UPSC Prelims 2013 · CSAT

Question 8: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “A number of empirical studies find that…” — Passage – 4 · as printed by UPSC

Which of the following observations emerges from the above passage ?

aOne can identify a single policy that can reduce risk without any side-effect.

bNo single risk-specific policy is sufficient to reduce agricultural risk.

cPolicies which affect risk indirectly can eliminate it.

dGovernment’s policy intervention can mitigate agricultural risk completely.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage divides policies into risk-specific ones (crop insurance, price stabilisation, resistant varieties) and indirect ones (irrigation, subsidised credit, information). It states that no single risk-specific policy is enough on its own and that such policies carry side-effects; indirect policies only touch risk indirectly. So the observation that follows is that no single risk-specific policy is sufficient. Options claiming a flawless policy, the elimination of risk, or complete mitigation go beyond the passage, which never promises that risk can be removed.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong. The passage says risk-specific policies are not free of side-effects.
(b) Right. No single risk-specific policy is sufficient to reduce agricultural risk.
(c) Wrong. Indirect policies affect risk only indirectly; elimination is never claimed.
(d) Wrong. Complete mitigation is never claimed.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.