2014 Prelims Paper 2 UPSC Question Paper

2014 Prelims Paper 2 UPSC Questions

11.
Four children are sitting in a row. A is occupying the seat next to B but not next to C. If C is not sitting next to D, Who is/are occupying seat/seats adjacent to D?
A.
B
B.
A
C.
B and A
D.
Impossible to tell
ANSWER :
B. A
12.

Assume that
1. The hour and minute hands of a clock move without jerking.
2. The clock shows a time between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock.
3. The two hands of the clock are one above the other.
After how many minutes ( nearest integer) will the two hands be again lying one above the other?

A.

60

B.

62

C.

65

D.

67

ANSWER :

C. 65

13.

Directions for the following 2 (two) items:
Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.

Passage - 1
Climate change poses potentially devastating effects on India's agriculture. While the overall parameters of climate change are increasingly accepted -- a 1แต’C average temperature increase over the next 30 years, sea level rise of less than 10 cm in the same period, and regional monsoon variations and corresponding droughts -- the impacts in India are likely to be quite site and crop specific. Some crops may respond favourably to the changing conditions, others may not. This emphasizes the need to promote agricultural research and create maximum flexibility in the system to permit adaptations.

The key ingredient for " drought proofing" is the managed recharge of aquifers. To ensure continued yields of important staple crops(e.g. wheat), it may also be necessary to shift the locations where these crops are grown, in response to temperature changes as well as to water availability. The latter will be a key factor in making long term investment decisions.

For example, water runoff from the Himalayas is predicted to increase over the next 30 years as glaciers melt, but then decline substantially thereafter. It will be critical to provide incentives to plan for these large-scale shifts in ago-ecological conditions.

India needs to make long term investments in research and development in agriculture. India is likely to experience changed weather patterns in future.

Consider the following statements:
Climate change may force the shifting of locations of the existing crops due to
1. melting of glaciers.
2. Water availability and temperature suitability at other locations.
3. Poor productivity of crops.
4. Wider adaptability of crop plants.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

A.

1, 2 and 3

B.

2 and 3 only

C.

1 and 4 only

D.

1, 2, 3 and 4

ANSWER :

B. 2 and 3 only

14.
According to the passage, why is it important to promote agricultural research in India?
A.
To predict variations in monsoon patterns and to manage water resources
B.
To make long term investment decisions for economic growth
C.
To facilities wider adaptability of crops
D.
To predict drought conditions and to recharge aquifers.
ANSWER :
C. To facilities wider adaptability of crops
15.

Passage - 2
It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases and thus avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change that would take place in coming years and decades. Mitigation would require a major shift in the way we produce and consume energy. A shift away from overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels is now long overdue, but unfortunately, technological development has been slow and inadequate largely because government policies have not promoted investments in research and development, myopically as a result of relatively low prices of oil. It is now, therefore, imperative for a country like India treating the opportunity of harnessing renewable energy on a large scale as a national imperative. This country is extremely well endowed with solar, wind and biomass sources of energy. Where we have lagged, unfortunately, is in our ability to develop and to create technological solutions for harnessing these resources.

One particular trajectory for carrying out stringent mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly shows the need for ensuring that global emissions of greenhouse gases peak no later than 2015 and rapidly thereafter. The cost associated with such a trajectory is truly modest and would amount, in the estimation of IPCC, to not more than 3 percent of the global GDP in 2030. In other words, the level of prosperity that the world have reached without mitigation would at worst be postponed by a few months or a year at the most. This is clearly not a very high price to pay for protecting hundreds of millions of people from the worst risks associated with climate change. Any such effort, however, would require lifestyles to change appropriately also. Mitigation of greenhouse gas clearly requires changes in lifestyles and transformation of a country's economic structure, whereby effective reduction in emissions is brought about, such as through the consumption of much lower quantities of animal protein. The food and agriculture organization(FAO) has determined that the emissions from the livestock sector amount to 18 percent of the total. The reduction of emissions from this source is entirely in the hands of human beings, who have never questioned the impacts that their dietary habits of consuming more and more animal protein are bringing about. Mitigation overall has huge co-benefits, such as lower air pollution and health benefits, higher energy security and greater employment.

According to the passage, which of the following would help in the mitigation of greenhouse gases?
1. Reducing the consumption of meat
2. Rapid economic liberalization
3. Reducing the consumerism
4. Modern management practices of livestock
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A.

1, 2 and 3

B.

2, 3 and 4

C.

1 and 3 only

D.

2 and 4 only

ANSWER :

C. 1 and 3 only

16.
Why do we continue to depend on the fossil fuels heavily? 1. Inadequate technological development 2. Inadequate funds for research and development 3. Inadequate availability of alternative sources of energy. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A.
1 only
B.
2 and 3 only
C.
1 and 3 only
D.
1, 2 and 3
ANSWER :
D. 1, 2 and 3
17.
According to the passage, how does the mitigation of greenhouse gases help us? 1. Reduces expenditure on public health 2. Reduces dependence on livestock 3. Reduces energy requirements 4. Reduces rate of global climate change Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A.
1, 2 and 3
B.
1, 3 and 4
C.
2, 3 and 4
D.
1 and 4 only
ANSWER :
B. 1, 3 and 4
18.
What is the essential message of the passage?
A.
We continue to depend on fossil fuels heavily
B.
Mitigation of the greenhouse gases is imperative
C.
We must invest in research and development
D.
People must change their lifestyle.
ANSWER :
C. We must invest in research and development
19.
There are 50 students admitted to a nursery class. Some students can speak only English and some can speak only Hindi. 10 students can speak both English and Hindi. If the number of students who can speak English is 21, then how many students can speak Hindi, how many can speak only Hindi and how many can speak only English?
A.
21, 11 and 29 respectively
B.
28, 18 and 22 respectively
C.
37, 27 and 13 respectively
D.
39, 29 and 11 respectively
ANSWER :
D. 39, 29 and 11 respectively
20.
A gardener increased the area of his rectangular garden by increasing its length by 40% and decreasing its width by 20%. The area of the new garden
A.
has increased by 20%.
B.
has increased by 12%.
C.
has increased by 8%.
D.
is exactly the same as the old area.
ANSWER :
B. has increased by 12%.