Q. There are reports that some of the antibiotics sold in the market are fed to poultry and other livestock as growth promoters.
Overusing these substances can create superbugs, pathogens that are resistant to multiple drugs and could be passed along humans. Mindful of that, some farming companies have stopped using the drugs to make chickens gain weight faster. Since Denmark banned antibiotic growth promotes in the 1990s, the major pork exporters say it is producing more pigs – and the animals get fewer diseases.
Q 1. Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage given above?
(a) People should avoid consuming the products of animal farming.
(b) Foods of animal origin should be replaced with foods of plant origin.
(c) Using antibiotics on animals should be banned.
(d) Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases.
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Q1: Correct Answer – (d) Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases.
Explanation – The passage describes the issue of antibiotics being used as growth promoters in poultry and other livestock. It mentions that overusing these substances can create superbugs that are resistant to multiple drugs and could be passed along to humans. The passage also mentions that some farming companies have stopped using antibiotics to make chickens gain weight faster and that Denmark has banned antibiotic growth promoters in the 1990s, resulting in more pigs being produced and fewer diseases among the animals.
Based on this information provided in the passage, statement (d) “Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases” best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage. This statement acknowledges the potential negative consequences of overusing antibiotics as growth promoters while also recognizing that antibiotics can still play an important role in treating diseases.