Passage

Spanish ships in the late 16th century first brought the potato tuber from South America to Europe whereby in the early 19th century, it had become a reliable backup to cereal crops, particularly in the cold, rain-soaked soils of Ireland. The Irish were soon almost wholly dependent on the potato as their staple food. And they were planting primarily one prodigious variety, the ‘Lumper’ potato, whose genetic frailty would be cruelly exposed by the fungus ‘Phytophthora infestans’. In 1845, spores of the deadly fungus began spreading across the country, destroying nearly all the Lumpers in its path. The resulting famine killed or displaced millions.

QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Comprehension

Prelims 2020

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message of the passage?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is incorrect. The passage does not focus on the soil and climate conditions required for introducing foreign plants. Instead, it discusses the risks associated with a lack of diversification in staple foods and the consequences of this.

Option B is incorrect. While this statement is valid, the passage does not focus on the idea that tuber crops cannot replace cereal crops. The main message of the passage is about the lack of diversification in food sources and the vulnerability this causes.

Option C is incorrect. This statement, while relevant to plant health, does not align with the core message of the passage, which emphasizes the risks of homogeneous food supply and its vulnerability to attacks, rather than the spread of fungal infections specifically.

Option D is correct. The passage emphasizes the risks of relying on a homogeneous food source and the vulnerability it creates in the face of unforeseen threats like a fungal attack. This makes Statement D the most fitting critical message.

Trusted by 2L aspirants