UPSC Prelims 2019 · CSAT
Question 64: Reading Comprehension
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :
- 1.Processed probiotic foods are a solution to treat the children suffering from malnutrition due to immature gut bacteria composition.
- 2.The babies of malnourished mothers generally tend to be malnourished.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The passage says malnourished mothers have low levels of a sugar in their milk, so their infants' gut bacteria fail to mature, which leads to malnourished babies. So babies of malnourished mothers tend to be malnourished: assumption 2. The passage never mentions probiotic foods as a cure, so assumption 1 is a leap beyond the text.
- 1. No treatment by processed probiotic foods is described.
- 2. Low sugar in the mother's milk leaves infant gut bacteria immature, causing malnutrition.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: No treatment by processed probiotic foods is described.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Low sugar in the mother's milk leaves infant gut bacteria immature, causing malnutrition.
Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.
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) Wrong: probiotic foods are not mentioned.
- (b) Right: 2 follows from the chain through mother's milk.
- (c) Wrong: 1 is unsupported.
- (d) Wrong: 2 is supported.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.