Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow: The loss in…
2024
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
The loss in earnings that farmers see due to extreme weather events or erratic seasonality is, by now, accepted as the most widely felt economic impact of climate change. Farmers were the first people to feel the impacts of climate change, which ultimately affects the country’s overall agricultural output and adds to food inflation. High food prices, in turn, could result in people slashing down consumption, which adversely impacts nutritional security.
A significant number of farming households produce food for their own consumption. These households have given birth to an old saying: those who eat their own food are the healthiest. In countries like India, where malnutrition is high and food insecurity is a nagging constant, such households have used the home production system to remain out of this crisis. As studies point out, these households are also protected from market fluctuations, thus ensuring that they can afford healthy food. Obviously, they are not impacted by food inflation either.
But there are serious conversations taking place over how climate change-induced extreme weather events would impact such households. We need to understand the link between nutrition intake and household food production, and whether weather fluctuations would have any impact on this. Researchers have analysed village level data from households with their own food production and consumption, and co-related this with the local weather conditions to infer whether there was a correlation. The paper establishes that people growing their own food consume more, thus adding to nutrition levels and attaining overall food security. There was also reduction in child stunting and underweight conditions as well as women achieving a normal body mass index. These trends are more pronounced in remote villages.
Which statement is incorrect with regard to household food production?
- A.
Nutritional intake was better
- B.
Food consumption in such households was higher
- C.
Women enjoyed normal body mass index
- D.
Increase in number of malnourished children
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: In a passage-based "which statement is incorrect" question, each option is a factual claim that must be checked against what the passage explicitly states, not against outside knowledge. An option that directly contradicts an explicit claim in the passage is the incorrect statement; an option that restates or paraphrases an explicit finding is a correct statement.
Application: The third paragraph reports three specific outcomes for households that produce their own food: higher nutrition and consumption levels, a reduction in child stunting and underweight conditions, and women achieving a normal body mass index. Checking each option against these reported outcomes:
"Nutritional intake was better" restates the passage's statement that such households add to their nutrition levels.
"Food consumption in such households was higher" restates the passage's statement that people growing their own food consume more.
"Women enjoyed normal body mass index" restates the passage's statement that women achieved a normal body mass index.
"Increase in number of malnourished children" runs opposite to the passage, which reports a reduction in child stunting and underweight conditions, not an increase.
Cross-check: Re-reading the third paragraph confirms the exact wording is "reduction in child stunting and underweight conditions" — there is no textual support anywhere in the passage for an increase in malnourished children.
Result: The statement about an increase in malnourished children is the one that does not match the passage, so it is the incorrect statement.