According to the author, poverty is not the main cause of malnutrition, but the fact that 1. taking care of younger ones is not a priority for working mothers. 2. awareness of nutritional needs is not propagated by Public Health authorities. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Passage

Malnutrition most commonly occurs between the ages of six months and two years. This happens despite a child’s food requirements being less than that of an older child. Malnutrition is often attributed to poverty, but it has been found that even in households where adults eat adequate quantities of food, more than 50 percent of children under five do not consume enough food. The child’s dependence on someone else to feed him/her is primarily responsible for the malnutrition. Very often the mother is working and the responsibility of feeding the young child is left to an older sibling. It is therefore crucial to increase awareness regarding the child’s food needs and how to satisfy them.

QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Comprehension

Prelims 2013

According to the author, poverty is not the main cause of malnutrition, but the fact that

taking care of younger ones is not a priority for working mothers.
awareness of nutritional needs is not propagated by Public Health authorities.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. The passage mentions that mothers working often delegate feeding responsibilities to older siblings. However, it does not suggest that working mothers do not prioritize their younger children. Instead, the issue lies in the dependency of young children on others for feeding, leading to potential neglect.

Statement 2 is correct. The passage highlights the importance of raising awareness about children's nutritional needs. While it does not specifically mention Public Health authorities, it does emphasize that awareness itself is a crucial factor. The passage implicitly suggests that more effort is needed in informing people about the proper nutritional needs of children. While not directly blaming public health authorities, this statement aligns with the passage’s emphasis on the need for greater awareness.