2022 Prelims Paper 2 UPSC Question Paper

2022 Prelims Paper 2 UPSC Questions

31.

Directions for the following 4 (four) 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
Natural selection cannot anticipate future environments on the earth. Therefore, the set of existing organisms can never be fully prepared for environmental catastrophes that await life. An outcome of this is the extinction of those species which cannot overcome environmental adversity. This failure to survive, in modern terms, can be attributed to the genomes which are unable to withstand geological vagaries or biological mishaps (infections, diseases and so on). In biological evolution on the earth, extinction of species has been a major feature. The earth may presently have up to ten million species, yet more than 90% of species that have ever lived on the earth are now extinct. Once again, the creationist doctrines fail to satisfactorily address why a divine creator will firstly bother to create millions of species and then allow them to perish. The Darwinian explanation for extinct life is once again simple, elegant and at once convincing-organisms go extinct as a function of environmental or biological assaults for which their inheritance deems them ill-equipped. Therefore, the so-called Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all. Evolution happens-this is a fact. The mechanism of evolution (Darwin proposed natural selection) is amply supported by scientific data. Indeed, to date no single Zoological, botanical, geological, paleontological, genetic or physical evidence has refuted either of the central two main Darwinian ideas. If religion is not taken into consideration, Darwinian laws are acceptable just like the laws proposed by Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and Einstein-sets of natural laws that explain natural phenomena in the universe.

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.

A.

1.2 and 3

B.

2, 3 and 4

C.

1, 3 and 4

D.

1, 2 and 4

ANSWER :

C. 1, 3 and 4

32.
The passage suggests that Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all because
A.
it does not satisfy the creationist doctrine
B.
extinction is a function of environment and biological assaults
C.
there are no evidences to refute it
D.
existence of organisms is attributed to a creator
ANSWER :
B. extinction is a function of environment and biological assaults
33.

With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Only species that have the ability to overcome environmental catastrophes will survive and perpetuate.
2. More than 90% of the species on the earth are in the danger of getting extinct due to drastic changes in the environment.
3. Darwin's theory explains all the natural phenomena.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

A.

1 only

B.

1 and 2 only

C.

3 only

D.

1, 2 and 3

ANSWER :

A. 1 only

34.

Passage-2
With steady economic growth, higher literacy and increasing skill levels, the number of Indian middle-class families has gone up exponentially. Direct results of the affluence have been changes in dietary patterns and energy consumption levels. People have moved to a higher protein-based diet like milk products, fish and meat, all of which need significantly more water to produce than cereal based diets. Increasing use of electronic and electric machines/gadgets and motor vehicles needs more and more energy and generation of energy needs water.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?

A.

People should be persuaded to continue with the mainly Indian traditional cereal-based diets.

B.

India needs to focus on developing agricultural productivity and capacity for more energy generation in the coming years.

C.

Modem technological developments result in the change of cultural and social behaviour of the people.

D.

Water management practices in India need to change dramatically in the coming years.

ANSWER :

D. Water management practices in India need to change dramatically in the coming years.

35.
How many seconds in total are there in x weeks, x days, x hours, x minutes and x seconds?
A.
11580 x
B.
11581 x
C.
694860 x
D.
694861 x
ANSWER :
D. 694861 x
36.
P. Q, R. & T and U are six members of a family. R is the spouse of Q. U is the mother of T and S is the daughter of U. P's daughter is 7 and R's son is P. There are two couples in the family. Which one of the following is correct?
A.
Q is the grandfather of T
B.
Q is the grandmother of T
C.
R is the mother of P
D.
T is the granddaughter of Q
ANSWER :
D. T is the granddaughter of Q
37.

Consider the Question and two Statements given below in respect of three cities P. and R in a State:
Question: How far is city P from city Q?
Statement-1 : City Q is 18 km from city R
Statement-2 : City P is 43 km from city R.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?

A.

Statement-1 alone is sufficient to answer the Question

B.

Statement-2 alone is sufficient to answer the Question

C.

Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are sufficient to answer the Question

D.

Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are not sufficient to answer the Question

ANSWER :

D. Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are not sufficient to answer the Question

38.

Two Statements followed by four Conclusions are given below. You have to take the Statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from the commonly known facts. Read all the Conclusions and then decide which of the given Conclusions logically follows/ follow from the Statements, disregarding the commonly known facts:
Statement-1 All pens are books.
Statement-2: No chair is a pen.
Conclusion-I: All chairs are books.
Conclusion-II: Some chairs are pens.
Conclusion-III: All books are chairs.
Conclusion-IV: No chair is a book.
Which one of the following is correct?

A.

Only Conclusion-I

B.

Only Conclusion-II

C.

Both Conclusion-III and Conclusion-IV

D.

None of the Conclusions follows

ANSWER :

D. None of the Conclusions follows

39.

Three Statements followed by three Conclusions are given below. You have to take the Statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from the commonly known facts. Read all the Conclusions and then decide which of the given Conclusions logically follows/ follow from the Statements, disregarding the commonly known facts:
Statement-1: Some doctors are teachers.
Statement-2 All teachers are engineers.
Statement-3: All engineers are scientists.
Conclusion-I: Some scientists are doctors
Conclusion-II: All engineers are doctors.
Conclusion-III: Some engineers are doctors
Which one of the following is correct?

A.

Only Conclusion-I

B.

Only Conclusion-II

C.

Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-III

D.

Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II

ANSWER :

C. Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-III

40.
Eight students A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H sit around a circular table, equidistant from each other, facing the centre of the table, not necessarily in the same order. B and D sit neither adjacent to C nor opposite to C. A sits in between E and D and F sits in between B and H. Which one of the following is definitely correct?
A.
B sits in between A and G
B.
C sits opposite to G
C.
E sits opposite to F
D.
None of the above
ANSWER :
D. None of the above