Question Details

In some places in the world, the productivity of staples such as rice and wheat has reached a plateau. Neither new strains nor fancy agrochemicals are raising the yields. Nor is there much unformed land left that is suitable to be brought under the plough. If global temperature continues to rise, some places will become unsuitable for farming. Application of technology can help overcome these problems. Agriculture technology is changing fast. Much of this change is brought about by affluent farmers in the West/Americas. Techniques developed in the West are being adapted in some places to make tropical crops more productive. Technology is of little use if it is not adapted. In the developing world, that applies as much to existing farming techniques as it does to the latest advances in genetic modification. Extending to the smallholders and subsistence farmers of Africa and Asia the best of today’s agricultural practices, in such simple matters as how much fertilizers to apply and when, would lead to a greatly increased availability of food for humanity. So would things like better roads and storage facilities, to allow for the carriage of surpluses to markets and reduce wastage.


Question: Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Development of agricultural technology is confined to developed countries.
2. Agricultural technology is not adapted in developing countries.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Options

A

1 only

B

2 only

C

Both 1 and 2

D

Neither 1 nor 2

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option D

Neither 1 nor 2

Solution :

The correct option is Neither 1 nor 2.

Analysis of Assumption 1: "Development of agricultural technology is confined to developed countries."
The passage states that "Much of this change is brought about by affluent farmers in the West/Americas." The use of the word "much" indicates a major portion, but it does not imply that the development of agricultural technology is exclusively restricted or "confined" to developed nations. Therefore, Assumption 1 is an overgeneralization and is invalid.

Analysis of Assumption 2: "Agricultural technology is not adapted in developing countries."
The passage explicitly mentions that "Techniques developed in the West are being adapted in some places to make tropical crops more productive." This shows that adaptation is indeed taking place in tropical areas, which represent developing parts of the world. While the passage emphasizes that technology must be adapted to be useful, it does not support the claim that it is not adapted at all. Thus, Assumption 2 is also invalid.

Since neither Assumption 1 nor Assumption 2 is valid based on the text, the correct option is Neither 1 nor 2.

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