UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 63: Geography

Consider the following statements :

Statement IOf the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.
Statement IIUnlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

aBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

bBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

cStatement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

dStatement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

AnswerThe answer is (d).

The United States is the largest ethanol producer in the world, making more than Brazil, which is second, so Statement I is wrong. Corn is the principal feedstock in the United States and sugarcane is the principal feedstock in Brazil, so Statement II is correct. Remember: the US leads in volume; Brazil leads in sugarcane ethanol.

I. The United States produces more ethanol than Brazil.
II. Corn is the main feedstock in the US and sugarcane in Brazil.

How you could have got this

If you were sure Statement I is not correct, only (d) is left: every other option says it is correct.

What you needed to know: The United States produces more ethanol than Brazil.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

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 I is incorrect since the United States produces more.
(b) Wrong: Statement I is incorrect.
(c) Wrong: it reverses the truth; Statement II is the correct one.
(d) Right: the US produces more ethanol than Brazil, and the feedstocks differ as stated.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.