CTET Teacher Eligibility Test English Language Solved Question Paper (1)

English Language : Solved Paper Directions—(Q. 1–15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), plastic bags are a better option than paper bags from the environment’s point of view. Many studies comparing plastic versus paper show that plastic bags have less net environmental effect than paper bags, requiring less energy for transport, production and recycling and because of all these, plastic generates less greenhouse gases. They cause less air and water pollution and can get compressed to a small size in landfills. Plastic bags are sterile and thus are a better option for the transportation of eatables and medicines.

However there is another side of using plastic. Plastics are manufactured from petroleum. This brings a host of other issues e.g. destruction of habitat. Their manufacturing involves chemicals, many of which have not been sufficiently tested for their toxicological impact on humans and animals.Exacerbating the problem is that science has only advanced to detect plastic components in human bodies and then link it to human ailments and diseases. Where science has been unable to help is that it has largely failed to invent a solution to the hazards caused by it. Making the situation dismalis the fact that the hazard is closer than it appears. Teflon, PVC, Polyethylene, polystyrene in utensils and various silicones in hair and body care products accumulate in the body and lead to serious diseases. Plasticproducing companies are often chemical companies or subsidiaries of chemical companies, both with poor track records when it comes to their adherence to regulatory compliance and their willingness to perform toxicological analysis on the products that they make.

Plastics often drain component chemicals, including hazardous chemicals when temperature changes beyond a certain point. It is for this reason that toxicologists do not recommend storing very cold food in plastics or heating food (microwaving especially) in plastics. Also, plastics are durable materials. Thus, they are hard to eliminate once used and create tremendous waste. While some common plastics can be recycled the vast majority cannot be recycled.

Scientists suggest the use of Biodegradable plastics as an alternative to this persisting problem. These are the plastics that can decompose in the natural environment. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling microorganisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus-like material that is less harmful to the environment. They may be composed of either bio-plastics, which are plastics whose components are derived from renewable raw materials, or petroleum-based plastics. The use of bio-active compounds compounded with swelling agents ensures that, when combined with heat and moisture, they expand the plastic’s molecular structure and allow the bio-active compounds to metabolise and neutralize the plastic.

Various countries have been adopting different methods to discourage the use of plastic. Growing awareness in the UK of the problems caused by indiscriminate use of plastic bags is encouraging retailers to reward customers who bring their own bags or who reuse or recycle existing bags. This is called the ‘Green Bag Scheme’. In other countries retailers have stopped providing free plastic bags with purchases and have been selling cloth bags for very minimalistic prices.

1. What alternative do the scientists suggest for the problem associated with the use of plastics ?

(A) Use of biodegradable plastics

(B) Treatment of hazards caused by the use of plastics

(C) Strict compliance of the chemical companies to toxicological tests of their products

(D) Banning the use of plastic throughout the world

(E) None of these

Ans : (A)

2. Why don’t toxicologists recommend the heating of food and storing of cold food in plastic ?

(A) Food stuff spoils faster in plastic containers

(B) The Teflon coating in such utensils is harmful

(C) Plastic containers do not undergo recommended toxicology tests

(D) Plastic releases harmful chemicals at very high and low temperature (E) None of these

Ans : (D)

3. According to the author, what is the problem with manufacturing plastic products ?

(A) These products are not energy efficient

(B) These products produce greenhouse gases which are harmful to environment

(C) The chemicals involved in their production are not tested for impact on living beings

(D) It swells as soon as it comes in contact with heat and moisture

(E) None of these

Ans : (C)

4. What are the author’s views about the companies producing plastic products ?

(1) These companies are mainly responsible for the hazards caused to the environment due to plastics.

(2) Such companies are chemical companies themselves or a subsidiary of such companies.

(3) Such companies do not perofrm toxicological tests on their products.

(A) Only (1) (B) Both (2) and (3) (C) Both (1) and (3) (D) Only (2) (E) None of these

Ans : (B)

5. What does the author mean by ‘another side of using plastic’ ?

(A) These are disadvantages of using plastic

(B) Using biodegradable plastic instead of non-biodegradable plastic

(C) Paper bags are better option than plastic bags

(D) Many retail stores sell cloth bags at lower price

(E) None of these

Ans : (A)

6. Why does USEPA suggest that plastic bags are a better option than paper bags ?

(A) The plastic bags are inexpensive

(B) Plastic bags can be tested for toxic chemicals

(C) Paper bags do not generate greenhouse gases

(D) Plastic bags require less energy as compared to paper for transportation, production and recycling

(E) None of these

Ans : (D)

7. According to the passage, in which of the following fields has science failed ?

(A) To produce biodegradable plastic

(B) To popularize the use of cloth and paper bags instead of plastic

(C) To strictly implement the compliance of the chemical companies to toxicological tests of their products

(D) To make plastic – free hair and body care products

(E) None of these

Ans : (D)

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