Vedadots
Q1112/80Q13
Q12·CSAT · Prelims 2023

Environmental vs health choices - rational assumption

Reading Comp.Health / Environment passageRC - Assumption validationMedium

Question

Which one of the following statements best implies the most rational assumption that can be made from the passage?

Options

a

We are likely to spend more money on cure than prevention.

Answer
b

It is the job of the government to solve our environmental and public health problems.

c

Health can be protected even if environmental problems go on unattended.

d

Loss of traditional lifestyle and the influence of western values led to some unhealthy ways of living.

Explanation

The passage highlights a paradox: lifestyle changes can prevent both environmental and health crises, but individuals exhibit a deep "collective lethargy" and "inertia" toward adopting these changes, even when it is a matter of life and death. Because people systematically refuse to take preventive personal action due to this behavioral inertia, the logical consequence is that society will end up dealing with the downstream crises instead. This makes option (a) a highly rational assumption. Options (b) and (d) introduce entirely external themes (government intervention, western values) not present in the text[cite: 2986, 2987, 2988, 2989, 2990, 2991].

When an assumption prompt describes an unbreakable human behavioral barrier to prevention, the implicit assumption is that reactive measures (like cures) will dominate.

Answer: (a).

Question details

Year

2023

Paper

CSAT

Question

Q12

Section

Reading Comprehension

Sub-topic

Health / Environment passage

Type

RC - Assumption validation

Difficulty

Medium

Source hint

Passage-based comprehension

See all questions on Health / Environment passage

Browse every tagged question across all years

Explore →