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Question

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.

Policymakers and media have placed the blame for skyrocketing food prices on a variety of factors, including high fuel prices, bad weather in key food producing countries, and the diversion of land to non-food production. Increased emphasis, however, has been placed on a surge in demand for food from the most populous emerging economics. It seems highly probable that mass consumption in these countries could be well poised to create a food crisis.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Oil producing countries are one of the reasons for high food prices.

2. If there is a food crisis in the world in the near future, it will be in the emerging economies.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2020 (Prelims) CSAT Previous Year Paper (04-Oct-2020)
The correct answer is

Neither 1 nor 2

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

  Key Points

  • Assumption 1 is not valid as the passage doesn't link the high food prices to oil producing countries, higher fuel prices may have different reasons. 
  • Assumption 2 is also not valid, the passage does highlight the reason for the food crisis however,  it doesn't say that it will be in emerging countries. 
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Important Questions from Reading Comprehension

  1. Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?

    1. They feel that others may overuse the resource

    2. It is possible to substitute the resource

    3. Abundance of the resource availability

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  2. When do people use resources exhaustively?

  3. The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources

  4. People rooted in a locality

  5. Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?

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