2020 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2020 · CSAT

Question 25: Reading Comprehension

Passage—4 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Our urban bodies cannot possibly ensure…”Passage beginning “Our urban bodies cannot possibly ensure…”

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :

  1. 1.Rich cities only can ensure sustainable delivery of water.
  2. 2.Sustainable delivery of water in cities means much more than supplying water to households.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Assumption 2 is valid: the passage counts sourcing and treating water, laying pipes, and building sewers and treatment plants as part of delivery, so sustainable delivery is far more than supplying households. Assumption 1 fails: the passage says cities lack the money to make water free, but it does not say only rich cities can deliver sustainably; it says financing mechanisms must be put in place.

  • 1. The passage asks for financing mechanisms; it never says only rich cities can ensure sustainable delivery.
  • 2. Sourcing, treatment, distribution and sewerage are all counted as parts of delivery.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: The passage asks for financing mechanisms; it never says only rich cities can ensure sustainable delivery.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: Sourcing, treatment, distribution and sewerage are all counted as parts of delivery.

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) 1 is not supported: financing mechanisms, not wealth, are what the passage asks for.
  • (b) Right: sustainable delivery covers sourcing, treatment, distribution and sewerage.
  • (c) 1 is not valid, so both cannot be right.
  • (d) 2 is valid, so saying neither is valid is wrong.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.