Read the passage given below:
1. Just a century ago it would have been hard to imagine that human beings could significantly pollute the oceans. Human beings constitute the greatest threat to the oceans since the development of the nuclear industry. Nuclear power has become a major source of the world’s electric energy. But nuclear power plants also produce a great amount of nuclear waste which remains hazardous for thousands of years.
2. For the purpose of disposal, nuclear wastes are of two categories: Low Level Waste (LLW), which includes several substances used in connection with nuclear reactors and High Level Waste (HLW) which consists primarily of spent fuel from nuclear reactors and weapons. Currently, there is no permanent method of disposal for HLW. All the HLW that has been produced so far is being stored near the reactor sites in swimming pools or in dry casks. These storage pools are not designed to store the waste for an indefinite period of time. As high level nuclear waste presents a tremendous storage problem, dumping it into the ocean is considered as the most cost-effective solution.
3. Even though dumping of highly radioactive wastes at sea was banned worldwide for more than three decades, it still continues. Russia has been dumping highly radioactive materials in the Arctic Sea. Until the London Dumping Convention in 1983, the Atlantic Ocean was a favourite dumping ground for nuclear nations like Great Britain, Germany, Japan, France, Switzerland and Sweden. The dumping of nuclear wastes not only goes against international practice, but is also a violation of international treaties. Dumping of the wastes is regulated by the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (the 1972 London Convention). The Convention outlawed the disposal of highlevel wastes at sea. It required the nations disposing of low-level radioactive wastes to do so in ocean basins at depths greater than 12,000 feet. But the depths at which the actual dumping took place was within the range of 200 to 1,000 feet, which is a clear violation of the convention.
4. Although the dumping of any radioactive waste at sea has been prohibited by law since 1994, the status of sub-seabed disposal has been ambiguous. If a resolution is made to extend the definition of “dumping” to include “any deliberate disposal or storage of wastes or other matter in the sea-bed and the subsoil thereof ” and accepted by the convention, sub-seabed disposal will be prohibited, and the decision may not be appealed for twenty five years. If it is so, then sub-seabed disposal will be subjected to regulation and subsequent banning by the London Dumping Convention. Article III, section 1(a) of the convention defines dumping as “any deliberate disposal at sea of wastes or other matter from vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea.”
5. On the contrary, United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), reveals that the seabed, ocean floor and subsoil is beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The seabed area is beyond the territorial jurisdiction of any nation and is open to use by all in accordance with commonly acceptable rules. Even though UNCLOS may not directly prohibit sub-seabed disposal, there are other provisions such as “to protect and preserve the marine environment” which will put a legal binding on the member states while undertaking the disposal. Clifton Curtis, a political adviser to Greenpeace International, who has fought against sub-seabed disposal method since 1978 favours land-based disposal as a better option.
—Vikas Gora, CEE-NFS
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY TEN of the questions given below:
Question. Human beings are the greatest threats to oceans because ................. .
(a) they conduct hazardous nuclear experiments
(b) they explore the oceans for its hidden treasures
(c) their lust for sea-food makes them plunge into the waves
(d) they pollute oceans by dumping nuclear waste
Answer: D
Question. The nuclear waste produced by the nuclear power plants is dreaded as ......................... .
(a) it is a health booster
(b) it remains hazardous for thousands of years
(c) it is biodegradable
(d) it is a major source of electric energy
Answer: B
Question. Nuclear nations practised dumping high level nuclear waste into the ocean because ..........................
(a) it was the easiest option
(b) it was the safest way
(c) it involved the least risk
(d) it was the most cost effective solution
Answer: D
Question. The London Dumping convention is important because ............... .
(a) it outlawed the disposal of high level nuclear wastes at the sea
(b) it outlawed the disposal of all man-made structures at the sea
(c) it prohibited the disposal of wastes of manmade arms and ammunition
(d) it defined the limits of national jurisdiction of sea
Answer: D
Question. The status of sub-seabed disposal has been ambiguous because ........................ .
(a) nuclear waste has been dumped at the depth of 200 to 1000 feet
(b) the UN law of the sea makes it open to be used by all
(c) the definition of “dumping” does not include sub-seabed
(d) the sub-seabed area is under the territorial jurisdiction of the nearest country
Answer: C
Question. .... will be subjected to regular...” Which option shows the meaning of ‘subjected’ the same as it is used in para 4?
(a) The payment is ready to be given subject to your approval.
(b) The Roman Empire subjected most of the Europe to its rule.
(c) The prisoners have been subjected to cruel and degrading treatment.
(d) All nuclear installations are subject to international safeguard.
Answer: C
Question. What does the nuclear power have for humanity?
Answer: Nuclear power produces radioactive wastes which remain hazardous for thousands of years. Thus, it is dangerous for marine and human life.
Question. Name the two categories of nuclear waste.
Answer: For the purpose of disposal, nuclear wastes are of two categories: Low Level Waste (LLW) and High Level Waste (HLM).
Question. Which is the most favourite dumping ground for nuclear nations?
Answer: The Atlantic Ocean is the most favourite dumping ground for nuclear nations like the Great Britain, Germany, Japan, France, Switzerland and Sweden.
Question. What does 1972 London Convention state for disposal of high level waste at sea?
Answer: The convention outlawed the disposal of high level wastes at sea. It required the nations disposing of low-level radioactive wastes in ocean basins at depths greater than 12,000 feet.
Question. Why can United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) not prevent any country from dumping nuclear wastes into the oceans?
Answer: UNCLOS has no rights to prevent any country from dumping nuclear waste into the oceans because no nations have territorial rights over them
Question. Which word in para 5 is similar in meaning to ‘dealing with’?
Answer: undertaking
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