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GATE 2022 XH2 (English) – Question 24

Reasoning and Comprehension · Verbal reasoning and comprehension · 2 marks · Multiple select

Cholera, typhoid, diphtheria and tuberculosis cause huge number of deaths. Poor quality drinking water has always been the world’s greatest single carrier of sickness. Disease is transmitted when sewage and drinking water come into contact. Children are particularly vulnerable. In some of the poorest countries the infant mortality rate is high. The separation of sewage and the supply of clean drinking water are the domain of civil engineers, and their work makes a significant contribution to public health. That contribution was recognized when public sanitation was voted the greatest medical breakthrough, beating the discoveries including antibiotics and vaccines in a poll organized by the British Medical Journal.

Identify the statement(s), which is/are NOT TRUE according to the passage.

  1. Children are less prone to water borne diseases.
  2. The infant mortality rate was high in economically weaker countries.
  3. The provision of sewage and drinking water should be adequately separated from each other.
  4. The literature states that the public health and sanitation was never given its due importance.

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (A) Children are less prone to water borne diseases.; (D) The literature states that the public health and sanitation was never given its due importance.

Explanation

The passage says that children are "particularly vulnerable", so A is false. It also says that sanitation was voted the greatest medical breakthrough, so it was recognised, and D is false. B (poor countries have high infant mortality) and C (sewage must be kept apart from drinking water) agree with the passage.