Explanation
- A
1 only
1 only. High clouds are not primarily a cooling reflector in the keyed physics.
- B
2 only
2 only. Low clouds are the stronger reflectors (cooling), not IR absorbers that warm as stated.
- C
Both 1 and 2
Both. Each sentence swaps the usual high/low cloud radiative roles.
- D
Neither 1 nor 2
Neither. High clouds tend to trap outgoing IR (warming); low clouds raise albedo (cooling). The statements reverse that.
Summary. Official key is (d) neither. High, thin clouds are better at trapping long-wave radiation; low, thick clouds reflect solar radiation and cool the surface. Statement 1 and statement 2 swap those roles.
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.