Which of the following statements reflect the logical and rational inferences that can be drawn from the passage? 1. HMPV has, historically, had longer documentation of studies when compared with SARS-CoV2 2. The two viruses are different from each other and this results in markedly different outcomes amongst those affected. 3. Long-term impacts of the two viruses are dissimilar and this is an important differentiator between them. 4. One of the common factors between the two viruses is seasonal specificity. Select the answer using the code given below.

Passage

When SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in 2019, it was a truly novel virus for the world. At that time, no one in the world had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or had specific immunity against it. In contrast, people across the world have been exposed to HMPV for decades and the virus is well-studied. HMPV and SARS-CoV-2 belong to two very different virus families with fundamentally different characteristics and epidemiology, with strong seasonality seen in HMPV, unlike SARS-CoV-2. Both viruses cause different severity of symptoms, particularly over the long term, and the affected population segments do not fully overlap. In general, HMPV causes milder illness with deaths being very rare and with no long-term post-viral symptoms.

QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Comprehension

Prelims 2026

Which of the following statements reflect the logical and rational inferences that can be drawn from the passage?

HMPV has, historically, had longer documentation of studies when compared with SARS-CoV2
The two viruses are different from each other and this results in markedly different outcomes amongst those affected.
Long-term impacts of the two viruses are dissimilar and this is an important differentiator between them.
One of the common factors between the two viruses is seasonal specificity. Select the answer using the code given below.

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Answer: B — 1, 2 and 3

Statement 1 — Correct. The passage states people have been exposed to HMPV "for decades" and the virus "is well-studied," whereas SARS-CoV-2 was "a truly novel virus" in 2019. So HMPV has a longer history of documentation and study than SARS-CoV-2.

Statement 2 — Correct. The passage notes that the two viruses cause "different severity of symptoms" and that "affected population segments do not fully overlap" — i.e., the differences between the viruses result in markedly different outcomes among those affected.

Statement 3 — Correct. The passage explicitly says symptoms differ "particularly over the long term," and that HMPV has "no long-term post-viral symptoms" (contrasted with SARS-CoV-2's known long-term sequelae). This makes long-term impact a key differentiator between the two.

Statement 4 — Incorrect. The passage notes "strong seasonality seen in HMPV, unlike SARS-CoV-2." So seasonality is a difference, not a common factor between the two viruses.