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Passage - 7
Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene Thermal Maximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earth's reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different. 
Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Global warming has a bearing on the planet's biological evolution.
2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.
3. Increased warming of Earth's atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.
4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.
​Q. Which of the assumptions given above are valid?
  • a)
    1 and 2
  • b)
    3 and 4
  • c)
    1 and 3
  • d)
    2 and 4
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Most Upvoted Answer
Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not ful...
Explanation:

Assumptions:

1. Global warming has a bearing on the planet's biological evolution

- The passage mentions how a massive release of carbon during the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) led to drastic changes in the Earth's climate and ecosystems. This indicates that global warming can indeed impact the planet's biological evolution.
2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere

- The passage does not directly mention that the separation of land masses causes the release of carbon. Instead, it talks about a sudden release of carbon during the PETM due to unknown factors. Therefore, this assumption is not explicitly supported by the passage.
3. Increased warming of Earth's atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna

- The passage describes how the PETM brought about significant changes in Earth's ecosystems, leading to drought, floods, insect plagues, and some extinctions. This implies that increased warming can indeed alter the composition of flora and fauna on the planet.
4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago

- The passage does not directly suggest that the current man-made global warming will lead to conditions similar to the PETM. While both events involve large carbon releases, the causes and scale of the events differ. Therefore, this assumption cannot be directly inferred from the information provided in the passage.
Conclusion:

Based on the information presented in the passage, assumptions 1 and 3 are valid. These assumptions are supported by the evidence of how global warming during the PETM period led to significant changes in the planet's ecosystems.
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Community Answer
Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not ful...
Assumption 1 is clearly valid. Assumption 2 is too far-fetched, and cannot be deduced. Assumption 3 is valid as clearly stated. Assumption 4 again is too far-fetched as the amounts involved are too high.
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Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Passage - 7Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene - Eocene ThermalMaximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that Would be injected today if humans burned all the Earths reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions. Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Global warming has a bearing on the planets biological evolution.2. Separation of land masses causes the release of huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.3. Increased warming of Earths atmosphere can change the composition of its flora and fauna.4. The present man-made global warming will finally lead to conditions similar to those which happened 56 million years ago.Q.Which of the assumptions given above are valid?a)1 and 2b)3 and 4c)1 and 3d)2 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
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