UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT, question 33

Topic: Reading comprehension

Directions · Q31 to Q34

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 · Q33 to Q34

If there is inequality in the pattern of population growth, there is greater inequality in food production and utilization. As societies become wealthier, their consumption of animal products increases. This means that a greater proportion of such basic foodstuff as grains and legumes that could feed humans directly is instead being converted into feed for poultry and large farm animals. Yet this conversion of plant-based food into animal food for humans is far from efficient. Only 16% of the calories fed to chickens are recovered by us when we eat them. This conversion rate goes down to five to seven per cent in large animals that are fed grain to add fat and some protein before slaughter.

Q33

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage ?

(a) There is an urgent need for a public policy to promote the consumption of cereal-based foods in wealthier societies.
(b) Animal-based food is far less efficient than grain/plant-based food in terms of production and utilization.Correct answer
(c) Plant-based protein should replace the animal-based protein in our daily diets.
(d) Inequality in food production and consumption is inevitable in any fast changing society.

Solution.

Answer: (b) Animal-based food is far less efficient than grain/plant-based food in terms of production and utilization.

The passage explains that converting grains and legumes into animal feed recovers only $16\%$ of calories in poultry and $5\%$ to $7\%$ in large farm animals.
Thus the central point (crux) is that animal-based food is far less efficient than plant-based food in production and calorie utilization.