UPSC CSE 2025 · PYQ · Reading Comprehension / Central Idea · medium
Over the next 30 years, many countries are promising to move to net-zero carbon, implying that household emissions will have to be cut to close to nothing. A leading climate scientist reckons that, at best, half the reduction might be achieved through demand-side measures, such as behavioural changes by individuals and households. And even that would require companies and governments to provide more incentives to change through supply-side investments to make low-carbon options cheaper and more widely available.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea conveyed by the passage?
A.Moving to net-zero carbon is possible only by the reduction in household emissions.
B.Low-carbon behaviour in people can be brought about by incentivising them.✓ Correct
C.Cheaper goods and services can be made available to people by using low-carbon technologies.
D.Manufacturing industries that use low-carbon technologies should be provided with subsidies.
Explanation
The passage emphasizes that achieving net-zero carbon requires behavioural changes by households, and this in turn requires companies and governments to provide incentives via supply-side investments. The central message is that low-carbon behaviour can be brought about by incentivising people, which matches option (b). Option (a) overstates by saying "only" by household reduction; option (c) focuses on cheaper goods, which is a means, not the central idea; option (d) about subsidies to industries is not the main thrust.
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