UPSC Prelims 2016 · CSAT

Question 64: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “As we look to 2050, when we…” — Passage-1 · as printed by UPSC

What is the critical message conveyed by the above passage ?

aOur increasing demand for foods sourced from animals puts a greater burden on our natural resources

bDiets based on grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables are best suited for health in developing countries

cHuman beings change their food habits from time to time irrespective of the health concerns

dFrom a global perspective, we still do not know which type of diet is best for us

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage looks ahead to feeding two billion more people and says what we choose to eat will have large effects on the planet. It contrasts a diet built on meat and dairy, rising in developing countries, which uses up more of the world's resources, with one built on unrefined plant foods. The critical message is that growing demand for animal-sourced food burdens natural resources more. Health and the question of the best diet are not what it argues.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Right: meat-and-dairy diets take a heavier toll on resources.
(b) The passage does not discuss health.
(c) Changing habits despite health concerns is not discussed.
(d) The passage says which diet is lighter on resources; it does not say we do not know.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.