Reading Comprehension

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

Mercury is a toxic element that damages human health and the environment, even in low concentrations. In humans, mercury exposure is associated with problems such as kidney damage, neurological impairment and delayed cognitive development in children.
Mercury became a popular pesticide ingredient for agriculture in the early 1900s, and a number of poisoning events ensued throughout the world.
They include the Iraq grain disaster in 1971-72 when grain seed treated with mercury was imported from Mexico and the United States. The seed was not meant for human consumption, but rural communities used it to make bread, and 459 people died.
In the decades since, most countries have banned the production and/or use of mercury-based pesticides on crops. In 1995 Australia discontinued their use in most applications, such as turf farming.
Despite this, authorities exempted a fungicide containing mercury known as Shirtan. They restricted its use to sugar cane farming in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

According to the sugar cane industry, about 80% of growers use Shirtan to treat pineapple sett rot disease.

But this month, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority cancelled the approval of the mercury-containing active ingredient in Shirtan, methoxyethylmercuric chloride. The decision was made at the request of the ingredient's manufacturer, Alpha Chemicals.

Shirtan's registration was cancelled last week. It will no longer be produced in Australia, but existing supplies can be sold to, and used by, sugar cane farmers for the next year until it is fully banned.

 Over the past 25 years, Australia's continued use of Shirtan allowed about 50,000 kilograms of mercury into the environment. The effect on river and reef ecosystems is largely unknown. What is known is that mercury can be toxic even at very low concentrations, and research is needed to understand its ecological impacts.

The use of mercury-based pesticide has also created a high risk of exposure for sugar cane workers. At most risk is those not familiar with safety procedures for handling toxic materials, and who may have been poorly supervised. This risk has been exacerbated by the use of itinerant workers, particularly those from a non-English speaking background.

Further, in the hot and humid conditions of Northern Australia, it has been reported that workers may have removed protective gloves to avoid sweating. Again, research is needed to determine the implication of these practices for human health.

To this end, Mercury Australia, a multi-disciplinary network of researchers, has formed to address the environmental, health and other issues surrounding mercury use, both contemporary and historical.

Which of the following can be responsible for the Iraq grain disaster?

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

The formation of polymers, long-chain molecules made of repeating units of monomers, is a far more difficult experimental problem than the formation of monomers. Polymerization reactions tend to be dehydration. A molecule of water is lost in the formation of a peptide from two amino acids or of a disaccharide sugar from two monomers. Dehydrating agents are used to initiate polymerization. The polymerization of amino acids to form long protein-like molecules (“proteinoids”) was accomplished through dry heating by American biochemist Sidney Fox and his colleagues. The polyamine acids that he formed are not random molecules unrelated to life. They have distinct catalytic activities. Long polymers of amino acids were also produced from hydrogen cyanide and anhydrous liquid ammonia by American chemist Clifford Matthews in simulations of the early upper atmosphere.

Some evidence exists that ultraviolet irradiation induces combinations of nucleotide bases and sugars in the presence of phosphates or cyanides. Some condensing agents such as cyanamide are efficiently made under simulated primitive conditions. Despite the breakdown by the water of molecular intermediates, condensing agents may quite effectively induce polymerization, and polymers of amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides have all been made this way.

That adsorption of relevant small carbon compounds on clays or other minerals may have concentrated these intermediates was suggested by the British scientist John Desmond Bernal. The concentration of some kind is required to offset the tendency for water to break down polymers of biological significance. Phosphorus, with which Deoxyribose sugar forms the “backbone” of DNA and is integrally involved in cell energy transformation and membrane formation, is preferentially incorporated into pre-biological organic molecules. It is hard to explain how such a preference could have happened without the concentration of organic molecules.

Which of the following words best expresses the true meaning of 'integral'?

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

The formation of polymers, long-chain molecules made of repeating units of monomers, is a far more difficult experimental problem than the formation of monomers. Polymerization reactions tend to be dehydration. A molecule of water is lost in the formation of a peptide from two amino acids or of a disaccharide sugar from two monomers. Dehydrating agents are used to initiate polymerization. The polymerization of amino acids to form long protein-like molecules (“proteinoids”) was accomplished through dry heating by American biochemist Sidney Fox and his colleagues. The polyamine acids that he formed are not random molecules unrelated to life. They have distinct catalytic activities. Long polymers of amino acids were also produced from hydrogen cyanide and anhydrous liquid ammonia by American chemist Clifford Matthews in simulations of the early upper atmosphere.

Some evidence exists that ultraviolet irradiation induces combinations of nucleotide bases and sugars in the presence of phosphates or cyanides. Some condensing agents such as cyanamide are efficiently made under simulated primitive conditions. Despite the breakdown by the water of molecular intermediates, condensing agents may quite effectively induce polymerization, and polymers of amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides have all been made this way.

That adsorption of relevant small carbon compounds on clays or other minerals may have concentrated these intermediates was suggested by the British scientist John Desmond Bernal. The concentration of some kind is required to offset the tendency for water to break down polymers of biological significance. Phosphorus, with which Deoxyribose sugar forms the “backbone” of DNA and is integrally involved in cell energy transformation and membrane formation, is preferentially incorporated into pre-biological organic molecules. It is hard to explain how such a preference could have happened without the concentration of organic molecules.

What is the structure of the passage?

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

The formation of polymers, long-chain molecules made of repeating units of monomers, is a far more difficult experimental problem than the formation of monomers. Polymerization reactions tend to be dehydration. A molecule of water is lost in the formation of a peptide from two amino acids or of a disaccharide sugar from two monomers. Dehydrating agents are used to initiate polymerization. The polymerization of amino acids to form long protein-like molecules (“proteinoids”) was accomplished through dry heating by American biochemist Sidney Fox and his colleagues. The polyamine acids that he formed are not random molecules unrelated to life. They have distinct catalytic activities. Long polymers of amino acids were also produced from hydrogen cyanide and anhydrous liquid ammonia by American chemist Clifford Matthews in simulations of the early upper atmosphere.

Some evidence exists that ultraviolet irradiation induces combinations of nucleotide bases and sugars in the presence of phosphates or cyanides. Some condensing agents such as cyanamide are efficiently made under simulated primitive conditions. Despite the breakdown by the water of molecular intermediates, condensing agents may quite effectively induce polymerization, and polymers of amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides have all been made this way.

That adsorption of relevant small carbon compounds on clays or other minerals may have concentrated these intermediates was suggested by the British scientist John Desmond Bernal. The concentration of some kind is required to offset the tendency for water to break down polymers of biological significance. Phosphorus, with which Deoxyribose sugar forms the “backbone” of DNA and is integrally involved in cell energy transformation and membrane formation, is preferentially incorporated into pre-biological organic molecules. It is hard to explain how such a preference could have happened without the concentration of organic molecules.

What happens during the polymerization reaction?

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

The formation of polymers, long-chain molecules made of repeating units of monomers, is a far more difficult experimental problem than the formation of monomers. Polymerization reactions tend to be dehydration. A molecule of water is lost in the formation of a peptide from two amino acids or of a disaccharide sugar from two monomers. Dehydrating agents are used to initiate polymerization. The polymerization of amino acids to form long protein-like molecules (“proteinoids”) was accomplished through dry heating by American biochemist Sidney Fox and his colleagues. The polyamine acids that he formed are not random molecules unrelated to life. They have distinct catalytic activities. Long polymers of amino acids were also produced from hydrogen cyanide and anhydrous liquid ammonia by American chemist Clifford Matthews in simulations of the early upper atmosphere.

Some evidence exists that ultraviolet irradiation induces combinations of nucleotide bases and sugars in the presence of phosphates or cyanides. Some condensing agents such as cyanamide are efficiently made under simulated primitive conditions. Despite the breakdown by the water of molecular intermediates, condensing agents may quite effectively induce polymerization, and polymers of amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides have all been made this way.

That adsorption of relevant small carbon compounds on clays or other minerals may have concentrated these intermediates was suggested by the British scientist John Desmond Bernal. The concentration of some kind is required to offset the tendency for water to break down polymers of biological significance. Phosphorus, with which Deoxyribose sugar forms the “backbone” of DNA and is integrally involved in cell energy transformation and membrane formation, is preferentially incorporated into pre-biological organic molecules. It is hard to explain how such a preference could have happened without the concentration of organic molecules.

Which of the following statement is NOT true as per the given passage?

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and choose the correct option.

1.This harms aquatic ecosystems, human health and also pollutes major sources of freshwater.

2. Harmful chemicals from pesticides not only pollute the soil and water around the farms but also reach rivers and oceans, a new study established. 

3. Globally, around 70,000 tonnes of potentially harmful chemicals find their way into aquifers every year, the report published in the journal Nature showed. 

4. The findings are based on an analysis of the geographical distribution of 92 common pesticides.

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and choose the correct option.

1. What has only recently emerged, though, is that children's conviction about their own capacity to control what happens in their lives and this knowledge suggests a window of opportunity for inoculating them against depression before it strikes.

2. Just like adults, sceptical methods of deciphering defeats appear to take care of the feeling of helplessness and misery at the heart of youngsters' depression.

3. That individuals who are as of now discouraged think in these manners have long been known.

4. One line of evidence comes from studies of children's belief about their own ability to control what happens in their lives- for example, being able to change things for the better.

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
Mongol empire, empire founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. Originating from the Mongol heartland in the Steppe of central Asia, by the late 13th century it spanned from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Danube River and the shores of the Persian Gulf in the west. At its peak, it covered some 9 million square miles (23 million square km) of territory, making it the largest contiguous land empire in world history.
The year 1206, when Temüjin, son of Yesügei, was elected Genghis Khan of a federation of tribes on the banks of the Onon River, must be regarded as the beginning of the Mongol empire. This federation not only consisted of Mongols in the proper sense—that is, Mongol-speaking tribes—but also included tribes of Turkish descent. 
Before 1206, Genghis Khan was one of the tribal leaders fighting for supremacy in the steppe regions south and southeast of Lake Baikal; his victories over the Kereit and then the Naiman Turks, however, gave him undisputed authority over the whole of what is now Mongolia. 
Having united the steppe tribes, Genghis Khan ruled over some 1 million people. In order to suppress the traditional causes of tribal warfare, he abolished inherited aristocratic titles. He also forbade the selling and kidnapping of women, banned the enslavement of any Mongol and made livestock theft punishable by death. Moreover, Genghis Khan ordered the adoption of a writing system, conducted a regular census, granted diplomatic immunity to foreign ambassadors and allowed freedom of religion well before that idea caught on elsewhere. A series of campaigns, some of them carried out simultaneously, followed.
All these things majorly contributed to the establishment of Mongol empire.

Which of the following provisions was not established by Genghis Khan?

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

Mongol empire, empire founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. Originating from the Mongol heartland in the Steppe of central Asia, by the late 13th century it spanned from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Danube River and the shores of the Persian Gulf in the west. At its peak, it covered some 9 million square miles (23 million square km) of territory, making it the largest contiguous land empire in world history.

The year 1206, when Temüjin, son of Yesügei, was elected Genghis Khan of a federation of tribes on the banks of the Onon River, must be regarded as the beginning of the Mongol empire. This federation not only consisted of Mongols in the proper sense—that is, Mongol-speaking tribes—but also included tribes of Turkish descent.

Before 1206, Genghis Khan was one of the tribal leaders fighting for supremacy in the steppe regions south and southeast of Lake Baikal; his victories over the Kereit and then the Naiman Turks, however, gave him undisputed authority over the whole of what is now Mongolia.

Having united the steppe tribes, Genghis Khan ruled over some 1 million people. In order to suppress the traditional causes of tribal warfare, he abolished inherited aristocratic titles. He also forbade the selling and kidnapping of women, banned the enslavement of any Mongol and made livestock theft punishable by death. Moreover, Genghis Khan ordered the adoption of a writing system, conducted a regular census, granted diplomatic immunity to foreign ambassadors and allowed freedom of religion well before that idea caught on elsewhere. A series of campaigns, some of them carried out simultaneously, followed.

All these things majorly contributed to the establishment of Mongol empire.

What can be the suitable title for the given passage?