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During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears.

Q.
Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?
  • a)
    Climate change has caused Arctic summer to be short but temperature to be high.
  • b)
    Polar bears can be shifted to the South Pole to ensure their survival.
  • c)
    Without the presence of polar bears, the food chains in Arctic region will disappear.
  • d)
    Climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlie...
The passage asks for the most crucial massage. As we can see that the passage goes on to lament the conditions in the Arctic and closes the passage with the assertion that these conditions threaten the food chain atop which sits the polar bear. Basically the passage was a built-up to drive home the point that polar bears are at risk due to conditions that Arctic now faces. Now let us evaluate the options:
(a) Climate change has caused Arctic summer to be short but temperature to be high…The passage does talks about the havoc that climate change is wreaking in the Arctic region but that is not the most crucial message. The whole revelation about increasing melt and delayed winter freeze is to drive home the point of its effect on the food chain in Arctic and thus this, in itself, is not the most crucial message of the passage……………..OUT
(b) Polar bears can be shifted to the South Pole to ensure their survival…….This is one-of-a-kind solution for the survival of the Polar bears but this is not what the passage proffers. The passage is not even discussing any solution, plausible or adventurous……OUT
(c) Without the presence of polar bears, the food chains in Arctic region will disappear….Again the passage is not discussing the effect of presence or absence of Polar bear on the Arctic food chain…..OUT
(d) Climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears…..This is the most plausible among the options given that qualifies as the most crucial message of the passage as it syncs with what the passage eventually leads to…..ANSWER
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Most Upvoted Answer
During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlie...
The most crucial message conveyed by the passage is that climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears. This can be broken down into the following points:

Extent of summer ice decline: The passage mentions that the extent of summer ice in the Arctic Ocean has declined by about 30% in the last three decades. This is a clear indication of the impact of climate change on the region.

Lengthening period of summer melt: The passage also highlights that the summer melt period is getting longer, which is a further indication of the impact of climate change. This is a cause for concern as it threatens the Arctic food web.

Impact on Arctic food web: The passage suggests that the lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web. This is because the food web is dependent on the presence of sea ice, which is melting at a faster rate due to climate change.

Threat to polar bears: The passage states that polar bears are at the top of the Arctic food web. Therefore, the threat to the food web also poses a threat to the survival of polar bears. This is because they rely on sea ice to hunt for their prey.

In conclusion, the passage highlights the impact of climate change on the Arctic region, specifically on the melting of sea ice and the lengthening period of summer melt. The threat to the Arctic food web and the subsequent threat to the survival of polar bears is a cause for concern and highlights the urgent need for action to address climate change.
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During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears.Q.Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?a)Climate change has caused Arctic summer to be short but temperature to be high.b)Polar bears can be shifted to the South Pole to ensure their survival.c)Without the presence of polar bears, the food chains in Arctic region will disappear.d)Climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2026 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears.Q.Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?a)Climate change has caused Arctic summer to be short but temperature to be high.b)Polar bears can be shifted to the South Pole to ensure their survival.c)Without the presence of polar bears, the food chains in Arctic region will disappear.d)Climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2026 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears.Q.Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?a)Climate change has caused Arctic summer to be short but temperature to be high.b)Polar bears can be shifted to the South Pole to ensure their survival.c)Without the presence of polar bears, the food chains in Arctic region will disappear.d)Climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears.Q.Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?a)Climate change has caused Arctic summer to be short but temperature to be high.b)Polar bears can be shifted to the South Pole to ensure their survival.c)Without the presence of polar bears, the food chains in Arctic region will disappear.d)Climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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.
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