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Question

Read the passage and answer the questions based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only.

In its simple form, science has helped man to protect himself from Nature and to overcome natural obstacles to movement. But with the advance of science, a situation has arisen in which Nature need to be protected from man. He has used Nature’s own gifts, not only of metal but even the human brain, to attack Nature. Forests are being destroyed not only to satisfy the need but to provide luxuries. The evil effects of deforestation are already making themselves clearly felt in climatic changes and soil erosion. Man has at last begun to learn that he has to protect if he wants Nature to protect him.

Climatic changes and soil erosion are results of _____________

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2017 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (05-Feb-2017)
The correct answer is

Deforestation

Understanding the Passage: Effects of Deforestation

The question asks about the causes of climatic changes and soil erosion based on the provided passage. To answer correctly, we must carefully read the passage and identify the information it presents about these specific environmental issues.

The passage discusses how human actions, influenced by the advance of science, have led to Nature needing protection from man. It mentions the destruction of forests as one such action.

Let's look at the key sentence relating to the environmental effects:

  • "The evil effects of deforestation are already making themselves clearly felt in climatic changes and soil erosion."

This sentence directly links deforestation to climatic changes and soil erosion, stating that the latter two are effects of the former according to the author's view presented in the passage.

Analyzing the Options Based on the Passage

Now, let's evaluate each option in the context of the passage:

  1. Scientific developments: The passage mentions that with the advance of science, a situation has arisen where Nature needs protection from man. It says man has used Nature's gifts to attack Nature. However, it doesn't state that scientific developments *themselves* directly cause climatic changes and soil erosion. Instead, it points to human actions enabled by or occurring alongside scientific advance, specifically deforestation, as the cause of these effects.
  2. Nuclear explosion: This is not mentioned anywhere in the passage.
  3. Natural calamity: The passage talks about man protecting himself from Nature and overcoming natural obstacles, but it attributes the current need to protect Nature from man to human actions like deforestation. Natural calamities are not presented as the cause of the climatic changes and soil erosion discussed here.
  4. Deforestation: The passage explicitly states that climatic changes and soil erosion are "evil effects of deforestation". This directly matches the information provided in the text.

Conclusion on Climatic Changes and Soil Erosion Cause

Based strictly on the information given in the passage, the author attributes climatic changes and soil erosion to deforestation.

Effect Cause (as per passage)
Climatic changes Deforestation
Soil erosion Deforestation

Therefore, the correct answer, according to the passage, is Deforestation.

Revision Table: Key Concepts from Passage

Concept Passage Information
Science (simple form) Helped man protect from Nature, overcome natural obstacles.
Science (advanced) Situation where Nature needs protection from man.
Human Action Using Nature's gifts (metal, brain) to attack Nature; Destroying forests.
Deforestation Effects Climatic changes, Soil erosion.
Man's Realization Must protect Nature for Nature to protect him.

Additional Information: Environmental Impact of Deforestation

Deforestation is the clearing or thinning of forests by human activity. It has significant negative impacts on the environment, which align with the passage's points:

  • Climatic Changes: Forests absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Removing trees releases stored carbon and reduces the planet's ability to absorb CO2, contributing to global warming and altering climate patterns. Forests also influence local rainfall and temperature.
  • Soil Erosion: Tree roots hold soil together. When trees are removed, soil is easily washed away by rain or blown away by wind, leading to loss of fertile topsoil, sedimentation in rivers, and desertification.
  • Biodiversity Loss: Forests are home to a vast number of species. Deforestation destroys habitats, leading to species endangerment and extinction.
  • Water Cycle Disruption: Forests play a crucial role in the water cycle through transpiration. Their removal can lead to reduced rainfall, altered river flows, and increased risk of drought and floods.

The passage simplifies these complex interactions but accurately reflects the widely accepted view that deforestation is a major driver of environmental degradation, including climatic changes and soil erosion.

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Similar Questions

  1. What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?

  2. What are ice shelves?

  3. What are icebergs?

  4. When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.

  5. The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________

  6. Nature now needs to be protected from man because _____________

  7. Forests are being destroyed in order to ________

  8. The evil effect of destroying Nature instead of using it is seen in _________

  9. Which of the following helps women most to achieve equality with men?

  10. Why does the writer talk about the maidservant in the hotel lobby?


Important Questions from Reading Comprehension

  1. What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?

  2. What are ice shelves?

  3. What are icebergs?

  4. When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.

  5. The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________

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