Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage. (5)
1. As India awaits the arrival of the annual summer monsoon, hopes are particularly high for normal
rainfall that is so vital for agriculture, the health of forests, rivers and wetlands. The Indian
Meteorological Department has forecast normal rainfall of 96% of the long period average of 89 cm
rain, with an onset date in the first week of June in Kerala. It has also signalled a significant possibility
of a deficit. The monsoon bounty is crucial for the 60% of gross cropped area in farming that is rain-
fed, and represents 45% of agricultural output. Given the erratic patterns of rainfall witnessed over the
past few decades and their possible connection to atmospheric changes caused by a variety of
pollutants, the distribution of monsoon 2019 will add to the insights.
2. The southwest monsoon is a determinant of India’s overall prosperity, and sustained efforts to make
the best use of rainfall are absolutely important for farms, cities and industry. Considering that there
has been a 52% decline in groundwater levels based on tests conducted last year over the previous
decadal average, State governments should have pursued the setting up of new recharging wells and
made improvements to existing ones on a war footing. They also have lagged in building structures to
harvest surface water and helping farmers raise the efficiency of irrigation. The approach to the farming
sector, however, has been influenced more by the imperatives of an election year, and the Centre’s
biggest intervention was to announce a cash handout to specified categories of small farmers.
3. A normal summer monsoon over the subcontinent brings widespread prosperity, but does not
guarantee a uniform spread. This, as scientists point out, may be due to the effect of particulates
released through various industrial and agricultural processes. Some of these aerosols suppress the
rainfall and disperse it across the land, causing long breaks in precipitation, while others absorb heat
and lead to a convection phenomenon that increases rainfall in some places. Such evidence points to
the need for India to clean up its act on rising industrial emissions, and burning of fossil fuels and
biomass in order to improve the stability of the monsoon.
a) What measures are suggested to fight the water crisis? 1
b) Why is the monsoon not uniformly spread across the country? 1
c) (i) Which of the following can be inferred from the statement –“State governments should have
pursued the setting up of new recharging wells and made improvements to existing one” 0.5
I. The persisting situation is such that people are fighting over water.
II. Creating new recharging wells will be a relief to war like situation over water crisis.
III. The government came in the support of people who are facing a water crisis.
IV. No action is being taken by the government.
(ii) Which factor is responsible for the water crisis in the country ? 0.5
I. Lack of infrastructure for water harvesting.
II. Deficiency of resources of water.
III. Reduction in ground water level.
IV. All the above.
d) Complete the statement : 1
The annual summer monsoon brings hope for _____________________________
e) Vocabulary : 0.5+0.5=1
i. Find the word from the passage which means the same as “fall behind”(para 2)
ii. Find the opposite word of ‘predictable’ (para 1)

Answer 1

Answer:

a. State governments should have pursued the setting up of new recharging wells and

made improvements to existing ones on a war footing. They also should lagg in building structures to

harvest surface water and helping farmers raise the efficiency of irrigation.

b. may be due to the effect of particulates

released through various industrial and agricultural processes.

Some of these aerosols suppress the

rainfall and disperse it across the land, causing long breaks in precipitation, while others absorb heat.and lead to a convection phenomenon that increases rainfall in some places.

c. II. Creating new recharging wells will be a relief to war like situation over water crisis.

IV. III. Reduction in ground water level.

d. the health of forests, rivers and wetlands.

e. decline

unpredictable