Passage-2
We are witnessing a dangerous dwindling of biodiversity in our food supply. The green revolution is a mixed blessing. Over time farmers have come to rely heavily on broadly adapted, high yield crops to the exclusion of varieties adapted to the local conditions. Monocropping vast fields with the same genetically uniform seeds helps boost yield and meet immediate hunger needs. Yet high-yield varieties are also genetically weaker crops that require expensive chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides. In our focus on increasing the amount of food we produce today, we have accidentally put ourselves at risk for food shortages in future.

Which among the following is the most logical and critical inference that can be made from the above passage?

The correct option is "Green Revolution can pose a threat to biodiversity in food supply and food security in the long run."

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Analysis of the Passage:
The passage discusses the dual nature of the Green Revolution, calling it a "mixed blessing." It highlights several key points:
- Farmers now rely heavily on broadly adapted, high-yield crops to the exclusion of local varieties, leading to a "dangerous dwindling of biodiversity in our food supply."
- Although monocropping with genetically uniform seeds boosts immediate yields to meet hunger needs, these crops are genetically weaker.
- Because they are genetically weaker, they require expensive chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides.
- Ultimately, by focusing purely on short-term food production, we have put ourselves at risk for future food shortages.

2. Evaluating the Options:
- Option 1 ("In our agricultural practices, we have become heavily dependent on expensive chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides only due to Green Revolution.") is too extreme because of the word "only." The passage mentions that high-yield varieties require these inputs, but it does not claim the Green Revolution is the sole reason for all chemical use in agriculture.
- Option 2 ("Monocropping vast fields with high-yield varieties is possible due to Green Revolution.") is a factual statement related to the text, but it is not the main logical and critical inference about the consequences described in the passage.
- Option 3 ("Monocropping with high-yield varieties is the only way to ensure food security to millions.") directly contradicts the passage, which warns that this practice actually puts us at risk for future food shortages.
- Option 4 ("Green Revolution can pose a threat to biodiversity in food supply and food security in the long run.") directly synthesizes the passage's main points. The passage starts by noting the "dwindling of biodiversity" caused by relying on these crops and concludes by stating that this focus has put us "at risk for food shortages in future" (which relates to food security in the long run). Therefore, this is the most logical and critical inference.