Hello and welcome to ExamPundit. Here is a set of Reading Comprehension for SBI PO Mains 2015.
Read the following
passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.
passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.
India, known for its rich
heritage of biological diversity, has so far documented over 91,200 species of
animals and 45,500 species of plants in its ten bio-geographic regions.
Besides, it is recognized as one of the eight Vavilovian centres of origin and
diversity of crop plants, having more than 300 wild ancestors and close
relatives of cultivated plants, which are still evolving under natural
conditions. India is also a vast repository
of Traditional Knowledge (TK) associated with biological resources. India ranks
among the top ten species-rich nations and shows high endemism. India has four
global biodiversity hot spots (Eastern Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and
Sri Lanka, and Sunderland). The varied edaphic, climatic and topographic
conditions and years of geological stability have resulted in a wide range of
ecosystems and habitats such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and
coastal and marine ecosystem. Inventories of faunal diversity in India are
being progressively updated and analysed with several new discoveries. So far,
nearly 91,212 of faunal species (7.43% of the world’s faunal species) have been
recorded in the country. Endemic rich Indian fauna is manifested most
prominently in Amphibia (61.2%) and Reptilia (47%). Likewise, Indian fish fauna
includes two endemic families and 127 monotypic genera. As per the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (2008), India
has 413 globally threatened faunal species, which is approximately 4.9% of the
world’s total number of threatened faunal species. Continuous surveys and
explorations have added new discoveries – 41 plant species in 2007 by Botanical
Survey of India (BSI) alone. The unique features of the plant diversity, among
others, include 60 monotypic families and over 6000 endemic species. Recent
estimates indicate the presence of over 256 globally threatened plant species
in India. Likewise, India’s contribution to crop biodiversity has been
impressive with repositories of over 50,000 varieties of rice, 5,000 of
sorghum, 1,000 varieties of mango, etc. The National Gene bank, primarily
responsible for ex-situ conservation of unique germ plasm on long-term basis,
holds 3,66,933 unique accessions of plant genetic resources. India is also endowed with vast and diverse forms of
domesticated animal genetic resources, e.g., cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig,
camel, horse, donkey, yak, duck, goose, quail, etc. Besides, a rich diversity
of wild relatives of domesticated animals exists here. The molecular characterization has been undertaken so far only in a few
animals such as cattle, sheep, pig and poultry, using internationally
recommended DNA markers. India, endowed with vast inland and marine bio
resources, is the third largest producer of fish in the world. A database on
2,182 fishes found in Indian waters has been developed, which includes 327
fresh water species listed in IUCN threat categories and 192 endemic fishes. A
macro level fish occurrence map of India has been prepared and DNA barcodes of
100 Indian marine fish species developed.
heritage of biological diversity, has so far documented over 91,200 species of
animals and 45,500 species of plants in its ten bio-geographic regions.
Besides, it is recognized as one of the eight Vavilovian centres of origin and
diversity of crop plants, having more than 300 wild ancestors and close
relatives of cultivated plants, which are still evolving under natural
conditions. India is also a vast repository
of Traditional Knowledge (TK) associated with biological resources. India ranks
among the top ten species-rich nations and shows high endemism. India has four
global biodiversity hot spots (Eastern Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and
Sri Lanka, and Sunderland). The varied edaphic, climatic and topographic
conditions and years of geological stability have resulted in a wide range of
ecosystems and habitats such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and
coastal and marine ecosystem. Inventories of faunal diversity in India are
being progressively updated and analysed with several new discoveries. So far,
nearly 91,212 of faunal species (7.43% of the world’s faunal species) have been
recorded in the country. Endemic rich Indian fauna is manifested most
prominently in Amphibia (61.2%) and Reptilia (47%). Likewise, Indian fish fauna
includes two endemic families and 127 monotypic genera. As per the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (2008), India
has 413 globally threatened faunal species, which is approximately 4.9% of the
world’s total number of threatened faunal species. Continuous surveys and
explorations have added new discoveries – 41 plant species in 2007 by Botanical
Survey of India (BSI) alone. The unique features of the plant diversity, among
others, include 60 monotypic families and over 6000 endemic species. Recent
estimates indicate the presence of over 256 globally threatened plant species
in India. Likewise, India’s contribution to crop biodiversity has been
impressive with repositories of over 50,000 varieties of rice, 5,000 of
sorghum, 1,000 varieties of mango, etc. The National Gene bank, primarily
responsible for ex-situ conservation of unique germ plasm on long-term basis,
holds 3,66,933 unique accessions of plant genetic resources. India is also endowed with vast and diverse forms of
domesticated animal genetic resources, e.g., cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig,
camel, horse, donkey, yak, duck, goose, quail, etc. Besides, a rich diversity
of wild relatives of domesticated animals exists here. The molecular characterization has been undertaken so far only in a few
animals such as cattle, sheep, pig and poultry, using internationally
recommended DNA markers. India, endowed with vast inland and marine bio
resources, is the third largest producer of fish in the world. A database on
2,182 fishes found in Indian waters has been developed, which includes 327
fresh water species listed in IUCN threat categories and 192 endemic fishes. A
macro level fish occurrence map of India has been prepared and DNA barcodes of
100 Indian marine fish species developed.
India’s rich wildlife bio
resources also offer numerous opportunities for ensuring livelihood security
and development of wildlife based small enterprises. Nevada Wildlife Action
Plan (NWAP) duly recognizes the importance of people’s support for wildlife
conservation and calls for promoting ecotourism that primarily involves and
benefits local communities. In this context, successes in implementing
community oriented wildlife based tourism in states like Madhya Pradesh,
Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, etc., is noteworthy. Similarly, National
Commission on Agriculture, Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development
Federation, Girijan Co-operative Corporation in Andhra Pradesh, Adivasi
Multipurpose Societies has significantly contributed in promoting and harnessing the economic potential of
NTFPs and improvement in the economic status of poor NTFP collectors.
resources also offer numerous opportunities for ensuring livelihood security
and development of wildlife based small enterprises. Nevada Wildlife Action
Plan (NWAP) duly recognizes the importance of people’s support for wildlife
conservation and calls for promoting ecotourism that primarily involves and
benefits local communities. In this context, successes in implementing
community oriented wildlife based tourism in states like Madhya Pradesh,
Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, etc., is noteworthy. Similarly, National
Commission on Agriculture, Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development
Federation, Girijan Co-operative Corporation in Andhra Pradesh, Adivasi
Multipurpose Societies has significantly contributed in promoting and harnessing the economic potential of
NTFPs and improvement in the economic status of poor NTFP collectors.
1. Which among the
following is the closest to the meaning of ‘Biodiversity’ ?
following is the closest to the meaning of ‘Biodiversity’ ?
(a) A scientific term which is used to describe the variety
of life, the sum total of the Earth’s living resources.
of life, the sum total of the Earth’s living resources.
(b) Its only living organisms of plant species.
(c) It’s related to some level of material wealth.
(d) All of the above
(e) None of these
2. What actions
should be taken to conserve biodiversity ?
should be taken to conserve biodiversity ?
(a) Development schemes should be realigned to provide
biodiversity related benefits.
biodiversity related benefits.
(b) There is need of sustainable utilisation of biodiversity
resources.
resources.
(c) Water supply should be increased.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(e) None of these
3. Which of the
following is not a benefit of NWAP (Nevada Wild Life Action Plan) ?
following is not a benefit of NWAP (Nevada Wild Life Action Plan) ?
(a) Habitat to benefit local communities.
(b) It is a progressive blue print for wildlife
conservation.
conservation.
(c) It may benefit from a changing climate and cloud expands
their range.
their range.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(e) None of these
4. Which components
of biodiversity is most important ?
of biodiversity is most important ?
(a) The relative abundance of comparatively limited set of
natural resources.
natural resources.
(b) Special habitats.
(c) Tree and vegetation species composition.
(d) Wildlife trees.
(e) All of the above
5. Consider the
following statements :
following statements :
I. Biological diversity is the immense variety and richness
of life on the earth.
of life on the earth.
II. The Nevada Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) was a team effort
of people in every sense.
of people in every sense.
Which among the above statement is/are correct as per the
passage ?
passage ?
(a) Only I
(b) Only II
(c) Either I or II
(d) Both I and II
(e) None of these
Direction (Q. 6 – 8)
: Choose the word which is most SIMILAR in meaning of the word printed in bold
as used in the passage.
: Choose the word which is most SIMILAR in meaning of the word printed in bold
as used in the passage.
6. Repository
(a) Genus (b) Representative (c) Drainage (d) Edifice (e)
Warehouse
Warehouse
7. Endowed
(a) Related (b) Orphic (c) Enriched (d) Safe (e) Supplied
8. Molecular
(a) Rather (b) Graced (c) Texture (d) Microscopic (e) Vault
Direction (Q.9 –10) :
Choose the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Choose the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
9. Noteworthy
(a) Unimportant (b) Minimal (c) Consequential (d) Unspoiled (e)
Concerned
Concerned
10. Harnessing
(a) Resources (b) Releasing (c) Noticeable (d) Splash (e)
Observable
Observable
Regards
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