2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 4: Geography

A new type of El Nino called El Nino Modoki appeared in the news. In this context, consider the following statements :

  1. 1.Normal El Nino forms in the Central Pacific ocean whereas El Nino Modoki forms in Eastern Pacific ocean.
  2. 2.Normal El Nino results in diminished hurricanes in the Atlantic ocean but El Nino Modoki results in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (b).

El Nino Modoki ('pseudo El Nino') is a warming of the central Pacific, flanked by cooler water to its east and west. In a normal El Nino the warm water sits in the eastern Pacific off South America, so statement 1 has the two locations reversed. A normal El Nino raises wind shear over the Atlantic and so suppresses hurricanes, whereas Modoki has been linked with more frequent Atlantic hurricanes. Remember: Modoki means central Pacific, with different rainfall and storm effects.

  • 1. Normal El Nino forms in the eastern Pacific and Modoki in the central Pacific, the reverse of what is stated.
  • 2. Normal El Nino suppresses Atlantic hurricanes; Modoki is associated with more of them.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: Normal El Nino forms in the eastern Pacific and Modoki in the central Pacific, the reverse of what is stated.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: Normal El Nino suppresses Atlantic hurricanes; Modoki is associated with more of them.

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 swaps the locations: normal El Nino is eastern Pacific, Modoki is central Pacific.
  • (b) Right: only statement 2 is correct; normal El Nino suppresses Atlantic hurricanes, Modoki is linked with more of them.
  • (c) Statement 1 is wrong, so 'both' cannot be correct.
  • (d) Statement 2 is correct, so 'neither' is wrong.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.