Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities ? 1. Aral Sea 2. Black Sea 3. Lake Baikal Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 2 only
- (d) 1 and 3
Why the answer is (a)
• The Aral Sea (1), once the world's fourth-largest lake, has shrunk to about 10% of its 1960 area after Soviet irrigation projects diverted the Amu Darya and Syr Darya for cotton — one of the worst human-made environmental disasters.
• The Black Sea (2) is an open sea connected to the Mediterranean and has not shrunk; Lake Baikal (3), the world's deepest lake, faces pollution but not shrinkage.
• Hence 1 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2 and 3
- Neither the Black Sea nor Baikal has shrunk.
- (c) 2 only
- The Black Sea has not shrunk.
- (d) 1 and 3
- Lake Baikal has not shrunk.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.