UPSC Prelims 2019 · CSAT

Question 67: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Food varieties extinction is happening all over…” — Passage - 5 · as printed by UPSC

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :

1.Humans have been the main reason for the large scale extinction of plant species.
2.Consumption of food mainly from locally cultivated crops ensures crop diversity.
3.The present style of production and distribution of food will finally lead to the problem of food scarcity in the near future.
4.Our food security may depend on our ability to preserve the locally cultivated varieties of crops.

Which of the above assumptions are valid ?

a1 and 3

b2 and 4

c2 and 3

d1 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage says crop varieties are vanishing because of heavy reliance on a few high-yielding types and technology-driven production, while farmers once bred locally suited varieties, and that we may need the lost varieties if disease or climate change strikes. So local cultivation keeps diversity (2) and food security may depend on preserving local varieties (4). Statement 1 is about all plant species, and 3 treats a possible risk as a certain near-future scarcity.

1. The text concerns food crop varieties, not plant species in general.
2. Diversity loss comes from relying on a few types, so growing local varieties preserves it.
3. Scarcity is raised only as a possibility if disease or climate change strikes.
4. Lost varieties might be needed if the few staple crops fail.

How you could have got this

If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: The text concerns food crop varieties, not plant species in general.
Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 3.
What you needed to know: Scarcity is raised only as a possibility if disease or climate change strikes.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 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) Wrong: 1 and 3 overreach.
(b) Right: 2 and 4 follow from the stress on locally suited varieties.
(c) Wrong: 3 is a certainty the passage does not claim.
(d) Wrong: 1 goes beyond food crops.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.