Read the passage and answer the questions that follow: Few of Man's activities…
2023
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
Few of Man's activities have zero environmental effect. For centuries, societies have suffered a wide variety of environmental damage, not least in terms of the air pollution that primitive, uncontrolled methods of combustion caused. People of Roman Britain, with fires in their huts, found the smoke a hazard to health and examination of human skulls shows a pitting that indicates a high frequency of sinusitis. The UK was the first country to widely experience massive industrial development based on coal. Between 1580 and 1680, imports of coal to London increased from 20,000 tonnes a year to 360,000 tonnes and London became a city of 'great stinking fogs'. These were only really to disappear some years after the episode in December 1952 when cold temperatures and moist air resulted in the condensation of moisture on particles in the air from coal combustion. Over a radius of 20 miles the resulting fog rendered the atmosphere opaque and it was found that in the week ending 13 December 1952 there had been an excess of 2851 over the usual weekly number of deaths. In response the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 dealt mainly with smoke in cities. Two decades after the smog disaster the Control of Pollution Act (1974) was brought in and systematically began the long haul towards comprehensive improvements in air quality as part of overall environmental protection. Similar experiences were encountered across Europe and North America during the 20th century.
The fog of London in the second week of December 1952
A. Reduced the number of deaths.
B. Increased the number of deaths.
C. Rendered the atmosphere over a radius of 20 miles smoke free.
D. Rendered the atmosphere over a radius of 20 miles opaque.
E. Did not make any difference to the air quality or to the number of deaths.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer: B. B and D Only — CONCEPTIn literal comprehension, each statement must be tested only against explicit information in the passage. A combination is acceptable only when every…
- A.
B, C and D Only
- B.
B and D Only
- C.
C, D and E Only
- D.
D and E Only
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
CONCEPT
In literal comprehension, each statement must be tested only against explicit information in the passage. A combination is acceptable only when every statement it contains agrees with the text.
APPLICATION
Statement | Passage check |
|---|---|
A | The passage reports excess deaths, not a reduction. |
B | The weekly total was 2,851 above the usual number of deaths. |
C | The atmosphere was described as opaque, not smoke-free. |
D | The atmosphere was opaque over a radius of 20 miles. |
E | Both mortality and visibility changed during the fog. |
CONTRAST
B, C and D only includes C, whose smoke-free description is not supported by the passage.
B and D only contains the two statements supported by the passage.
C, D and E only includes both the smoke-free and no-difference claims, which do not fit the passage.
D and E only includes E, although the passage records excess deaths and reduced visibility.
CROSS-CHECK
A direct cross-check gives the same result: the fog increased mortality and made the atmosphere opaque, while it neither made the area smoke-free nor left conditions unchanged.
RESULT
Therefore, B and D only is the supported combination.