Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the following questions:
Organic agriculture offers a means to substitute costlier agricultural inputs (such as HYV seeds. chemical fertilisers, pesticides etc.) with locally produced organic inputs that are cheaper and thereby generate good returns on investment. Organic agriculture also generates income through exports as the demand for organically grown crops is on a rise. Studies across countries have shown that organically grown food has more nutritional value than chemical farming thus providing us with healthy foods. Since organic farming requires more labour input than conventional farming, India will find organic farming an attractive proposition. Finally. the produce is pesticide-free and produced in an environmentally sustainable way.
Popularising organic farming requires awareness and willingness on the part of farmers to adapt to new technology. Inadequate infrastructure and the problem of marketing the products are major concerns which need to be addressed apart from an appropriate agriculture policy to promote organic farming. It has been observed that the yields from organic farming are less than modern agricultural farming in the initial years. Therefore, small and marginal farmers may find it difficult to adapt to large-scale production. Organic produce may also have more blemishes and a shorter shelf life than sprayed produce. Moreover, choice in production of off-season crops is quite limited in organic farming. Nevertheless, organic farming helps in sustainable development of agriculture and India has a clear advantage in producing organic products for both domestic and international markets. Do you think food and non-food items cultivated using organic farming methods will be cheaper?

Question: 1

Which one of the following is not a disadvantage of organic farming?

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When evaluating disadvantages, ensure you check the context provided in the passage for any statements that seem contradictory.
Updated On: Feb 15, 2025
  • Organic farming yields lesser crops compared to modern agricultural farming.
  • Organic farming generates marginal returns on investment.
  • Organic farming requires more labour input than conventional farming.
  • Organic farming produces are blemished with shorter shelf life.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Organic farming is known to require more labor input compared to conventional farming because it avoids the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers. This means that farmers need to rely more on manual labor, crop rotation, and other natural methods to manage pests and maintain soil health.
Option (3) "Organic farming requires more labour input than conventional farming" is correct because it is indeed one of the known disadvantages of organic farming.
Option (1) "Organic farming yields lesser crops compared to modern agricultural farming" is often true in the initial years of organic farming, though it can improve over time.
Option (2) "Organic farming generates marginal returns on investment" is incorrect. Organic farming can sometimes generate good returns by reducing input costs such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, though returns can vary based on location and market demand.
Option (4) "Organic farming produces are blemished with shorter shelf life" is another disadvantage as organic products often have a shorter shelf life and may have visible imperfections.
Conclusion:
The statement "Organic farming requires more labour input than conventional farming" is indeed a disadvantage of organic farming, and this makes option (3) the correct choice.
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Question: 2

Choose the word from the option that means: 
\(\textit{'Small and not important'} \)

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When looking for a synonym, pay attention to the context and choose the word that best fits the meaning of being small or insignificant.
Updated On: Feb 15, 2025
  • Labour
  • Inadequate
  • Marginal
  • Domestic
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The word "marginal" means small, insignificant, or not important, which fits the description given in the question.
"Labour" (1) refers to work or physical effort and does not match the meaning of small or insignificant.
"Inadequate" (2) refers to something being insufficient, not small or unimportant.
"Domestic" (4) refers to something related to home or household, not small or unimportant.
Conclusion: The correct word is "marginal," which means small and not important.
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Question: 3

Identify the word that means: 
\(\textit{"involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment."} \)

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"Sustainable" is often used in environmental contexts, referring to practices that can be maintained long-term without negative consequences.
Updated On: Feb 15, 2025
  • Sustainable
  • Organic
  • Nutritional
  • Locally
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

"Sustainable" refers to practices that do not deplete resources or harm the environment, fitting the description in the question.
"Organic" (2) refers to farming methods that avoid synthetic chemicals but does not specifically cover environmental sustainability.
"Nutritional" (3) refers to the value of food and health benefits, not environmental impact.
"Locally" (4) refers to something being produced within a particular area, not related to sustainability or environmental impact.
Conclusion: The word "sustainable" is the correct term, as it refers to methods that avoid environmental harm.
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Question: 4

Small and marginal farmers find it difficult to adapt large-scale production because:

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When considering challenges in organic farming, focus on factors like initial yield and market readiness, which are specifically mentioned in the passage.
Updated On: Feb 15, 2025
  • they do not use HYV seeds.
  • they do not use modern technology.
  • the yield is limited in the initial years.
  • Organic produce has blemishes and shorter shelf life.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The passage mentions that organic farming yields less than modern farming in the initial years, making it difficult for small and marginal farmers to adapt to large-scale production.
The other options are not directly cited as reasons for difficulty in adapting to large-scale production in the passage.
"Limited yield in the initial years" (3) is the key factor that challenges farmers.
Conclusion: Small and marginal farmers struggle with large-scale organic production because of limited yields in the early years.
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Question: 5

Which of the following statements is true:

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Be careful with statements that sound too broad; in this case, marketing problems and agricultural policy are key to understanding organic farming challenges.
Updated On: Feb 15, 2025
  • Organic farming is free from agricultural policy.
  • Organic farming products have a shorter shelf life.
  • Organic farming is inexpensive.
  • Organic farming is free from marketing problems.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The passage mentions that organic produce has a shorter shelf life, which makes statement (2) true.
Statement (1) is false as organic farming requires an appropriate agriculture policy, which is mentioned as a requirement.
Statement (3) is not true, as the passage suggests organic farming may not be inexpensive due to its higher labor input.
Statement (4) is incorrect because marketing organic products is a significant challenge, as mentioned in the passage.
Conclusion: The correct statement is that organic farming products have a shorter shelf life.
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Question: 6

Which of the following statements is false:

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Pay attention to the details about technology usage in organic farming—it often uses alternative technologies, but not synthetic ones.
Updated On: Feb 15, 2025
  • Organic agriculture uses locally produced inputs.
  • Organic agriculture is technology free.
  • Organic agriculture generates income.
  • Organic food is more nutritious than chemically farmed foods.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Organic agriculture does use some technology, such as organic inputs and farming techniques, but it avoids synthetic chemicals and pesticides.
Statement (2) is false because the passage does not describe organic farming as technology-free.
Statement (1) is true as organic farming uses locally produced inputs.
Statement (3) is true as organic agriculture generates income through exports.
Statement (4) is true, as studies show organic food has more nutritional value.
Conclusion: The false statement is that organic agriculture is technology-free.
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