2013 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2013 · CSAT

Question 38: Reading Comprehension

Passage – 1 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “The law in many parts of the world…”Passage beginning “The law in many parts of the world…”

The passage refers to the conversion of “pollutant to fertilizer”. What is pollutant and what is fertilizer in this context ?

aDecomposed organic component of slurry is pollutant and microorganisms in soil constitute fertilizer.
bDischarged agricultural slurry is pollutant and decomposed slurry in soil is fertilizer.
cSprayed slurry is pollutant and watercourse is fertilizer.
dNone of the above expressions is correct in this context.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage says that returning slurry to the land dilutes it and turns a pollutant into a fertilizer: soil microorganisms break down the organic part and most mineral nutrients become available to plants again. So slurry discharged into watercourses is the pollutant, and the slurry once decomposed in the soil acts as fertilizer. Microorganisms do the converting but are not the fertilizer, and the watercourse is where the pollutant ends up, not something that feeds crops.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. Decomposed slurry is the fertilizer, and microorganisms are only the agents of decomposition.
  • (b) Right. Discharged slurry is the pollutant; decomposed slurry in soil is the fertilizer.
  • (c) Wrong. Sprayed slurry is the remedy, and a watercourse is not a fertilizer.
  • (d) Wrong. Option (b) correctly reads the passage.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.