UPSC Prelims 2020 · CSAT

Question 42: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “India is at once among the fastest…” — Passage—2 · as printed by UPSC

With reference to the above passage, which of the following is/are the most rational and practical implication/implications?

1.India's Public Distribution System should be monitored by the Union Government.
2.Girls should be encouraged to delay marriage and first pregnancy.
3.Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their children immediately after birth.
4.The supply of safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities to all should be ensured.
5.Authorities should ensure the vaccination as prescribed.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a1, 2, 3 and 4

b2, 3, 4 and 5

c1 only

d3 and 5 only

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage links child malnutrition to stunting and early deaths, and to lower learning and earnings later. Sensible implications address its causes: delaying girls' marriage and first pregnancy (2), early breastfeeding (3), safe water and sanitation (4) and vaccination (5), all of which affect child health and nutrition. A monitoring role for the Union Government over the Public Distribution System (1) is not drawn from anything in the passage.

1. The passage does not discuss food distribution or who should monitor it.
2. Delaying marriage and first pregnancy improves the health of mothers and newborns.
3. Breastfeeding soon after birth supports an infant's nutrition and health.
4. Safe water and sanitation cut the infections that worsen malnutrition.
5. Vaccination protects children from diseases that drain nutrition and cause deaths.

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: The passage does not discuss food distribution or who should monitor it.
Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Delaying marriage and first pregnancy improves the health of mothers and newborns.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 3, 4 or 5.

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) Includes 1 and leaves out 5.
(b) Right: 2, 3, 4 and 5 target the causes of child malnutrition.
(c) 1 alone is not implied by the passage.
(d) 3 and 5 are valid, but 2 and 4 are also practical, so this is incomplete.

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.