Directions: Given below is a pair of statements (i) and (ii). Assuming that the information given in both (i) and (ii) is true, decide the nature of their relationship. To determine the answer, do not assume anything beyond the given information. Statement (i): High level of air pollution in the city Statement (ii): Increase in respiratory and health-related problems in the population
Statement (ii) is the effect and statement (i) is the cause.
Analyzing Cause and Effect in Statements
This question asks us to determine the relationship between two given statements, specifically whether one is the cause of the other or if they are related in some other way.
Understanding Cause and Effect
In a cause-and-effect relationship, the cause is the reason or event that happens first, and the effect is the result or consequence of that cause. The cause makes the effect happen.
Analyzing the Given Statements
Let's examine the two statements provided:
- Statement (i): High level of air pollution in the city
- Statement (ii): Increase in respiratory and health-related problems in the population
We need to think about which event or condition logically precedes the other and leads to the other.
Relationship between Air Pollution and Health
It is a well-established fact that exposure to high levels of air pollution can lead to various health issues, particularly respiratory problems. Pollutants in the air can irritate the lungs and airways, making it difficult to breathe and exacerbating conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments. Prolonged exposure can contribute to more severe health conditions.
Considering this common understanding:
- High levels of air pollution (Statement i) are a condition that can directly influence the health of a population.
- An increase in respiratory and health-related problems (Statement ii) is a consequence or outcome that can result from exposure to such conditions.
Therefore, it is logical to infer that the high level of air pollution is the cause that leads to the increase in respiratory and health problems, which is the effect.
| Event/Condition | Statement | Role in Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| High level of air pollution | Statement (i) | Cause |
| Increase in respiratory and health problems | Statement (ii) | Effect |
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the options based on our analysis:
- Statement (ii) is the effect and statement (i) is the cause. This aligns with our conclusion that high air pollution causes increased health problems.
- Both statements are effects of a common cause. While possible in some scenarios, the direct link from air pollution to health problems is a primary relationship, making this less likely than a direct cause-effect here.
- Both the statements are effects of some independent causes. This implies no direct link between air pollution and health problems, which contradicts known facts.
- Statement (i) is the effect and statement (ii) is the cause. This would mean increased health problems cause air pollution, which is not logically sound.
Based on the logical relationship and common understanding, Statement (i) (high air pollution) is the cause and Statement (ii) (increase in health problems) is the effect.
Revision Table: Air Pollution & Health Effects
| Concept | Description | Relevance to Question |
|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution | Presence of substances in the air harmful to human health or the environment. | Statement (i) identifies high air pollution as a condition. |
| Respiratory Problems | Illnesses affecting the lungs and breathing passages (e.g., asthma, bronchitis). | Statement (ii) lists this as a key health issue. |
| Cause and Effect | A relationship where one event (cause) leads to another (effect). | The core task is to identify this relationship between the statements. |
Additional Information on Air Pollution and Health
Air pollution is a major environmental health risk. It is linked to increased rates of respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution.
Sources of air pollution include vehicle emissions, industrial activities, power generation, and residential heating. Reducing air pollution levels is crucial for protecting public health and improving quality of life in urban areas.
Important Questions from Cause and Effect
Two statements numbered I and II are given. There may be a cause-and-effect relationship between the two statements. These two statements may be the effect of the same cause or independent causes. These statements may be independent causes without having any relationship. Read both the statements and decide which of the following options correctly depicts the relationship between these two statements.
Statements:
I. The Government has said that the elderly are not required to produce a doctor’s certificate for the third Covid-19 vaccination dose.
II. In view of the raise in Omicron cases, people should avoid unnecessary travel and gatherings, advises the Central Government.
Temperatures have risen nearly five times as rapidly on the Western Antarctic Peninsula than the global average over the past five decades. Researchers have now found that melting glaciers are causing a loss of species diversity among benthos in the coastal waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, Impacting an entire seafloor ecosystem. They Believe increased levels of suspended sediment in water to be the cause of the dwindling biodiversity in the coastal region.
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been Made :
1. Regions of glaciers warm faster than other regions due to global warming.
2. Global warming can lead to seafloor sedimentation in some areas.
3. Melting glaciers can reduce marine biodiversity in some areas.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
A research team examined a long-term owl roost. Owls prey on small mammals and the excreted remains of those meals that accumulated over the time, provide us an insight into the composition and structure of small mammals over the past 'millennia. The research suggested that when the Earth went through a period of rapid warming about 13,000 years ago, the small mammal community was stable and resilient. But, from the last quarter of the nineteenth century, human-made changes to the environment had caused an enormous drop in biomass and energy flow. This dramatic decline in energy flow means modern ecosystems are not adapting as easily as they did in the past.
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :
1. Global warming is a frequently occurring natural phenomenon.
2. The impending global warming will not adversely affect small mammals.
3. Humans are responsible for the loss of the Earth's natural resilience.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?
Food varieties extinction is happening all over the world --- and it is happening fast. For example, of the 7,000 apple varieties that were grown during the nineteenth century, fewer than o hundred remain. In the Philippines, thousands of varieties of rice once thrived; now only up to a hundred are grown there. In China, 90 percent of the wheat varieties cultivated just a century ago have disappeared. Farmers in the past painstakingly bred and developed crops well suited to the peculiarities of their local climate and environment. In the recent past, our heavy dependence on a few high yielding varieties and technology-driven production and distribution of food is causing the dwindling of diversity in food crops. If some mutating crop disease or future climate change decimates the few crop plants we have come to depend on to feed our growing population, we might desperately need some of those varieties we have let go extinct.
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :
1. Humans have been the main reason for the large scale extinction of plant species.
2. Consumption of food mainly from locally cultivated crops ensures crop diversity.
3. The present style of production and distribution of food will finally lead to the problem of food scarcity in the near future.
4. Our food security may depend on our ability to preserve the locally cultivated varieties of crops.
Which of the above assumptions are valid ?
In this question, two statements I and II have been given. These statements may be independent causes or effects of independent causes or a common cause. One of the statements may be the effect of the other statement. Read both statements and select the correct answer.
I. Since the past three years, State M has reported a sharp and substantial decline in the state’s agricultural produce.
II. In the last five years, there has been an increase in the overall average Rainfall by 6% in State M bringing respite to the farmers.
