Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
- 1.The author of the passage believes that flowers are creations of Nature’s luxury.
- 2.The author of the passage does not believe in the usefulness of flowers except as things of beauty.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
The author says flowers exist for a purpose, to attract insects that carry pollen, and that their beauty is only a by-product and a human invention. Both statements say the opposite.
- ✗ 1. Flowers are not a luxury: their petals and perfume are there ‘to attract an insect’ so that pollen is not wasted.
- ✗ 2. The author sees flowers as useful precisely for pollination; their beauty is ‘merely a by-product and a human invention’.
Remember · If a statement reverses the author’s point, it is invalid, however natural it sounds.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·