Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
A book by the Indian ambassador in the Netherlands highlights the historical and current exchanges that define the relationship between the two countries. The first book in which Malayalam appears in print is the ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ (Garden of Malabar), a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin and published in Amsterdam from 1678 to1693. Compiled over a period of 30 years, under directions from Hendrik van Rheede, a naturalist and colonial
administrator, who was at the time the governor of Dutch Malabar, the Hortus Malabaricus gives a comprehensive account of the flora of the Malabar region, along with their properties and detailed sketches. Malayalam appears in this multilingual book, along with other
languages that were common currency at the time, including Arabic and Konkani.
The Hortus Malabaricus was an important document of its time, as Venu Rajamony writes in his new book ‘India and the Netherlands: Past, Present and Future’, “the product of a
multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts.” Yet, it remained lost to the public until a botany scholar from Calicut, KS Manilal, learned Latin and translated it first into English in 2003 and into Malayalam in 2008. Highlighting such instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years was the prime reason why Rajamony, who has been the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, thought of writing this book. The book was released on 30 September 2019.
The connection between India and the Netherlands begins with the Dutch Golden Age, when the latter was a flourishing centre for commercial and artistic endeavours. Following Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, it also emerged as one of the great maritime nations of the world, establishing a far-flung empire thanks to the ventures of the Dutch East India Company. Over the course of his research for the book, Rajamony says, one of the things that surprised him was how taken the great Dutch master Rembrandt was with Indian miniature paintings,
collecting them and even making drawings inspired by them. “I was pleasantly surprised to discover this as Rembrandt is considered an absolute master, who would only have made originals. It is very rare that a master like him would copy other artworks,” says Rajamony. According to him, this fact is indicative of the high esteem in which Indian art was held in Europe.
Q421.Which statement is NOT true about ‘Hortus Malabaricus’?
- AIt is a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin.
- BMany languages like Malayalam, Konkani and Arabic appear in the book.
- CIt gives a comprehensive account of the life in the Malabar region.
- DIt was a product of a multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts.
Show answer
Concept: In a ‘NOT true’ question, check each option against the exact lines of the passage.
- (A) True – ‘a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin’.
- (B) True – Malayalam appears ‘along with … Arabic and Konkani’.
- (D) True – ‘the product of a multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts’.
- (C) False – the book gives an account of the flora (plants) of Malabar, not the life of the region.
Yaad rakhein: Watch for one changed word: ‘flora’ became ‘life’.
Answer: (C) It gives a comprehensive account of the life in the Malabar region.
अवधारणा: ‘NOT true’ प्रश्न में हर विकल्प को गद्यांश की पंक्तियों से मिलाएँ।
- (A) सही – ‘a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin’।
- (B) सही – Malayalam के साथ Arabic और Konkani भी हैं।
- (D) सही – ‘multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts’।
- (C) गलत – पुस्तक Malabar की flora (वनस्पतियों) का विवरण देती है, वहाँ के जीवन का नहीं।
याद रखें: एक शब्द बदला गया है: ‘flora’ की जगह ‘life’।
उत्तर: (C) It gives a comprehensive account of the life in the Malabar region.
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
A book by the Indian ambassador in the Netherlands highlights the historical and current exchanges that define the relationship between the two countries. The first book in which Malayalam appears in print is the ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ (Garden of Malabar), a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin and published in Amsterdam from 1678 to1693. Compiled over a period of 30 years, under directions from Hendrik van Rheede, a naturalist and colonial
administrator, who was at the time the governor of Dutch Malabar, the Hortus Malabaricus gives a comprehensive account of the flora of the Malabar region, along with their properties and detailed sketches. Malayalam appears in this multilingual book, along with other
languages that were common currency at the time, including Arabic and Konkani.
The Hortus Malabaricus was an important document of its time, as Venu Rajamony writes in his new book ‘India and the Netherlands: Past, Present and Future’, “the product of a
multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts.” Yet, it remained lost to the public until a botany scholar from Calicut, KS Manilal, learned Latin and translated it first into English in 2003 and into Malayalam in 2008. Highlighting such instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years was the prime reason why Rajamony, who has been the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, thought of writing this book. The book was released on 30 September 2019.
The connection between India and the Netherlands begins with the Dutch Golden Age, when the latter was a flourishing centre for commercial and artistic endeavours. Following Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, it also emerged as one of the great maritime nations of the world, establishing a far-flung empire thanks to the ventures of the Dutch East India Company. Over the course of his research for the book, Rajamony says, one of the things that surprised him was how taken the great Dutch master Rembrandt was with Indian miniature paintings,
collecting them and even making drawings inspired by them. “I was pleasantly surprised to discover this as Rembrandt is considered an absolute master, who would only have made originals. It is very rare that a master like him would copy other artworks,” says Rajamony. According to him, this fact is indicative of the high esteem in which Indian art was held in Europe.
Q422.Which of the following about Rembrant greatly surprised Rajamony and also made him
happy?
- AThat Rembrandt, considered as the master, copied the Indian miniature paintings
- BThat Rembrandt was a great Dutch artist
- CThat Rembrandt had inspired the Indian miniature paintings
- DThat Rembrandt collected Indian miniature paintings
Show answer
Concept: Find the line where Rajamony says he was ‘pleasantly surprised’.
- Rajamony was surprised that Rembrandt collected Indian miniatures and even made drawings inspired by them.
- He adds: “I was pleasantly surprised… It is very rare that a master like him would copy other artworks.”
- So what pleased and surprised him was that the master copied Indian miniature paintings; (D) is only part of the fact, (B) and (C) are not stated.
Yaad rakhein: ‘Pleasantly surprised’ = surprised + happy → look at that exact quote.
Answer: (A) That Rembrandt, considered as the master, copied the Indian miniature paintings
अवधारणा: वह पंक्ति खोजें जहाँ Rajamony कहते हैं ‘pleasantly surprised’।
- Rembrandt ने Indian miniature paintings एकत्र कीं और उनसे प्रेरित चित्र भी बनाए।
- Rajamony: “I was pleasantly surprised… It is very rare that a master like him would copy other artworks.”
- अतः उन्हें सुखद आश्चर्य इस बात पर हुआ कि महान master ने भारतीय चित्रों की नकल की; (D) अधूरा तथ्य है, (B), (C) कहा नहीं गया।
याद रखें: ‘Pleasantly surprised’ = आश्चर्य + खुशी।
उत्तर: (A) That Rembrandt, considered as the master, copied the Indian miniature paintings
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
A book by the Indian ambassador in the Netherlands highlights the historical and current exchanges that define the relationship between the two countries. The first book in which Malayalam appears in print is the ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ (Garden of Malabar), a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin and published in Amsterdam from 1678 to1693. Compiled over a period of 30 years, under directions from Hendrik van Rheede, a naturalist and colonial
administrator, who was at the time the governor of Dutch Malabar, the Hortus Malabaricus gives a comprehensive account of the flora of the Malabar region, along with their properties and detailed sketches. Malayalam appears in this multilingual book, along with other
languages that were common currency at the time, including Arabic and Konkani.
The Hortus Malabaricus was an important document of its time, as Venu Rajamony writes in his new book ‘India and the Netherlands: Past, Present and Future’, “the product of a
multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts.” Yet, it remained lost to the public until a botany scholar from Calicut, KS Manilal, learned Latin and translated it first into English in 2003 and into Malayalam in 2008. Highlighting such instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years was the prime reason why Rajamony, who has been the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, thought of writing this book. The book was released on 30 September 2019.
The connection between India and the Netherlands begins with the Dutch Golden Age, when the latter was a flourishing centre for commercial and artistic endeavours. Following Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, it also emerged as one of the great maritime nations of the world, establishing a far-flung empire thanks to the ventures of the Dutch East India Company. Over the course of his research for the book, Rajamony says, one of the things that surprised him was how taken the great Dutch master Rembrandt was with Indian miniature paintings,
collecting them and even making drawings inspired by them. “I was pleasantly surprised to discover this as Rembrandt is considered an absolute master, who would only have made originals. It is very rare that a master like him would copy other artworks,” says Rajamony. According to him, this fact is indicative of the high esteem in which Indian art was held in Europe.
Q423.What inspired Rajamony to write his new book ‘India and the Netherlands: Past, Present and Future’?
- AThe rule of the Dutch East India Company over Malabar in the 17th century.
- BHis being the ambassador of India to the Netherlands.
- CInstances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years.
- DThe fact that ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ remained lost to the world for almost three
centuries.
Show answer
Concept: Look for the phrase ‘prime reason’ in the passage.
- The passage says: “Highlighting such instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years was the prime reason why Rajamony… thought of writing this book.”
- (B) is his post, not his reason; (A) and (D) are facts mentioned but not the motive.
Yaad rakhein: Question words ‘inspired/why’ → search ‘reason’ in the passage.
Answer: (C) Instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years.
अवधारणा: गद्यांश में ‘prime reason’ वाक्यांश खोजें।
- गद्यांश: “Highlighting such instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years was the prime reason…”
- (B) उनका पद है, कारण नहीं; (A), (D) तथ्य हैं, प्रेरणा नहीं।
याद रखें: ‘inspired/why’ → गद्यांश में ‘reason’ खोजें।
उत्तर: (C) Instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years.
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
A book by the Indian ambassador in the Netherlands highlights the historical and current exchanges that define the relationship between the two countries. The first book in which Malayalam appears in print is the ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ (Garden of Malabar), a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin and published in Amsterdam from 1678 to1693. Compiled over a period of 30 years, under directions from Hendrik van Rheede, a naturalist and colonial
administrator, who was at the time the governor of Dutch Malabar, the Hortus Malabaricus gives a comprehensive account of the flora of the Malabar region, along with their properties and detailed sketches. Malayalam appears in this multilingual book, along with other
languages that were common currency at the time, including Arabic and Konkani.
The Hortus Malabaricus was an important document of its time, as Venu Rajamony writes in his new book ‘India and the Netherlands: Past, Present and Future’, “the product of a
multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts.” Yet, it remained lost to the public until a botany scholar from Calicut, KS Manilal, learned Latin and translated it first into English in 2003 and into Malayalam in 2008. Highlighting such instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years was the prime reason why Rajamony, who has been the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, thought of writing this book. The book was released on 30 September 2019.
The connection between India and the Netherlands begins with the Dutch Golden Age, when the latter was a flourishing centre for commercial and artistic endeavours. Following Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, it also emerged as one of the great maritime nations of the world, establishing a far-flung empire thanks to the ventures of the Dutch East India Company. Over the course of his research for the book, Rajamony says, one of the things that surprised him was how taken the great Dutch master Rembrandt was with Indian miniature paintings,
collecting them and even making drawings inspired by them. “I was pleasantly surprised to discover this as Rembrandt is considered an absolute master, who would only have made originals. It is very rare that a master like him would copy other artworks,” says Rajamony. According to him, this fact is indicative of the high esteem in which Indian art was held in Europe.
Q424.The passage is mainly about:
- Athe treatise ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ published in the Netherlands
- Bthe book written by the Indian ambassador
- Cthe historical relationship between India and the Netherlands
- DRajamony, the Indian ambassador to the Netherlands
Show answer
Concept: The main idea covers the whole passage, not just one example.
- Opening line: the book ‘highlights the historical and current exchanges that define the relationship between the two countries’.
- Hortus Malabaricus, the Dutch Golden Age and Rembrandt are all examples of this India–Netherlands link.
- (A), (B), (D) cover only one part each.
Yaad rakhein: Main idea = the umbrella that all paragraphs fit under.
Answer: (C) the historical relationship between India and the Netherlands
अवधारणा: मुख्य विचार पूरे गद्यांश को समेटता है, किसी एक उदाहरण को नहीं।
- पहली पंक्ति: पुस्तक दोनों देशों के ‘historical and current exchanges’ को उजागर करती है।
- Hortus Malabaricus, Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt – सब India–Netherlands संबंध के उदाहरण हैं।
- (A), (B), (D) केवल एक-एक हिस्से को बताते हैं।
याद रखें: Main idea = वह छाता जिसके नीचे सभी अनुच्छेद आएँ।
उत्तर: (C) the historical relationship between India and the Netherlands
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
A book by the Indian ambassador in the Netherlands highlights the historical and current exchanges that define the relationship between the two countries. The first book in which Malayalam appears in print is the ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ (Garden of Malabar), a 12-volume treatise, written in Latin and published in Amsterdam from 1678 to1693. Compiled over a period of 30 years, under directions from Hendrik van Rheede, a naturalist and colonial
administrator, who was at the time the governor of Dutch Malabar, the Hortus Malabaricus gives a comprehensive account of the flora of the Malabar region, along with their properties and detailed sketches. Malayalam appears in this multilingual book, along with other
languages that were common currency at the time, including Arabic and Konkani.
The Hortus Malabaricus was an important document of its time, as Venu Rajamony writes in his new book ‘India and the Netherlands: Past, Present and Future’, “the product of a
multinational and multicultural team of botanical experts.” Yet, it remained lost to the public until a botany scholar from Calicut, KS Manilal, learned Latin and translated it first into English in 2003 and into Malayalam in 2008. Highlighting such instances of the Indo-Dutch artistic and cultural exchange through the last 400 years was the prime reason why Rajamony, who has been the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, thought of writing this book. The book was released on 30 September 2019.
The connection between India and the Netherlands begins with the Dutch Golden Age, when the latter was a flourishing centre for commercial and artistic endeavours. Following Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, it also emerged as one of the great maritime nations of the world, establishing a far-flung empire thanks to the ventures of the Dutch East India Company. Over the course of his research for the book, Rajamony says, one of the things that surprised him was how taken the great Dutch master Rembrandt was with Indian miniature paintings,
collecting them and even making drawings inspired by them. “I was pleasantly surprised to discover this as Rembrandt is considered an absolute master, who would only have made originals. It is very rare that a master like him would copy other artworks,” says Rajamony. According to him, this fact is indicative of the high esteem in which Indian art was held in Europe.
Q425.“it also emerged as one of the great maritime nations of the world.” Here the word ‘it’ refers to:
- ASpain
- BPortugal
- CThe Netherlands
- DIndia
Show answer
Concept: A pronoun refers to the noun it stands for in the same or previous sentence.
- “The connection … begins with the Dutch Golden Age, when the latter (the Netherlands) was a flourishing centre…”
- “Following Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, it also emerged as one of the great maritime nations” – Spain and Portugal are the countries it followed, so ‘it’ = the Netherlands.
- India was not a European maritime empire builder here.
Yaad rakhein: ‘Following X, Y and Z, it…’ – ‘it’ is never one of X, Y, Z.
Answer: (C) The Netherlands
अवधारणा: Pronoun उसी संज्ञा को refer करता है जिसकी जगह वह आया है।
- “…the Dutch Golden Age, when the latter (Netherlands) was a flourishing centre…”
- “Following Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, it also emerged…” – Spain, Portugal के बाद जो उभरा, वह Netherlands है।
- India यहाँ समुद्री साम्राज्य वाला देश नहीं बताया गया।
याद रखें: ‘Following X, Y, Z, it…’ – ‘it’ इनमें से कोई नहीं होता।
उत्तर: (C) The Netherlands
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Love of power is, perhaps, an even stronger motive than fear in enticing nations to pursue irrational policies. Although individual boastfulness is considered to be bad manners, national boastfulness is admired at any rate, by the compatriots of those who practise it. Throughout history, great nations have been led to disaster by unwillingness to admit that their power had limits. World conquest has been a will-o’-the-wisp by which one nation after another has been led to its downfall. Hitler’s Germany is the most recent example. Going backwards in time, we find many other examples, of which Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Attila are the most
noteworthy. When Khrushchev threatens to obliterate the West, I am reminded of past
examples of a similar folly.
To spread ruin, misery and death throughout one’s own country as well as that of the enemy is the act of madmen. If East and West could cease their enmity, they could devote their
scientific skill to their own welfare, to living without the burden of fear that only their own folly has caused. For it is in the hearts of men that the evil lies. The trouble lies in the minds often, and it is in enlightening the minds of men that the cure must be sought.
There are those who say: ‘War is part of human nature, and human nature cannot be changed. If war means the end of man, we must sigh and submit.’ This is always said by those whose sigh is hypocritical. It is undeniable that there are men and nations to whom violence is
attractive, but it is not the case that anything in human nature makes it impossible to restrain such men and nations. Individuals who have a taste for homicide are restrained by the
criminal law, and most of us do not find life intolerable because we are not allowed to commit murders. The same is true of nations. Sweden has never been at war since 1814.
None of the Swedes that I have known has shown any sign of suffering from thwarted instinct for lack of war. Political contests in a civilized country often raise just the kind of issues that would lead to war if they were between different nations. Not long ago, private disputes were often settled by duels, and those who upheld duelling maintained that its abolition would be contrary to human nature. They forgot, as present upholders of war forget, that what is called ‘human nature’ is, in the main, the result of custom and tradition and education, and, in
civilized men, only a very tiny fraction is due to primitive instinct. If the world could live for a few generations without war, war would come to seem as absurd as duelling has come to seem to us.
Q426.Match the words with their closest meanings.
a. obliterate 1. fraudulent
b. entice 2.eradicate
c. hypocritical 3. lure
- Aa-3, b-2, c-1
- Ba-1, b-3, c-2
- Ca-2, b-1, c-3
- Da-2, b-3, c-1
Show answer
Concept: Match each word with its meaning using context.
- obliterate – destroy completely = eradicate (a-2).
- entice – attract by offering something = lure (b-3).
- hypocritical – pretending to have feelings one does not have = fraudulent/false (c-1).
Yaad rakhein: Start with the surest pair (obliterate–eradicate) to eliminate options quickly.
Answer: (D) a-2, b-3, c-1
अवधारणा: संदर्भ से प्रत्येक शब्द का अर्थ मिलाएँ।
- obliterate – पूरी तरह नष्ट करना = eradicate (a-2)।
- entice – लालच देकर आकर्षित करना = lure (b-3)।
- hypocritical – पाखंडी, दिखावटी = fraudulent (c-1)।
याद रखें: सबसे पक्की जोड़ी (obliterate–eradicate) से शुरू करें।
उत्तर: (D) a-2, b-3, c-1
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Love of power is, perhaps, an even stronger motive than fear in enticing nations to pursue irrational policies. Although individual boastfulness is considered to be bad manners, national boastfulness is admired at any rate, by the compatriots of those who practise it. Throughout history, great nations have been led to disaster by unwillingness to admit that their power had limits. World conquest has been a will-o’-the-wisp by which one nation after another has been led to its downfall. Hitler’s Germany is the most recent example. Going backwards in time, we find many other examples, of which Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Attila are the most
noteworthy. When Khrushchev threatens to obliterate the West, I am reminded of past
examples of a similar folly.
To spread ruin, misery and death throughout one’s own country as well as that of the enemy is the act of madmen. If East and West could cease their enmity, they could devote their
scientific skill to their own welfare, to living without the burden of fear that only their own folly has caused. For it is in the hearts of men that the evil lies. The trouble lies in the minds often, and it is in enlightening the minds of men that the cure must be sought.
There are those who say: ‘War is part of human nature, and human nature cannot be changed. If war means the end of man, we must sigh and submit.’ This is always said by those whose sigh is hypocritical. It is undeniable that there are men and nations to whom violence is
attractive, but it is not the case that anything in human nature makes it impossible to restrain such men and nations. Individuals who have a taste for homicide are restrained by the
criminal law, and most of us do not find life intolerable because we are not allowed to commit murders. The same is true of nations. Sweden has never been at war since 1814.
None of the Swedes that I have known has shown any sign of suffering from thwarted instinct for lack of war. Political contests in a civilized country often raise just the kind of issues that would lead to war if they were between different nations. Not long ago, private disputes were often settled by duels, and those who upheld duelling maintained that its abolition would be contrary to human nature. They forgot, as present upholders of war forget, that what is called ‘human nature’ is, in the main, the result of custom and tradition and education, and, in
civilized men, only a very tiny fraction is due to primitive instinct. If the world could live for a few generations without war, war would come to seem as absurd as duelling has come to seem to us.
Q427.According to the passage, war would seem absurd to us if:
- Awe have political contests among nations
- Bwe could live without fighting wars for a few years
- Cwe impose limitations on the people through law
- Dwe settle our disputes by organising duels
Show answer
Concept: Find the comparison between war and duelling in the last line.
- Last sentence: “If the world could live for a few generations without war, war would come to seem as absurd as duelling…”
- So war would seem absurd if we could live without fighting wars for a long time – option (B) expresses this.
- (A), (C), (D) are not the condition given.
Yaad rakhein: Condition questions → look for the ‘If…’ clause in the passage.
Answer: (B) we could live without fighting wars for a few years
अवधारणा: अंतिम पंक्ति में युद्ध और duelling की तुलना देखें।
- अंतिम वाक्य: “If the world could live for a few generations without war, war would come to seem as absurd as duelling…”
- अर्थात युद्ध के बिना जीना सीख लें तो युद्ध बेतुका लगेगा – (B)।
- (A), (C), (D) यह शर्त नहीं बताते।
याद रखें: शर्त वाले प्रश्न → गद्यांश में ‘If…’ clause खोजें।
उत्तर: (B) we could live without fighting wars for a few years
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Love of power is, perhaps, an even stronger motive than fear in enticing nations to pursue irrational policies. Although individual boastfulness is considered to be bad manners, national boastfulness is admired at any rate, by the compatriots of those who practise it. Throughout history, great nations have been led to disaster by unwillingness to admit that their power had limits. World conquest has been a will-o’-the-wisp by which one nation after another has been led to its downfall. Hitler’s Germany is the most recent example. Going backwards in time, we find many other examples, of which Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Attila are the most
noteworthy. When Khrushchev threatens to obliterate the West, I am reminded of past
examples of a similar folly.
To spread ruin, misery and death throughout one’s own country as well as that of the enemy is the act of madmen. If East and West could cease their enmity, they could devote their
scientific skill to their own welfare, to living without the burden of fear that only their own folly has caused. For it is in the hearts of men that the evil lies. The trouble lies in the minds often, and it is in enlightening the minds of men that the cure must be sought.
There are those who say: ‘War is part of human nature, and human nature cannot be changed. If war means the end of man, we must sigh and submit.’ This is always said by those whose sigh is hypocritical. It is undeniable that there are men and nations to whom violence is
attractive, but it is not the case that anything in human nature makes it impossible to restrain such men and nations. Individuals who have a taste for homicide are restrained by the
criminal law, and most of us do not find life intolerable because we are not allowed to commit murders. The same is true of nations. Sweden has never been at war since 1814.
None of the Swedes that I have known has shown any sign of suffering from thwarted instinct for lack of war. Political contests in a civilized country often raise just the kind of issues that would lead to war if they were between different nations. Not long ago, private disputes were often settled by duels, and those who upheld duelling maintained that its abolition would be contrary to human nature. They forgot, as present upholders of war forget, that what is called ‘human nature’ is, in the main, the result of custom and tradition and education, and, in
civilized men, only a very tiny fraction is due to primitive instinct. If the world could live for a few generations without war, war would come to seem as absurd as duelling has come to seem to us.
Q428.In this passage the author:
- Aexplains that by nature man is fond of war
- Bdoesn’t think that there is any element in human nature that cannot be curbed
- Csuggests that man’s instinct for fighting can find expression in duels
- Dthinks that man’s nature is unchangeable
Show answer
Concept: Identify the author's stand against ‘war is human nature’.
- Author: “it is not the case that anything in human nature makes it impossible to restrain such men and nations.”
- He argues ‘human nature’ is mostly custom, tradition and education – so it can be curbed.
- (A) and (D) are the views he rejects; (C) is the old argument of duelling supporters.
Yaad rakhein: Views introduced with ‘There are those who say…’ are usually the views the author opposes.
Answer: (B) doesn’t think that there is any element in human nature that cannot be curbed
अवधारणा: ‘युद्ध मानव स्वभाव है’ के विरुद्ध लेखक का मत पहचानें।
- लेखक: “it is not the case that anything in human nature makes it impossible to restrain such men and nations.”
- उनके अनुसार ‘human nature’ अधिकतर custom, tradition, education का परिणाम है – अतः नियंत्रित की जा सकती है।
- (A), (D) वे मत हैं जिनका वे खंडन करते हैं; (C) duelling समर्थकों का तर्क है।
याद रखें: ‘There are those who say…’ से आए मत का लेखक प्रायः विरोध करता है।
उत्तर: (B) doesn’t think that there is any element in human nature that cannot be curbed
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Love of power is, perhaps, an even stronger motive than fear in enticing nations to pursue irrational policies. Although individual boastfulness is considered to be bad manners, national boastfulness is admired at any rate, by the compatriots of those who practise it. Throughout history, great nations have been led to disaster by unwillingness to admit that their power had limits. World conquest has been a will-o’-the-wisp by which one nation after another has been led to its downfall. Hitler’s Germany is the most recent example. Going backwards in time, we find many other examples, of which Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Attila are the most
noteworthy. When Khrushchev threatens to obliterate the West, I am reminded of past
examples of a similar folly.
To spread ruin, misery and death throughout one’s own country as well as that of the enemy is the act of madmen. If East and West could cease their enmity, they could devote their
scientific skill to their own welfare, to living without the burden of fear that only their own folly has caused. For it is in the hearts of men that the evil lies. The trouble lies in the minds often, and it is in enlightening the minds of men that the cure must be sought.
There are those who say: ‘War is part of human nature, and human nature cannot be changed. If war means the end of man, we must sigh and submit.’ This is always said by those whose sigh is hypocritical. It is undeniable that there are men and nations to whom violence is
attractive, but it is not the case that anything in human nature makes it impossible to restrain such men and nations. Individuals who have a taste for homicide are restrained by the
criminal law, and most of us do not find life intolerable because we are not allowed to commit murders. The same is true of nations. Sweden has never been at war since 1814.
None of the Swedes that I have known has shown any sign of suffering from thwarted instinct for lack of war. Political contests in a civilized country often raise just the kind of issues that would lead to war if they were between different nations. Not long ago, private disputes were often settled by duels, and those who upheld duelling maintained that its abolition would be contrary to human nature. They forgot, as present upholders of war forget, that what is called ‘human nature’ is, in the main, the result of custom and tradition and education, and, in
civilized men, only a very tiny fraction is due to primitive instinct. If the world could live for a few generations without war, war would come to seem as absurd as duelling has come to seem to us.
Q429.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
- AHomicidal tendencies of people can be restrained by criminal laws.
- BIf nations could forget their enmity they could live in peace without fear.
- CAs far as war is concerned, the trouble lies in the minds of men.
- DWar cannot be eradicated from the world because it is in the human nature.
Show answer
Concept: In a ‘NOT true’ question, the false option often states a view the author rejects.
- (A) True – homicidal people ‘are restrained by the criminal law’.
- (B) True – if East and West ceased enmity they could live ‘without the burden of fear’.
- (C) True – ‘the trouble lies in the minds’ of men.
- (D) False – this is what ‘those whose sigh is hypocritical’ say; the author rejects it.
Yaad rakhein: Opponent’s view ≠ the passage’s truth.
Answer: (D) War cannot be eradicated from the world because it is in the human nature.
अवधारणा: ‘NOT true’ प्रश्न में गलत विकल्प अक्सर वह मत होता है जिसका लेखक खंडन करता है।
- (A) सही – हत्यारी प्रवृत्ति ‘criminal law’ से रोकी जाती है।
- (B) सही – शत्रुता छोड़ें तो ‘without the burden of fear’ जी सकते हैं।
- (C) सही – ‘the trouble lies in the minds’।
- (D) गलत – यह पाखंडी लोगों का कथन है, लेखक इसे नहीं मानते।
याद रखें: विरोधी का मत ≠ गद्यांश का सत्य।
उत्तर: (D) War cannot be eradicated from the world because it is in the human nature.
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Love of power is, perhaps, an even stronger motive than fear in enticing nations to pursue irrational policies. Although individual boastfulness is considered to be bad manners, national boastfulness is admired at any rate, by the compatriots of those who practise it. Throughout history, great nations have been led to disaster by unwillingness to admit that their power had limits. World conquest has been a will-o’-the-wisp by which one nation after another has been led to its downfall. Hitler’s Germany is the most recent example. Going backwards in time, we find many other examples, of which Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Attila are the most
noteworthy. When Khrushchev threatens to obliterate the West, I am reminded of past
examples of a similar folly.
To spread ruin, misery and death throughout one’s own country as well as that of the enemy is the act of madmen. If East and West could cease their enmity, they could devote their
scientific skill to their own welfare, to living without the burden of fear that only their own folly has caused. For it is in the hearts of men that the evil lies. The trouble lies in the minds often, and it is in enlightening the minds of men that the cure must be sought.
There are those who say: ‘War is part of human nature, and human nature cannot be changed. If war means the end of man, we must sigh and submit.’ This is always said by those whose sigh is hypocritical. It is undeniable that there are men and nations to whom violence is
attractive, but it is not the case that anything in human nature makes it impossible to restrain such men and nations. Individuals who have a taste for homicide are restrained by the
criminal law, and most of us do not find life intolerable because we are not allowed to commit murders. The same is true of nations. Sweden has never been at war since 1814.
None of the Swedes that I have known has shown any sign of suffering from thwarted instinct for lack of war. Political contests in a civilized country often raise just the kind of issues that would lead to war if they were between different nations. Not long ago, private disputes were often settled by duels, and those who upheld duelling maintained that its abolition would be contrary to human nature. They forgot, as present upholders of war forget, that what is called ‘human nature’ is, in the main, the result of custom and tradition and education, and, in
civilized men, only a very tiny fraction is due to primitive instinct. If the world could live for a few generations without war, war would come to seem as absurd as duelling has come to seem to us.
Q430.Many countries have been led to their downfall because their leaders:
- Ahave not accepted that their powers have limits
- Bhave not been very capable
- Chave boasted of their scientific skills
- Dhave under-estimated their power
Show answer
Concept: Locate the line on nations being ‘led to disaster’.
- “Throughout history, great nations have been led to disaster by unwillingness to admit that their power had limits.”
- This matches (A) exactly.
- (D) is the opposite (they over-estimated, not under-estimated); (B) and (C) are not mentioned.
Yaad rakhein: Downfall ⇐ refusing to accept limits of power (Hitler, Napoleon, Genghis Khan).
Answer: (A) have not accepted that their powers have limits
अवधारणा: ‘led to disaster’ वाली पंक्ति खोजें।
- “great nations have been led to disaster by unwillingness to admit that their power had limits.”
- यह (A) से पूरी तरह मेल खाता है।
- (D) उल्टा है (उन्होंने शक्ति को अधिक आँका); (B), (C) गद्यांश में नहीं।
याद रखें: पतन ⇐ अपनी शक्ति की सीमा न मानना (Hitler, Napoleon)।
उत्तर: (A) have not accepted that their powers have limits
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Panchen Lama was just six years old when he was allegedly abducted by the Chinese
government on 17 May 1995, along with his family members, after he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.
On the 25th anniversary of his disappearance, the Tibetan government-in-exile on Sunday demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, considered to be a reincarnation of Bodhisattva Amitabha.
In a statement issue here, the President of the exiled government, Lobsang Sangay, said
China’s abduction of the Panchen Lama and forcible denial of his religious identity and the right to practice in his monastery is not only a violation of religious freedom but also a gross violation of human rights.
After orchestrating the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Sangay alleged that China, a self-declared atheist government and infamous for its persecution of religious groups,
placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.
“This politically-motivated action failed, however, to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama from the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people. For Tibetans and Buddhists around the world, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will always be the true Panchen Lama,” he added.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama’s disappearance, said Sangay, adding that 25 years is a significant time in an individual’s life.
He said the communist government must honour its claim of ethnic harmony in China by fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
“It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and all Tibetans unjustly imprisoned,” he said while appealing to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Nyima and resolve the
critical human rights situation in Tibet.
Q431.What is the real name of the Panchen Lama imprisoned by China?
- AGedhun Choekyi Nyima
- BBodhisattva Amitabha
- CGyaltsen Norbu
- DLobsang Sangay
Show answer
Concept: Separate the real Panchen Lama from the other names in the passage.
- The Tibetan government-in-exile demanded release of “the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima”.
- Bodhisattva Amitabha is the deity he is considered a reincarnation of; Gyaltsen Norbu is China’s own appointee; Lobsang Sangay is the President of the exiled government.
Yaad rakhein: Make a quick name–role list while reading names-heavy passages.
Answer: (A) Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
अवधारणा: गद्यांश के अन्य नामों से असली Panchen Lama को अलग करें।
- निर्वासित तिब्बती सरकार ने “the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima” की रिहाई माँगी।
- Bodhisattva Amitabha – जिनका अवतार माना जाता है; Gyaltsen Norbu – China द्वारा बैठाया गया; Lobsang Sangay – निर्वासित सरकार के President।
याद रखें: नामों वाले गद्यांश में नाम–भूमिका सूची बनाएँ।
उत्तर: (A) Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Panchen Lama was just six years old when he was allegedly abducted by the Chinese
government on 17 May 1995, along with his family members, after he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.
On the 25th anniversary of his disappearance, the Tibetan government-in-exile on Sunday demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, considered to be a reincarnation of Bodhisattva Amitabha.
In a statement issue here, the President of the exiled government, Lobsang Sangay, said
China’s abduction of the Panchen Lama and forcible denial of his religious identity and the right to practice in his monastery is not only a violation of religious freedom but also a gross violation of human rights.
After orchestrating the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Sangay alleged that China, a self-declared atheist government and infamous for its persecution of religious groups,
placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.
“This politically-motivated action failed, however, to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama from the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people. For Tibetans and Buddhists around the world, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will always be the true Panchen Lama,” he added.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama’s disappearance, said Sangay, adding that 25 years is a significant time in an individual’s life.
He said the communist government must honour its claim of ethnic harmony in China by fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
“It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and all Tibetans unjustly imprisoned,” he said while appealing to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Nyima and resolve the
critical human rights situation in Tibet.
Q432.After reading this passage, it can be inferred that it is:
- Aan appeal
- Ba government statement
- Can article
- Da news item
Show answer
Concept: Identify the form of writing from its style.
- The passage reports a recent event (‘on Sunday’, ‘today marks the 25th anniversary’) and quotes a statement – typical of a news item.
- It reports the appeal and the statement; it is not itself the appeal or the government statement.
- It is not an opinion article.
Yaad rakhein: Time words + ‘he said / he added’ + quotes → news report.
Answer: (D) a news item
अवधारणा: लेखन-शैली से गद्यांश का प्रकार पहचानें।
- गद्यांश हाल की घटना (‘on Sunday’, ‘today marks…’) की रिपोर्ट करता है और बयान उद्धृत करता है – यह news item है।
- यह appeal/statement की रिपोर्ट है, स्वयं appeal या सरकारी बयान नहीं।
- यह विचारात्मक लेख (article) भी नहीं।
याद रखें: समय-सूचक शब्द + ‘he said/he added’ → समाचार।
उत्तर: (D) a news item
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Panchen Lama was just six years old when he was allegedly abducted by the Chinese
government on 17 May 1995, along with his family members, after he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.
On the 25th anniversary of his disappearance, the Tibetan government-in-exile on Sunday demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, considered to be a reincarnation of Bodhisattva Amitabha.
In a statement issue here, the President of the exiled government, Lobsang Sangay, said
China’s abduction of the Panchen Lama and forcible denial of his religious identity and the right to practice in his monastery is not only a violation of religious freedom but also a gross violation of human rights.
After orchestrating the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Sangay alleged that China, a self-declared atheist government and infamous for its persecution of religious groups,
placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.
“This politically-motivated action failed, however, to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama from the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people. For Tibetans and Buddhists around the world, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will always be the true Panchen Lama,” he added.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama’s disappearance, said Sangay, adding that 25 years is a significant time in an individual’s life.
He said the communist government must honour its claim of ethnic harmony in China by fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
“It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and all Tibetans unjustly imprisoned,” he said while appealing to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Nyima and resolve the
critical human rights situation in Tibet.
Q433.“This politically-motivated action failed.” Which action is being referred to here?
- APersecution of religious groups by the Chinese government
- BPlacing of Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama by China
- CAbduction of Panchen Lama along with his family
- DImprisonment of Chadrel Rinpoche and other Tibetans
Show answer
Concept: ‘This action’ refers to the action described in the sentence just before.
- Previous sentence: China “placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.”
- Next: “This politically-motivated action failed… to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama.”
- Only placing a substitute could try to ‘displace’ the true Lama → (B).
Yaad rakhein: ‘This/that’ points backward – read the previous sentence.
Answer: (B) Placing of Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama by China
अवधारणा: ‘This action’ ठीक पिछले वाक्य में बताई गई क्रिया को refer करता है।
- पिछला वाक्य: China ने “placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.”
- अगला: “This politically-motivated action failed… to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama.”
- असली Lama का स्थान लेने का प्रयास नकली Lama बैठाना ही था → (B)।
याद रखें: ‘This/that’ पीछे की ओर संकेत करता है।
उत्तर: (B) Placing of Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama by China
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Panchen Lama was just six years old when he was allegedly abducted by the Chinese
government on 17 May 1995, along with his family members, after he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.
On the 25th anniversary of his disappearance, the Tibetan government-in-exile on Sunday demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, considered to be a reincarnation of Bodhisattva Amitabha.
In a statement issue here, the President of the exiled government, Lobsang Sangay, said
China’s abduction of the Panchen Lama and forcible denial of his religious identity and the right to practice in his monastery is not only a violation of religious freedom but also a gross violation of human rights.
After orchestrating the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Sangay alleged that China, a self-declared atheist government and infamous for its persecution of religious groups,
placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.
“This politically-motivated action failed, however, to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama from the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people. For Tibetans and Buddhists around the world, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will always be the true Panchen Lama,” he added.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama’s disappearance, said Sangay, adding that 25 years is a significant time in an individual’s life.
He said the communist government must honour its claim of ethnic harmony in China by fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
“It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and all Tibetans unjustly imprisoned,” he said while appealing to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Nyima and resolve the
critical human rights situation in Tibet.
Q434.Select the option which is NOT true.
The abduction of Panchen Lama and his family by China is an act of:
- Aestablishing ethnic harmony
- Bpersecution of a religious group
- Cviolation of religious freedom of Tibetans
- Dgross violation of human rights
Show answer
Concept: Find which option is NOT a description of the abduction.
- Sangay calls it ‘a violation of religious freedom’ and ‘a gross violation of human rights’ (C, D), by a government ‘infamous for its persecution of religious groups’ (B).
- Ethnic harmony is only China’s claim, which it ‘must honour’ – the abduction is the opposite of it.
Yaad rakhein: ‘Claim of ethnic harmony’ is what China says, not what the abduction achieves.
Answer: (A) establishing ethnic harmony
अवधारणा: वह विकल्प खोजें जो अपहरण का वर्णन नहीं करता।
- Sangay इसे ‘violation of religious freedom’ और ‘gross violation of human rights’ (C, D) कहते हैं; China ‘persecution of religious groups’ के लिए कुख्यात है (B)।
- Ethnic harmony केवल China का दावा है – अपहरण इसका उल्टा है।
याद रखें: ‘Ethnic harmony’ China का दावा है, अपहरण का परिणाम नहीं।
उत्तर: (A) establishing ethnic harmony
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Panchen Lama was just six years old when he was allegedly abducted by the Chinese
government on 17 May 1995, along with his family members, after he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.
On the 25th anniversary of his disappearance, the Tibetan government-in-exile on Sunday demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, considered to be a reincarnation of Bodhisattva Amitabha.
In a statement issue here, the President of the exiled government, Lobsang Sangay, said
China’s abduction of the Panchen Lama and forcible denial of his religious identity and the right to practice in his monastery is not only a violation of religious freedom but also a gross violation of human rights.
After orchestrating the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Sangay alleged that China, a self-declared atheist government and infamous for its persecution of religious groups,
placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.
“This politically-motivated action failed, however, to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama from the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people. For Tibetans and Buddhists around the world, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will always be the true Panchen Lama,” he added.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama’s disappearance, said Sangay, adding that 25 years is a significant time in an individual’s life.
He said the communist government must honour its claim of ethnic harmony in China by fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
“It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and all Tibetans unjustly imprisoned,” he said while appealing to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Nyima and resolve the
critical human rights situation in Tibet.
Q435.What is the demand of the Tibetan Government-in-exile?
- AChina should release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family.
- BChina should place Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama.
- CChina should celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama’s
disappearance. - DChina should recognise Panchen Lama as the reincarnation of Bodhisattva.
Show answer
Concept: The demand is stated directly at the start and end of the passage.
- “the Tibetan government-in-exile on Sunday demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama”.
- Sangay: “It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family…”
- (B) is China’s own act which they oppose; (C) and (D) are not demands.
Yaad rakhein: ‘Demand’ question → look for ‘demanded / must’.
Answer: (A) China should release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family.
अवधारणा: माँग गद्यांश के आरंभ और अंत में सीधे लिखी है।
- “the Tibetan government-in-exile… demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama”।
- Sangay: “release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family…”
- (B) China का कार्य है जिसका वे विरोध करते हैं; (C), (D) माँगें नहीं हैं।
याद रखें: ‘Demand’ प्रश्न → ‘demanded/must’ खोजें।
उत्तर: (A) China should release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family.
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
First, thousands of flamingos coloured the Talawe wetlands near NRI Complex in Navi
Mumbai pink during the lockdown, their numbers bolstered by the sheer lack of human
activity. Now, the water in part of the wetland itself has turned pink, probably due to an
explosive blooming of red algae that thrives in saline water, especially as the summer picks up and the wetland loses water.
The deep pink water, located towards the south-eastern end of the wetland, was spotted on14 May 2020. The pink water was not there till late last week. The bloom has been identified as a rare and first-of-its-kind occurrence for Mumbai Metropolitan Region by Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) that plans to take samples of the water for study. However, a local resident, Seema Tania from NRI Complex, Seawoods, said she had spotted the pink wash across a much larger area at the same creek in 2016.“Almost 500-600m patch of the creek turned bright pink and we thought chemicals had been dumped in the creek,” she said.
BNHS and independent microbiologists presume that the colour is from microscopic algae. “Owing to high salinity in the area, it looks like an algal bloom. Our researchers have never witnessed something like this along Mumbai’s creeks,” said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS. “Around the world, such a phenomena has been observed regularly with red algae but it has to be investigated how it has appeared along the Mumbai creek.”
Flamingos are known to feed on this algae, crustaceans, shrimp, and aquatic plants, which gives them the pink colour, said Apte. Dr P Sathiyaselvam, assistant director (wetland
conservation), BNHS said, “This is clearly an algal bloom. We have observed the same at the northern portion of Chilika Lake (in Odisha) during early winter months over the years, and also towards the northern end of wetlands in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.” “This is a natural phenomenon. Vigorous growth of algae or bacteria having beta-carotene gives this type of characteristic colouration to the water. It is also related to increased evaporation, salinity, and the current hot and humid weather conditions,” said Rahul Khot, assistant director (in-charge of the flamingo monitoring program).
Ornithologist, naturalist and writer Sunjoy Monga said a similar discolouration of water with a pink hue was witnessed at a flamingo habitat in Porbandar in May 2007. “This happened at the edges of the creek cramped with flamingos with high salinity displaying a pinkish maroon wash to it.” A similar example of what has been observed in Navi Mumbai was recently
witnessed across a massive stretch at the Edgars Creek in Melbourne, Australia, that started on 10 Mayand intensified subsequently. The source of the pink water is being investigated, the Epoch Times reported. Other examples of changing water colour to pink across a much larger area has been observed at Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada and the Dead Sea, a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, to name a few.
Q436.Which of the following individuals thinks that the presence of beta-carotene in the algae gives the water its pink colour?
- ADr. P Sathiyaselvam
- BDeepak Apte
- CSunjoy Monga
- DRahul Khot
Show answer
Concept: Scan for the keyword ‘beta-carotene’ and see who said it.
- “Vigorous growth of algae or bacteria having beta-carotene gives this type of characteristic colouration to the water…” said Rahul Khot, assistant director (flamingo monitoring program).
- Apte spoke of salinity and red algae; Sathiyaselvam of Chilika and Thoothukudi; Monga of Porbandar.
Yaad rakhein: Keyword scanning: find the rare word, then read the speaker tag after it.
Answer: (D) Rahul Khot
अवधारणा: ‘beta-carotene’ शब्द खोजें और देखें किसने कहा।
- “Vigorous growth of algae or bacteria having beta-carotene…” – यह Rahul Khot ने कहा।
- Apte – salinity व red algae; Sathiyaselvam – Chilika, Thoothukudi; Monga – Porbandar।
याद रखें: दुर्लभ keyword खोजें, फिर उसके बाद speaker का नाम पढ़ें।
उत्तर: (D) Rahul Khot
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
First, thousands of flamingos coloured the Talawe wetlands near NRI Complex in Navi
Mumbai pink during the lockdown, their numbers bolstered by the sheer lack of human
activity. Now, the water in part of the wetland itself has turned pink, probably due to an
explosive blooming of red algae that thrives in saline water, especially as the summer picks up and the wetland loses water.
The deep pink water, located towards the south-eastern end of the wetland, was spotted on14 May 2020. The pink water was not there till late last week. The bloom has been identified as a rare and first-of-its-kind occurrence for Mumbai Metropolitan Region by Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) that plans to take samples of the water for study. However, a local resident, Seema Tania from NRI Complex, Seawoods, said she had spotted the pink wash across a much larger area at the same creek in 2016.“Almost 500-600m patch of the creek turned bright pink and we thought chemicals had been dumped in the creek,” she said.
BNHS and independent microbiologists presume that the colour is from microscopic algae. “Owing to high salinity in the area, it looks like an algal bloom. Our researchers have never witnessed something like this along Mumbai’s creeks,” said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS. “Around the world, such a phenomena has been observed regularly with red algae but it has to be investigated how it has appeared along the Mumbai creek.”
Flamingos are known to feed on this algae, crustaceans, shrimp, and aquatic plants, which gives them the pink colour, said Apte. Dr P Sathiyaselvam, assistant director (wetland
conservation), BNHS said, “This is clearly an algal bloom. We have observed the same at the northern portion of Chilika Lake (in Odisha) during early winter months over the years, and also towards the northern end of wetlands in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.” “This is a natural phenomenon. Vigorous growth of algae or bacteria having beta-carotene gives this type of characteristic colouration to the water. It is also related to increased evaporation, salinity, and the current hot and humid weather conditions,” said Rahul Khot, assistant director (in-charge of the flamingo monitoring program).
Ornithologist, naturalist and writer Sunjoy Monga said a similar discolouration of water with a pink hue was witnessed at a flamingo habitat in Porbandar in May 2007. “This happened at the edges of the creek cramped with flamingos with high salinity displaying a pinkish maroon wash to it.” A similar example of what has been observed in Navi Mumbai was recently
witnessed across a massive stretch at the Edgars Creek in Melbourne, Australia, that started on 10 Mayand intensified subsequently. The source of the pink water is being investigated, the Epoch Times reported. Other examples of changing water colour to pink across a much larger area has been observed at Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada and the Dead Sea, a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, to name a few.
Q437.The explanation for the pink water, as given by most scientists, is that it is due to:
- Athe chemicals dumped in the creek
- Bhighly humid and hot weather conditions
- Can explosion of red algae blooming in the saline water
- Dshrimps, crustaceans and some aquatic plants
Show answer
Concept: Find the explanation repeated by the experts.
- Paragraph 1: water turned pink “probably due to an explosive blooming of red algae that thrives in saline water”.
- BNHS, microbiologists, Apte and Sathiyaselvam all call it an algal bloom.
- (A) was only a resident’s guess; (B) is a contributing condition; (D) is what flamingos eat.
Yaad rakhein: Most experts agree → algal bloom in salty water.
Answer: (C) an explosion of red algae blooming in the saline water
अवधारणा: विशेषज्ञों द्वारा बार-बार दिया गया कारण खोजें।
- अनुच्छेद 1: “explosive blooming of red algae that thrives in saline water”।
- BNHS, microbiologists, Apte, Sathiyaselvam – सभी इसे algal bloom कहते हैं।
- (A) एक निवासी का अनुमान था; (B) सहायक परिस्थिति; (D) flamingos का भोजन।
याद रखें: अधिकांश विशेषज्ञ → खारे पानी में algal bloom।
उत्तर: (C) an explosion of red algae blooming in the saline water
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
First, thousands of flamingos coloured the Talawe wetlands near NRI Complex in Navi
Mumbai pink during the lockdown, their numbers bolstered by the sheer lack of human
activity. Now, the water in part of the wetland itself has turned pink, probably due to an
explosive blooming of red algae that thrives in saline water, especially as the summer picks up and the wetland loses water.
The deep pink water, located towards the south-eastern end of the wetland, was spotted on14 May 2020. The pink water was not there till late last week. The bloom has been identified as a rare and first-of-its-kind occurrence for Mumbai Metropolitan Region by Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) that plans to take samples of the water for study. However, a local resident, Seema Tania from NRI Complex, Seawoods, said she had spotted the pink wash across a much larger area at the same creek in 2016.“Almost 500-600m patch of the creek turned bright pink and we thought chemicals had been dumped in the creek,” she said.
BNHS and independent microbiologists presume that the colour is from microscopic algae. “Owing to high salinity in the area, it looks like an algal bloom. Our researchers have never witnessed something like this along Mumbai’s creeks,” said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS. “Around the world, such a phenomena has been observed regularly with red algae but it has to be investigated how it has appeared along the Mumbai creek.”
Flamingos are known to feed on this algae, crustaceans, shrimp, and aquatic plants, which gives them the pink colour, said Apte. Dr P Sathiyaselvam, assistant director (wetland
conservation), BNHS said, “This is clearly an algal bloom. We have observed the same at the northern portion of Chilika Lake (in Odisha) during early winter months over the years, and also towards the northern end of wetlands in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.” “This is a natural phenomenon. Vigorous growth of algae or bacteria having beta-carotene gives this type of characteristic colouration to the water. It is also related to increased evaporation, salinity, and the current hot and humid weather conditions,” said Rahul Khot, assistant director (in-charge of the flamingo monitoring program).
Ornithologist, naturalist and writer Sunjoy Monga said a similar discolouration of water with a pink hue was witnessed at a flamingo habitat in Porbandar in May 2007. “This happened at the edges of the creek cramped with flamingos with high salinity displaying a pinkish maroon wash to it.” A similar example of what has been observed in Navi Mumbai was recently
witnessed across a massive stretch at the Edgars Creek in Melbourne, Australia, that started on 10 Mayand intensified subsequently. The source of the pink water is being investigated, the Epoch Times reported. Other examples of changing water colour to pink across a much larger area has been observed at Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada and the Dead Sea, a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, to name a few.
Q438.The main theme of the passage is:
- Awhere the phenomenon of pink water occurs in the world
- Bwhy the water in some parts of Mumbai wetland has turned pink
- Chow the flamingos get their pink colour
- Dwhat the flamingos feed on
Show answer
Concept: The main theme is the central question the whole passage answers.
- The passage begins with the pink water in Talawe wetland, Navi Mumbai and gives experts’ explanations for it.
- Other places (Chilika, Porbandar, Melbourne) and flamingo food are only supporting details.
- So the theme is why the Mumbai wetland water turned pink.
Yaad rakhein: Supporting examples ≠ main theme.
Answer: (B) why the water in some parts of Mumbai wetland has turned pink
अवधारणा: मुख्य विषय वह केंद्रीय प्रश्न है जिसका उत्तर पूरा गद्यांश देता है।
- गद्यांश Navi Mumbai की Talawe wetland के गुलाबी पानी से शुरू होकर विशेषज्ञों के कारण बताता है।
- Chilika, Porbandar, Melbourne और flamingo का भोजन केवल सहायक विवरण हैं।
- अतः विषय: Mumbai wetland का पानी गुलाबी क्यों हुआ।
याद रखें: सहायक उदाहरण ≠ मुख्य विषय।
उत्तर: (B) why the water in some parts of Mumbai wetland has turned pink
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
First, thousands of flamingos coloured the Talawe wetlands near NRI Complex in Navi
Mumbai pink during the lockdown, their numbers bolstered by the sheer lack of human
activity. Now, the water in part of the wetland itself has turned pink, probably due to an
explosive blooming of red algae that thrives in saline water, especially as the summer picks up and the wetland loses water.
The deep pink water, located towards the south-eastern end of the wetland, was spotted on14 May 2020. The pink water was not there till late last week. The bloom has been identified as a rare and first-of-its-kind occurrence for Mumbai Metropolitan Region by Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) that plans to take samples of the water for study. However, a local resident, Seema Tania from NRI Complex, Seawoods, said she had spotted the pink wash across a much larger area at the same creek in 2016.“Almost 500-600m patch of the creek turned bright pink and we thought chemicals had been dumped in the creek,” she said.
BNHS and independent microbiologists presume that the colour is from microscopic algae. “Owing to high salinity in the area, it looks like an algal bloom. Our researchers have never witnessed something like this along Mumbai’s creeks,” said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS. “Around the world, such a phenomena has been observed regularly with red algae but it has to be investigated how it has appeared along the Mumbai creek.”
Flamingos are known to feed on this algae, crustaceans, shrimp, and aquatic plants, which gives them the pink colour, said Apte. Dr P Sathiyaselvam, assistant director (wetland
conservation), BNHS said, “This is clearly an algal bloom. We have observed the same at the northern portion of Chilika Lake (in Odisha) during early winter months over the years, and also towards the northern end of wetlands in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.” “This is a natural phenomenon. Vigorous growth of algae or bacteria having beta-carotene gives this type of characteristic colouration to the water. It is also related to increased evaporation, salinity, and the current hot and humid weather conditions,” said Rahul Khot, assistant director (in-charge of the flamingo monitoring program).
Ornithologist, naturalist and writer Sunjoy Monga said a similar discolouration of water with a pink hue was witnessed at a flamingo habitat in Porbandar in May 2007. “This happened at the edges of the creek cramped with flamingos with high salinity displaying a pinkish maroon wash to it.” A similar example of what has been observed in Navi Mumbai was recently
witnessed across a massive stretch at the Edgars Creek in Melbourne, Australia, that started on 10 Mayand intensified subsequently. The source of the pink water is being investigated, the Epoch Times reported. Other examples of changing water colour to pink across a much larger area has been observed at Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada and the Dead Sea, a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, to name a few.
Q439.Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
- AThe phenomenon of pink water has been seen in Chilika lake, Odisha and
Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu also. - BSimilar phenomenon was recently witnessed across a massive stretch at the Edgars Creek in Melbourne, Australia.
- CSimilar discolouration of water with a pink hue was witnessed at a flamingo habitat in Porbandar in May 2007.
- DThe phenomenon of pink water has occurred in Mumbai wetland for the first time.
Show answer
Concept: Check each statement; watch for absolute words like ‘first time’.
- (A) True – Sathiyaselvam saw it at Chilika and Thoothukudi.
- (B) True – Edgars Creek, Melbourne.
- (C) True – Porbandar, May 2007 (Sunjoy Monga).
- (D) False – resident Seema Tania had seen the pink wash in the same creek in 2016, so it was not the first time.
Yaad rakhein: ‘first time’, ‘only’, ‘never’ – test such absolute claims first.
Answer: (D) The phenomenon of pink water has occurred in Mumbai wetland for the first time.
अवधारणा: हर कथन जाँचें; ‘first time’ जैसे निरपेक्ष शब्दों पर ध्यान दें।
- (A) सही – Chilika और Thoothukudi में देखा गया।
- (B) सही – Edgars Creek, Melbourne।
- (C) सही – Porbandar, May 2007।
- (D) गलत – निवासी Seema Tania ने उसी creek में 2016 में भी गुलाबी पानी देखा था।
याद रखें: ‘first time/only/never’ वाले दावे पहले जाँचें।
उत्तर: (D) The phenomenon of pink water has occurred in Mumbai wetland for the first time.
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
First, thousands of flamingos coloured the Talawe wetlands near NRI Complex in Navi
Mumbai pink during the lockdown, their numbers bolstered by the sheer lack of human
activity. Now, the water in part of the wetland itself has turned pink, probably due to an
explosive blooming of red algae that thrives in saline water, especially as the summer picks up and the wetland loses water.
The deep pink water, located towards the south-eastern end of the wetland, was spotted on14 May 2020. The pink water was not there till late last week. The bloom has been identified as a rare and first-of-its-kind occurrence for Mumbai Metropolitan Region by Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) that plans to take samples of the water for study. However, a local resident, Seema Tania from NRI Complex, Seawoods, said she had spotted the pink wash across a much larger area at the same creek in 2016.“Almost 500-600m patch of the creek turned bright pink and we thought chemicals had been dumped in the creek,” she said.
BNHS and independent microbiologists presume that the colour is from microscopic algae. “Owing to high salinity in the area, it looks like an algal bloom. Our researchers have never witnessed something like this along Mumbai’s creeks,” said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS. “Around the world, such a phenomena has been observed regularly with red algae but it has to be investigated how it has appeared along the Mumbai creek.”
Flamingos are known to feed on this algae, crustaceans, shrimp, and aquatic plants, which gives them the pink colour, said Apte. Dr P Sathiyaselvam, assistant director (wetland
conservation), BNHS said, “This is clearly an algal bloom. We have observed the same at the northern portion of Chilika Lake (in Odisha) during early winter months over the years, and also towards the northern end of wetlands in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.” “This is a natural phenomenon. Vigorous growth of algae or bacteria having beta-carotene gives this type of characteristic colouration to the water. It is also related to increased evaporation, salinity, and the current hot and humid weather conditions,” said Rahul Khot, assistant director (in-charge of the flamingo monitoring program).
Ornithologist, naturalist and writer Sunjoy Monga said a similar discolouration of water with a pink hue was witnessed at a flamingo habitat in Porbandar in May 2007. “This happened at the edges of the creek cramped with flamingos with high salinity displaying a pinkish maroon wash to it.” A similar example of what has been observed in Navi Mumbai was recently
witnessed across a massive stretch at the Edgars Creek in Melbourne, Australia, that started on 10 Mayand intensified subsequently. The source of the pink water is being investigated, the Epoch Times reported. Other examples of changing water colour to pink across a much larger area has been observed at Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada and the Dead Sea, a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, to name a few.
Q440.After reading the passage, it can be inferred that the:
- Aphenomenon of algal bloom is unique to Mumbai
- Bwater in Talawe wetland turned pink because of flamingos
- Cscientists are unaware of the occurrence ofred algae bloom
- Dsource of pink water at Edgar’s creek has not yet been determined
Show answer
Concept: An inference must be supported by the text.
- About Edgars Creek: “The source of the pink water is being investigated” – so it is not yet determined (D).
- (A) is wrong – it has occurred in Chilika, Australia, Canada, Dead Sea.
- (B) is wrong – algae, not flamingos, colour the water.
- (C) is wrong – scientists know red algae blooms are observed ‘regularly’ around the world.
Yaad rakhein: ‘is being investigated’ = not yet known.
Answer: (D) source of pink water at Edgar’s creek has not yet been determined
अवधारणा: Inference वही जो गद्यांश से समर्थित हो।
- Edgars Creek के बारे में: “The source of the pink water is being investigated” – अर्थात अभी तय नहीं (D)।
- (A) गलत – कई अन्य स्थानों पर भी हुआ।
- (B) गलत – पानी algae से गुलाबी हुआ, flamingos से नहीं।
- (C) गलत – वैज्ञानिक जानते हैं कि ऐसा ‘regularly’ देखा जाता है।
याद रखें: ‘is being investigated’ = अभी ज्ञात नहीं।
उत्तर: (D) source of pink water at Edgar’s creek has not yet been determined
