2011 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I

Question 76: Environment and Ecology

The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge ?

aThe mangrove swamps separate the human settlements from the sea by a wide zone in which people neither live nor venture out
bThe mangroves provide both food and medicines which people are in need of after any natural disaster
cThe mangrove trees are tall with dense canopies and serve as an excellent shelter during a cyclone or tsunami
dThe mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive roots

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Mangroves have dense stilt and prop roots that anchor them firmly in the soft, tidal mud, so storms and tides rarely uproot them. The tangled roots and trunks slow and break the force of waves, reduce erosion and shield the coast, as seen after the 2004 tsunami, when villages behind mangroves suffered less damage. They do not work by keeping people away or by providing food or shelter; the protection comes from the roots.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Mangroves do not create a no-go zone for people; coastal settlements often lie close.
  • (b) Food and medicines help afterwards but are not the safety function.
  • (c) Their canopy is not a shelter for people; the protection comes from the roots.
  • (d) Right: their extensive roots hold firm against storms and tides.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.