UPSC Prelims 2013 · CSAT
Question 39: Reading Comprehension
According to the passage, what are the effects of indiscriminate use of fertilizers ?
- 1.Addition of pollutants to the soil and water.
- 2.Destruction of decomposer microorganisms in soil.
- 3.Nutrient enrichment of water bodies.
- 4.Creation of algal blooms.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The passage ties fertilizer runoff to excess nitrogen and phosphorus entering water, which pollutes it (statement 1), enriches it with nutrients (statement 3) and fuels algal blooms (statement 4). Nothing says fertilizers destroy the decomposer microorganisms of the soil, so statement 2 is out. The effects in 1, 3 and 4 are therefore the ones the passage supports.
- 1. Excess fertilizer nutrients washed off the land act as pollutants in water.
- 2. Destruction of soil decomposers is not mentioned.
- 3. Runoff enriches water bodies with nitrogen and phosphorus.
- 4. Algal blooms are fuelled by nitrogen from fertilizer runoff.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: Destruction of soil decomposers is not mentioned.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 3 or 4.
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. It includes statement 2, which is unsupported, and leaves out algal blooms.
- (b) Right. Pollution, nutrient enrichment and algal blooms are all described.
- (c) Wrong. It includes unsupported statement 2 and leaves out 1 and 3.
- (d) Wrong. It includes unsupported statement 2.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.