2841: Among which one of the following sets of social/religious groups is the extent of poverty the highest, as per Government statistics for the nineties ?

(a) Muslims in Kerala, Gujarat and A.P.
(b) Tribals in Bihar, Orissa, M.P. and Maharashtra
(c) Scheduled Castes in Punjab, Western UP, northern Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu
(d) Christians in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Assam
2842: The term "sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction" is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of

(a) Widespread monoculture practices in agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems.
(b) Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65 million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs. .
(c) Large scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity.
(d) Mankind's over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.
2843: There are two identical red, two identical black and two identical white balls. In how many different ways can the balls be placed in the cells (each cell to contain one ball) shown below such that balls of the same colour do not occupy any two consecutive cells?

(a) 15
(b) 18
(c) 24
(d) 30
2844: Proportional representation is NOT necessary in a country where

(a) there are no reserved constituencies
(b) a two-party system has developed
(c) the first-past-post system prevails
(d) there is a fusion of Presidential and Parliamentary forms of governments
2845: Which one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain?

(a) Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings.
(b) Crustaceans-Diatoms-Herrings.
(c) Diatoms-Herrings-Crustaceans.
(d) Crustaceans-Herrings-Diatoms.