Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

Riparian vegetation [the green band of vegetation along a watercourse] can help stabilize stream banks; filter sediment from surface runoff; and provide wildlife habitat, livestock forage,and scenic value. Well-developed vegetation also allows bank soils to absorb extra water during spring runoff, releasing it later during drier months, thus improving late-summer stream flows.

In many parts of the arid West, trees and shrubs are found only in riparian areas. Woody plants are very important as winter cover for many wildlife species, including upland game birds such as pheasants and turkeys. Often this winter cover is the greatest single factor limiting game bird populations. Woody vegetation also provides hiding cover and browse for many other species of birds and mammals, both game and nongame.

Dead trees ("snags") are an integral part of streamside habitats and should be left standing whenever possible. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, brown creepers, and other birds eat the insects that decompose the wood. These insects usually pose no threat to nearby living trees. Occasionally a disease organism or misuse of pesticides will weaken or kill a stand of trees. If several trees in a small area begin to die, contact your local extension agent immediately .

 

What is discussed in the second paragraph of this passage?

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select "no improvement".

You (will being surprised) to learn that some leading philosophers have supported immoral views.

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which is the best substitute of the words/sentence.

A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type

In the following question, four words are given out of which one word is correctly spelt. Select the correctly spelt word.

The question below consists of a set of labelled sentences. Out of the four options given, select the most logical order of the sentences to form a coherent paragraph.

The smoke rises and

A-chokes my apartment

B-gets trapped in the

C-tree-tops and

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select "no improvement".

I (had been) a unique case of slow learning.

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which is the best substitute of the words/sentence.

Relating to or involved in crime

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Under the weather

In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

People are now either exposed to the very best of their inner circle and the world, ________ to the worst — articles that look to shock, to provoke rage and put a lens on everything that is wrong _________ the world. Imperceptibly, it goes unsaid that often __________ pieces of ‘news’ fail to actually provide a constructive solution. The effect of such a disparity _________ to the same effect as news of TV and newspapers — a feeling that what we see does not ____________ our lives.

we see does not ____________ our lives.