2016 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2016 · CSAT

Question 70: Reading Comprehension

Passage-5 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Historically, the biggest challenge to world…”

According to the above passage, which of the following helps/help in reducing hunger and starvation in the developing economies ?

  1. 1.Balancing demand and supply of food
  2. 2.Increasing imports of food
  3. 3.Increasing purchasing power of the poor
  4. 4.Changing the food consumption patterns and practices

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

a1 only
b2, 3 and 4 only
c1 and 3 only
d1, 2, 3 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Balance between supply and demand is called an essential condition for avoiding hunger (1), and surplus food does not reach countries whose people lack purchasing power, so raising the purchasing power of the poor helps (3). Imports work only for economies with enough foreign exchange, so they are not offered as a general remedy (2), and changing consumption patterns is mentioned as a source of changing demand, not as a remedy (4).

  • 1. Supply-demand balance is an essential condition for avoiding hunger.
  • 2. Imports help only economies with enough foreign exchange, so not a general remedy.
  • 3. Surplus food does not reach those who lack purchasing power.
  • 4. Changing demand patterns are described as a pressure, not as a remedy.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Imports help only economies with enough foreign exchange, so not a general remedy.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: Surplus food does not reach those who lack purchasing power.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 4.

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 3 also helps reduce hunger.
  • (b) Imports and consumption patterns are not named as remedies.
  • (c) Right: statements 1 and 3.
  • (d) Includes 2 and 4, which are not offered as remedies.

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.