UPSC Prelims 2024·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

Environmental problems cause health problems. Substantial changes in lifestyle can reduce environmental or health problems, but this idea appears almost impossible to adopt. With environmental problems, individual efforts can be perceived as having a negligible effect and therefore lead to inertia. With health, on the other hand, individual choices can make the difference between life and death, literally. And yet, barring a few, there seems to be the same collective lethargy towards making their choices. Which one of the following statements best implies the most rational assumption that can be made from the passage?

Dalvoy logo
Reviewed by Dalvoy
UPSC Civil Services preparation
Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. AWe are likely to spend more money on cure than preventionCorrect
  2. BIt is the job of the government to solve our environmental and public health problems
  3. CHealth can be protected even if environmental problems go on unattended
  4. DLoss of traditional lifestyle and the influence of western values led to some unhealthy way of living.

Explanation

The passage highlights a paradox where people suffer from health and environmental issues but remain inactive despite knowing that lifestyle changes could help. It notes a collective lethargy even when individual choices regarding health are a matter of life and death. Option A is the most rational assumption because the passage emphasizes that people are unwilling to adopt preventive measures through lifestyle changes. If individuals are inactive and lethargic toward prevention, they will inevitably face health crises later. This necessitates spending on medical treatments or cures once the problems manifest. Option B is incorrect because the passage focuses on individual choices and inertia rather than government responsibility. Option C is incorrect because the passage starts by linking environmental problems to health problems. Option D is incorrect because the text does not mention western values or traditional lifestyles. Therefore, because we fail to act preventively, we are likely to end up spending more on cures.
Reading Comprehension: Environmental problems cause health problems. Substantial changes in lifestyle can reduce environmental or health proble

Related questions

More UPSC Prelims practice from the same subject and topic.