2017 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2017 · CSAT

Question 48: Reading Comprehension

Passage—7 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Many farmers use synthetic pesticides to…”Passage beginning “Many farmers use synthetic pesticides to…”

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding biopesticides?

  1. 1.They are not hazardous to human health.
  2. 2.They are persistent in environment.
  3. 3.They are essential to maintain the biodiversity of any ecosystem.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a1 only
b1 and 2 only
c1 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage presents botanical pesticides as safer for the user and as reducing human health hazards, so statement 1 holds. They break down within hours or days, so they are not persistent; persistence is the fault of synthetic ones, so statement 2 is false. The passage says they help maintain predator diversity, but not that they are essential to the biodiversity of any ecosystem, so statement 3 overstates. Only statement 1 is supported.

  • 1. Described as safer for the user and reducing human health hazards.
  • 2. They decompose within hours or days; persistence is the synthetic ones' fault.
  • 3. They help maintain predator diversity, but nothing says they are essential to any ecosystem's biodiversity.

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: They decompose within hours or days; persistence is the synthetic ones' fault.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 3.

    What you needed to know: They help maintain predator diversity, but nothing says they are essential to any ecosystem's biodiversity.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.

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) Correct: only statement 1 is supported.
  • (b) Statement 2 is false: biopesticides break down quickly.
  • (c) Statement 3 overstates the passage.
  • (d) Statements 2 and 3 are not supported.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.