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APSK- 20-HY-ENG-X
TIME- 1 Hr M.M-40 M FORM WILL REMAIN OPEN FROM 11 am TO 1 pm
Required
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PART- A READING 20 I . Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : 10 1. The Food Bill is still in the works but has provoked a furious debate on the lack of grain storage facilities, rotting of grains and whether they should be distributed free to the hungry masses. Waking up to the fact that no food security programme can be effective without proper storage, the government is now planning to upgrade existing warehousing facilities and also adding new ones. However, between food security and large-scale storage, there’s a missing link that needs to be taken note of: storage at the farm level. No one can deny the importance of decentralized storage; at least 25-30 per cent grains in the country are stored at the farm level. 2. However, it’s not as if there hasn’t been enough thrust on this issue: there are State institutes to look into the storage problems. 3. Yet, policy-wise we did have a sound start: the Save Grain Campaign, which was initiated 43 years ago, was supposed to do what we are floundering on now. Through this campaign, the Centre was to initiate and train states in warehousing and storage of grains. The Centre wanted the states to take it up on a large scale but the latter did not want any “added responsibility”. Finding no takers, the campaign was withdrawn in 2008. 4. “Around 15-20 per cent food grain losses occur in large storage godowns. Along with investment in large storage capacities, we must encourage farm-level storage. This can be in the form of refining and improving the indigenous storage technologies and providing technical and financial support at that level,” says M.B. Chetti, Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka. 5. “Alternatively, we have to go for cold storage facilities for food grains, which is very costly since it involves electricity supply,” says Chetti. Instead, vacuum packing, say experts, helps preserve grains and seeds for long periods without any deterioration in quality. In fact, an experiment was carried out in the university on the usefulness of the packaging system (using chilli) and the results were satisfactory. The available technology offers a seven- layer packing to preserve quality for long periods of time and once sealed, climatic changes have no effect on it. Elimination of oxygen from the pack helps in extending shelf life. 6. Fool policy analyst Devinder Sharma, however, says expensive solutions like silos and warehousing are not the answer to procurement and storage problems. 7. Whichever way we look at it, decentralized storage cannot be left out of the loop if we want to ensure food security and reduce stock losses.
(1 Point)
1. The necessity of proper storage has been realised because……………………
(a) there is lack of grain storage facilities
(b) grain is lying in the open and rotting
(c) no food security is possible without it
(d) masses are hungry and without grain
2
2. Decentralized storage stress upon……………………
(1 Point)
(a) storage at farm level
(b) storage at block level
(c) storage at district level
(d) storage at state level
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3. The ‘Save Grain Campaign’ was withdrawn after 43 years because……………………
(1 Point)
(a) the centre did not spare funds
(b) proper training in warehousing was lacking
(c) the states did not show any interest
(d) the states did not want any added responsibility
4
4. The most cost-effective solution for storage of grain is……………………
(1 Point)
(a) cold storage facilities
(b) decentralized storage
(c) setting up large warehouses
(d) silos
5
5. Experts reject silos and warehousing because……………………
(1 Point)
(a) these are very costly solutions
(b) local storage and distribution is more effective
(c) these are inadequate for storage
(d) these fail to reduce stock losses
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6. The word ‘facilities’ in para 5 refers to……………………
(1 Point)
(a) aptitude
(b) dexterity
(c) potential
(d) buildings for a particular purpose
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7. Find a word from the passage which is similar in meaning to “Improve” (para 1)
(1 Point)
(a) Upgrade
(b) Provoked
(c) Facilities
(d) effective
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8. Find a word from the passage which is similar in meaning to “Native” (para 4)
(1 Point)
(a) Leapfrog
(b) Assure
(c) Capacity
(d) indigenous
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9. Vacuum packaging more successful in storing as________
(1 Point)
(a) It is very costly since it involves electricity supply.
(b) It helps preserve grains and seeds for short periods with deterioration in quality.
(c) The seven-layered film needs to be imported.
(d) It assures quality as well as a chance to store grains almost anywhere.
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10. What is the missing link between food security and large-scale storage?
(1 Point)
(a) food security programme
(b) storage at the farm level
(c) lack of added responsibility
(d) both (b) and (c)
Answers
Answer:
Decentralized storage stress upon……………………
The given passage discusses about the Food bill and grain storage methods.
Explanation:
1). The necessity of proper storage has been realized because (a) there is lack of grain storage facilities
It is a basic essential when there is a long term plan and distribution is to happen in intervals.
2). Decentralized storage stress upon (d) storage at state level.
3). The ‘Save Grain Campaign’ was withdrawn after 43 years because
(d) the states did not want any added responsibility.
4). The most cost-effective solution for storage of grain is (a) cold storage facilities.
5). Experts reject silos and warehousing because (d) these fail to reduce stock losses
Silos are tall cylindrical structures which are used to store grains, air is sucked out to create a air free environment which helps prevent rotting for short periods of time.
6). The word ‘facilities’ in para 5 refers to (d) buildings for a particular purpose.
7). Find a word from the passage which is similar in meaning to “Improve”
The word synonymous to "improve" is (a )upgrade.
8). Find a word from the passage which is similar in meaning to “Native”
(d) indigenous is the word similar to "Native".
9). Vacuum packaging more successful in storing as (d) It assures quality as well as a chance to store grains almost anywhere.
10). What is the missing link between food security and large-scale storage?
- (d) both (b) and (c)
(b) storage at the farm level and (c) lack of added responsibility
The food security bill has needs proper storing facilities and support from the state governments in running these storage facilities.