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SSC Stenographer 2024 PYQ — Question 88

SSC Stenographer - 10/12/2024 (4:30 PM to 6:30 PM) • English • Q88

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In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given.
A landslip refers to the (1)_________ of rock, soil or other materials as they descend along an inclined surface of terrain. Landslides can be triggered by several factors such as precipitation, seismic activity, volcanic eruptions or other destabilising elements affecting the slope. (2)__________, being scholars specialising in the examination of the Earth's physical structures, occasionally classify landslides as a sort of mass wasting. Mass wasting refers to any process in which there is a downward shift of the Earth's surface resulting in erosion. Additional forms of mass wasting are rockfalls and the movement of coastal sediments known as alluvium. Landslides pose (3)__________ risks to both, human lives and property in close proximity to densely inhabited regions. Landslides result in an approximate annual toll of 25 to 50 fatalities and generate economic losses amounting to $3.5 billion inside the United States. The (4)_________ of landslides can be heightened by human activities, including but not (5)____________ to agriculture and building. Several operations, such as irrigation, deforestation, excavation and water leakage, have the potential to induce slope destabilisation or weakening.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. “significant.”

“Landslides pose ______ risks to both, human lives and property in close proximity to densely inhabited regions.”

Based on authoritative sources:

Landslides commonly result in substantial or significant threats to life and property, particularly in areas with dense populations.

Reports highlight that landslides cause serious human and economic losses, underscoring the significant risks they pose to communities.

Other options do not fit:

“Small” or “minimal” would understate the threat,

“Zero” is obviously incorrect since landslides do cause loss and damage.