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UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT, question 34

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.

Q34

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

I. The food manufacturing and processing industries in every country should align their objectives and processes in accordance with the changing needs of the societies.

II. Wealthier societies tend to incur great loss of calories of food materials due to indirect utilization of their agricultural produce.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?

  1. (a) I only
  2. (b) II onlyCorrect answer
  3. (c) Both I and II
  4. (d) Neither I nor II

Solution.

Answer: (b) II only

  1. Statement I is incorrect: the passage does not discuss the food manufacturing and processing industry or its corporate objectives.
  2. Statement II is correct: the passage states that as societies grow wealthier, they convert more grains and legumes into animal feed, losing 84%84\% to 95%95\% of the calories in the process.