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CSAT 2019 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2019 · Question 28 · Reading comprehension

Which one of the following is the most logical, rational and crucial message conveyed by the above…

Passage—6

A majority of the TB infected in India are poor and lack sufficient nutrition, suitable housing and have little understanding of prevention. TB then devastates families, makes the poor poorer, particularly affects women and children, and leads to ostracisation and loss of employment. The truth is that even if TB does not kill them, hunger and poverty will. Another truth is that deep-seated stigma, lack of counselling, expensive treatment and lack of adequate support from providers and family, coupled with torturous side-effects demotivate patients to continue treatment — with disastrous health consequences.

CSAT 2019 · Q28

Reading comprehension Easy

Which one of the following is the most logical, rational and crucial message conveyed by the above passage?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) Curing TB requires more than diagnosis and medical treatment.

Poor nutrition, stigma, lack of counselling, cost, weak support and harsh side-effects push TB patients to abandon treatment. The crucial message is that curing TB needs help well beyond diagnosis and drugs.

  • ✗ (a) The problem is that patients stop treatment, not that TB cannot be cured.
  • ✓ (b) Nutrition, counselling and support from providers and family are all non-medical needs the passage lists.
  • ✗ (c) Surveillance is not mentioned, and patients do begin treatment — they are demotivated from continuing, so 'no access' is wrong.
  • ✗ (d) Poverty matters, but 'only when' poverty programmes succeed is too strong and ignores stigma, counselling and side-effects.

Remember · The crucial message usually sums up the list the passage builds; reject 'only when' and claims about things it never mentions.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

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