UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 38
Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities ?
- Aral Sea
- Black Sea
- Lake Baikal
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct Option: A
Explanation: The Aral Sea dramatically shrank because river water was diverted for irrigation, notably cotton cultivation. The Black Sea and Lake Baikal have not undergone comparable wholesale shrinkage in the period asked.
Statement/Pair-wise Analysis:
Statement/Item 1: Correct - The Aral Sea lost much of its inflow following Soviet-era river diversion for irrigation.
Statement/Item 2: Incorrect - The Black Sea has not dried or shrunk in the dramatic way described.
Statement/Item 3: Incorrect - Lake Baikal faces ecological challenges but has not shrunk comparably to the Aral Sea.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Correct - includes all and only the true statements/items.
B: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/items 2, 3; omits correct statement/item 1.
C: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/item 2; omits correct statement/item 1.
D: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/item 3.