2014 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I

Question 35: International Relations and Current Affairs

Consider the following countries :

  1. 1.Denmark
  2. 2.Japan
  3. 3.Russian Federation
  4. 4.United Kingdom
  5. 5.United States of America

Which of the above are the members of the 'Arctic Council'?

a1, 2 and 3
b2, 3 and 4
c1, 4 and 5
d1, 3 and 5

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The Arctic Council has eight member states: Canada, Denmark (through Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. From the list, Denmark, Russia and the United States are members. Japan and the United Kingdom are only observers. So the answer is 1, 3 and 5.

  • 1. Denmark is a member through Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
  • 2. Japan is an observer, not a member.
  • 3. Russia is an Arctic Council member.
  • 4. The United Kingdom is an observer, not a member.
  • 5. The United States is a member through Alaska.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a) and (b) go: each of them includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Japan is an observer, not a member.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: Russia is an Arctic Council member.

Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 4 or 5.

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. Japan is an observer, not a member.
  • (b) Wrong. Japan and the UK are observers, not members.
  • (c) Wrong. The UK is an observer, not a member.
  • (d) Right. Denmark, Russia and the USA are members.

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 I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.