Directions for the following 3 (three) items: The following three items are based on the graph given below which shows imports of three different types of steel over a period of six months of a year. Study the graph and answer the three items that follow.
The figures in the brackets indicate the average cost per ton over six months period.
| Month | Coil ($ 320) | Sheet ($ 256) | Scrap ($ 175) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30 | 40 | 32 |
| February | 31 | 37 | 34 |
| March | 33 | 36 | 32 |
| April | 34 | 36 | 31 |
| May | 36 | 34 | 32 |
| June | 38 | 34 | 32 |
By how much (measured in thousands of tons) did the import of sheet steel exceed the import of coil steel in the first three months of the year?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 19
Add the January–March bars: sheet 40 + 37 + 36 = 113 and coil 30 + 31 + 33 = 94 thousand tons. Sheet exceeds coil by 19 thousand tons.
- Sheet, January–March: 40 + 37 + 36 = 113 thousand tons.
- Coil, January–March: 30 + 31 + 33 = 94 thousand tons.
- Excess = 113 − 94 = 19.
- Check month by month: 10 + 6 + 3 = 19.
Remember · For a total difference over several months, add the month-by-month gaps; it is quicker and cross-checks the totals.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·