UPSC Prelims 2023 · CSAT

Question 52: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “While awareness on use/misuse and abuse…” — Passage – 2 · as printed by UPSC

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and practical message conveyed by the passage ?

aIt is necessary to put proper effluent treatment protocols in place.

bIt is necessary to promote environmental awareness among people.

cSpread of drug-resistant bacteria cannot be done away with, as it is inherent in modern medical care.

dPharma-manufacturing companies should be set up in remote rural areas, away from crowded towns and cities.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage says people know about antibiotic misuse, including in poultry, but pollution from antibiotic factories that release untreated waste has hardly been discussed, even though it fuels drug-resistant infections and resistant bacteria near the plants are well known. The practical message is that factory effluent must be treated properly. Awareness of misuse already exists, resistance being inevitable and moving factories away are not suggested.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Right: the neglected cause is untreated factory waste, so effluent treatment is the practical step.
(b) Wrong: awareness of misuse is already common; the passage points to neglected factory waste.
(c) Wrong: the passage ties resistance to untreated waste, not to medical care itself.
(d) Wrong: relocating factories is not suggested.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.