Question

Assertion : Broadly utilitarian arguments say that we should conserve biodiversity because biodiversity plays a major role in many ecosystem services that nature provides.
Reason : Exploration of molecular, genetic and species level diversity to obtain the products of economic importance is included under broadly utilitarian category.

• A. If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
• B. If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
• C. If assertion is true but reason is false
• D. If both assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

We should conserve biodiversity for three reasons that have been included under three categories—narrowly utilitarian, broadly utilitarian and ethical. The broadly utilitarian arguments for conserving biodiversity say that biodiversity plays a major role in many ecosystem services that nature provides, e.g., replenishing $O_2$ of atmosphere by plants, nutrient cycling, aesthetic value, etc. Bioprospecting [i.e., exploring molecular, genetic and species level diversity for products of economic importance) is included under narrowly utilitarian category, which is concerned with the countless direct economic benefits obtained from nature.