UPSC Prelims 2016 CSAT Paper II · Q64 of 79 Comprehension easy

Passage

As we look to 2050, when we will need to feed two billion more people, the question of which diet is best has taken on new urgency. The foods we choose to eat in the coming decades will have dramatic ramifications for the planet. Simply put, a diet that revolves around meat and dairy, a way of eating that is on the rise throughout the developing world, will take a greater toll on the world's resources than one that revolves around unrefined grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

What is the critical message conveyed by the above passage ?

  1. (a) Our increasing demand for foods sourced from animals puts a greater burden on our natural resources ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) Diets based on grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables are best suited for health in developing countries
  3. (c) Human beings change their food habits from time to time irrespective of the health concerns
  4. (d) From a global perspective, we still do not know which type of diet is best for us

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage states that feeding two billion more people by 2050 makes the choice of diet urgent due to its impact on the planet.

• It explicitly contrasts a diet revolving around meat and dairy with one based on unrefined grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

• The core argument is that the meat and dairy-based diet, which is rising in the developing world, will take a greater toll on the world's resources.

• Therefore, the critical message is that the increasing demand for animal-sourced foods places a heavier burden on natural resources compared to plant-based diets.

• This aligns directly with option (a), which summarizes the resource burden of animal-based diets.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Diets based on grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables are best suited for health in…
The passage focuses on the environmental impact on resources, not on which diet is best suited for health in developing countries.
(c) Human beings change their food habits from time to time irrespective of the health…
The passage does not discuss the general tendency of humans to change food habits irrespective of health concerns.
(d) From a global perspective, we still do not know which type of diet is best for us
The passage argues that a plant-based diet is less taxing on resources, implying a clear preference from a resource perspective, rather than stating that the best diet is unknown.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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