UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 7
With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:
- The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
- The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B (2 only)
Explanation: Fresh water stored in glaciers and ice caps substantially exceeds surface lake-and-river water and, in the standard global freshwater inventory, exceeds groundwater.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. Incorrect / does not qualify - Groundwater stores far more water than rivers and lakes together.
2. Correct / qualifies - Glaciers and ice caps contain the largest share of Earth’s fresh water, more than groundwater.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-includes item 1, which is not valid (Groundwater stores far more water than rivers and lakes together); omits valid item 2 (Glaciers and ice caps contain the largest share of Earth’s fresh water, more than groundwater).
B. Correct-selects exactly the supported statements/items: 2.
C. Incorrect-includes item 1, which is not valid (Groundwater stores far more water than rivers and lakes together).
D. Incorrect-omits valid item 2 (Glaciers and ice caps contain the largest share of Earth’s fresh water, more than groundwater).