Comprehension

Directions ; In this section, there is a passage that has some blank spaces, each with four words or group of words. Select whichever word or group of words you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. 

Most of our food comes from agriculture, so we tend to believe that it is  ______ (1) of natural biota. This is not true. In nature,  _______ (2) plants and animals ______ (3) to the rigours of natural selection. Only the fittest survive. _______ (4) wild populations have numerous traits for competitiveness, resistance to parasites, ________ (5) to adverse conditions,_______ (6) other aspects of vigour. In contrast, populations grown for many _______ (7) under the pampered conditions of agriculture tend to lose these traits, because they  _______ (8) for production, not resilience. For example, a  high-producing plant _______ (9) lacks resistance to drought is ________ (10) and the resistance to drought is ignored. Also, in the process of breeding plants for maximum production, all genetic variation is eliminated. 

What would come in blank space (8)?

This question was previously asked in
NDA-II 2024 (GAT) Official Paper (Held On: 01 Sept, 2024)
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  1. had selected 
  2. have selected 
  3. are selected  
  4. might select 

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : are selected  
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Detailed Solution

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The correct answer is 'are selected'.
 
Key Points
  • The passage describes present practices in agriculture where certain traits are chosen.
  • The word should properly fit the context of ongoing selection practices in agriculture.
  • "Are selected" fits well here as it indicates the present continuous nature of the selection process.
  • Other options ("Had selected", "Have selected", "Might select") are either past or speculative and do not fit the context of current practices.
Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.
 
Complete Passage: Most of our food comes from agriculture, so we tend to believe that it is independent of natural biota. This is not true. In nature, both plants and animals are continuously subjected to the rigours of natural selection. Only the fittest survive. Consequently, wild populations have numerous traits for competitiveness, resistance to parasites, tolerance to adverse conditions, and other aspects of vigour. In contrast, populations grown for many generations under the pampered conditions of agriculture tend to lose these traits, because they are selected for production, not resilience. For example, a  high-producing plant _______ (9) lacks resistance to drought is ________ (10) and the resistance to drought is ignored. Also, in the process of breeding plants for maximum production, all genetic variation is eliminated. 
Additional Information
  • Had selected (चुना था): "Had selected" is past perfect tense which implies a completed action in the past, not fitting the current context.
  • Have selected (चुना है): "Have selected" is present perfect tense, which generally indicates a completed action relevant to the present, not ongoing.
  • Might select (चुन सकते हैं): "Might select" indicates possibility or speculative action, not fitting the context of describing present practice.
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