UPSC Prelims 2006 · General Studies
Question 41: Science and Technology
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Meningococcal Meningitis is transmitted from person to person by mosquito bites.
- 2.Vomiting and neck pain are two of the symptoms of Meningococcal meningitis.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. It spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets and throat secretions, such as coughing and close contact, not by mosquito bites, so statement 1 is false. Its symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, a stiff neck, vomiting and sensitivity to light, so statement 2 is correct. Epidemics occur in the African meningitis belt.
- 1. It spreads through respiratory droplets, not mosquito bites.
- 2. Vomiting and neck stiffness or pain are typical symptoms.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: It spreads through respiratory droplets, not mosquito bites.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Vomiting and neck stiffness or pain are typical symptoms.
Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Statement 1 is false: mosquitoes do not spread it.
- (b) Correct: only statement 2 holds.
- (c) Statement 1 is false, so 'both' cannot be right.
- (d) Statement 2 is true; neck pain and vomiting are symptoms.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2006, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.