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Reading Comprehension Practice Exercise - 1

Description: RC CLASSROOM PRACTICE EXERCISE- 1
Number of Questions: 13
Created by:
Tags: RC CLASSROOM PRACTICE EXERCISE- 1 Odd One Out Logical Reasoning Logical Games Mathematical Reasoning Purpose
Attempted 0/13 Correct 0 Score 0

What should industrial nations be doing instead of advocating known ideas to developing nations?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. Follow the example set by Japan

  2. Try to find alternative sources of fuel

  3. Provide more funds to their scientists to facilitate the discovery of other energy sources

  4. Implement the combative measures and not propagate them

  5. Preach the percepts they really believe in


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

This supports the statement “Industrial countries should begin setting the example”. It is time to implement the ideas rather than preach it.

In context of the passage, the word ‘torments’ most nearly means

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. insults

  2. afflicts

  3. degrades

  4. makes fun of

  5. torture


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Debt is a problem that afflicts the developing countries.

The United States and Britain show an allergic attitude whenever there is talk of moving away from fossil fuels because

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. information relating to the cost of shifting from fossil fuels to other energy sources is scarce and ambiguous

  2. it will prove to be very expensive to undertake such a huge change

  3. the risk of industrial restructuring can have major repercussions for the countries

  4. they have been not able to find a suitable substitute for fossil fuels

  5. they don’t want to be coerced into doing something in a limited time frame


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

As per the passage, the reason is the lack of information regarding the cost of an industrial shift. Please refer to lines , 'Resistance is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be...'.

Which of the following was not an issue at the conference?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. Freezing of CO2 emission

  2. Stemming of the greenhouse effect

  3. Financial assistance to the poor countries to combat CO2 emission

  4. Combating CO2

  5. Putting a worldwide policy in place


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Financial assistance to the poor countries to combat CO2 emission was not an issue which was raised in the conference, rather a suggestion by the author.

The author uses the word ‘vacillations’ in order to imply

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. stillness

  2. lots of confusion

  3. indecisiveness

  4. argumentation

  5. hesitation


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

In context of the passage, this means that no concrete decisions were taken at the conference. Hence, option (3) is the correct answer.

In context of the passage, the word ‘stemming’ most nearly means

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. stopping

  2. checking

  3. branching out

  4. delaying

  5. diverging


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In context of the passage, the word 'stemming' means restraining or putting a check on the increasing greenhouse effect. So, 'checking' is the correct answer.

At the conference, there was a

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. gathering of representatives from industrial countries

  2. global representation of environmentalists

  3. gathering of scientists from all countries

  4. gathering of global experts on climate and policy makers

  5. industrialists from across the globe


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

At the conference, there was a 'gathering of global experts on climate and policy makers'. This description is more specific and agrees with the statement, 'Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment'.

It can be inferred from the lines, "None of these aims, in fact, has materialised....dominating fossil fuel energy deployment" that

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. all countries do not have the required materials to carry on with the plans

  2. the developing countries have to be given the materials by the developed countries to adhere to the rules set by them

  3. the developing countries have been unable to live up to the expectations of the rest of the world

  4. later developments proved that the aims of the conference have not been realised

  5. countries are unwilling to let go off their pre-conceived notions


Correct Option: E
Explanation:

The line, 'These countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept', found in the third paragraph gives us the clue that countries are unwilling let to go of their pre-conceived ideas regarding their economies and fossils as well as general disregard of global warming.

The three issues to be discussed at the conference were

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. measures to reduce the amount of CO2, increasing agriculture and getting consent for guidelines to be followed

  2. cutting down the amount of CO2, cutting more trees and making rules on ways to control the climate

  3. reducing the amount of CO2, planting more trees and getting all the members to agree to set rules

  4. stopping the use of CFC’s, decreasing the amount of CO2 and planting more trees

  5. trimming down the amount of CO2, encouraging the plantation of more trees and conducting a poll to list the members that agree to the two


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The second paragraph gives the three issues which were to be taken up at the convention. For the third issue the key phrase is, 'Thirdly, the conference ...' explains that conference wanted the members to adhere to the new formulated policies. 

What does the writer mean by the term ‘amorphous paradigm’, in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. Empty talk

  2. Complex model

  3. Easy to follow rules

  4. Practical way of thinking

  5. Similar thought processes


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

“Which would give content and meaning to the otherwise” indicates that a content has to be given to something that is having no definite form or content. That means it is just something vague or hazy, i.e. empty talk.

In context of the passage, the word ‘percepts’ most nearly means

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. judgement

  2. ideas

  3. rules

  4. guidelines

  5. realities


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The context suggests that the industrialised countries should execute the idea or plan rather than repeating it.

In comparison to which suggestion is 'concessional financial assistance' a better alternative?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. Giving aid to the developing countries without charging any interest.

  2. Outstanding debt of the developing countries should be waived off by the developed countries.

  3. Following the same policies adopted and applied by the developed countries.

  4. Stopping, both, the domestic as well as industrial use of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's).


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The last para begins with the phrase “A better alternative will be”. The suggestion to which this alternative is offered is contained in the last lines of the preceding para “forgiveness of the debt”.

Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

Are the forebodings about the impending global warming really producing the intended policy responses from the governments of various countries? “Not so” would be the answer, judging the fate of the recent global conference, sponsored by the Netherlands Government at Nordwijk. Here was a gathering of representatives – climatologists and Ministers of Environment – of 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. On the agenda before the conference were three crucial issues relating to stemming of the greenhouse effect or the global build up of carbon dioxide.

First, there was the question of the industrial countries agreeing upon freezing CO2 emission at current levels by 2000 AD, and achieving 20% cuts by 2005 AD, first mooted at the Toronto world conference of June 1988. Second, there was the proposal to concert a world–wide afforestation programme covering 12 million hectares per year as a method of combating the decreased carbon fixation caused by the unstoppable deforestation all over the third world. Thirdly, the conference also sought to obtain a mandate for a preparatory draft for a global convention on climate.

None of these aims, in fact, has materialised. The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition that makes it compulsory for them to adopt a time bound containment of CO2 emission through appropriate changes in the industrial systems and in the energy mix. Although the resistance to any such commitment by countries such as the United States and Britain is not difficult to understand in view of the paucity of empirical information as what the costs of industrial restructuring would be, there can hardly be any doubt that these countries are yet to overcome their allergic attitude to the very concept of moving away from the dominating fossil fuel energy deployment.

Japan’s well–known stance of having moved resolutely ahead on the path of restructuring and away from high levels of CO2 emissions was predictably reaffirmed at the conference. Although the developing countries find themselves in a hopeless predicament, they are not being able to commit themselves to time bound environmental action plans, such as stopping the usage of Chloro–Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) by the end of the century and the proposal for graduated mitigation of CO2 emission brought up at the Nordwijk conference, there is fortunately no prospect of global warming being treated as a totally extraneous issue by the consequences of the greenhouse effect. For low–lying countries, such as Egypt, Maldives, would hesitate to call for determined global preventive action.

What lessons do the vacillations registered at the Nordwijk conference hold for policymakers worldwide? One obvious conclusion is that the industrial countries should begin setting the example, rather than merely repeat the percepts about the need to contain the damage to the precious resources of the environment. There are some small things that the developed countries can do to uncomplicate the task of ensuring the developing nations stick to the advocated environment friendly measures. One of these, which says that the debt overhead that torments the developing countries can be overcome by mere “forgiveness” or resumption of private commercial, has to be put to rest by rejecting it completely.

A better alternative will be that the global community organises a massive programme of concessional financial assistance to the poor countries, to enable them to achieve transfer of industrial energy and environmental technologies which would give content and meaning to the otherwise amorphous paradigm of suitable development. It is for the developing countries to bend their energies and work for substantial improvements in the living conditions of the masses of the poor without aping the misguided and discredited anti–environment policy matrix of the North.

  1. The United States and Britain planned for industrial restructuring.

  2. The United States and Britain did not agree to the idea of keeping away from fossil fuel energy.

  3. Japan’s steps at industrial restructuring were evident at the conference.

  4. The conference established the Japanese attitude to keep away from high levels of CO2 emissions.

  5. There was a divergence of opinion in the conference on the issues involved.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

This is not true as per the passage. These countries have rejected the proposal to bring changes in their industrial system and energy mix. The sentence, 'The industrialised countries, without exception have turned down the proposition...' supports the answer.

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