R.C. Practice Lessons

                

Instructions: Please read the passage carefully and then answer the questions that follow it.

Your answers must be based on the passage only.

                                               Reading Passage-1

Niche changes over evolutionary time are rather difficult to document, although their occurrence cannot be disputed. As new species arise from the fission of existing ones through the process of speciation, new niches come into existence. Life on the earth almost certainly arose in aquatic environments, and early organisms were doubtless very small and simple. During the evolutionary history of life over geological time, organisms have become more and more complex and diversified and the earth has been filled with an overwhelming variety of plants and animals. Some taxonomic groups of organisms, such as dinosaurs, have gone extinct and been replaced by others.

The majority of species lineages exhibit niche conservatism, changing relatively little during evolutionary time. Major breakthroughs in the body plans of organisms periodically open up new adaptive zones and allow bursts of evolution of new and diverse species, termed adaptive radiations. A major force that has led to niche separation and diversification is inter- specific competition. Thus, the first terrestrial organisms found themselves in a wide open ecological and competitive vacuum, freed from competition with aquatic organisms, and they rapidly radiated into the many available new terrestrial niches. Similarly, evolution of endothermy and aerial exploitation patterns have allowed major adaptive radiations; flight has evolved independently at least four times, in insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Often, evolutionary interactions between two or more taxa have had reciprocal effects upon one another; thus, the origin and radiation of flowering plants (angiosperms) in the Mesozoic presumably allowed insects to diversify widely, whereas species specificity of pollinating insects in turn may well have allowed considerable diversification of plants. Indeed, Whittaker (1969) has suggested that organic diversity is self-augmenting.

Q1. Consider the following assumptions:

1)     In the beginning of evolutionary history of life, aquatic species were bigger and diversified.

2)      In evolutionary phases, there is a competition among species.

3)     Due to the reciprocal effects between different species, wide diversifications have taken place.

According to the passage, which one of the above points is/are correct?

A)   All the three are correct.

B)   Only 1 and 2 are correct.

C)   Only 1and 3 are correct.

D)   Only 2 and 3 are correct. 

Answer:

Q2. What is the most critical and logical inference that can be drawn from the above passage?

A)   During evolutionary times, little changes have taken place among the majority of species.

B)   In contrast, the early terrestrial organisms are larger compared to their aquatic counterparts.

C)   Although not much in the early evolutionary times, there has been much competition among different species later.

D)   In the beginnings, earlier earthly organisms faced no competition from marine organisms and were found in abundance.

Answer:

                                             Reading Passage-2

Although the proportion of gases found in air does not change as one moves further from the Earth's surface, the density of the air does. This means that there are fewer molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, argon and other gases a mile above the Earth's surface than an inch above it, but the same ratio of gases.

Some natural and unnatural non-gaseous particles are also found in the atmosphere, especially in the portions closest to the Earth's surface. These include volcanic ash, aerosol pollutants such as chlorine and mercury, pollen, and mold spores. The levels of these substances in the air tend to vary by location and with the seasons.

Air pollution is defined as the introduction of chemicals, particulate or biological matter into the air. This is typically considered a problem because it reduces the levels of ozone, an oxygen species, in the stratosphere. With less ozone in the atmosphere, the sun's harmful UV rays can more easily reach the Earth's surface, contributing to problems such as skin cancer and global warming.

Q3. What is the most logical and critical inference that can be drawn from the above passage?

A)   Ozone layer filters UV rays and protects the Earth from excessive radiation.

B)   The density of the air is proportionate to the distance from the Earth’s surface.

C)   Air pollution depletes ozone with serious health consequences.

D)   Moving further away from the Earth’s surface, fewer molecules of some non gaseous particles are found. 

Answer:

Q4. What is the essential message of the author conveyed in the passage?

A)   Air pollution is mostly caused by the human intervention.

B)   There is a need to protect the ozone in the atmosphere so as to protect all from the sun's harmful UV rays.

C)   At the Earth’s surface, the portion of the non- gaseous particles is relatively more.

D)   The density of the air changes as we move further away from the Earth’s surface which also depends on location and season.

Answer:

 

                                Reading Passage-3

The most widely available and also the most wasted energy source are a wide variety of agricultural wastes. While some of it is used for cattle fodder huge amounts of paddy straw, cane trash and other farm wastes are simply burned in the fields unlike wheat straw that is completely utilized as fodder. After China, India is the world’s largest producer of paddy. India now produces 98 million tonnes of paddy with roughly 130 million tonnes of straw of which only about half is used for fodder. India also produces about 350,000 tonnes of cane that will yield about 50 million tonnes of cane trash that is also an excellent biomass fuel. With high silica content it has no commercial use and is therefore almost entirely burned. Other agro wastes are maize, cotton, millets, pulse, sunflower and other stalks, bull rushes (sirkanda), groundnut shells, coconut trash, etc., all make good biofuels. The farmers with time constraints to their crop cycles have to burn huge quantities of biomass that contributes to great haze and global warming.

It has been estimated that if all these agro wastes were collected and used for power generation it could potentially generate over 50,000 MW of power while simultaneously giving very valuable extra income to farmers. 120,000 tonnes of paddy straw that each 12 MW plant typically needs will be collected from roughly 15,000 farmers who stand to earn an incremental income of about Rs. 500 an acre or Rs, 2,500 for an average Punjab farmer with about 5 acres. So each project can give the local farmers extra income of roughly Rs. 4 Crores.

It is only quite recently that biomass power has been taken seriously world-wide as there were problems in biomass collection in short seasons and a few technical modifications necessary in the boiler technology. Recognizing the huge potential of biomass the Indian government has enacted several new initiatives to accelerate biomass power production offering higher tariffs than for thermal projects. As biomass projects are also carbon neutral they are eligible to earning valuable carbon credits.

Another big advantage of biomass power projects is that they are relatively small, in the 10 – 25 MW range, and have to be located in widely scattered rural areas. Thus the power they generate can be fully consumed in nearby areas resulting in much lower transmission losses. With modest investments in the Rs. 50 – 100 Crore range, a number of biomass power plants therefore can be set up in as little as 12 months from first brick to first unit of generated power. (The first project, like all pioneering projects, however faced numerous delays owing to many new clearances and was affected by several changes in the local government).  

Q5. What is the most critical and logical inference that can be drawn from the passage?

A)   The farmers are unknowingly contributing to the global warming.

B)   India can hope to turn as a country with low carbon emissions by establishing Biomass power plants.

C)   Agro wastes are potential power producers and income generators for farmers.

D)   For long, biomass power hasn’t been taken seriously world-wide.

Answer:

Q6. What is the essential message as conveyed by the author of the passage?

A)   Biomass power generation is relatively pollution-free.

B)   Biomass is a source of power and due to lower transmission losses and lowest investment are better projects.

C)   There should be no inordinate delays in the setting up of Biomass power plants.

D)   Biomass power plants are to be established in rural areas.

Answer:

Q7. According to the passage, which one of the following statements is correct?

A)   Most f the Indian paddy waste is burnt and thus we are indirectly contributing to global warming.

B)   Wheat straw isn’t of much farm use compared to other farm wastes.

C)   Biomass power plants might face the problem of cheap viability.

D)   In biomass power generation, the existing technology is quite enough.

Answer:

               

                                          Reading Passage-4

Deflation and disinflation are used with reference to change in general price levels in an economy. While these two terms sound similar, they have very different meanings. As we know, inflation refers to the rise in price levels in an economy, and deflation is the opposite, a fall in price levels. Disinflation, on the other hand, refers to a slower rate of inflation.

The biggest difference between disinflation and deflation is that in case of the former, prices don’t fall. The Indian economy is still witnessing increase in prices, though there has been a slowdown in the pace. India is currently witnessing disinflation—the rise in prices has slowed down significantly as compared with the previous year. Unlike deflation, disinflation is considered a positive sign and capital markets, especially the bond markets, tend to react positively to this trend. But disinflation without economic growth can be a cause for worry.

Economists have always argued in favour of inflation for a growing economy. This means some amount of price rise is inevitable when there is economic growth and it signals that macros are intact. If inflation is slowing down quickly and is not accompanied by a faster pace of growth in gross domestic product (GDP), it might lead to a slowdown in economic growth, followed by falling productivity and rising unemployment.

For India, at present, economists forecast lower inflation or disinflation accompanied by higher economic growth, which is a favourable position to be in.

Deflation is when prices actually fall. Such a situation does seem favourable but in reality it’s not a position that any economy would like to be in. Deflation usually moves hand in hand with economic slowdown, lower productivity and loss of jobs. Just like how inflation decreases the value of money, deflation increases its value. This incentivizes people to save money to buy later when goods are cheaper, which, in turn, leads to further slowing of economic growth. During deflation, value of money increases and goods are cheaper but you may end up earning less thanks to slowing growth.

A positive impact of deflation is increased export competitiveness as most other economies are in an inflationary trend. Japan has benefited from competitive exports in the past decade or so.

Unlike disinflation, deflation is disliked for obvious reasons. But bond markets actually might do well even in times of deflation as people want to invest in safety.

Q8. What is the most critical and logical inference that can be drawn from the above passage?

A)   Deflation is actually an unfavourable, bad situation.

B)   There might be some advantage in deflation but it is worse than disinflation.

C)   Inflation is positive for a rising economy and so some economists support it. 

D)   In a sense, deflation and disinflation have similar impact on the economy.

Answer:

Q9. According to the passage, why deflation is negative in its impact on the economy?

A)   It leads to further slowing of economy.

B)   It stops prospective buyers from buying goods although they are cheap, as their incomes are low.

C)   Export competitiveness will be hurt and a country loses good foreign exchange.

D)   Deflation leads to lower savings and the creation of useless goods.

Answer:

Q10. Consider the following assumptions:

1)     The Indian economy is positive as on date, for the rise in prices has slowed down.

2)     In tune with the economists’ forecast, our economy has lower inflation along with higher economic growth.

3)     Disinflation with or without a corresponding economic growth can be an issue.

A)   All the three are correct.

B)   Only 1 and 2 are correct.

C)   Only 1 and 3 are correct.

D)   Only 2 and 3 are correct.

Answer:

                           Reading Passage-5

Social scientists have focused on social interactions in urban areas because cities have the unique capacity to bring together many cultural strands. Economic problems and power dynamics are intensified in small spatial areas in which resources are scarce due to dense populations. Further, cities operate as zones of confluence for economic relationships and other types of diversity as new ideas, people, and goods are constantly flowing through urban areas. As a result, the people there have to respond to new influences, often bringing dominant strains of culture to the fore. What does a particular group of people value? What can they tolerate? What do they revolt against? All of these questions play out in cities.

Urban anthropology is an anthropological subfield primarily concerned with urbanization, poverty, and the consequences of neoliberalism, or the contemporary political movement that advocates economic liberalization, free trade, free movement, and open markets. There are four central approaches to an anthropological study of cities. The first is an urban ecology model in which the social scientist considers how individuals interact with others in their urban community. Second, one could focus on power and knowledge, specifically how these elements are combined in the development of urban structures. Third, one can study how localities relate to communities beyond their bounds, such as an analysis of the relationship between the local and the global. Finally, one can consider how political economy, or the study of production, law, and distribution, is essential to a city's infrastructure and the consequences of this interdependence. These questions have been closely examined in urban contexts in the past fifty years.

Q11. What is the most logical and critical inference that can be drawn from the above passage?

A) There has been an increasing importance to urban anthropology, given its holistic approach to the urban issues.

B) Since a large number of people live in urban areas, there should be a scientific study to deal with all the issues, concerns of urban dwellers.

C) Urban anthropology has gained significance as cities have the exceptional capability to bring together many cultural strands. 

D) Urban anthropology has the unique capacity to analyze urban societies from an ecological perspective and hence very popular. 

Reading Passage-6

The illustrations which have taken in support of the proposition that social and religious problems have a bearing on political constitutions seem to be too particular. Perhaps they are. But it should not be supposed that the bearing of the one on the other is limited. On the other hand, one can say that generally speaking, History bears out the proposition that political revolutions have always been preceded by social and religious revolutions. The religious Reformation started by Luther was the precursor of the political emancipation of the European people. In England, Puritanism led to the establishment of political liberty. Puritanism founded the new world. It was Puritanism that won the war of American Independence, and Puritanism was a religious movement.

The same is true of the Muslim Empire. Before the Arabs became a political power, they had undergone a thorough religious revolution started by the Prophet Mohammad. Even Indian History supports the same conclusion. The political revolution led by Chandragupta was preceded by the religious and social revolution of Buddha. The political revolution led by Shivaji was preceded by the religious and social reform brought about by the saints of Maharashtra. The political revolution of the Sikhs was preceded by the religious and social revolution led by Guru Nanak. It is unnecessary to add more illustrations. These will suffice to show that the emancipation of the mind and the soul is a necessary preliminary for the political expansion of the people.

Q12. What is the essential message as conveyed by the author in the passage?

A) The power of social and religious revolutions is more powerful in heralding change than that of political revolutions.

B) Many religious movements were successful while several political revolutions have caused little change.

C) Society will be well equipped to undergo political transformation only when there is a precursory socio-religious change.

D) Most of the social and religious problems have a bearing on political revolutions.

Answer:

? Prepared by M V L Narasimham Naresh