Read the given passage and answer the six questions that follow.
Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds and bats, are essential for the ecosystem, health and human food security. They facilitate plant reproduction by transferring pollen between flowers, enabling the production of seeds and fruits crucial for plant biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
This mutualistic relationship supports global food production, with approximately 75% of leading food crops relying on animal pollination. Pollinators contribute to the diversity and abundance of flowering plants in natural ecosystems, providing habitat and food resources for various organisms.
Despite their importance, pollinators face significant threats. Habitat loss due to urbanization, agriculture and deforestation reduces nesting sites and floral resources. Pesticide exposure, especially insecticides and climate change further endanger pollinator populations by poisoning them and disrupting their behaviour and reproductive patterns.
To safeguard pollinators and ecosystems, concerted action is necessary. This includes protecting and restoring pollinator habitats, adopting pollinator-friendly agricultural practices, reducing pesticide use and raising public awareness about the crucial role of pollinators.
By addressing these challenges, we can ensure the sustainability of ecosystems, biodiversity and food production systems, securing a healthier future for both nature and humanity.
Choose the correct option to fill in the blank.
Pollinators help in plant reproduction by ____.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → transferring pollen between flowers
The passage says pollinators "facilitate plant reproduction by transferring pollen between flowers", which lets plants produce seeds and fruits. This is the way they help plants reproduce.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: securing human food — Incorrect. Result, not cause: human food security is a result of pollination, not the way plants are helped to reproduce.
Option 3: fighting climate change — Incorrect. Contradicted: climate change is named as a threat to pollinators; they do not fight it.
Option 4: providing food resources to various organisms — Incorrect. Wrong focus: this is a wider benefit to the ecosystem from flowering plants, not how pollinators help plants reproduce.