1. Which of the following statements best reflect the most logical and rational inferences that can be made from the passage? 1. The current methods of food distribution are solely responsible for the loss and wastage of food. 2. Land productivity is adversely affected by the prevailing trend of food loss and wastage. 3. Reduction in the loss and wastage of food results in lesser carbon footprint. 4. Post-harvest technologies to prevent or reduce the loss and wattage of food are not available. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1, 2 and 3
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 1, 3 and 4
4. D. 1, 2 and 4

Answer: B

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect because the passage states food is lost or wasted “throughout the supply chain,” not solely due to distribution methods. Statement 2 is correct as the passage explicitly links “increasing wastage” to “land degradation,” which directly impacts land productivity. Statement 3 is also correct because the passage mentions that “energy spent over wasted food results in about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production,” implying that reducing this waste would lead to a smaller carbon footprint. Statement 4 is an invalid inference as the passage does not discuss the availability or non-availability of post-harvest technologies. Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are logical inferences. This question assesses critical reading and inferential skills, which are fundamental for the CSAT paper.