Question

In the following question contains a small paragraph followed by a question on it. Read each paragraph carefully and answer the question given below it.
Exports and imports, a swelling favourable balance of trade, investments and bank-balances, are not an index or a balance sheet of national prosperity. Till the beginning of the Second World War, English exports were noticeably greater than what they are today. And yet England has greater national prosperity today than it ever had. Because the income of average Englishmen, working as field and factory labourers, clerks, policemen, petty shopkeepers and shop assistants, domestic workers and other low-paid workers, has gone up.
The passage best supports the statement that :

• A. a country’s balance of trade is the main criteria of determining its economic prosperity.
• B. a country’s economic standard can be best adjudged by per capita income.
• C. a nation’s economy strengthens with the increase in exports.
• D. english trade has continually increased since the Second World War.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The passage highlights that despite a decrease in the value of English exports post-Second World War, England's national prosperity has increased, indicated by higher incomes for various low-paid workers. This suggests that traditional measures of economic prosperity, like exports and trade balance, do not fully capture national prosperity.

The key emphasis is on the improved income levels of average citizens rather than trade figures. This strongly supports the statement that "a country’s economic standard can be best adjudged by per capita income." The passage argues against using balance of trade and export growth as sole indicators of economic prosperity and instead points to the importance of income levels of the general population.

Hence, based on the passage, the most supported statement is: "a country’s economic standard can be best adjudged by per capita income."