Read the given passage and answer the following questions:

During post- industrialisation period, the tree trunks became dark due to industrial smoke and soots. Under this condition the white-winged moth did not survive due to predators, dark-winged or melanised moth survived. Before industrialisation set in, thick growth of almost white-coloured lichen covered the trees - in that background the white winged moth survived but the dark-coloured moth were picked out by predators. They will not grow in areas that are polluted. Hence, moths that were able to camouflage themselves, i.e., hide in the background, survived . This understanding is supported by the fact that in areas where industrialisation did not occur e.g., in rural areas, the count of melanic moths was low. This showed that in a mixed population, those that can better-adapt, survive and increase in population size. Remember that no variant is completely wiped out. Similarly, excess use of herbicides, pesticides, etc., has only resulted in selection of resistant varieties in a much lesser time scale. This is also true for microbes against which we employ antibiotics or drugs against eukaryotic organisms/cell. Hence, resistant organisms/cells are appearing in a time scale of months or years and not centuries. These are examples of evolution by anthropogenic action. This also tells us that evolution is not a directed process in the sense of determinism. It is a stochastic process based on chance events in nature and chance mutation in the organisms.

What is the result of the excessive use of herbicides and pesticides?

Selection of resistant varieties

The correct answer is Option (2) -Selection of resistant varieties

The result of the excess use of herbicides and pesticides is the selection of resistant varieties. When herbicides and pesticides are overused, only the organisms that have natural resistance survive and reproduce. Over time, this leads to an increase in resistant varieties of pests and weeds, making the chemicals less effective. This process is similar to how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. The resistant organisms thrive, while non-resistant ones are eradicated.