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Question 11

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

'The idea that space and time form a four-dimensional continuum was first suggested by Hermann Minkowski as a natural consequence of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity. In this framework, time is not an independent, absolute entity, as Newton had assumed, but rather interwoven with the three spatial dimensions into a single fabric known as space-time. Events occur at points in this space-time, and their separation is governed not by traditional Euclidean distance but by the relativistic interval, which remains invariant under changes of reference frame. This deep connection between space and time implies that the passage of time is not universal but relative: what one observer perceives as simultaneous may differ for another observer in relative motion.

This concept becomes even more profound when we introduce gravity, as formulated in Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. Gravity is no longer thought of as a force in the Newtonian sense but rather as the curvature of space-time caused by the presence of mass and energy. Objects moving within this curved space-time follow geodesics—the natural paths dictated by the warping of space and time itself. This leads to the astonishing prediction that time runs differently in regions of varying gravitational potential: near a massive body, such as a black hole, time slows relative to an observer in free space. This effect, known as gravitational time dilation, has been confirmed through precise experiments, such as the observation that clocks aboard satellites tick slightly faster than those on Earth's surface due to weaker gravity.'

Which of the following best describes the grammatical structure of the sentence:

According to the passage, why do clocks aboard satellites tick faster than those on Earth's surface?

  1. AOption (a)

    They are moving at higher speeds than clocks on Earth.

  2. BOption (b)

    They experience weaker gravitational fields than clocks on Earth.

  3. COption (c)

    They are farther from Earth's magnetic field.

  4. DOption (d)

    They are influenced by solar radiation differently.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

They experience weaker gravitational fields than clocks on Earth.

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 

Key Points

  • Gravitational Time Dilation
  • The passage explains that according to the General Theory of Relativity, time runs differently depending on the gravitational potential of a region. Specifically, time slows down near massive bodies where gravity is stronger.
  • Observation in Satellites
  • The passage explicitly states: "clocks aboard satellites tick slightly faster than those on Earth's surface due to weaker gravity."
  • This confirms that the primary reason mentioned in the text for the difference in clock speed between satellites and Earth is the strength of the gravitational field.

Therefore, the correct answer is They experience weaker gravitational fields than clocks on Earth.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: While the passage mentions that relative motion affects time perception (Special Relativity), it specifically attributes the satellite clock phenomenon to gravitational potential (General Relativity).
  • Option 3: Magnetic fields are not discussed in the passage as a factor affecting the passage of time.
  • Option 4: Solar radiation is not mentioned in the passage as a reason for time dilation.

Question 12

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

In the relentless expansion of urban environments, the provision of public playgrounds often recedes into a peripheral concern, overshadowed by commercial imperatives and infrastructural demands. Yet, their significance transcends mere recreational utility. Playgrounds constitute critical arenas for cognitive, social, and physical development in children, fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity. Despite the mounting corpus of research affirming these benefits, municipal authorities frequently exhibit a myopic focus on economic expediency, relegating green and play spaces to marginal status.

The consequences of this oversight are profound. A deficit of accessible, safe play areas not only exacerbates sedentary behaviours among youth—contributing to escalating public health crises such as obesity and anxiety—but also erodes the social cohesion that vibrant urban communities depend upon. Playgrounds, when thoughtfully integrated into cityscapes, act as vital intergenerational nexuses, bridging demographic divides and cultivating a sense of belonging that sterile commercial zones cannot replicate.

To rectify this imbalance, urban planners must adopt a paradigm that recognizes play as an essential urban function, not a dispensable luxury. Design strategies should prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and aesthetic integration with the built environment. Only through intentional, visionary planning can cities nurture both their youngest residents and the communal fabric upon which their long-term vitality depends.

Identify the correct function of the phrase "fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity" in the sentence:

"Playgrounds constitute critical arenas for cognitive, social, and physical development in children, fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity."

  1. AOption (a)

    Adjective phrase modifying 'arenas'

  2. BOption (b)

    Adverbial phrase showing cause

  3. COption (c)

    Present participial phrase explaining the result

  4. DOption (d)

    Gerund phrase acting as a subject

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Present participial phrase explaining the result

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

  • A) Identification of the Phrase Structure
  • The phrase "fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity" begins with 'fostering', which is a present participle (the -ing form of a verb acting as an adjective or introducing a participial phrase).
  • B) Functional Analysis in the Sentence
  • In this sentence, the phrase follows a complete independent clause. It acts as a resultative modifier, explaining the outcome or the result of playgrounds serving as critical arenas for development. By being these arenas, they effectively foster these specific traits in children.
  • C) Distinguishing from other Grammatical Forms
  • The phrase is not acting as a noun (gerund), nor is it providing the reason/cause for the main action; rather, it describes the consequence of the state described in the first half of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Present participial phrase explaining the result.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: Incorrect because while the phrase provides more detail, it functions more as a clause-level modifier explaining a result rather than a simple adjective phrase modifying the noun 'arenas' directly.
  • Option 2: Incorrect because the phrase does not explain why playgrounds are critical (cause), but rather what happens because they are critical (result).
  • Option 4: Incorrect because a gerund phrase functions as a noun (subject or object). In this sentence, the subject is "Playgrounds," and "fostering" is not acting as a noun.

Question 13

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

In the relentless expansion of urban environments, the provision of public playgrounds often recedes into a peripheral concern, overshadowed by commercial imperatives and infrastructural demands. Yet, their significance transcends mere recreational utility. Playgrounds constitute critical arenas for cognitive, social, and physical development in children, fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity. Despite the mounting corpus of research affirming these benefits, municipal authorities frequently exhibit a myopic focus on economic expediency, relegating green and play spaces to marginal status.

The consequences of this oversight are profound. A deficit of accessible, safe play areas not only exacerbates sedentary behaviours among youth—contributing to escalating public health crises such as obesity and anxiety—but also erodes the social cohesion that vibrant urban communities depend upon. Playgrounds, when thoughtfully integrated into cityscapes, act as vital intergenerational nexuses, bridging demographic divides and cultivating a sense of belonging that sterile commercial zones cannot replicate.

To rectify this imbalance, urban planners must adopt a paradigm that recognizes play as an essential urban function, not a dispensable luxury. Design strategies should prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and aesthetic integration with the built environment. Only through intentional, visionary planning can cities nurture both their youngest residents and the communal fabric upon which their long-term vitality depends.

Choose the correct grammatical label for the structure "urban planners must adopt a paradigm that recognizes play as an essential urban function".

  1. AOption (a)

    Simple Sentence

  2. BOption (b)

    Compound – Complex Sentence

  3. COption (c)

    Complex Sentence

  4. DOption (d)

    Compound Sentence

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Complex Sentence

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

  • Definition of a Complex Sentence:
  • A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. The dependent clause is usually joined to the independent clause by a subordinating conjunction (like because, although, if) or a relative pronoun (like who, which, that).
  • Analysis of the Sentence:
  • Independent Clause: "urban planners must adopt a paradigm" (This part can stand alone as a complete thought).
  • Dependent Clause: "that recognizes play as an essential urban function" (This is a relative clause starting with the relative pronoun 'that' which modifies the noun 'paradigm').
  • Since the sentence contains one independent clause and one dependent clause, it is classified as a Complex Sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Complex Sentence.

 

Additional Information

  • Simple Sentence: A sentence consisting of only one independent clause (e.g., "Urban planners must adopt a paradigm.").
  • Compound Sentence: A sentence containing at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction like 'and', 'but', or 'or' (e.g., "Urban planners must adopt a paradigm, and they must prioritize play.").
  • Compound-Complex Sentence: A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Question 14

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

In the relentless expansion of urban environments, the provision of public playgrounds often recedes into a peripheral concern, overshadowed by commercial imperatives and infrastructural demands. Yet, their significance transcends mere recreational utility. Playgrounds constitute critical arenas for cognitive, social, and physical development in children, fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity. Despite the mounting corpus of research affirming these benefits, municipal authorities frequently exhibit a myopic focus on economic expediency, relegating green and play spaces to marginal status.

The consequences of this oversight are profound. A deficit of accessible, safe play areas not only exacerbates sedentary behaviours among youth—contributing to escalating public health crises such as obesity and anxiety—but also erodes the social cohesion that vibrant urban communities depend upon. Playgrounds, when thoughtfully integrated into cityscapes, act as vital intergenerational nexuses, bridging demographic divides and cultivating a sense of belonging that sterile commercial zones cannot replicate.

To rectify this imbalance, urban planners must adopt a paradigm that recognizes play as an essential urban function, not a dispensable luxury. Design strategies should prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and aesthetic integration with the built environment. Only through intentional, visionary planning can cities nurture both their youngest residents and the communal fabric upon which their long-term vitality depends.

What is the closest meaning of "myopic" as used in the passage?

  1. AOption (a)

    Generous

  2. BOption (b)

    Short-sighted

  3. COption (c)

    Overconfident

  4. DOption (d)

    Well-informed

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Short-sighted

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 

Key Points

  • Contextual Meaning:
  • In the passage, the word "myopic" is used to describe the focus of municipal authorities on "economic expediency." The author argues that these authorities are ignoring the long-term social, cognitive, and physical benefits of playgrounds in favor of immediate financial or infrastructural goals.
  • Definition of Myopic:
  • Literally, "myopic" refers to nearsightedness. Figuratively, it means short-sighted—lacking foresight or intellectual insight, and failing to consider the long-term implications of a decision.
  • Evidence from the Text:
  • The text states that authorities exhibit this focus "despite the mounting corpus of research affirming these benefits," suggesting they are failing to look at the "big picture" or the future health of the community.

Therefore, the correct answer is Short-sighted.

 

Additional Information

  • Generous: This is incorrect as it implies a spirit of giving or abundance, which contradicts the passage's description of authorities relegating play spaces to "marginal status."
  • Overconfident: This is incorrect because the passage focuses on the narrowness of the authorities' vision (lack of foresight), not their level of self-assurance.
  • Well-informed: This is the opposite of the intended meaning. The author implies that by ignoring research on the benefits of playgrounds, the authorities are acting without proper regard for the facts.

Question 15

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

In the relentless expansion of urban environments, the provision of public playgrounds often recedes into a peripheral concern, overshadowed by commercial imperatives and infrastructural demands. Yet, their significance transcends mere recreational utility. Playgrounds constitute critical arenas for cognitive, social, and physical development in children, fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity. Despite the mounting corpus of research affirming these benefits, municipal authorities frequently exhibit a myopic focus on economic expediency, relegating green and play spaces to marginal status.

The consequences of this oversight are profound. A deficit of accessible, safe play areas not only exacerbates sedentary behaviours among youth—contributing to escalating public health crises such as obesity and anxiety—but also erodes the social cohesion that vibrant urban communities depend upon. Playgrounds, when thoughtfully integrated into cityscapes, act as vital intergenerational nexuses, bridging demographic divides and cultivating a sense of belonging that sterile commercial zones cannot replicate.

To rectify this imbalance, urban planners must adopt a paradigm that recognizes play as an essential urban function, not a dispensable luxury. Design strategies should prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and aesthetic integration with the built environment. Only through intentional, visionary planning can cities nurture both their youngest residents and the communal fabric upon which their long-term vitality depends.

What does 'rectify' most likely mean in the sentence: 'To rectify this imbalance, urban planners must...'?

  1. AOption (a)

    To worsen

  2. BOption (b)

    To create

  3. COption (c)

    To amend

  4. DOption (d)

    To understand

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

To amend

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

  • A) Definition of 'Rectify':
  • The word 'rectify' means to put something right, to correct a mistake, or to remedy a situation. In the context of the sentence, it refers to fixing the "imbalance" between commercial interests and public play spaces.
  • B) Contextual Usage:
  • The passage highlights a problem where urban environments neglect playgrounds. To "rectify this imbalance" means to take action to amend or correct the current flawed approach to urban planning.
  • C) Synonymity with 'Amend':
  • 'Amend' means to make changes in order to improve something or set it right. This is the closest synonym to 'rectify' among the provided options.

Therefore, the correct answer is To amend.

 

Additional Information

  • To worsen: This is the opposite (antonym) of rectify; it means to make a situation worse.
  • To create: While planners may create new designs, 'rectify' specifically implies fixing an existing error or disproportion.
  • To understand: Understanding is a cognitive process, whereas 'rectify' implies an active correction or improvement.

Question 16

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

In the relentless expansion of urban environments, the provision of public playgrounds often recedes into a peripheral concern, overshadowed by commercial imperatives and infrastructural demands. Yet, their significance transcends mere recreational utility. Playgrounds constitute critical arenas for cognitive, social, and physical development in children, fostering resilience, creativity, and communal identity. Despite the mounting corpus of research affirming these benefits, municipal authorities frequently exhibit a myopic focus on economic expediency, relegating green and play spaces to marginal status.

The consequences of this oversight are profound. A deficit of accessible, safe play areas not only exacerbates sedentary behaviours among youth—contributing to escalating public health crises such as obesity and anxiety—but also erodes the social cohesion that vibrant urban communities depend upon. Playgrounds, when thoughtfully integrated into cityscapes, act as vital intergenerational nexuses, bridging demographic divides and cultivating a sense of belonging that sterile commercial zones cannot replicate.

To rectify this imbalance, urban planners must adopt a paradigm that recognizes play as an essential urban function, not a dispensable luxury. Design strategies should prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and aesthetic integration with the built environment. Only through intentional, visionary planning can cities nurture both their youngest residents and the communal fabric upon which their long-term vitality depends.

Based on the passage, which of the following best captures the author's main concern about the development of urban playgrounds?

  1. AOption (a)

    Playgrounds are being expanded without any proper design regulations.

  2. BOption (b)

    Cities are excessively focused on children's needs at the expense of infrastructure.

  3. COption (c)

    Urban development often neglects playgrounds, undervaluing their role in holistic community development.

  4. DOption (d)

    Modern playgrounds are too expensive and unaffordable for most city budgets.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Urban development often neglects playgrounds, undervaluing their role in holistic community development.

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

  • A) Urban development prioritizes commercial and infrastructural demands over public playgrounds.
  • The passage states that the provision of public playgrounds often "recedes into a peripheral concern, overshadowed by commercial imperatives and infrastructural demands." This highlights the neglect mentioned in Option 3.
  • B) Playgrounds are essential for holistic development and community cohesion.
  • The author emphasizes that playgrounds are "critical arenas for cognitive, social, and physical development" and act as "vital intergenerational nexuses." This supports the idea that their role in community development is significant but undervalued.
  • C) Municipal authorities focus on economic expediency rather than long-term community benefits.
  • The passage mentions a "myopic focus on economic expediency," which leads to relegating play spaces to a "marginal status," directly supporting the concern that these spaces are undervalued.

Therefore, the correct answer is Urban development often neglects playgrounds, undervaluing their role in holistic community development.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: Incorrect because the passage suggests playgrounds are being neglected or marginalized, not that they are being expanded without regulation.
  • Option 2: Incorrect because the passage argues the opposite—that cities are focused on commercial needs at the expense of children's developmental needs.
  • Option 4: Incorrect because while economic focus is mentioned, the author's primary concern is the lack of recognition of play as an "essential urban function" rather than the specific cost of modern equipment.

Question 17

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

Throughout the annals of natural history, the Earth has borne silent witness to the inexorable disappearance of myriad species, each extinction a solemn testimony to both the planet's dynamism and humanity's escalating dominion. From the enigmatic dodo of Mauritius, eradicated by heedless exploitation, to the majestic Quagga of southern Africa, whose patterned beauty now survives only in genetic archives, the procession of vanished fauna narrates a grim tale of negligence and entropy.

Extinction, often perceived as an abstract inevitability, is in fact a culmination of intricate ecological imbalances—habitat encroachment, invasive predatory, climatic upheavals, and unsustainable harvests—all catalysed predominantly by anthropogenic interference. The passenger pigeon, once darkening North American skies in inconceivable numbers, was reduced to oblivion within mere decades, a chilling reminder that abundance offers no immunity against annihilation.

Yet, amidst the lamentations, emerges a subtle warning: the loss of a single species reverberates across entire ecosystems, destabilizing intricate food webs and triggering unforeseen cascades of decline. Each animal that has vanished is not merely a relic of the past, but a prescient symbol of our precarious future. Without concerted conservation, education, and ethical stewardship, the litany of extinction may soon engulf creatures whose absence would render the world infinitely poorer—both biologically and spiritually.

Choose the correct article to fill the blank:

'___ enigmatic dodo of Mauritius was eradicated by heedless exploitation.'

  1. AOption (a)

    A

  2. BOption (b)

    An

  3. COption (c)

    The

  4. DOption (d)

    No article needed

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

The

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

  • The use of the Definite Article 'The':
  • The definite article 'The' is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. It is used for specific nouns or when a noun is followed by a qualifying prepositional phrase.
  • In the phrase "The enigmatic dodo of Mauritius", the noun 'dodo' is made specific by the adjective 'enigmatic' and the prepositional phrase 'of Mauritius'.
  • The passage itself explicitly uses the definite article: "From the enigmatic dodo of Mauritius..."

Therefore, the correct answer is The.

 

Additional Information

  • A: This is an indefinite article used before words starting with a consonant sound. It is incorrect here because the noun is specific and 'enigmatic' starts with a vowel sound.
  • An: While 'enigmatic' starts with a vowel sound, 'An' is an indefinite article used for non-specific items. Since we are talking about a specific dodo (of Mauritius) mentioned in the text, 'The' is required.
  • No article needed: This is incorrect because singular countable nouns (like dodo) generally require an article when used in this context to denote a specific species.

Question 18

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

Throughout the annals of natural history, the Earth has borne silent witness to the inexorable disappearance of myriad species, each extinction a solemn testimony to both the planet's dynamism and humanity's escalating dominion. From the enigmatic dodo of Mauritius, eradicated by heedless exploitation, to the majestic Quagga of southern Africa, whose patterned beauty now survives only in genetic archives, the procession of vanished fauna narrates a grim tale of negligence and entropy.

Extinction, often perceived as an abstract inevitability, is in fact a culmination of intricate ecological imbalances—habitat encroachment, invasive predatory, climatic upheavals, and unsustainable harvests—all catalysed predominantly by anthropogenic interference. The passenger pigeon, once darkening North American skies in inconceivable numbers, was reduced to oblivion within mere decades, a chilling reminder that abundance offers no immunity against annihilation.

Yet, amidst the lamentations, emerges a subtle warning: the loss of a single species reverberates across entire ecosystems, destabilizing intricate food webs and triggering unforeseen cascades of decline. Each animal that has vanished is not merely a relic of the past, but a prescient symbol of our precarious future. Without concerted conservation, education, and ethical stewardship, the litany of extinction may soon engulf creatures whose absence would render the world infinitely poorer—both biologically and spiritually.

'Without concerted conservation, education, and ethical stewardship, the litany of extinction may soon engulf creatures whose absence would render the world infinitely poorer.'

  1. AOption (a)

    Simple Sentence

  2. BOption (b)

    Compound Sentence

  3. COption (c)

    Complex Sentence

  4. DOption (d)

    Compound - Complex Sentence

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Complex Sentence

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 3'.

 

Key Points

  • A) Definition of a Complex Sentence:
  • A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause (a clause that can stand alone as a sentence) and at least one dependent clause (a clause that cannot stand alone).
  • B) Analysis of the Independent Clause:
  • In the given sentence, "the litany of extinction may soon engulf creatures" serves as the independent clause. It contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
  • C) Analysis of the Dependent Clause:
  • The part "whose absence would render the world infinitely poorer" is a relative dependent clause. It begins with the relative pronoun "whose" and functions to provide more information about the "creatures," but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Complex Sentence.

 

Additional Information

  • Simple Sentence: Contains only one independent clause and no dependent clauses (e.g., "The dodo is extinct.").
  • Compound Sentence: Contains at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction like 'and', 'but', or 'or' (e.g., "The dodo is extinct, and the quagga is gone too.").
  • Compound-Complex Sentence: Contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Question 19

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

Throughout the annals of natural history, the Earth has borne silent witness to the inexorable disappearance of myriad species, each extinction a solemn testimony to both the planet's dynamism and humanity's escalating dominion. From the enigmatic dodo of Mauritius, eradicated by heedless exploitation, to the majestic Quagga of southern Africa, whose patterned beauty now survives only in genetic archives, the procession of vanished fauna narrates a grim tale of negligence and entropy.

Extinction, often perceived as an abstract inevitability, is in fact a culmination of intricate ecological imbalances—habitat encroachment, invasive predatory, climatic upheavals, and unsustainable harvests—all catalysed predominantly by anthropogenic interference. The passenger pigeon, once darkening North American skies in inconceivable numbers, was reduced to oblivion within mere decades, a chilling reminder that abundance offers no immunity against annihilation.

Yet, amidst the lamentations, emerges a subtle warning: the loss of a single species reverberates across entire ecosystems, destabilizing intricate food webs and triggering unforeseen cascades of decline. Each animal that has vanished is not merely a relic of the past, but a prescient symbol of our precarious future. Without concerted conservation, education, and ethical stewardship, the litany of extinction may soon engulf creatures whose absence would render the world infinitely poorer—both biologically and spiritually.

What is the meaning of "entropy" as used in the passage?

  1. AOption (a)

    Creative growth

  2. BOption (b)

    Gradual decline into disorder

  3. COption (c)

    Vibrant energy

  4. DOption (d)

    Predictable structure

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Gradual decline into disorder

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 

Key Points

  • Contextual Meaning:
  • In the passage, the author uses the phrase "a grim tale of negligence and entropy" to describe the disappearance of species. In this context, entropy refers to the breakdown of ecological systems and the inevitable slide into chaos or disorder caused by human interference and natural neglect.
  • Definition of Entropy:
  • In general usage, entropy represents a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.
  • In a literary or social context, it signifies a gradual decline into disorder, which perfectly matches the "grim tale" of extinction described in the text.

Therefore, the correct answer is Gradual decline into disorder.

 

Additional Information

  • Creative growth: This is the opposite of the passage's theme, which focuses on loss, extinction, and "annihilation."
  • Vibrant energy: The passage describes the tone as "grim" and "solemn," which contradicts the idea of vibrancy or positive energy.
  • Predictable structure: Entropy specifically refers to the loss of structure and the increase of unpredictability and chaos.

Question 20

SSC JHT 2025• General English

Read the passage and answer the questions:

Throughout the annals of natural history, the Earth has borne silent witness to the inexorable disappearance of myriad species, each extinction a solemn testimony to both the planet's dynamism and humanity's escalating dominion. From the enigmatic dodo of Mauritius, eradicated by heedless exploitation, to the majestic Quagga of southern Africa, whose patterned beauty now survives only in genetic archives, the procession of vanished fauna narrates a grim tale of negligence and entropy.

Extinction, often perceived as an abstract inevitability, is in fact a culmination of intricate ecological imbalances—habitat encroachment, invasive predatory, climatic upheavals, and unsustainable harvests—all catalysed predominantly by anthropogenic interference. The passenger pigeon, once darkening North American skies in inconceivable numbers, was reduced to oblivion within mere decades, a chilling reminder that abundance offers no immunity against annihilation.

Yet, amidst the lamentations, emerges a subtle warning: the loss of a single species reverberates across entire ecosystems, destabilizing intricate food webs and triggering unforeseen cascades of decline. Each animal that has vanished is not merely a relic of the past, but a prescient symbol of our precarious future. Without concerted conservation, education, and ethical stewardship, the litany of extinction may soon engulf creatures whose absence would render the world infinitely poorer—both biologically and spiritually.

According to the passage, why does the extinction of even a single species matter significantly?

  1. AOption (a)

    It has no measurable effect on ecosystems.

  2. BOption (b)

    It may destabilize entire ecosystems and trigger unpredictable consequences.

  3. COption (c)

    It reduces only the aesthetic diversity of nature.

  4. DOption (d)

    It provides opportunities for other species to thrive.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

It may destabilize entire ecosystems and trigger unpredictable consequences.

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 

Key Points

  • The impact of a single extinction:
  • According to the passage, the loss of a single species is not an isolated event; it reverberates across entire ecosystems.
  • The text explicitly mentions that such a loss leads to the destabilization of intricate food webs.
  • It further explains that this destabilization triggers unforeseen cascades of decline, which aligns directly with the idea of unpredictable consequences.

Therefore, the correct answer is It may destabilize entire ecosystems and trigger unpredictable consequences.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: Incorrect because the passage states the effect is significant and far-reaching, not "unmeasurable."
  • Option 3: Incorrect because while the passage mentions the world would be "spiritually" poorer, the primary reason given for its significance is the ecological "cascades of decline."
  • Option 4: Incorrect because the passage focuses on the negative "destabilization" and "decline" rather than providing opportunities for others to thrive.