2012 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · CSAT

Question 14: Reading Comprehension

Passage – 3 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Today’s developing economies use much less…”Passage beginning “Today’s developing economies use much less…”

Consider the following assumptions :

  1. 1.Sustainable economic growth demands the use of creative potential of man.
  2. 2.Intensive agriculture can lead to ecological backlash.
  3. 3.Spread of economic prosperity can adversely affect the ecology and environment.

With reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?

a1 only
b2 and 3 only
c1 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

All three assumptions are supported. Sustaining growth in a changing environment needs the capacity to generate and spread adaptive technology, and the passage notes that human creativity has largely gone into adjusting to a changing world (statement 1). The Aral Sea collapse and mangrove clearing for intensive farming show how intensive agriculture can backfire ecologically (statement 2). The passage also says growth has altered the environment, so spreading prosperity can hurt ecology unless managed (statement 3).

  • 1. The passage ties sustained growth to generating adaptive technologies, drawing on human creative potential.
  • 2. Irrigated cotton shrinking the Aral Sea and mangrove loss for intensive farming show an ecological backlash.
  • 3. Growth has altered the environment, so spreading prosperity can adversely affect ecology.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The passage ties sustained growth to generating adaptive technologies, drawing on human creative potential.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: Irrigated cotton shrinking the Aral Sea and mangrove loss for intensive farming show an ecological backlash.

Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statement 3.

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. Statements 2 and 3 are also valid.
  • (b) Wrong. Statement 1 is also valid.
  • (c) Wrong. Statement 2 is also valid.
  • (d) Right. All three are supported by the passage.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.