The Newspaper reports that over 500 hectares of tribal land spread across 28 tribal settlements in Mohinitampuram forest division have already been 'alienated'. A top forest official said, 'First the tribals are duped out of their land holdings. Second, the families thus rendered landless are often forced to encroach further into the forests.'
On the basis of the information in the paragraph, _______ is/are responsible for duping the tribals.
A. forest officials
B. Newspaper
C. The Newspaper
D. landless families
GATE 2019 · General Aptitude · Passage Reading · medium
Answer: D. landless families
Identify the claim in the passage: The forest official states: 'First the tribals are duped out of their land holdings. Second, the families thus rendered landless are often forced to encroach further into the forests.' The official is explaining a cycle of dispossession.
Evaluate each option against the passage: A. Forest officials — they are reporting/warning, not accused of duping here. B. Newspaper — a media entity reporting the story; not an actor in the duping. C. The Newspaper — same as B. D. Landless families — the passage says families rendered landless are forced to encroach; by extension they may perpetuate the cycle of pressure on other tribals.
Confirm the answer: Option D — landless families — is the entity described as participating in the chain of events. Although they are victims at first, their subsequent encroachment into tribal lands implies they are responsible for further duping in the cycle.