Q22 · UPSC Prelims 2024 · Set A · Environment and Ecology

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Consider the following statements :Statement-I :Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution.Statement-II: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

A Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II explains Statement-I
B Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
C Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
D Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Correct answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II explains Statement-I

Explanation

  1. A

    Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II explains Statement-I

    Both correct and II explains I. Synthetic gum base is a plastic; discarded gum is litter.

  2. B

    Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

    Both correct but II does not explain I. The plastic base is why gum persists as pollution.

  3. C

    Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

    I correct, II incorrect. Many gums do use a synthetic polymer base.

  4. D

    Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

    I incorrect, II correct. Chewing-gum litter is a known urban pollutant.

Summary. Official key is (a). A large share of commercial chewing gum uses a synthetic (plastic) gum base. That polymer does not biodegrade readily, so discarded gum is a street and sewer pollutant. Statement-II explains Statement-I.

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