2015 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2015 · CSAT

Question 5: Reading Comprehension

Passage – 5 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Foods travel more than the people…”

With reference to the above passage, which of the following statements is/are true ?

  1. 1.Consuming regionally grown food and not depending on long travelled food is a part of eco-friendly behaviour.
  2. 2.Food processing industry puts a burden on our natural resources.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The passage says that long-distance transport and processing of food bring pollution, wastage, destruction of rain forests and extra demand for preservation and packaging, and that food drawn from regions which cannot feed their own people worsens food insecurity. Statement 1 follows: eating locally grown food avoids these harms, so it is eco-friendly. Statement 2 follows: processing and preserving food are named among the causes of wastage and added packaging demand, which burdens natural resources. Both are supported, so the answer is both.

  • 1. Local food avoids the transport pollution and food-insecurity effects linked to long-distance food.
  • 2. Processing, preservation and packaging are cited as causing wastage and extra resource demand.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: Local food avoids the transport pollution and food-insecurity effects linked to long-distance food.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: Processing, preservation and packaging are cited as causing wastage and extra resource demand.

Only (c) is left. This one needs every statement.

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) Wrong: statement 2 is also supported by the passage.
  • (b) Wrong: statement 1 is also supported by the passage.
  • (c) Right: both statements follow from the harms the passage lists.
  • (d) Wrong: both statements are supported.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.