RC: Environment - 3 | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

Passage

Direction: The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity includes genetic diversity, which is the diversity of genes within and among species; species diversity, which is the diversity of species within and among ecosystems; and ecosystem diversity, which is the diversity of ecosystems within and among biomes. Biodiversity is essential for the functioning and resilience of ecosystems, as well as for the provision of ecosystem services, such as food, water, climate regulation, pollination, and recreation.
Biodiversity is under threat from various human activities, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change. According to the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services published by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in 2019, around one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction, many within decades. The report also warns that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services undermines progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and human well-being.
One of the main ways to conserve biodiversity is through in situ conservation, which refers to the conservation of biodiversity within its natural habitat. In situ conservation can be achieved by various means, such as establishing protected areas, restoring degraded habitats, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and enhancing local participation and governance. In situ conservation has the advantage of preserving the natural interactions and processes that sustain biodiversity, as well as respecting the rights and values of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Another way to conserve biodiversity is through ex situ conservation, which refers to the conservation of biodiversity outside its natural habitat. Ex situ conservation can be achieved by various means, such as maintaining captive breeding programs, gene banks, botanical gardens, zoos, and aquariums. Ex situ conservation has the advantage of providing a backup for endangered or extinct species, as well as facilitating research and education on biodiversity. However, ex situ conservation also has some limitations and challenges, such as ethical issues, genetic erosion, high costs, and low success rates.
Q1: According to the passage, what is one of the components of biodiversity that includes the diversity of ecosystems within and among biomes?
(a) Genetic diversity
(b) Species diversity
(c) Ecosystem diversity
(d) Functional diversity

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Q2: According to the passage, what is one of the human activities that threatens biodiversity?
(a) Habitat loss and fragmentation
(b) Establishing protected areas
(c) Restoring degraded habitats
(d) Promoting sustainable use of natural resources

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Q3: According to the passage, what is one of the advantages of in situ conservation of biodiversity?
(a) It provides a backup for endangered or extinct species.
(b) It preserves the natural interactions and processes that sustain biodiversity.
(c) It facilitates research and education on biodiversity.
(d) It respects the rights and values of indigenous peoples and local communities.

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Q4: According to the passage, what is one of the limitations and challenges of ex situ conservation of biodiversity?
(a) Ethical issues
(b) Genetic erosion
(c) High costs
(d) All of the above

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