Previous Year Questions

Question :

Directions : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

When it comes to living a sustainable life, diet plays a big role. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, agriculture is the primary cause of the planet's environmental changes, which include climate change, the destruction of forests and deserts, and damage to oceans and coastal reefs. But not use (A) consumers are aware of these issues. A December 2018 survey found that while 46 percent of people surveyed believed it was important to buy local foods, only 16 percent knew about the effect livestock has on climate change. Let's take a look at some of today's most popular diets stack up when it comes to sustainability, in order from most sustainable to least.

A vegan diet replaces all animal products with fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, seeds, and grains. According to a recent report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, plant-based diets produce substantial environmental and health benefits. One study found the vegan diet is best when it comes to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, followed by vegetarian, pescatarian, and flexitarian diets. Another study found the vegan diet accounts for the lowest amount of greenhouse gas emissions out of all diets the study researchers looked (B) at.

A vegetarian diet eliminates meat, poultry, and fish in favour of plant-based foods (hence why some vegetarians refer to themselves as "plant-based"). A study found cutting meat out of one's diet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent. A plant-based diet, such as a vegetarian or vegan diet, is also the most sustainable in terms of land and water many (C) than diets that include meat. In fact, another study found a meat-free diet can reduce a person's water footprint by about 55 percent.

A flexitarian diet includes nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, as well as moderate amounts of non-processed meat, fish, and dairy. The director, of nutrition (D) and wellness for Bon Appétit Management Company, a restaurant company based in Redwood City, California, known for its low-carbon diet, likes flexitarianism because it's easy for many people to follow. Following this diet doesn't mean people have to swear off meat forever they likely will just need to reduce their intake and rely more heavily on plant-based sources, which will have a positive effect on the environment (E).

Which of the following facets of a vegan diet makes it stand out from its contemporaries?