62. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : I. Global climate change can result in the migration of several plant diseases to new areas. II. Scientific understanding of the wild relatives of our present crops would enable us to strengthen food security. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

1. A. I only
2. B. II only
3. C. Both I and II
4. D. Neither I nor II

Answer: C

Explanation

Assumption I: The passage states, “there is a risk that such changes [in climate and the atmosphere’s chemistry] will make some plant infections more common in all climatic zones, perhaps catastrophically so.” The phrase “in all climatic zones” strongly implies that diseases might spread to areas where they were not previously common, which is essentially migration. Thus, this assumption is a valid inference from the text.
Assumption II: The passage highlights that “centuries of selective breeding have refined the genomes of most high-value crops… genetic variations that are not immediately useful to them have been bred out.” It concludes that this makes them vulnerable to new diseases. The implied solution to this lack of genetic variation is to reintroduce or utilize genetic diversity. Wild relatives are a primary source of such genetic diversity and resistance traits. Therefore, a scientific understanding of these wild relatives would be crucial for identifying and incorporating these traits into cultivated crops, thereby strengthening their resilience and contributing to food security. This is a reasonable and valid assumption based on the problem identified in the passage.
Since both assumptions are logically supported by the passage, option (c) is the correct answer. This question tests the ability to draw logical inferences and identify underlying assumptions from the given text.