The GATE Grind

GATE 2022 EC – Question 6

General Aptitude · Verbal Aptitude: Reading Comprehension and Reasoning · 2 marks · Multiple choice

Mosquitoes pose a threat to human health. Controlling mosquitoes using chemicals may have undesired consequences. In Florida, authorities have used genetically modified mosquitoes to control the overall mosquito population. It remains to be seen if this novel approach has unforeseen consequences.

Which one of the following is the correct logical inference based on the information in the above passage?

  1. Using chemicals to kill mosquitoes is better than using genetically modified mosquitoes because genetic engineering is dangerous
  2. Using genetically modified mosquitoes is better than using chemicals to kill mosquitoes because they do not have any side effects
  3. Both using genetically modified mosquitoes and chemicals have undesired consequences and can be dangerous
  4. Using chemicals to kill mosquitoes may have undesired consequences but it is not clear if using genetically modified mosquitoes has any negative consequence

Practise this question in The GATE Grind →

Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (D) Using chemicals to kill mosquitoes may have undesired consequences but it is not clear if using genetically modified mosquitoes has any negative consequence

Explanation

The passage says chemicals "may have undesired consequences" but that it "remains to be seen" whether the genetic approach does. Only D says exactly this. A, B and C claim things the passage never establishes (that one method is better, that GM mosquitoes have no side effects, or that both are harmful).