Directions (1-9): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below them.
There is widespread international concern that Russia's war will provoke a global food crisis similar to, or worse than, that faced in 2007 and 2008. The war comes at a time when the global food system was already struggling to feed its growing population in a sustainable way, under the pressure caused by climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. Russia and Ukraine are key agricultural players, together exporting nearly 12 % of food calories traded globally. They are major providers of basic agro-commodities, including wheat, maize and sunflower oil, and Russia is the world's top exporter of fertilisers. The global supply chain will get impacted until Russia and Ukraine retreat and will end the war.
The war's impact on global food supply centred on three factors. First is a significant reduction in exports and production of essential commodities from both countries, caused by the war and not the economic sanctions imposed on Russia, which, intentionally, did not target the agricultural sector. Overall, the European Commission estimates that 'up to 25 million tonnes of wheat would need to be substituted to meet worldwide food needs in the current and the next season. Second factor is a global spike in prices of food supplies and inputs needed for agri-food production, which were already at record levels before the war. The war has further pushed the prices up. Third factor is the international response to the above, which could either amplify the effects of the crisis (mainly by uncoordinated export bans) or mitigate them (applying lessons learnt from the 2007-2008 food crisis). A number of countries, other than Russia and Ukraine, have already imposed or announced their intention to impose some control over exports of essential agricultural commodities, including Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia, Serbia, Turkey and, in the EU, Hungary. We should keep this in our mind that the long duration of war will make the global situation irrecoverable.
What is/are the possible consequence(s) of international response to the rise in price and decrease in food supply from Russia?
Correct Answer :
Both (b) and (d)
Solution :
The correct answer is Both (b) and (d).
Step-by-Step Explanation:
1. Analyze the Question: The question asks for the possible consequences of the international response to the rise in prices and decrease in food supply resulting from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, based on the provided passage.
2. Locate Relevant Information in the Passage: In the second paragraph, the passage states:
"Third factor is the international response to the above, which could either amplify the effects of the crisis (mainly by uncoordinated export bans) or mitigate them (applying lessons learnt from the 2007-2008 food crisis)."
3. Evaluate the Options:
• Statement (b): "The effects of food crises would be aggravated mainly because of uncoordinated export bans." — This directly matches the passage statement that the response could "amplify the effects of the crisis (mainly by uncoordinated export bans)".
• Statement (d): "Experience in tackling food crises would help in mitigating the effects of current food crisis." — This directly matches the passage statement that the response could "mitigate them (applying lessons learnt from the 2007-2008 food crisis)".
4. Conclusion: Since both statements (b) and (d) are explicitly mentioned as possible outcomes of the international response, the correct choice is Both (b) and (d).
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