Question

Read the following passage carefully:

According to a new study, a vast blanket of pollution stretching across South Asia is cutting down sunlight by 10 per cent over India, damaging agriculture, modifying rainfall patterns and putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk. It is said, "Acids in the haze may, by falling as acid rain, have the potential to damage crops and trees. Ash falling on leaves can aggravate the impact of reduced sunlight on the Earth's surface. The pollution that is forming the haze could be leading to several hundreds of thousands of premature deaths as a result of higher’ levels of respiratory diseases."  "The haze has cut down sunlight over India by 10 per cent (so far) — a huge amount! As a repercussion, the North-West of India is drying up," Prof. V. Ramanathan said when asked specifically about the impact of the haze over India. He said, "We are still in an early stage of understanding of the impact of the haze."  Prof. V. Ramanathan was asked whether the current droughts in most parts of India after over a decade of good monsoons was owing to the haze: He said, "It was too-early to reach a conclusion. If the droughts persist for about four to five years, then we would start suspecting that it may be because of the haze." India, China and Indonesia are the worst affected owing to their population density, economic growth and depleting forest cover.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below: (10)

1. Infer one reason for the following based on the information in paragraph 1:
   In India rainfall patterns are changing.
2. The pollution spreading across South Asia is affecting India by ______.
   Choose the correct option from the ones given below:
   
   
   1. I, II and III
   2. I, III and IV
   3. II, III and IV
   4. I, II and IV
3. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 2.
   possibility : ______ : : suspecting : doubting
4. Select the correct option to complete the sentence.
   ______ droughts were caused by the haze.
   
   1. Strong evidence suggested that
   2. Past surveys confirmed that
   3. There has not been enough time to determine that
   4. Superstitious people believe that
5. From the following pie chart, identify one reason each which does and does not contribute to weather disruption: 
   
6. Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.
   Ash falling on leaves can ______ the impact of reduced sunlight on the Earth's surface. 
   
   1. worsen
   2. encourage
   3. diminish
   4. support
7. Substitute the word ‘repercussion’ with one word similar in meaning in the following sentence from paragraph 3. 
   The haze has cut down sunlight over India ... As a repercussion, the North-West of India is drying up.
8. List any two countries which are affected due to depleting forest cover. 
9. Which of the following mean the same as 'persist' in 'droughts persist' as used in para 4? 
   1. destroying
   2. halting
   3. continue
   4. blocking
10. Select the option that titles paragraphs 1 – 4 appropriately with reference to information in the text.
    1. 1. Impact of Pollution in South Asia
       2. Effects of Acid Rain
       3. Understanding Consequences of Haze
       4. Debate over Droughts
    2. 1. Impact of Droughts
       2. Understanding Acid Rain
       3. Effect of Haze
       4. Debate over Pollution
    3. 1. Impact of Pollution in South Asia
       2. Effects of Acid Rain
       3. Debate over Droughts
       4. Understanding Haze
    4. 1. Impact of Haze
       2. Understanding Acid Rain
       3. Debate over Pollution
       4. Effect of Haze 

Answer 1

1. Rainfall patterns are changing as a result of South Asia's massive pollution blanket, which is decreasing sunshine by 10%.
2. I, II, and III 
3. possibility : potential : : suspecting : doubting
4. There has not been enough time to determine that droughts were caused by the haze.
5. 1. Contributes to weather disruption: Reduced sunlight/Depletion of forest cover
   2. Does NOT contribute to weather disruption: Good monsoon/Organic farming 
6. Ash falling on leaves can diminish the impact of reduced sunlight on the Earth's surface. 
7. Consequence
8. India and Indonesia
9. continue
10. 1. Impact of Pollution in South Asia
    2. Effects of Acid Rain
    3. Understanding Consequences of Haze
    4. Debate over Droughts