Question

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
Corporations continue to ignore the threat of global warming, probably because global warming is a hyper-object, very difficult to touch and feel. Because hyper-objects have much wider time-space boundaries than human beings, we tend to consider hyper-objects as given and non-existent. Therefore, it is very difficult to deal with hyper-objects as their common understanding is lacking. Some of us continue to believe that global warming is blown out of proportion-it is not a serious threat. Even those who understood hyper-objects have yet to figure out the right response to them.
The lack of understanding and response from corporations to “climate change” is evident from the fact that most businesses have remained largely human-centric. Some businesses have adopted green practices- voluntarily, or involuntary. These efforts attempt to reduce emissions through better energy efficiency. Though laudable, the efforts have failed to make any significant dent at the global level; the planet continues to get warmer. Moreover, most of the efforts are still in the sphere of “business as usual” and “what is good for us”.
Business as usual, the current model of economic production and distribution is deeply flawed as it is based mainly on the capitalistic ethos of free-market legitimized through private property, competition, and unlimited consumption. The word “free” has come to mean that there are no constraints on individuals, and the word market has come to mean that buying and selling are the primary mechanisms, and everything is a transaction. Private property gives individuals/nations a chance to create legal rights to own more and more, subject to very little constraints. It is evident in income inequalities witnessed across the world. The very notion of ownership is control-oriented and human-centric that promotes unlimited extraction from the environment, hyper-nationalism, and hyper-individualism. The extraction and exploitation of the environment has served our economic interests, and led to the growth and survival of businesses. However, it has also led to the destruction of the environment. Global warming is the response of nature to human actions driven by businesses operating on the principles of surplus, predictability, control, hyper-rationality, linearity, and quantification. In other words, “business as usual” has yet to dance to the rhythm of nature.
Based on the passage, which of the following is NOT an example of human-centric statement?

• A. We should use natural resources for economic growth.
• B. We should preserve nature for our future generations.
• C. We should respect nature for its inherent intelligence.
• D. We should not cut trees as it causes excessive floods, destroying crops and human habitats.
• E. We should plant trees as they provide us with Oxygen.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The passage discusses how corporations and human-centric approaches have failed to adequately address the threat of global warming. Let's evaluate each option to determine which statement is NOT human-centric:

1. We should use natural resources for economic growth.
   • This statement focuses on using nature as a means to achieve human goals like economic growth, which is human-centric.
2. We should preserve nature for our future generations.
   • This implies conserving nature as a resource for humans in the future, emphasizing a human-centered approach.
3. We should respect nature for its inherent intelligence.
   • This statement acknowledges nature's value independent of human use, suggesting a non-human-centric perspective. It appreciates nature for what it is, not just for what it can provide humans.
4. We should not cut trees as it causes excessive floods, destroying crops and human habitats.
   • The concern here is primarily for the protection of human interests like crops and habitats, indicating a human-oriented view.
5. We should plant trees as they provide us with Oxygen.
   • This statement values trees for their utility to humans, specifically as oxygen providers, reflecting a human-centric mindset.

Analyzing these options, the statement that is NOT a human-centric perspective is "We should respect nature for its inherent intelligence." This option underscores valuing nature beyond human benefits, emphasizing respect for nature's own attributes.

Answer 2

The passage suggests that corporations and, by extension, humans tend to ignore global warming by focusing on a human-centric worldview that prioritizes economic growth and consumption over ecological balance. This perspective often views nature as a resource to be exploited. The question asks us to identify the statement that is NOT human-centric, meaning it should reflect a perspective that appreciates nature for its own value, rather than for what it can provide to humans. Let's evaluate each option:

• We should use natural resources for economic growth. - This statement is human-centric because it implies using nature primarily for economic benefits.
• We should preserve nature for our future generations. - Although it suggests preservation, the motivation is still human-centric, aiming to benefit humans in the future.
• We should respect nature for its inherent intelligence. - This statement acknowledges nature's intrinsic value and intelligence, not tied to human benefit, making it non-human-centric.
• We should not cut trees as it causes excessive floods, destroying crops and human habitats. - This is human-centric as it gives importance to human habitats and agriculture.
• We should plant trees as they provide us with Oxygen. - While beneficial, the motivation here is to serve human needs, so it is human-centric.

From the analysis, only "We should respect nature for its inherent intelligence." truly reflects a non-human-centric perspective, aligning with respecting nature for its own sake.