Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 12 / 466

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers should be based solely on the passage.
Passage: When SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in 2019, it was a truly novel virus for the world. At that time, no one in the world had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or had specific immunity against it. In contrast, people across the world have been exposed to HMPV for decades and the virus is well-studied. HMPV and SARS-CoV-2 belong to two very different virus families with fundamentally different characteristics and epidemiology, with strong seasonality seen in HMPV, unlike SARS-CoV-2. Both viruses cause different severity of symptoms, particularly over the long term, and the affected population segments do not fully overlap. In general, HMPV causes milder illness with deaths being very rare and with no long-term post-viral symptoms.
Which of the following conclusions is/are valid?
  1. Though SARS-CoV-2 and HMPV are similar viruses with somewhat different epidemiology, the former became a pandemic because it was novel and people had not been exposed to it in the past.
  2. The two viruses have fundamentally different impacts on human populations and should not therefore be dealt with in a similar manner.
Select the answer using the code given below.

EXPLANATION

The correct option is B - 2 only.

[as per provisional answerkey]

Why this is correct

The passage explicitly states that HMPV and SARS-CoV-2 belong to "two very different virus families" with "fundamentally different characteristics and epidemiology." It further highlights that they cause different levels of symptom severity, affect different population segments, and have different long-term impacts (HMPV being milder with no long-term symptoms, unlike SARS-CoV-2). Conclusion 2 logically follows from these premises: because their biological characteristics, epidemiological patterns, and clinical impacts are fundamentally different, the public health response and medical management (how they are "dealt with") should not be identical. The passage provides a comparative analysis specifically to highlight these distinctions.

Why the other options are incorrect

  • Conclusion 1 - SARS-CoV-2 and HMPV are similar viruses: This statement contradicts the passage, which explicitly states they belong to "two very different virus families" and have "fundamentally different characteristics." While the passage mentions SARS-CoV-2 was novel, it does not support the claim that the two viruses are "similar."
  • Option (a) - 1 only: This is incorrect because Conclusion 1 contains a factual inaccuracy based on the text (claiming similarity where the text states they are different).
  • Option (c) - Both 1 and 2: This is incorrect because, while Conclusion 2 is valid, Conclusion 1 is invalidated by the passage's emphasis on the fundamental differences between the two viruses.
  • Option (d) - Neither 1 nor 2: This is incorrect because Conclusion 2 is a valid logical inference derived from the stark contrasts in epidemiology and severity described in the text.

Key Concept

This question tests the ability to identify explicit contradictions and valid logical inferences by comparing specific attributes (novelty, family, seasonality, and severity) of two subjects mentioned in a passage.