Read the following passage and answer the items that follow the passage. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only. Passage-1 Over the next 30 years, many countries are promising to move to net-zero carbon, implying that household emissions will have to be cut to close to nothing. A leading climate scientist reckons that, at best, half the reduction might be achieved through demand-side measures, such as behavioural changes by individuals and households. And even that would require companies and governments to provide more incentives to change through supply-side investments to make low-carbon options cheaper and more widely available.
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. Supply-side investments in companies can result in low-carbon behaviour in people.
II. People are not capable of adapting low-carbon behaviour without the involvement of Government and Companies.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
Both I and II
Analyzing Assumptions on Net-Zero Carbon Emissions and Behavioral Change
The passage discusses the goal of many countries to achieve net-zero carbon emissions over the next 30 years. It highlights that a significant reduction in household emissions is required for this. A climate scientist suggests that while demand-side measures, like behavioral changes by individuals, can contribute, they might only achieve about half the needed reduction.
Crucially, the passage states that even achieving this half reduction through behavioral changes would "require companies and governments to provide more incentives to change through supply-side investments" which make low-carbon options more affordable and accessible. This shows a clear link between external factors (supply-side investments, government/company involvement) and the feasibility and effectiveness of individual behavioral changes (demand-side measures) in achieving large-scale emissions reductions.
Analyzing Assumption I: Supply-side investments impact low-carbon behavior
Assumption I states: Supply-side investments in companies can result in low-carbon behaviour in people.
- The passage explicitly links supply-side investments to providing incentives for change.
- It says these investments "make low-carbon options cheaper and more widely available."
- When low-carbon options are cheaper and easier to access due to supply-side actions (like investment in infrastructure or technology), it directly encourages or facilitates individuals to adopt behaviors that use these options (e.g., buying an electric vehicle if charging infrastructure is widespread and affordable, or using public transport if it's improved).
- Therefore, the passage strongly supports the idea that supply-side investments can lead to changes in people's behavior towards low-carbon options.
Based on the passage, Assumption I is valid.
Analyzing Assumption II: Role of Government and Companies in low-carbon behavior
Assumption II states: People are not capable of adapting low-carbon behaviour without the involvement of Government and Companies.
- The passage uses the phrase "even that would require companies and governments to provide more incentives..." when discussing the potential for achieving half the reduction through behavioral changes alone.
- The word "require" indicates necessity. It implies that reaching the level of behavioral change needed for significant emissions reduction (like the 50% mentioned) is dependent on external support from government and companies.
- While individuals might make some changes independently, the passage suggests that achieving the ambitious goals like net-zero requires this larger systemic involvement to create the necessary conditions (incentives, availability, affordability) that enable widespread behavioral adaptation.
- The passage doesn't necessarily mean people are completely incapable of *any* low-carbon behavior on their own, but rather that the capability to adapt the behavior on the scale and speed required for net-zero goals is dependent on government and company involvement.
Based on the emphasis in the passage on the necessity of government and company involvement for achieving the needed behavioral changes, Assumption II is also valid within the context presented.
Conclusion on Assumptions
Both assumptions I and II are supported by the statements and implications within the provided passage.
Revision Table: Key Concepts in Carbon Reduction
| Concept | Explanation from Passage Context |
|---|---|
| Net-Zero Carbon | Goal for countries to balance carbon emissions with removals, aiming for no net release of carbon into the atmosphere. |
| Household Emissions | Carbon emissions resulting from activities within homes (e.g., heating, electricity use, transport decisions). |
| Demand-Side Measures | Actions taken by individuals and households (consumers) to reduce demand for carbon-intensive goods/services, often through behavioral changes. |
| Supply-Side Investments | Actions by companies and governments (producers/providers) to make low-carbon options available, affordable, and convenient (e.g., investing in renewable energy, public transport, efficient technology). |
| Behavioral Changes | Alterations in how people live, travel, consume, etc., to reduce their carbon footprint. |
Additional Information on Climate Action Strategies
Achieving significant climate goals like net-zero carbon involves a mix of strategies:
- Technological Innovation: Developing new low-carbon technologies (e.g., advanced batteries, carbon capture, green hydrogen).
- Policy and Regulation: Governments setting standards, offering incentives, and implementing regulations (like carbon pricing or bans on certain pollutants) to guide industries and individuals.
- Infrastructure Development: Building the necessary systems to support low-carbon living (e.g., electric vehicle charging networks, smart grids, public transport expansion).
- International Cooperation: Countries working together on emissions targets, technology transfer, and financial support.
The passage highlights the interconnectedness of these strategies, showing that individual actions (demand-side) are heavily influenced by the infrastructure and incentives provided by governments and companies (supply-side). Both are essential components of a comprehensive approach to reducing carbon emissions.
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Important Questions from Miscellaneous Topics
Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage?
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. No country needs to depend on ecosystems to boost national income.
II. Resource-rich countries need to share their resources with those of scant resources so as to prevent the degradation of ecosystems.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage?
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. Path-dependent green investments will eventually most likely benefit growth as well as public finances in a country like India.
II. If other green technologies follow the same pattern as that of solar energy, there will most likely be an easy green transition.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?Three prime numbers p, q and r, each less than 20, are such that p − q = q − r. How many distinct possible values can we get for (p + q + r)?
