UPSSSC PETQuestion 48 of 49 · Reading Comprehension
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UPSSSC PET 2026 (25 Oct Shift 2)

Directions

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions (91 and 92) that follow : Antarctica is a continent of stunning contradictions. To look at photographs of its towering blue icebergs and playful penguins, one might think it is a peaceful winter wonderland. However, to actually stand on its surface is to face the most hostile climate on the planet. In this frozen land, breathtaking beauty and deadly cold exist in perfect balance. While it holds most of the world's fresh water in its beautiful glaciers, its freezing winds and blinding snowstorms can kill an unprotected human in minutes. Unlike the Arctic, which has native populations who have adapted to the cold, Antarctica has no permanent human residents. It is a pristine wilderness that tolerates visitors but refuses to be conquered.

What is a major difference between Antarctica and the Arctic mentioned in the passage ?

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Answer: Option A — Antarctica has no permanent human residents, whereas the Arctic has native populations.

Detailed Solution

The passage says, ‘Unlike the Arctic, which has native populations who have adapted to the cold, Antarctica has no permanent human residents.’ The other options contradict the passage, which mentions Antarctica's icebergs, fresh water in glaciers and snowstorms.

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Reading Comprehension — UPSSSC PET Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Reading Comprehension, a key topic in the UPSSSC PET English Language section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

Reading comprehension (RC) questions give a passage followed by questions that test how well you understood it. Question types include the main idea or title of the passage, specific details, inferences, the author's tone and purpose, and the meaning of words as used in the passage. Passages cover topics such as the economy, science, environment, society and history. A good approach is to read the questions quickly first so you know what to look for, then read the passage actively, noting the main point of each paragraph. Answer only from what the passage says or clearly implies, never from outside knowledge. For inference questions, the right answer is supported by the passage even though it isn't stated directly. Options that are too extreme or go beyond the passage are usually wrong. Regular reading of newspapers and editorials is the best long-term preparation. Practise the reading comprehension passages below. Every question has an explanation pointing to the relevant line in the passage.