Which of the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?
- (a) With more options for food come more risks. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) Food processing is the source of all foodborne illnesses.
- (c) We should depend on locally produced food only.
- (d) Globalization of food production should be curtailed.
Why the answer is (a)
• The passage states that rapid globalization of food production increases consumers' vulnerability by making food harder to regulate and trace.
• It also notes that food contamination can occur at any stage from farm to plate, implying a wider supply chain introduces more potential points of failure.
• Therefore, the expansion of food sources and supply chains (more options) logically correlates with an increased exposure to contamination risks.
• Option (a) captures this direct relationship between the breadth of food availability and the associated hazards mentioned in the text.
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) Food processing is the source of all foodborne illnesses.
- The passage explicitly states that contamination can occur at any stage from farm to plate, not just during processing.
- (c) We should depend on locally produced food only.
- The passage does not advocate for a complete shift to local food, but rather highlights the regulatory challenges of globalized food systems.
- (d) Globalization of food production should be curtailed.
- The passage describes the risks of globalization but does not logically conclude that it should be curtailed, only that it increases vulnerability.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.