Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Animal-based food is far less efficient than grain/plant-based food in terms of production and utilization.
The passage's thrust is that feeding grain to animals wastes most of its calories: only 16% returns to us through chicken and five to seven per cent through large animals. Animal-based food is therefore far less efficient than eating grains and legumes directly.
- ✗ (a) The passage does not call for a public policy or for promoting cereal consumption; it explains an inefficiency.
- ✓ (b) The author says the conversion of plant-based food into animal food 'is far from efficient' and supports it with figures: 16% of calories recovered from chickens and five to seven per cent from large animals.
- ✗ (c) No dietary prescription is made. The author describes the calorie loss but does not say plant protein should replace animal protein.
- ✗ (d) The passage never calls inequality 'inevitable in any fast changing society'; it links the shift in food use to growing wealth.
Remember · The crux is usually the claim the passage backs with data; here the calorie figures support the inefficiency point.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·