Question : Comprehension:
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
The Black Drongo, also known as the King Crow, is a small Asian bird of the drongo family. Previously, it was seen as a subspecies of the African Fork-tailed Drongo but is now recognised as a full species. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Asia from southwest Iran through India and Sri Lanka to southern China and Indonesia. It is a wholly black bird with a distinctive forked tail and measures 28 cm in length.
Feeding on insects, it is commonly found in open agricultural areas and light forest areas throughout its range, perching conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone lines.
The species is famous for its aggressive behaviour towards much larger birds, such as crows, and never hesitates to dive-bomb any birds of prey that invade its territory. Smaller birds often nest in the well-guarded vicinity of a nesting Black Drongo.
The Black Drongo has been introduced to some Pacific islands, where it has thrived and become abundant to the point of threatening and causing the extinction of native and endemic bird species there.
Drongos fly with strong flaps of the wing and are capable of fast manoeuvres that enable them to capture flying insects. With short legs, they sit upright on thorny bushes, bare perches or electricity wires. They may also perch on grazing animals.
The Black Drongo is found predominantly in open country and usually perches and hunts close to the ground. They are mostly aerial predators of insects but also glean from the ground or off vegetation.
They are found as summer visitors to northeastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan but are mainly resident south from the Indus Valley up to Bangladesh and into India and Sri Lanka.
Question:
Which aspect of its nature does the bird show to larger birds that attempt to violate its space?

Option 1: Its ability to fly high.

Option 2: Its tendency to sit upright on perches.

Option 3: Its ability to catch flying insects.

Option 4: Its capacity to attack.

Question : What was a major impact of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka on the country's development?  
   

Option 1: Increased tourism  
      

Option 2: Enhanced agricultural productivity  
   

Option 3: Prolonged civil war  

Option 4: Rapid industrialization  

Question : Which of the following is an example of non-point source pollution?

Option 1: Industrial discharge

Option 2: Sewage treatment plant effluent

Option 3: Oil spill from a tanker

Option 4: Agricultural runoff

Question : Comprehension:
In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the options given. Select the most appropriate option for each number.
A new swarm of locusts entered Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer on Sunday. This is the fifth swarm to (1)______ the state in four days from (2)______ western border with Pakistan. Since the first locust swarm (3)______ the state’s Sri Ganganagar district on April 11, as many as 25 swarms (4)______ entered Rajasthan. Some swarms moved to Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, (5)______ which agricultural departments issued advisories to farmers asking them to be on high alert.
Question:
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank no. 3.

Option 1: invaded

Option 2: invade

Option 3: was invading

Option 4: is invading

Question : A key objective of tribal movements in India is to:

Option 1: Promote urbanization in tribal areas

Option 2: Safeguard tribal culture and autonomy

Option 3: Encourage the adoption of modern agricultural techniques

Option 4: Increase foreign tourism in tribal regions

Question : Assertion: Non-commercial energy sources, such as firewood and agricultural waste, are primarily used for cooking and heating in rural areas.

Reason: Non-commercial energy sources are locally available and easily accessible in rural regions.

Option 1: Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
  

Option 2: Both assertion and reason are correct, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
   

Option 3: Assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect.

Option 4: Assertion is incorrect, but the reason is correct.

Question : To which of the following is the Goldman Award related?

Option 1: Environment

Option 2: Scientific research

Option 3: Medical science

Option 4: Agricultural science

Question : The primary cause of air pollution in urban areas is:

Option 1: Vehicular emissions

Option 2: Industrial emissions

Option 3: Agricultural activities

Option 4: Natural sources like volcanic eruptions

Question : What was a major social consequence of the partition on Punjab?

Option 1: Increased industrialization

Option 2: Improved agricultural techniques

Option 3: Breakdown of community relations

Option 4: Expansion of educational institutions

Question : Read the following information carefully and answer the given questions.
Big dams received a big push from politicians and bureaucracy pouring enormous amounts of borrowed money in the early years of Independence. There has however been hardly any attempt at questioning the extent of damage caused or in evaluating whether the promises of food, water and prosperity for all have actually been realised. The diversion of rivers and construction of a long system of canals in a densely populated country like India will involve displacement of people on a colossal scale and the people affected are never likely to agree with such measures. All over the world, community reaction is to prevent construction of large dams. Preserving rivers in free-flow condition is considered ecologically necessary and the construction of large dams is now legally prohibited in Sweden and also in parts of USA. The technical challenges to be faced in redrawing the geography of the country are many and full of dangerous consequences and the mad rush in pursuit of such a chimera will prove disastrous. The cost of the project is so stupendous that any water made available will cost so much that governments will have to be forever subsidizing farmers. What long-term impact this massive borrowing will have on the economy is difficult to foresee.

Question:

Which of the following statements is true?

Option 1: The water made available through dams is better suited for industries than agricultural because of high costs and most of the countries have banned the construction of big dams.
 

Option 2: Most of the countries have banned the construction of big dams.
 

Option 3: The water made available through dams is better suited for industries than agricultural because of high costs.
 

Option 4: The diversion of rivers will involve displacement of people on a colossal scale.