UPSC Prelims 2022 · CSAT
Question 31: Reading Comprehension
According to the passage, natural selection cannot anticipate future environments on the earth as
- 1.species not fully prepared to face the environmental changes that await them will face extinction
- 2.all the existing species would get extinct as their genomes will not withstand biological mishaps
- 3.inability of the genome to withstand environmental changes would result in extinction
- 4.extinction of species is a common feature
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
The passage says natural selection cannot know what environments lie ahead, so living things can never be fully prepared for coming catastrophes; species that cannot cope die out because their genetic make-up fails against geological upheaval or disease, and extinction has been a major feature of evolution. Statements 1, 3 and 4 say exactly this. Statement 2 says all existing species will go extinct, which the passage never claims: it speaks only of those that cannot cope.
- 1. Species not ready for what awaits them go extinct.
- 2. Says all existing species will go extinct; the passage speaks only of those that cannot cope.
- 3. Genomes unable to withstand change lead to extinction.
- 4. The passage calls extinction a major feature of evolution.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (a), (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: Says all existing species will go extinct; the passage speaks only of those that cannot cope.
Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 3 or 4.
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: includes statement 2, which exaggerates to all species, and drops statement 4.
- (b) Wrong: includes statement 2 and drops statement 1.
- (c) Correct: statements 1, 3 and 4 match the passage.
- (d) Wrong: includes statement 2 and drops statement 3.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.