2025 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 44: Science and Technology

Consider the following :

  1. ICigarette butts
  2. IIEyeglass lenses
  3. IIICar tyres

How many of them contain plastic?

aOnly one
bOnly two
cAll the three
dNone

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic fibre, which is why discarded butts are a major source of microplastics. Most modern eyeglass lenses are made of plastic, such as polycarbonate or CR-39 resin, rather than glass. Car tyres contain synthetic rubber, which is a polymer, and they shed microplastic particles as they wear. So all three contain plastic. Remember: butts, lenses and tyres are all hidden sources of plastic.

  • I. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic.
  • II. Most lenses are made of plastic resins such as polycarbonate.
  • III. Tyres contain synthetic rubber polymers and shed microplastics.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

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: all three contain plastic.
  • (b) Wrong: all three, not two, contain plastic.
  • (c) Right: cellulose acetate filters, plastic lenses and synthetic rubber tyres all contain plastic.
  • (d) Wrong: all three contain plastic.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.