GATE EC 2022 Set 1 — Question 6
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Question
Mosquitoes pose a threat to human health. Controlling mosquitoes using chemicals may have undesired consequences. In Florida, authorities have used genetically modified mosquitoes to control the overall mosquito population. It remains to be seen if this novel approach has unforeseen consequences. Which one of the following is the correct logical inference based on the information in the above passage?
Correct answer
(D) Using chemicals to kill mosquitoes may have undesired consequences but it is not clear if using genetically modified mosquitoes has any negative consequence
Solution
Let's break down the passage and evaluate each option:Passage Analysis:
1."Controlling mosquitoes using chemicals may have undesired consequences."
- This indicates a possibility of negative outcomes with chemical control.
- This indicates uncertainty about the consequences of genetically modified mosquitoes. It does not state that there will be unforeseen consequences, nor does it state that there will not be any.
- (A) Using chemicals to kill mosquitoes is better than using genetically modified mosquitoes because genetic engineering is dangerous
- The passage does not state that chemical control is better. It only mentions potential undesired consequences for chemicals. It also does not explicitly state that genetic engineering is dangerous, only that its unforeseen consequences are yet to be seen.
- Therefore, this inference is incorrect.
- (B) Using genetically modified mosquitoes is better than using chemicals to kill mosquitoes because they do not have any side effects
- The passage explicitly states that "It remains to be seen if this novel approach has unforeseen consequences." This directly contradicts the claim that they "do not have any side effects."
- Therefore, this inference is incorrect.
- (C) Both using genetically modified mosquitoes and chemicals have undesired consequences and can be dangerous
- For chemicals, the passage says they "may have undesired consequences." This is a possibility, not a certainty.
- For genetically modified mosquitoes, it says "It remains to be seen if... unforeseen consequences." This means we don't know yet if they have undesired consequences. Stating that they have undesired consequences is a stronger claim than what the passage supports.
- Therefore, this inference is too strong and not fully supported by the passage.
- (D) Using chemicals to kill mosquitoes may have undesired consequences but it is not clear if using genetically modified mosquitoes has any negative consequence
- "Using chemicals to kill mosquitoes may have undesired consequences**" directly matches the first sentence of the passage.
- "but it is **not clear if using genetically modified mosquitoes has any negative consequence**" accurately reflects "It **remains to be seen if this novel approach has unforeseen consequences."
- This option is a precise and logical inference based only on the information provided in the passage.
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