UPSC Prelims 2017 · CSAT

Question 63: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “A landscape-scale approach to land use…” — Passage—3 · as printed by UPSC

Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

aAgricultural practices that enhance biodiversity can often increase farm output and reduce the vulnerability to disasters.

bAll the countries of the world should be encouraged to replace ecoagriculture with conventional agriculture.

cEcoagriculture should be permitted in protected areas without destroying the biodiversity there.

dThe yield of food crops will be very high if ecoagricultural practices are adopted to cultivate them.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage gives examples of ecoagriculture working: farms using it suffered far less hurricane damage; windbreaks and fencerows raised incomes and bird diversity; pollination improves near natural habitat, and tree-and-pasture systems improve sustainability and income. So practices that enhance biodiversity can often raise output or income and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Options calling for replacing it, using it inside protected areas, or promising very high yields are not supported.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Correct: the examples show biodiversity-friendly practices cutting disaster damage and improving income and output.
(b) The evidence favours ecoagriculture over conventional farming; this proposes the opposite.
(c) The passage speaks of biodiversity outside protected areas, not of farming inside them.
(d) Very high yields are not claimed; income and resilience benefits are.

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.