2015 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I

Question 76: Environment and Ecology

With reference to an organization known as 'BirdLife International', which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. 1.It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
  2. 2.The concept of 'biodiversity hotspots' originated from this organization.
  3. 3.It identifies the sites known/referred to as 'Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas'.

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 (c).

BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organisations, so statement 1 is correct. It identifies and monitors Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, so statement 3 is correct. The concept of biodiversity hotspots came from the ecologist Norman Myers and was taken up by Conservation International, not BirdLife, so statement 2 is wrong. In India the Bombay Natural History Society is BirdLife's partner.

  • 1. BirdLife is a global partnership of conservation organisations.
  • 2. The hotspot concept came from Norman Myers and was developed by Conservation International.
  • 3. It identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: The hotspot concept came from Norman Myers and was developed by Conservation International.

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

    What you needed to know: It identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.

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) Incomplete: it also identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas.
  • (b) Wrong: statement 2 is false; the hotspot concept came from Norman Myers.
  • (c) Correct: it is a global partnership and identifies IBAs; it did not originate hotspots.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 2 is false.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.