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CAT 2025 Slot 2 VARC Question 5

Multiple choice (+3 / −1) · Verbal Ability · Parasummary · Try it, then check the answer and solution below.

CAT 2025 Slot 2VARCVerbal Ability • ParasummaryModerate
The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
For millennia, in the process of opening up land for agriculture, gardens, grazing and hunting, humans have created ecological "mosaics", or "patchworks": landscapes holding a mixture of habitats, like meadows, gardens and forests. These were not designed as nature reserves, but often catered to hugely diverse animal life. Research indicates that European hay meadows cultivated for animal feed were actually more successful at preserving a vast array of species than meadows explicitly cultivated for biodiversity. Studying the early Holocene, researchers have found that human presence was about as likely to increase biodiversity as reduce it. Of course, not all human-created landscapes have the same value. A paved subdivision with astroturfed lawns is very different to a village with diverse vegetable and flower gardens. But scientists continue to find evidence that the old idea of humans as antithetical to nature is also wrong-headed, and that rosy visions of thriving, human-free environments are more imaginary than real.
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Answer and solution

Answer: C) Contrary to the idea that humans always hurt nature and that it thrives in their absence, a lot of human action across history has been equally likely to increase biodiversity than reduce it, often creating varied ecological landscapes that support a vast array of species.

1
Passage Context & Central Idea:
The passage discusses how human activities, such as agriculture and landscape creation, have historically influenced biodiversity. It challenges the notion that humans are inherently detrimental to nature, presenting evidence that human-created landscapes can sometimes preserve and even enhance biodiversity. The central argument is that humans are not universally destructive to nature, and the idea of nature thriving without human interference is largely a misconception.
2
Question Stem Analysis:
The question asks for the summary that best captures the essence of the passage. It requires identifying the main argument and supporting details, while avoiding distortions or overgeneralizations.
3
Option-by-Option Elimination:
Option A: While partially correct, it oversimplifies the passage by focusing only on the positive aspects of human action and ignoring the complexity of human impact on biodiversity.
Option B: This option highlights the success of human-created landscapes in preserving species but fails to address the broader argument about the mixed impact of human actions on biodiversity.
Option C: This option accurately reflects the passage's central argument, emphasizing that human actions are not always harmful to nature and that they can create diverse ecological landscapes that support biodiversity. It aligns with the passage's discussion of the early Holocene period and the example of European hay meadows.
Option D: While it correctly mentions the preservation of species in human-created landscapes, it does not fully capture the passage's broader argument about the mixed impact of human actions on biodiversity and the challenge to the idea of nature thriving without human interference.
4
Final Answer Confirmation:
The correct answer is Option C, as it best captures the essence of the passage by addressing the misconception that humans are always detrimental to nature and highlighting the mixed impact of human actions on biodiversity.
Correct Answer: C

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