Reading Comprehension Questions & Answers - 2 | English Language for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Based on the Passage, answer the following questions:
Archaeology as a profession faces two major problems. First, it is the poorest of the poor. Only paltry sums are available for excavating and even less is available for publishing the results and preserving the sites once excavated. Yet archaeologists deal with priceless objects every day. Second, there is the problem of illegal excavation, resulting in museum-quality pieces being sold to the highest bidder.
I would like to make an outrageous suggestion that would at one stroke provide funds for archaeology and reduce the amount of illegal digging. I would propose that scientific archeological expeditions and governmental authorities sell excavated artifacts on the open market. Such sales would provide substantial funds for the excavation and preservation of archaeological sites and the publication of results. At the same time, they would break the illegal excavator’s grip on the market, thereby decreasing the inducement to engage in illegal activities.
You might object that professionals excavate to acquire knowledge, not money. Moreover, ancient artifacts are part of our global cultural heritage, which should be available for all to appreciate, not sold to the highest bidder. I agree. Sell nothing that has unique artistic merit or scientific value. But, you might reply, everything that comes out of the ground has scientific value. Here we part company.
Theoretically, you may be correct in claiming that every artifact has potential scientific value. Practically, you are wrong.
I refer to the thousands of pottery vessels and ancient lamps that are essentially duplicates of one another. In one small excavation in Cyprus, archaeologists recently uncovered 2,000 virtually indistinguishable small jugs in a single courtyard, even precious royal seal impressions known as melekh handles have been found in abundance — more than 4,000 examples so far.
The basement of museums is simply not large enough to store the artifacts that are likely to be discovered in the future. There is not enough money even to catalogue the finds; as a result, they cannot be found again and become as inaccessible as if they had never been discovered. Indeed, with the help of a computer, sold artifacts could be more accessible than are the pieces stored in bulging museum basements. Prior to sale, each could be photographed and the list of the purchasers could be maintained on the computer A purchaser could even be required to agree to return the piece if it should become needed for scientific purposes. It would be unrealistic to suggest that illegal digging would stop if artifacts were sold in the open market. But the demand for the clandestine product would be substantially reduced. Who would want an unmarked pot when another was available whose provenance was known, and that was dated stratigraphically by the professional archaeologist who excavated it?
Q1: The primary purpose of the passage is to propose 
(a) an alternative to museum display of artifacts
(b) a way to curb illegal digging while benefiting the archaeological profession 
(c) a way to distinguish artifacts with the scientific value from those that have no such value 
(d) the governmental regulation of archaeological sites 

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Ans: (b)
Sol: The first paragraph identifies two major problems faced by the archaeological profession: inadequate funding and illegal digging. The passage indicates that the author is going to suggest how to remedy both problems, thereby benefiting the archaeological profession. The author proceeds to propose allowing the sale of excavated artifacts and to explain how this would solve both problems . The author then supports the proposal by countering possible objections to it, and in the last paragraph explains how the proposal would curb illegal digging. Thus, the way information is organized in the passage indicates that the author’s purpose is to suggest that allowing the sale of excavated artifacts would provide funds for the archaeological profession and curb illegal digging.

Q2: The author implies that all of the following statements about duplicate artifacts are true EXCEPT:
(a) A market for such artifacts already exists. 
(b) Such artifacts seldom have scientific value. 
(c) There is likely to be a continuing supply of such artifacts. 
(d) Such artifacts frequently exceed in quality in comparison to those already cataloged in museum collections

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Ans: (d)
Sol: The question requires you to identify the answer choice that CANNOT be inferred from the passage. Nothing in the passage implies that duplicate artifacts exceed museum objects in quality.

Q3: Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as a disadvantage of storing artifacts in museum basements? 
(a) Museum officials rarely allow scholars access to such artifacts. 
(b) Space that could be better used for display is taken up for storage. 
(c) Artifacts discovered in one excavation often become separated from each other. 
(d) Such artifacts’ often remain uncatalogued and thus cannot be located once they are put in storage

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Ans: (d)
Sol: The disadvantages of storing artifacts in museum basements are discussed in the fifth paragraph. The passage states that “There is not enough money…to catalogue the finds” and declare that, as a result stored objects cannot be located.

Q4: The author’s argument concerning the effect of the official sale of duplicate artifacts on illegal excavation is based on which of the following assumptions? 
(a) Prospective purchasers would prefer to buy authenticated artifacts. 
(b) The price of illegally excavated artifacts would rise. 
(c) Computers could be used to trace sold artifacts. 
(d) Illegal excavators would be forced to sell only duplicate artifacts. 

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Ans: (a)
Sol: The author’s argument concerning the effect of the official sale of duplicate artifacts on illegal excavation appears in the passage where the author predicts that such official sale would reduce the demand for “the clandestine product.” The rhetorical question that follows indicates that the author finds it unlikely that any purchaser would prefer objects of unknown provenance to objects of known origin, or, to rephrase, the author assumes that most people would prefer to purchase objects of authenticated provenance, as this choice states.

Q5: The author anticipates which of the following initial objections to the adoption of his proposal? 
(a) Museum officials will become unwilling to store artifacts. 
(b) An oversupply of salable artifacts will result and the demand for them will fall. 
(c) Artifacts that would have been displayed in public places will be sold to private collectors. 
(d) Illegal excavators will have an even larger supply of artifacts for resale. 

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Ans: (c)
Sol: The author begins the third paragraph by saying “you might object…” in order to anticipate possible objections to the adoption of his proposal. In the next sentence the author asserts that “ancient artifacts…should be available for all to appreciate, not sold to the highest bidder”, acknowledging an opponent’s fear that individuals might be allowed to purchase objects that ought to be displayed in public institutions. This objection is paraphrased in this choice.