2022 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2022 · CSAT

Question 22: Reading Comprehension

Passage · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “In some places in the world…”

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :

  1. 1.Poor countries need to bring about change in their existing farming techniques.
  2. 2.Developed countries have better infrastructure and they waste less food.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage says technology helps only when it is adapted, and that this holds for the farming methods already used in the developing world as much as for the newest advances. Passing today's best methods on to small, subsistence farmers in Africa and Asia would raise food supply a great deal, so poor countries need to change their existing techniques (1). The passage asks for better roads and storage to cut wastage, but never says developed countries have better infrastructure or waste less food (2); that is an unsupported comparison.

  • 1. The passage says existing techniques in developing countries need adaptation and better practices.
  • 2. It calls for better roads and storage but draws no comparison with developed countries.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The passage says existing techniques in developing countries need adaptation and better practices.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: It calls for better roads and storage but draws no comparison with developed countries.

Only (a) 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) Correct: assumption 1 is supported and assumption 2 is not.
  • (b) Wrong: the passage makes no comparison with developed countries' infrastructure or wastage.
  • (c) Wrong: assumption 2 is unsupported.
  • (d) Wrong: assumption 1 follows from the passage.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.