Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message of the passage?
aFor introducing any foreign plant into a country, the soil and climate conditions of that country should be suitable.
bAs a staple food of a country, tuber crops like potato cannot replace cereal crops.
cSome of the fungal infections of plants cannot be prevented or stopped from spreading across large areas.
dRelying on a homogeneous food source is not desirable.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
The passage tells how Irish farmers came to rely on a single potato variety with weak genetic resistance. When a fungus arrived, it ruined nearly every plant of that variety, and the resulting famine killed or displaced millions. The message is that dependence on one uniform food source is dangerous. Remember: genetic uniformity makes a whole crop vulnerable to a single disease.
Why each option is right or wrong
(a) Suitability of soil and climate for introduced plants is not the point.
(b) Potato is described as a backup to cereals, but replacing cereals is not discussed.
(c) The disaster came from dependence on one variety, not from a claim that fungal infections cannot be stopped.
(d) Right: the famine came from reliance on a single uniform crop.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
