Q40 · UPSC Prelims 2025 · Set A · Environment and Ecology

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With reference to the planet Earth, consider the following statements:I.Rain forests produce more oxygen than that produced by oceans.II.Marine phytoplankton and photo-synthetic bacteria produce about 50% of world's oxygen.III.Well-oxygenated surface water contains several folds higher oxygen than that in atmospheric air.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A I and II
B II only
C I and III
D None of the above statements is correct

Correct answer: (b) II only

Explanation

  1. A

    I and II

    I and II. Rain forests producing more oxygen than oceans is the over-claim.

  2. B

    II only

    II only. Marine phytoplankton and photosynthetic bacteria produce about half of Earth’s oxygen. That is the scored line.

  3. C

    I and III

    I and III. Both the rainforest-over-ocean line and the dissolved-oxygen line are the extras.

  4. D

    None of the above statements is correct

    None. II holds.

Summary. Official Set A key is (b) II only. Oceans, via phytoplankton and related photosynthesizers, supply on the order of half of global oxygen — that is Statement II. Rain forests do not out-produce the oceans (I fails). Well-oxygenated surface water does not hold several-fold more oxygen than air (III fails). So only II is correct.

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