Passage Based Questions: Environment and Natural Resources - 1 | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Q1: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a landmark event that firmly placed environmental concerns on the global political agenda. Attended by 170 countries, thousands of NGOs, and multinational corporations, the summit resulted in several agreements, including conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and forestry. It also introduced Agenda 21, a blueprint for sustainable development. However, disagreements between developed (Global North) and developing (Global South) countries remained unresolved.

i. Which international conference highlighted the importance of environmental issues in 1992? (1 Mark)
(a) Kyoto Summit
(b) Rio Earth Summit 
(c) Paris Climate Conference
(d) Stockholm Conference
ii. What were the key outcomes of the 1992 Earth Summit? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was there disagreement between the Global North and Global South at the Earth Summit? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Rio Earth Summit 
ii.

• Adoption of Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan for sustainable development.
• Creation of international conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and forestry.

iii. Developed countries focused on ozone depletion and global warming, while developing nations prioritized economic growth and resource management.

Q2: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Certain natural resources and regions fall outside the jurisdiction of any one country and require global cooperation for their protection. These are called global commons and include the Earth’s atmosphere, Antarctica, the ocean floor, and outer space. International agreements such as the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, the 1987 Montreal Protocol, and the 1991 Antarctic Environmental Protocol have aimed at managing and protecting these resources. However, the North-South divide continues to shape global discussions on the commons, as industrialized countries often have more resources to exploit them.

i. Which of the following is NOT considered part of the global commons? (1 Mark)
(a) Antarctica
(b) Amazon Rainforest
(c) Outer Space
(d) Ocean Floor
ii. What are the challenges in protecting global commons? (2 Marks)
iii. Why is international cooperation essential in managing global commons? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (b) Amazon Rainforest
ii. 

• Lack of enforcement mechanisms for international agreements - This refers to governance issues, not a common resource.
• Disagreements between developed and developing nations over resource use - This highlights conflicts, rather than a shared resource.

iii. No single country has jurisdiction over these areas, making shared responsibility necessary.

Q3: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

The principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) was introduced at the 1992 Earth Summit and later reaffirmed in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It acknowledges that while all countries share responsibility for environmental protection, developed nations must take greater action because they historically contributed more to pollution and have greater financial resources. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) was based on this principle, exempting developing countries like India and China from binding emission cuts.

i. Which principle recognizes that developed nations must take greater responsibility for environmental protection? (1 Mark)
(a) Polluter Pays Principle
(b) Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
(c) Sustainable Development Goals
(d) Precautionary Principle
ii. What are the key ideas behind the CBDR principle? (2 Marks)
iii. Why did developing countries like India and China oppose binding emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (b) Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
ii. 

• Developed countries have historically contributed the most to pollution and should lead in reducing emissions.
• Developing nations require flexibility in emission targets to support their economic growth.

iii. They argued that their per capita emissions were much lower than those of developed countries.

Q4: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Environmental movements have played a key role in protecting natural resources, forests, rivers, and biodiversity. In India, the Chipko Movement in the 1970s was led by villagers who hugged trees to prevent deforestation. Indigenous communities across the world have fought for their rights, emphasizing sustainable resource management. However, large-scale industrial projects and deforestation continue to threaten their way of life, leading to displacement and loss of traditional knowledge.

i. Which of the following environmental movements took place in India to prevent deforestation? (1 Mark)
(a) Green Belt Movement
(b) Chipko Movement 
(c) Extinction Rebellion
(d) Deep Ecology Movement
ii. What role do indigenous communities play in environmental conservation? (2 Marks)
iii. Why do industrial projects often conflict with indigenous communities? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Chipko Movement
ii.

• They practice sustainable resource management based on traditional knowledge.
• They resist large-scale industrial projects that threaten biodiversity.

iii. Projects lead to deforestation and displacement, harming traditional livelihoods.

Q5: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Natural resources like oil and freshwater have been major sources of geopolitical tensions. Oil-rich regions like West Asia and Central Asia have seen frequent conflicts, as industrialized nations depend on their oil reserves. Similarly, water scarcity has led to disputes between upstream and downstream countries. Examples include conflicts over the Jordan River (Israel-Syria-Jordan) and the Euphrates River (Turkey-Syria-Iraq). These resource conflicts highlight the growing importance of environmental issues in world politics.

i. Which resource has been a major cause of geopolitical conflicts in West Asia? (1 Mark)
(a) Gold
(b) Water
(c) Oil 
(d) Coal
ii. What are two major resource conflicts in global politics? (2 Marks)
iii. Why is water scarcity expected to become a major cause of future conflicts? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (c) Oil
ii.  

• Oil conflicts in West Asia, where industrialized countries depend on Gulf nations for energy.
• Water disputes between upstream and downstream countries over shared rivers.

iii. Many countries depend on shared rivers, leading to disputes over usage and control.

Q6: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Climate change has become one of the most pressing global challenges. In response, the Kyoto Protocol (1997) was adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This agreement set legally binding targets for industrialized (developed) nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, developing countries, including India and China, were exempted due to their historically lower emissions. Critics argue that industrialized nations have failed to meet their reduction targets, and the lack of participation by some major economies weakened the agreement.

i. Which international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions? (1 Mark)
(a) Paris Agreement
(b) Kyoto Protocol
(c) Rio Earth Summit
(d) Montreal Protocol
ii. What were the key provisions of the Kyoto Protocol? (2 Marks)
iii. Why was the Kyoto Protocol criticized? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (b) Kyoto Protocol
ii. 

• Developed nations had legally binding targets to reduce emissions.
• Developing countries were exempted due to their lower historical emissions.

iii. Some major industrialized nations did not meet their targets or withdrew from the agreement.

Q7: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Freshwater scarcity is an increasing global concern, leading to conflicts between nations sharing river systems. In regions like West Asia, Africa, and South Asia, competition over limited water resources has heightened political tensions. Examples include the Israel-Jordan conflict over the Jordan River and disputes between Turkey, Syria, and Iraq over the Euphrates River. Water conflicts are expected to intensify as climate change and population growth put more pressure on water availability.

i. Which of the following rivers has been a source of conflict between Israel and Jordan? (1 Mark)
(a) Ganges
(b) Amazon
(c) Jordan River 
(d) Mekong
ii. What are the key causes of water conflicts between nations? (2 Marks)
iii. Why is water scarcity expected to cause future conflicts? (1 Mark)

Ans:
i. (c) Jordan River
ii.

• It is a source of conflict due to limited freshwater resources and rising demand from population growth.
• Upstream nations are building dams that reduce water flow to downstream countries.

iii. Climate change and overuse of water resources are making freshwater increasingly scarce.

Q8: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Indigenous communities have historically played a crucial role in sustainable environmental management. They rely on traditional knowledge to conserve forests, rivers, and biodiversity. However, industrial projects, deforestation, and land acquisitions have displaced many indigenous groups, threatening their way of life. The United Nations and various environmental organizations have advocated for recognizing indigenous rights in environmental policies, but challenges remain in balancing development and conservation.

i. Which global organization advocates for indigenous rights in environmental policies? (1 Mark)
(a) World Trade Organization (WTO)
(b) United Nations (UN)
(c) International Monetary Fund (IMF)
(d) G-20
ii. How do indigenous communities contribute to environmental conservation? (2 Marks)
iii. Why are indigenous communities at risk due to industrial development? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (b) United Nations (UN)
ii. 

• They utilise traditional knowledge to manage forests and water resources sustainably.
• They oppose industrial projects that harm biodiversity and displace communities.

iii. Many large-scale projects lead to deforestation and force indigenous people to relocate.

Q9: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

The concept of sustainable development seeks to balance economic growth with environmental protection. However, there is a significant divide between the Global North (developed countries) and Global South (developing countries). While developed nations push for strict environmental regulations, developing nations argue that historical pollution was caused by industrialized nations, and they should have the right to economic growth without severe restrictions. This disagreement was evident at the Rio Earth Summit (1992) and later climate negotiations.

i. Which of the following best describes sustainable development? (1 Mark)
(a) Economic growth without considering environmental protection
(b) Strict environmental policies without economic progress
(c) A balance between economic development and environmental conservation 
(d) Complete ban on industrial activities
ii. What are the major points of disagreement between the Global North and South on environmental policies? (2 Marks)
iii. Why do developing countries resist strict environmental regulations? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (c) A balance between economic development and environmental conservation
ii.

• Developed nations demand strict emission cuts, while developing nations focus on economic growth.
• Developing countries argue that industrialised nations caused most environmental damage in the past.

iii. They fear restrictions will slow down economic growth and industrialization.

Q10: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Oil is one of the most strategically important resources in global politics. West Asia (Middle East) controls over 60% of the world’s oil reserves, making the region a major focus of international conflicts and geopolitical rivalries. Industrialized nations like the United States, Europe, China, and India rely heavily on oil imports, making energy security a key foreign policy concern. Many wars and diplomatic tensions have been linked to control over oil resources, highlighting the connection between energy dependence and global power struggles.

i. Which region has the highest concentration of the world’s oil reserves? (1 Mark)
(a) South America
(b) Africa
(c) West Asia (Middle East) 
(d) Europe
ii. Why is oil a major source of geopolitical conflicts? (2 Marks)
iii. How does energy dependence influence global politics? (1 Mark)

Ans: 
i. (c) West Asia (Middle East)
ii.  

• Countries in this region rely heavily on oil imports for their economic and military strength.
• Control over these reserves has resulted in wars and diplomatic tensions.

iii. Countries shape their foreign policies based on securing stable oil supplies.