UPSC Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I
Question 42: Science and Technology
Consider the following activities :
- 1.Spraying pesticides on a crop field
- 2.Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
- 3.Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis
At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
At the technology level of 2020, drones could spray pesticides over crop fields, be flown over active volcano craters to inspect them and sample gases where people cannot safely go, and be flown through the spout of whales to collect exhaled breath for DNA analysis. All three activities are practical, so the answer is 1, 2 and 3.
- 1. Drones spray pesticides on fields.
- 2. Drones inspect volcano craters and sample gases safely.
- 3. Drones fly through a whale's spout to gather breath for DNA study.
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: Drones spray pesticides on fields.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Drones inspect volcano craters and sample gases safely.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: Drones fly through a whale's spout to gather breath for DNA study.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
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: leaves out whale breath sampling, which drones can do.
- (b) Wrong: leaves out pesticide spraying, which drones can do.
- (c) Wrong: leaves out volcano crater inspection, which drones can do.
- (d) Right: all three can be done with drones.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.