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Question

Difficulty: HardInference and Logical Deduction

Read the following passage carefully:

In 2024, the State Ministry of Agriculture introduced the Climate-Resilient Seed Subsidy (CRSS) scheme to encourage smallholder farmers to switch from traditional crop varieties to drought-resistant hybrid seeds. Under CRSS regulations, farmers cultivating under five hectares are eligible for a 60% price subsidy on certified seeds, provided their farms are registered with the District Soil Health Portal. Official evaluation reports from the 2025 agricultural year indicated a 40% increase in CRSS seed uptake across drought-prone districts. However, overall crop yield per hectare in these districts remained statistically unchanged compared to pre-2024 historical averages. Independent agronomic audits revealed that while the certified hybrid seeds possess higher thermal tolerance, they require precise irrigation schedules during the flowering stage to achieve their maximum yield capacity—an infrastructure capability currently lacking in at least three-quarters of the registered smallholder farms in these districts. Consequently, the adoption of CRSS seeds alone did not automatically guarantee an increase in per-hectare agricultural productivity for a majority of smallholder farms in those drought-prone areas.

Based on the information provided in the passage above, which of the following statements can be logically inferred?

  1. For a substantial majority of registered smallholder farms in drought-prone districts, the thermal-tolerant genetic properties of CRSS seeds were insufficient on their own to enhance per-hectare yield without complementary irrigation infrastructure.Answer
  2. B
    The State Ministry of Agriculture ought to reallocate funds from the CRSS scheme toward building government-funded canal networks across all drought-prone districts.
  3. C
    Unregistered smallholder farmers who cultivated under five hectares suffered a net reduction in crop yield during the 2025 agricultural year.
  4. D
    The stagnation in per-hectare crop yields confirms that the soil assessments provided by the District Soil Health Portal were scientifically inaccurate.

Answer

For a substantial majority of registered smallholder farms in drought-prone districts, the thermal-tolerant genetic properties of CRSS seeds were insufficient on their own to enhance per-hectare yield without complementary irrigation infrastructure.
The correct response logically synthesizes two explicit facts in the passage: that hybrid seeds require precise irrigation during the flowering stage, and that at least 75% (a substantial majority) of registered smallholder farms lack such infrastructure, leading to stagnant per-hectare productivity despite high seed uptake.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core premise established in the passage.
The passage notes a 40% rise in drought-resistant seed uptake under the CRSS scheme, yet per-hectare yields remained unchanged.
Establishing the central paradox stated in the passage is essential for identifying the supported deduction.
2
Examine the explanatory evidence provided by agronomic audits.
The audits show that hybrid seeds require precise flowering-stage irrigation to reach full potential, but at least 75% of smallholder farms lack this capability.
Connecting the seed requirements to existing farm infrastructure explains why seed adoption alone failed to raise productivity.
3
Evaluate the choices to select the statement strictly necessitated by the passage facts.
The statement highlighting that seed genetics alone were insufficient without complementary irrigation directly mirrors the facts provided.
A valid inference must follow necessarily from the explicit text without introducing external assumptions or unstated policy recommendations.

Key Concept

Logical Inference in Reading Comprehension
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Inference and Logical Deduction

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