, not the north-west.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The Eastern Mediterranean lies in the Mediterranean Basin hotspot.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: The Australian hotspot is South-west Australia, not the north-west.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
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) Wrong: the Eastern Mediterranean is also in a hotspot.
- (b) Right: Eastern Himalayas and the Eastern Mediterranean.
- (c) Wrong: north-western Australia is not a hotspot.
- (d) Wrong: north-western Australia is not a hotspot.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.