Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:
Supply of water to rural settlements in developing countries is not adequate. People in villages, particularly in mountainous and arid areas have to walk long distances to fetch drinking water. Water borne diseases such as cholera and jaundice tend to be a common problem. The countries of South Asia face conditions of drought and flood very often. Crop cultivation sequences, in the absence of irrigation, also suffer.
The general absence of toilet and garbage disposal facilities cause health related problems.
The design and use of building materials of houses vary from one ecological region to another. The houses made up of mud, wood and thatch, remain susceptible to damage during heavy rains and floods, and require proper maintenance every year. Most house designs are typically deficient in proper ventilation. Besides, the design of a house includes the animal shed along with its fodder store within it. This is purposely done to keep the domestic animals and their food properly protected from wild animals.
Unmetalled roads and lack of modern communication network creates a unique problem. During rainy season, the settlements remain cut off and pose serious difficulties in providing emergency services. It is also difficult to provide adequate health and educational infrastructure for their large rural population. The problem is particularly serious where proper villagisation has not taken place and houses are scattered over a large area.
Which one of the following is not a rural settlement problem?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Congested housing and streets
The passage states: “Supply of water to rural settlements in developing countries is not adequate. … The general absence of toilet and garbage disposal facilities cause health related problems. … Unmetalled roads and lack of modern communication network creates a unique problem.”
Option (1) Inadequate supply of water — A rural settlement problem. People in villages, mainly in mountainous and arid areas, walk long distances to fetch drinking water.
Option (2) General absence of toilets and garbage disposal facilities — A rural settlement problem. The lack of these facilities causes health related problems in villages.
Option (3) Unmetalled roads — A rural settlement problem. Such roads cut villages off in the rainy season.
Option (4) Congested housing and streets — Not a rural settlement problem. Congested housing and streets are a problem of cities in developing countries. In villages, houses are often scattered over a large area.