UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper II · Q41 of 80 Comprehension medium

Passage

Spanish ships in the late 16th century first brought the potato tuber from South America to Europe whereby in the early 19th century, it had become a reliable backup to cereal crops, particularly in the cold, rain-soaked soils of Ireland. The Irish were soon almost wholly dependent on the potato as their staple food. And they were planting primarily one prodigious variety, the 'Lumper' potato, whose genetic frailty would be cruelly exposed by the fungus 'Phytophthora infestans'. In 1845, spores of the deadly fungus began spreading across the country, destroying nearly all the Lumpers in its path. The resulting famine killed or displaced millions.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message of the passage?

  1. (a) For introducing any foreign plant into a country, the soil and climate conditions of that country should be suitable.
  2. (b) As a staple food of a country, tuber crops like potato cannot replace cereal crops.
  3. (c) Some of the fungal infections of plants cannot be prevented or stopped from spreading across large areas.
  4. (d) Relying on a homogeneous food source is not desirable. ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• The passage highlights that the Irish became 'almost wholly dependent' on the potato as their staple food.

• It specifies that they planted 'primarily one prodigious variety,' the 'Lumper' potato, creating a genetically uniform crop.

• The fungus 'Phytophthora infestans' exploited this 'genetic frailty' to destroy nearly all the crops in 1845.

• The resulting famine killed or displaced millions, demonstrating the catastrophic risk of such dependency.

• Therefore, the critical message is that relying on a single, homogeneous food source makes a population vulnerable to total crop failure.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) For introducing any foreign plant into a country, the soil and climate conditions of that…
The passage does not discuss the suitability of soil or climate for introducing foreign plants, but rather the risk of monoculture dependency.
(b) As a staple food of a country, tuber crops like potato cannot replace cereal crops.
The text states the potato became a 'reliable backup' and staple, not that tubers inherently cannot replace cereals, but that over-reliance on one variety was fatal.
(c) Some of the fungal infections of plants cannot be prevented or stopped from spreading…
The passage focuses on the agricultural strategy of planting a single variety, not on the inherent inability to prevent or stop fungal infections.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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