Q.1-10. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some questions.
Environmentalists have been telling us about the presence of DDT residues in human milk and even traces of it in the blood of penguins. This tells us how widespread the use and abuse of this chemical is, but it took us more than 40 years to realise that DDT is a harmful persistent organic pollutant. While the effort is to phase out the harmful chemical, I am worried about the growing emergence of biological toxins — like Bt — and the threat they pose to our health and environment. Newer estimates tell us that each Bt plant produces within itself a heavy dose of toxins equal to 4.2 kg per hectare, 19 times more than the average use of chemical pesticides. Still more worrisome is a recent Canadian study that shows widespread presence of Bt-related insecticides in the blood of 93% pregnant women and in 80% of foetuses.
This shocking study prompted Glenn Davis Stone, professor of anthropology and environmental sciences at the University of Washington, to ask: “What does this mean for human health impacts? Nobody knows.” That is exactly what worries the people. Why can’t scientists hold more long-term experiments to know of the potential dangers GM technology can have on human health and the environment? Having failed to learn any lesson from the DDT debacle, the scientific community is pushing ahead for the acceptance of GM crops. So when the Supreme Court-appointed Technical Expert’s Committee (TEC) in its interim report suggested a moratorium for 10 years on field trials of GM crops till the time a regulatory mechanism is put in place, the GM industry reacted sharply.
The TEC report couldn’t have come at a better time. Only a few weeks ago, Giles-Eric Seralini, professor of molecular biology at the University of Caen, France, came out with another shocker. In a long-term study on rats for two years, he has demonstrated that when fed with GM maize and a particular herbicide, rats developed huge kidney and skin tumors, and also had digestive problems. Female rats developed fatal mammary tumours and pituitary disorders. In addition, the fatality rate was very high.
As expected, the industry reacted terming the study ‘bogus’, ‘fraudulent’ and ‘unscientific’. The rat study has shown how important it is to replicate such long-term experiments in multi-location trials. This is exactly what the TEC as well as the Standing Parliamentary Committee, which submitted its report in August, had also called for. In case of agriculture, the claims have fallen flat. There is no GM crop in the world which increases crop productivity. US department of agriculture acknowledges low productivity of GM corn and GM soybean. The promise of reducing chemical pesticides usage has also been belied. In the US alone, pesticides use has increased by 404 million pounds between 1996 and 2011. In India, the Central Institute for Cotton Research has shown that pesticides usage in cotton has not decreased with the advent of Bt crops. Still more worrisome is the emergence of super weeds and resistant insects. In America, more than 14.5 million acres are now afflicted with super weeds which are difficult to eliminate. As many as 23 weeds have now been classified as ‘super weeds’. Imagine the crisis that awaits farmers if GM crop field trials, without any effective regulatory system in place, continue to be allowed. A robust regulatory regime, with science-based long-term studies on the impact of GM crops on soil, animal and human health and the environment are desperately needed.
Q-1 Why is the author saying that the emergence of super weeds and resistant insects is worrisome?
01. It is so because the demand for the super weeds is growing tremendously.
02. It is so because the people are now shifting their tastes from vegetarian diets to non vegetarian diets.
03. It is so because it is costly to purchase super weeds as compared to GM crops.
04. Only 2 and 3
05. Not mentioned in the passage
Q-2 What is said about the super weeds in America?
01. More than 14.5 million acres are now afflicted with super weeds
02. Super weeds are difficult to eliminate in America.
03. Super weeds are equal to Gm crops, which are becoming more popular in America.
04. Only 1 and 2
05. All of the above
Q-3 Which of the following statements is FALSE in context of the passage?
01. As many as 23 weeds have now been classified as ‘super weeds’.
02. DDT residues have been found in the blood of penguins.
03. Canadian study shows widespread presence of Bt-related insecticides in the blood of 80% of foetuses.
04. Glenn Davis Stone is the professor of anthropology and environmental sciences at the University of Washington.
05. All are true
Q-4 According to the passage, in the US alone, pesticides use has increased by how many million pounds between 1996 and 2011?
01. 404 million pounds
02. 409 million pounds
03. 401 million pounds
04. 402 million pounds
05. 408 million pounds
Q-5 Which of the following is not true about the experiment conducted on the rats as mentioned in the passage?
(A) They were fed GM maize and a particular herbicide.
(B) The rats developed huge kidney and skin tumors.
(C) The fatality rate was very low.
(D) The rats had digestive problems.
01. Only A
02. Only A and B
03. Only C
04. Only B and D
05. Only A, B and D
Q-6 Which of the following statements is TRUE in context of the given passage?
01. GM crop increases crop productivity.
02. The DDT residues talked about in the passage is not all that harmful to humans as they are to animals.
03. Each Bt plant produces within itself a heavy dose of toxins equal to 4.2 kg per hectare.
04. The scientific community has learned a lot from the DDT debacle.
05. The High Court in the state appointed the Technical Expert’s Committee on the field trial of GM crops.
Q-7 Why has the environmentalist stated that the element DDT is found in the residues of human milk?
01. It is so because there is high carbon content in the atmosphere now.
02. It is so because the humans have been using chemicals in large quantity lately.
03. It is so because the consumption of liquid in human lives has increased manifolds.
04. Not mentioned in the passage.
05. All of the above
Q-8 What could be the suitable title for the passage?
01. Failures of Government
02. Studies conducted across the world
03. Indian view on GM crops
04. Hear the warning bells
05. Manipulations of Scientists
Q-9 Choose the word which expresses the meaning of the word ‘belied’ as used in the passage.
01. compelled
02. negated
03. regulated
04. consented
05. allowed
Q-10 Choose the word which is opposite in meaning to the word ‘debacle’.
01. catastrophe
02. blessing
03. wreck
04. downfall
05. havoc
ANSWERS
1. 5
2. 4
3. 5
4. 1
5. 3
6. 3
7. 4
8. 4
9. 2
10. 2
