QUESTION 5
GS1
10 marks
“Tundra regions are ecologically fragile but economically important.” Examine this statement critically.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Balance low ecological resilience against economic and strategic value in tundra regions.
ExamineGo into the details, test each point against evidence, and conclude on what it shows.
Demand-wise check
- 1Fragility from permafrost, short growing seasons, low productivity and slow ecological recovery≈35 words
- 2Economic significance through hydrocarbons, minerals, fisheries, transport routes and strategic access≈35 words
- 3Critical trade-off: extraction/infrastructure plus warming can magnify damage and feedbacks≈35 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
FragilityEconomic importanceDevelopment/ecology conflictCritical synthesis
Where marks usually go
- Calling tundra 'barren' and therefore environmentally low-value
- Listing resources without explaining why impacts persist unusually long
Value addition
- Balance scale: ecological sensitivity vs economic/strategic use
→ Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.
Verified value additions
These are verified official-source additions selected for this exact PYQ. Use only the point that strengthens your argument.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.