Comprehension:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:-
There’s a certain magic in the first chill of season… that moment when India’s forests stir back to life. The sanctuary gates creak open, migratory birds return, and air carries that unmistakable scent of damp leaves and wild earth. In western Odisha, Dibrugarh Wildlife Sanctuary, near Sambalpur, is at the heart of this quiet awakening. Now on the cusp of being declared India’s newest tiger reserve, it’s drawing attention not just for its Wildlife, but for the people who have helped it thrive. Spread across forested slopes along the shimmering Hirakud reservoir, Dibrugarh is a revelation—serene, scenic, and full of small surprises. Mornings here are a melody of birdsongs echoing over still water. Spotted deer and langurs, dart through sal forests while eagles trace lazy circles in the sky. On Bot Island, thousands of bats hang like dark fruits from ancient trees. What was once an overlooked stretch of woodland is today one of eastern India’s most inspiring stories of eco-tourism and community-led conservation.
At the edge of this wilderness lies Sambalpur, a city that rests gracefully along Mahanadi River. Its past stretches from the Chauhan dynasty to colonial days, and its present hums with trade, textiles, and temple bells. The river runs through it all, shaping lives, livelihoods, and legends.
A short drive away, Hirakud Dam stands as both an engineering marvel and landscape poetry, a structure that tames Mahanadi yet adds to its splendour. Built in 1950, it remains one of world’s longest earthen dams. From Gandhi Minar viewpoint, the reservoir stretches like molten silver, dotted with fishing boats and green islets— same waters that cradle Dibrugarh’s forests. Back in the narrow lanes of Sambalpur, looms click, and threads gleam. This is where the famed Sambalpuri ikat is born, each fabric a labor of precision and patience. During festivals, the city turns into a living gallery, women draped in ikat saris, men in handwoven kurtas—each garment carrying stories of skill, soil, and heritage.
Dibrugarh Wildlife Sanctuary is attracting tourists because of its-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Wildlife
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, more than one answer is possible here: Option (1) "Wildlife" and Option (3) "Community-led Conservation" both fit the passage, as explained below.
Option 1: Wildlife — Correct (Answer as per NTA). The passage says that Dibrugarh is "drawing attention not just for its Wildlife, but for the people who have helped it thrive", and then describes what visitors see there: migratory birds, spotted deer, langurs, eagles and thousands of bats.
Option 2: Mahanadi River — Incorrect. Wrong part of the passage: the Mahanadi flows past the city of Sambalpur; it is not named as the attraction of the sanctuary.
Option 3: Community-led Conservation — Can also be considered as correct. The same line says the sanctuary draws attention "not just for its Wildlife, but for the people who have helped it thrive", and the paragraph ends by calling it one of eastern India's most inspiring stories of eco-tourism and community-led conservation; this too is a reason for its appeal.
Option 4: Engineering Marvel — Incorrect. Wrong part of the passage: "engineering marvel" describes the Hirakud Dam, a short drive away, not the sanctuary.