UPSC CSE 2025 · PYQ · Reading Comprehension / Central Idea · medium
In only 50 years, the world's consumption of raw materials has nearly quadrupled, to more than 100 billion tons. Less than 9% of this is reused. Batteries of old vehicles contain materials such as lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel that are pricey and can be hard to obtain. Supply chains are long and complicated. Buyers' risks are being aggravated by their suppliers' poor environmental and labour standards. Reusing materials makes sense. Once batteries reach the ends of their lives, they should go back to a factory where their ingredients can be recovered and put into new batteries.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the most rational, prudent and practical message conveyed by the passage?
A.Green economy is not possible without reusing essential minerals.
B.Reuse of material resources should be immediately adopted in every sector of the economy.
C.Circular economy can be useful for sustainable growth.✓ Correct
D.Circular use of material resources is the only option for some industries to keep their existence.
Explanation
The passage highlights low reuse rates (less than 9%), problems with long supply chains and poor environmental/labour standards, and advocates that reusing materials makes sense — specifically that battery ingredients should be recovered and reused. This points to the concept of a circular economy supporting sustainable growth, captured by option (c). Option (a) is too absolute ("not possible without"); option (b) is overreaching ("immediately…every sector"); option (d) overstates by saying "only option" for survival.
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