Forest ServicesQ61. 61.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea conveyed by the passage?
Detailed Solution
The passage discusses the vulnerability of "genetically honed crops" to "plant infections" due to "centuries of selective breeding" that have "bred out" genetic variations not immediately useful. It warns that "a minor disease or even an unknown one could suddenly rampage through a genetically honed crop." This directly points to the risk of food insecurity arising from an over-reliance on genetically uniform crops, especially in the face of unpredictable climate change and new diseases.
Option (a) is too broad; the passage focuses on disease vulnerability, not general productivity. Option (c) is a general statement about food security, while the passage's focus is specifically on the risks associated with a particular type of crop.
Option (d) proposes a solution (replacement with wild varieties) that is not explicitly stated or advocated in the passage, which primarily identifies a problem. The core message is the inherent risk in the current approach to crop breeding.
This question tests the ability to identify the specific central argument of the passage.
Current Affairs Link
Climate change, food security, genetic engineering in agriculture, and biodiversity are all highly relevant current affairs topics.
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