2014 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2014 · CSAT

Question 16: Reading Comprehension

Passage - 2 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “It is essential that we mitigate the…”Passage beginning “It is essential that we mitigate the…”

Why do we continue to depend on the fossil fuels heavily ?

  1. 1.Inadequate technological development
  2. 2.Inadequate funds for research and development
  3. 3.Inadequate availability of alternative sources of energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The author says progress in clean-energy technology has been too slow, because past government policy, relaxed about cheap oil, put little money into research. India has plenty of sun, wind and biomass, but not the know-how to use them well. UPSC counts all three statements as reasons for continued reliance on fossil fuels.

  • 1. Technology has not advanced enough.
  • 2. Policy did not put money into research and development.
  • 3. The key counts the lack of usable alternatives, since renewables cannot yet be harnessed at scale.

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: Technology has not advanced enough.

  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: Policy did not put money into research and development.

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) Technology is one reason, but R&D funding and the lack of usable alternatives are also given.
  • (b) Funding and alternatives are reasons, but inadequate technology is also stated.
  • (c) Technology and alternatives are reasons, but inadequate R&D investment is also stated.
  • (d) Right. Technology, R&D investment and usable alternatives are all treated as reasons.

Worth knowing: Statement 3 is arguable, because the passage calls India well endowed with renewable resources and blames missing technology and investment; UPSC's key still treats it as a reason.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.