Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage/information and answer the question that follows:

At the time of independence, the total area under cultivation was only 29%. Yet for almost 2 decades, the production of food grains kept on increasing. In 1965, food grains production was increasing at the rate of 7% per annum. In 1985, the total area under cultivation was 69%, but the rate of increase in the production was less than 1.5%. It was less than the minimum increase required to feed the increasing population.

It can properly be inferred from the passage that

  1. for the production rate to be high, there must be a relatively large area under cultivation

  2. the most significant factor influencing the food grains production is whether the country is politically stable

  3. unless there are extraordinary circumstances, the rate of production will not dip below the level needed to feed the population

  4. the food production rate is not directly proportional to the area under cultivation

  5. the rate of increase of per acre yield of food grains in India has been on the decline
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The evidence presented here falls into two categories: evidence of area under cultivation and rate of increase of food grain production. The last line is in fact misleading. There can only be a positive relationship between the rate of increase in grain production and rate of increase in area under cultivation. But as that is refuted by the evidence presented, the only other claim that can be made is that there is no direct relationship between the two factors. So, the correct answer is (4).

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