UPSC Prelims 2024 · CSAT

Question 22: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “By the time children reach class…” — Passage—1 · as printed by UPSC

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea conveyed by the passage?

aTotal eradication of poverty in the country will resolve the issue of under-performance of our school-children.

bMonetary incentives to parents and teachers is a strategy to improve the children's academic performance.

cPublic policy should ensure that competencies and achievements of young people are aligned with their expectations.

dIndia is not going to take advantage of the demographic dividend unless some school pass-outs go back to agriculture.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The passage sets two facts side by side: children and families expect school leavers to move on to high school, college and work outside farming, but their actual reading and arithmetic abilities are far below what even the class 8 syllabus expects. The central idea is this mismatch between expectations and competence, so public policy should align the two: option (c). Poverty, monetary incentives and a return to farming are not its argument.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong. The passage never links poor school performance to poverty eradication.
(b) Wrong. Monetary incentives for parents and teachers are not mentioned.
(c) Right. The gap between expectations and actual competence is the passage's core.
(d) Wrong. The passage notes few want to return to farming; it does not say that is needed for the demographic dividend.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.