Task reminder: ⚠️ Negative marking applies. Select all correct responses — but only click options you are confident about. Wrong selections deduct marks.

1. The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015 by 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is the principal international framework for addressing climate change. It aims to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. Unlike its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement requires all signatory countries — not just developed nations — to submit Nationally Determined Contributions outlining their plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the pledges submitted under the Paris Agreement are voluntary and not legally binding in terms of the specific emission targets, though countries are legally required to submit and regularly update their contributions. A review mechanism — the Global Stocktake — assesses collective progress every five years. Critics argue that the voluntary nature of the commitments makes the Agreement insufficiently robust to deliver the emissions reductions required to meet its temperature targets.

Q. Which of the following statements are accurate according to the passage?

A. The Paris Agreement applies only to developed nations.
B. It seeks to limit warming to below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
C. Countries’ specific emission targets are legally binding.
D. Countries are legally required to submit and update their contributions.
E. The Global Stocktake reviews collective progress every five years.
F. The Paris Agreement replaced the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

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2. Migration and Economic Growth

The economic effects of immigration have been extensively studied by economists, and the overall finding from this body of research is that immigration tends to have modest but positive effects on the economies of receiving countries over the medium to long term. Immigrants fill labour market gaps in both high-skill occupations — such as technology, medicine, and engineering — and lower-skill sectors including agriculture, construction, and hospitality. Research suggests that immigrants are disproportionately likely to be entrepreneurs; in the United States, immigrants have founded or co-founded more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The fiscal impact of immigration depends heavily on the age, education level, and policy environment of the receiving country: highly educated immigrants who arrive as young adults generally make positive net fiscal contributions, while those with limited education and limited employment opportunities may consume more in public services than they contribute in taxes.

Q. According to the passage, which of the following are correct?

A. Immigration consistently has large negative economic effects on receiving countries.
B. Immigrants contribute to filling labour shortages in both skilled and unskilled sectors.
C. Research suggests immigrants are more likely than average to start businesses.
D. More than 40% of Fortune 500 companies were founded or co-founded by immigrants in the US.
E. The fiscal impact of immigration is the same regardless of immigrants’ education levels.
F. Well-educated young immigrants tend to make positive net fiscal contributions.

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3. Renewable Energy Transition

The global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is one of the most significant economic and technological transformations in human history. Solar and wind power have become the cheapest sources of electricity in most parts of the world, and their share of electricity generation is growing rapidly. In 2023, for the first time, renewable energy sources — including hydro, solar, and wind — generated more than 30 percent of the world’s electricity. Despite this progress, the pace of transition remains insufficient to meet the targets set by the International Energy Agency for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Key challenges include the intermittency of solar and wind power, which requires investment in energy storage and grid flexibility; the need to decarbonise sectors beyond electricity, including industry, transport, and heating; and ensuring that the transition is just and equitable, not imposing disproportionate costs on low-income households or developing countries.

Q. Which of the following are identified as challenges in the renewable energy transition?

A. The falling cost of solar and wind power.
B. The intermittent nature of solar and wind generation.
C. The need to decarbonise industries beyond the electricity sector.
D. Renewables generating too much electricity globally.
E. Ensuring the transition does not disproportionately burden low-income groups.
F. The lack of any progress on renewable energy to date.

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