Read the following paragraph carefully and answer the given questions.
Certain types of leukocytes (WBC) of our body like polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes (PMNL-neutrophils) and monocytes and natural killer (type of lymphocytes) in the blood as well as macrophages in tissues can phagocytose and destroy microbes. For determining the cause of allergy, the patient is exposed to or injected with very small doses of possible allergens, and the reactions studied. The use of drugs like anti-histamine, adrenalin and steroids quickly reduce the symptoms of allergy. Heroin, commonly called smack is chemically diacetylmorphine which is a white, odourless, bitter crystalline compound. This is obtained by acetylation of morphine. Techniques like radiography (use of X-rays), CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are very useful to detect cancers of the internal organs. Different species of Plasmodium (P. vivax, P. malaria and P. falciparum) are responsible for different types of malaria. Of these, malignant malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is the most serious one and can even be fatal.
Malignant malaria is caused by -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Plasmodium falciparum
Different species of Plasmodium cause different types of malaria. Malignant malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. It is the most serious type of malaria and it can even be fatal.
Option (1) Plasmodium malaria — Incorrect. It is another species named with P. vivax and P. falciparum. It does not cause the malignant type.
Option (2) Plasmodium vivax — Incorrect. It is a different species. It causes a milder form of malaria, not the malignant form.
Option (3) Plasmodium ovale — Incorrect. It also causes a milder malaria and is not the cause of malignant malaria.
Option (4) Plasmodium falciparum — Correct. This species causes the malignant form. Like the other species, it enters the human body as sporozoites through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
Note 1: The passage is taken from NCERT. NTA has put lines of the NCERT text together to make it. Most CUET (UG) questions come straight from NCERT, so study the book line by line, including figures and their titles.
Note 2: The same question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 20-05-2026 (Slot 2), and a similar question in CUET (UG) 2025 on 15-05-2025 (Slot 2).