Q13
Select the most appropriate group of words for blank (13) :
- (a) had selected
- (b) have selected
- (c) are selected
- (d) might select
NDA 2 2024 GAT, question 13
In this section, there is a passage that has some blank spaces, each with four words or group of words. Select whichever word or group of words you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Most of our food comes from agriculture, so we tend to believe that it is ________ (6) of natural biota. This is not true. In nature, ________ (7) plants and animals ________ (8) to the rigours of natural selection. Only the fittest survive. ________ (9) wild populations have numerous traits for competitiveness, resistance to parasites, ________ (10) to adverse conditions, ________ (11) other aspects of vigour. In contrast, populations grown for many ________ (12) under the pampered conditions of agriculture tend to lose these traits, because they ________ (13) for production, not resilience. For example, a high-producing plant ________ (14) lacks resistance to drought is ________ (15) and the resistance to drought is ignored. Also, in the process of breeding plants for maximum production, all genetic variation is eliminated.
Solution.
Answer: (c) are selected
- The populations receive selection for production, so the passive “are selected” is required.
- They do not themselves select; the other choices give an unsuitable active construction or tense.