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.
Climate change endangers pollinator population by _____.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → disrupting their behaviour and reproductive patterns
The passage says: "Pesticide exposure ... and climate change further endanger pollinator populations by poisoning them and disrupting their behaviour and reproductive patterns." Two threats are matched with two effects in the same order: pesticides poison pollinators, and climate change disrupts their behaviour and breeding.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: enabling the production of seeds and fruits — Incorrect. Wrong link: this is what pollinators do for plants, a benefit, not a danger from climate change.
Option 3: contributing to the abundance of flowering plants — Incorrect. Wrong link: this is another benefit that pollinators bring to ecosystems.
Option 4: increasing their nesting sites — Incorrect. Contradicted: the passage says nesting sites are being reduced (by habitat loss), not increased.
Note: In the original NTA paper, Option 4 read "poisoning them". NTA accepted this option as a correct answer as well. To leave only one correct answer and avoid confusion for students, it has been changed here to "increasing their nesting sites".