UPSC Prelims Environment previous year questions in the "Statement-I & Statement-II (Assertion-Reason Style)" question pattern — real questions with answers and explanations.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Statement-II: The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Explanation: * Statement I is correct: The Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus), a large fruit-eating bat, was historically placed under the "vermin" category in Schedule V of the original Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, due to its tendency to raid commercial fruit orchards. (Note: Recent amendments shifted it to Schedule II to confer a higher degree of protection). * Statement II is incorrect: The Indian Flying Fox is frugivorous and nectarivorous; it feeds exclusively on ripe fruits (such as mangoes and guavas) and floral nectar, not on the blood of other animals.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution.
Statement-II: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Explanation: * (a) is correct: Discarded commercial chewing gums cause severe municipal and environmental plastic waste tracking problems, validating Statement-I. * The flexible synthetic "gum base" that gives regular chewing gums their elasticity contains non-biodegradable synthetic polymers like polyvinyl acetate (PVA)—the same plastic compound used to manufacture adhesives, glues, and car tyres, validating Statement-II. * Because these chewing gums are formulated using non-biodegradable plastic polymers (Statement-II), their discarded, sticky matrices persist in the biosphere for centuries and cause widespread plastic pollution (Statement-I), making Statement-II the correct explanation.