UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT Paper II · Q1 of 79 Comprehension medium

Passage

Directions for the following 4 (four) items : Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Passage—1 According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption. The increasing wastage also results in land degradation by about 45%, mainly due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction. The energy spent over wasted food results in about 3·5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year. Decay also leads to harmful emissions of other gases in the atmosphere. Addressing the loss and wastage of food in all forms is critical to complete the cycle of food sufficiency and food sustainability.

Which of the following statements best reflect the most logical and rational inferences that can be made from the passage? 1. The current methods of food distribution are solely responsible for the loss and wastage of food. 2. Land productivity is adversely affected by the prevailing trend of food loss and wastage. 3. Reduction in the loss and wastage of food results in lesser carbon footprint. 4. Post-harvest technologies to prevent or reduce the loss and wastage of food are not available. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. (a) 1, 2 and 3
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) 1, 3 and 4
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 4

Why the answer is (b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect because the passage states food is lost or wasted 'throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption,' not solely due to distribution methods.

• Statement 2 is correct as the passage explicitly links increasing wastage to 'land degradation by about 45%,' which implies an adverse effect on land productivity.

• Statement 3 is correct because the passage notes that energy spent on wasted food results in 'about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year,' so reducing waste lowers this carbon footprint.

• Statement 4 is incorrect because the passage does not state that post-harvest technologies are unavailable; it only highlights the need to address loss and wastage.

• Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are logical inferences, making option (b) the correct answer.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1, 2 and 3
Includes Statement 1, which is false because the passage attributes loss to the entire supply chain, not solely distribution.
(c) 1, 3 and 4
Includes Statements 1 and 4, both of which are unsupported or contradicted by the passage.
(d) 1, 2 and 4
Includes Statements 1 and 4, which are not valid inferences from the provided text.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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