Reading Passage Question
Global warming – increase in average temperatures world-wide – is a problem that has united the world. An instance of this unity was seen when in December 2015, all parties at the UNFCCC reached a milestone agreement to fight against climate changes, and to accelerate and strengthen the actions and reserves needed for a future-sustainable environment. Popularly known as the Paris climate agreement, this agreement aims to keep the temperature rise in this century under 2-degree Celsius w.r.t. pre-industrial times. Various industries, including the shipping industry, which contributes approximately 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions, have voluntarily decided to adhere to this agreement and have chalked out their plans to achieve this goal.
International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Nation’s agency responsible for guiding the shipping industry world-wide, has set guidelines in order to reduce the allowable amount of sulfur in the “bunker fuel” from 3 % to 0.5 % by 2022. Such a drop is expected to reduce the formation of sulfuruorine compounds that exacerbate global warming without impacting the sulfur-related cooling effects essential to negating the global warming phenomenon at least partially. The reduction in these compounds can, in turn, help avoid between 140,000 and 400,000 premature deaths a year attributable to global warming. Another step taken by the IMO is to initiate the reduction in fuel consumption by the industry. A 5% reduction in fuel consumption will cut down carbon emission from the shipping industry by 20%. As per Charles Cushing, a naval architect in New York, redesigning hull and propellers can reduce fuel consumption by 2%. Moreover, painting the propellers and smoothening the hulls can help reduce the fuel consumption further. Implementation of these measures undertaken by the shipping industry will ensure a significant cut down in global greenhouse gas emissions and can help achieve the target set in the Paris climate agreement.
“Global warming – increase in average temperatures world-wide – is a problem”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage. The candidates must gain a complete understanding of the English GMAT reading comprehension. This GMAT Reading Comprehension section possesses three comprehension questions with sets of answers. GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are mainly created to test candidates' expertness to learn, examine, and apply facts or ideas. The candidates can prepare themselves actively by responding to GMAT Reading Comprehension practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- What is the main point of the passage?
- To describe the harmful impacts of global warming.
- To describe how shipping industry contributes to global warming.
- To evaluate the steps being taken by the shipping industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- To discuss the issue of global warming and the efforts being made by the shipping industry to reduce its share of greenhouse gas emissions.
- To raise questions on the steps being taken to control global warming.
Answer: (D)
Explanation: The passage is concerned with the problems generated due to global warming. The passages focus on the measures taken by the shipping industry to lessen its share of greenhouse gas emissions. Option D discusses the main topic of the passage, therefore it is the correct answer. The rest of the options hence are irrelevant to the given context of the passage.
- As per the passage, which of the following is a step that is being taken by the shipping industry?
- Increase fuel consumption.
- Change the fuel being used at present.
- Reduce fuel consumption.
- Reduce shipping activities.
- Modify the output of the industry.
Answer: (C)
Explanation: According to the passage, the shipping industry pays attention to reducing the consumption of fuel. The shipping industry believes that this measure will help to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Option C holds the relevant information and therefore it is the correct answer. The other options thus go out of scope related to the discussion of the passage.
- As per the passage, what is the aim of Paris climate agreement?
- To reduce environmental pollution.
- To limit the temperature-rise in present century under 2-degree Celsius compared to the preindustrial time.
- To bring reforms in the shipping industry.
- To explain the requirement of reducing sulfur emission to 0.5%.
- To reduce sulfur emission to 0.5%.
Answer: (B)
Explanation: The Paris climate agreement aims to maintain the temperature rise in the current century under 2-degree Celsius in relation to the preindustrial times. Option B depicts the same as mentioned in the passage and hence it is the right answer. The remaining options are irrelevant and do not satisfy the argument of the passage.
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