UPSC Prelims 2018 · CSAT

Question 8: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Many pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses…” — Passage—2 · as printed by UPSC

Which of the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?

aWith more options for food come more risks.

bFood processing is the source of all foodborne illnesses.

cWe should depend on locally produced food only.

dGlobalization of food production should be curtailed.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage says the causes of many foodborne illnesses are unknown, contamination can happen anywhere between farm and plate, and global food production makes food harder to regulate and trace. The logical corollary is that a wider, global choice of food brings more risk of contamination. Options with sweeping words (all illnesses) or with policy prescriptions (curb globalisation, eat only local food) go beyond what the passage supports.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Correct: wider sourcing makes food harder to trace and so raises risk.
(b) Claims processing causes all such illnesses; the passage says contamination can occur at any stage.
(c) A prescription to eat only local food is not in the passage.
(d) A call to curtail globalisation is a policy step the passage does not make.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.