SarkariPYQ

SSC Stenographer 2024 PYQ — Question 21

SSC Stenographer - 11/12/2024 (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM) • English • Q21

Back to paper

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
Climate change, driven primarily by human activities, is a pressing global issue. The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, leading to the (1) ______ effect. Rising temperatures cause melting ice caps, (2) ______ sea levels and extreme weather patterns. Mitigating climate change requires a (3) ______ approach, including transitioning to renewable energy sources, promoting sustainable practices and implementing policies to reduce emissions. Additionally, raising (4) ______ awareness about the importance of conservation is crucial. The collective effort to combat climate change will determine the quality of life for future (5) ______.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2, i.e. increasing.

The passage reads:

“Rising temperatures cause melting ice caps, (2) ______ sea levels and extreme weather patterns.”

Here, the intended meaning is that as Earth warms, ice melts, causing sea levels to go up. This is precisely the meaning of “increasing.”

Authoritative climate science sources repeatedly describe how rising global temperatures lead to melting glaciers and ice caps, which in turn increase sea levels due to added water and thermal expansion.

The United Nations, NASA, and WWF explain that this chain of events contributes to rising global sea level—one of the most serious consequences of climate change.

Thus, “increasing sea levels” captures the scientifically accurate cause-effect intended in the sentence.

Why the other options are not appropriate

Option 1: vapouring

This is not a standard adjective or idiomatic collocation in English. No climate-related idiom refers to “vapouring sea levels.”

Option 3: purifying

Although “purify” is a positive verb, it does not align with the context. Climate change does not purify oceans or sea levels; in fact, pollution and warming harm them.

Option 4: stabilising

The opposite of what’s happening. Sea levels are not stabilizing—they are rising. The context requires a word meaning “going up,” making “stabilising” incorrect.