UPSC Prelims 2012 · CSAT

Question 6: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Chemical pesticides lose their role in…” — Passage – 2 · as printed by UPSC

Though the problems associated with the use of chemical pesticides is known for a long time, their widespread use has not waned. Why ?

aAlternatives to chemical pesticides do not exist at all.

bNew pesticides are not invented at all.

cPesticides are biodegradable.

dNone of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The passage explains why pesticide use continues: for the farmer the balance of cost and benefit keeps favouring it (the gain is several times the money spent), and in poorer countries the fear of starvation and epidemics outweighs the health costs. It adds that production keeps rising and that lasting sustainability needs a steady stream of newer pesticides that stay ahead of the pests and cause less lasting damage. So none of (a), (b) or (c) is the reason. Remember: absolute claims such as 'do not exist at all' and 'not invented at all' are usually wrong.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong. The passage never says alternatives are absent; use continues because pesticides keep paying off.
(b) Wrong. It says new pesticides keep being developed, and must be, to stay ahead of the pests.
(c) Wrong. Biodegradability is what newer pesticides should achieve, not a present fact about pesticides.
(d) Right. None of (a), (b) or (c) matches the passage; use persists because the benefits outweigh the costs.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious question Next question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.