UPSC Prelims 2022 · CSAT

Question 43: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “The demographic dividend, which has begun…” — Passage—2 · as printed by UPSC

Which of the following would invariably happen in a country, when the demographic dividend has begun to operate?

1.The number of illiterate people will decrease.
2.The ratio of very old and very young will decrease for a while.
3.Population growth rate will quickly stabilize.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a1 and 2 only

b2 only

c1 and 3 only

d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage describes the demographic dividend as a bulge in the share of people of working age, so the ratio of very young and very old people falls for a while (2). The other statements do not follow invariably: nothing in the passage ties the dividend to fewer illiterate people, and it says the benefit depends on education and skills, which do not come automatically (1). It says nothing about population growth stabilising quickly (3). 'Invariably' demands what follows by definition.

1. A bigger working-age share does not itself cut illiteracy; the passage says quality depends on education.
2. A swelling working-age group means the ratio of very young and very old falls for a while.
3. Nothing links the dividend to quick stabilisation of population growth.

How you could have got this

If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: A bigger working-age share does not itself cut illiteracy; the passage says quality depends on education.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.

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: statement 1 does not follow necessarily.
(b) Correct: only the falling ratio of very young and very old follows by definition.
(c) Wrong: neither 1 nor 3 is guaranteed.
(d) Wrong: statements 1 and 3 are not guaranteed.

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.