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UPSC Prelims 2010 · Agriculture · Crops and Where They Grow
Though coffee and tea both are cultivated on hill slopes, there is some difference between them regarding their cultivation. In this context, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Coffee plants require a hot and humid climate of tropical areas whereas tea can be cultivated in both tropical and subtropical areas.
- Coffee is propagated by seeds, but tea is propagated by stem cuttings only.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) 1 only
Coffee is tropical, tea both; tea is not propagated only by cuttings.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT Coffee needs a hot, humid tropical climate; tea grows in both tropical (Nilgiris) and subtropical (Darjeeling, Assam) areas.
2. ✗ WRONG Tea can be propagated by seed as well as cuttings — “only” is wrong.
Why the others are wrong
(b) Accepts “only”.
(c) Accepts “only”.
(d) Rejects the climate difference.
The trap
“Only” in statement 2.
🔒 Coffee: Karnataka (~70%), shade-grown. Tea: Assam, WB; seed or clonal cuttings.
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