UPSC Prelims 2019 · CSAT
Question 26: Reading Comprehension
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :
- 1.Governments and companies need to be adequately prepared to face the climate change.
- 2.Extreme weather events will reduce the economic growth of governments and companies in future.
- 3.Ignoring climate change is a huge risk for investors.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
The passage says climate change and government responses to it could hit investors' returns, with fossil-fuel producers facing taxes, regulation and unusable reserves, and other industries facing weather damage. So governments and companies need to prepare (1), and ignoring climate change is a big risk for investors (3). Assumption 2 is too definite: the passage says industries could be affected, not that extreme weather will cut the economic growth of governments and companies.
- 1. The risks described imply that governments and companies must prepare.
- 2. Some industries could be affected; reduced growth for governments is not claimed.
- 3. Climate change and policy responses could hurt investor returns, so ignoring them is risky.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: The risks described imply that governments and companies must prepare.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: Some industries could be affected; reduced growth for governments is not claimed.
Only (c) 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) Wrong: 2 is a certainty the passage does not state.
- (b) Wrong: 1 is also valid.
- (c) Right: 1 and 3 follow from the risks described.
- (d) Wrong: 2 overreaches.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.