Q. A study conducted on the impacts of climate change over the Cauvery basin of Tamil Nadu using regional climate models showed an increasing trend for maximum and minimum temperatures, and a decrease in the number of rainy days.
These climatic shifts will have an impact on the hydrological cycles in the region, lead to more run-off and less recharge, and affect the groundwater tables. Further, there has been an increase in the frequency of droughts in the State. This has driven farmers to increase dependency on groundwater resources to secure their crops.
Q 1. Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage given above?
(a) Development of regional climate models helps in choosing climate-smart agricultural practices.
(b) Heavy dependence on groundwater resources can be reduced by adopting dry-land cropping systems.
(c) Climate changes increase the criticality of water resources while simultaneously threatening it.
(d) Climate changes cause the farmers to adopt unsustainable livelihoods and risky coping strategies.
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Q1: Correct Answer – (c) Climate changes increase the criticality of water resources while simultaneously threatening it.
Explanation – (a) Development of regional climate models helps in choosing climate-smart agricultural practices. This statement is not directly supported by the passage. While regional climate models may help in understanding the impacts of climate change and choosing appropriate agricultural practices, this is not mentioned in the passage.
(b) Heavy dependence on groundwater resources can be reduced by adopting dry-land cropping systems. This statement is also not directly supported by the passage. While dry-land cropping systems may help reduce dependence on groundwater resources, this is not mentioned in the passage.
(c) Climate changes increase the criticality of water resources while simultaneously threatening it. This statement accurately reflects the main idea of the passage. The passage describes how climate change is affecting hydrological cycles and leading to an increased dependency on groundwater resources by farmers.
(d) Climate changes cause farmers to adopt unsustainable livelihoods and risky coping strategies. This statement is not directly supported by the passage. While climate change may cause farmers to adopt unsustainable livelihoods and risky coping strategies, this is not mentioned in the passage.
