Read the following passage and answer the question.
Influenza is caused by a virus that attacks mainly the upper respiratory tract-the nose, throat and bronchi and rarely also the lungs. The genetic make up of Influenza virus allows for both major and minor genetic changes, making them immune to existing vaccines. Three times in the last century, the Influenza virus have undergone major genetic changes, resulting in global Pandemics and large tolls in terms of both disease and deaths. The most infamous pandemic was "Spanish Flu" which affected large parts of the world population and is thought to have killed at least 40 million people in 1918-19. More recently, two other Influenza pandemics occurred in 1957 (Asian Influenza) and 1968 (Hong Kong Influenza).
The one feature that does not describe the influenza viruses is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → They attack only the lungs badly
Option (1) They allow both major and minor genetic change — Describes the influenza viruses (Incorrect). Their genetic make-up allows for both major and minor genetic changes, which makes them immune to existing vaccines.
Option (2) They allow major genetic changes in themselves — Describes the influenza viruses (Incorrect). Three times in the last century the viruses underwent major genetic changes, and each time a global pandemic followed.
Option (3) They result in significant mortality globally — Describes the influenza viruses (Incorrect). The Spanish Flu alone is thought to have killed at least 40 million people in 1918-19, and the later pandemics of 1957 and 1968 also caused deaths across the world.
Option (4) They attack only the lungs badly — Does not describe the influenza viruses (Correct). The virus attacks mainly the upper respiratory tract — the nose, throat and bronchi — and only rarely the lungs. So the lungs are not its main target, let alone its only one.
NCERT: Indian Society — Chapter 2: The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society, Box 2.2 (2025-26)
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