Directions: Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow (Q.…
2016
Directions: Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow (Q. No. 78 to 84) by selecting the most appropriate option. Scientists are extremely concerned about the changes taking place in our climate. The changes are said to be alarmingly rapid and the result of human activity whereas in the past it had been natural and much slower. The major problem is that the planet appears to be warming up (global warming). This is occurring at a rate unprecedented in the last 10,000 years. The implications are very serious. Rising temperatures could give rise to extremely high increase in the incidence of floods and droughts, having effect on agriculture. It is thought that this unusual warming of the Earth has been caused by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, being emitted into the atmosphere by car engines and modern industrial processes. Such gases not only add to the pollution of the atmosphere, but trap the heat of the sun leading to the warming up of the planet. It has been suggested that industrialized countries would try to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions and plant more trees to create 'sinks' to absorb greenhouse gases. 84.The underlined word 'sinks' in the passage refers to:
- A.
absorption of greenhouse gases by industries.
- B.
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- C.
industrialized countries.
- D.
the plantation for absorbing harmful gases.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: In a 'word meaning in context' comprehension question, the correct choice is fixed by what the word grammatically attaches to within its own sentence in the passage, not by the word's everyday dictionary sense, and not by a different idea mentioned elsewhere in the passage.
Application: The passage states that industrialized countries would reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions and plant more trees to create 'sinks' to absorb greenhouse gases. The clause immediately explains what the newly created 'sinks' are for: absorbing the harmful gases. Since the sinks are created by planting trees, the word 'sinks' refers to the plantation raised for the purpose of absorbing harmful gases.
Cross-check: Testing each remaining option against the same sentence:
absorption of greenhouse gases by industries - reversed: the passage names industries (car engines, industrial processes) as the source that emits the gases, never as something that absorbs them.
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions - this is the other action joined to the tree-planting action by 'and'; it describes cutting emissions, a distinct step, not the noun 'sinks'.
industrialized countries - this names who carries out the strategy, not what the strategy creates; 'sinks' is the created thing, not the actor.
So 'sinks' in this passage refers to the plantation raised specifically to absorb the harmful gases.