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Q21·CSAT · Prelims 2025

Biodiversity vs commercial exploitation - message

Reading Comp.Environment / Ecology passageRC - Critical messageMedium

Question

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage?

Options

a

Conservation of biodiversity is not an issue to be worried about when some people depend on ecosystems for their livelihoods.

b

Commercial exploitation of forests goes against the fundamental rights of the people dependent on forests for food and shelter.

c

Sustenance of livelihood and degradation of ecosystem while being together exacerbate one another, leading to conflicts and imbalance.

Answer
d

Commercial exploitation of ecosystems should be completely stopped

Explanation

The passage outlines the multi-dimensional conflict between conservation, livelihoods, and commercial exploitation. It explicitly notes that commercial exploitation causes ecosystem degradation (deforestation, floods), which in turn adversely affects livelihoods, highlighting a vicious cycle. Option (c) perfectly encapsulates this interwoven crisis of livelihood needs and ecosystem degradation. The other options introduce extreme absolutes ("completely stopped", "not an issue") or extraneous legal concepts ("fundamental rights") that are never mentioned in the text.

Always reject Reading Comprehension options that introduce strict legal or policy absolutes unless the author explicitly dictates a hardline solution.

Answer: (c).

Question details

Year

2025

Paper

CSAT

Question

Q21

Section

Reading Comprehension

Sub-topic

Environment / Ecology passage

Type

RC - Critical message

Difficulty

Medium

Source hint

Passage-based comprehension

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