Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
The word AIDS means deficiency of immune system acquired during the lifetime of an individual indicating that it is not a congenital disease. AIDS was first reported in 1981 and in the last 25 years it has spread all over the world killing more than 25 million persons. AIDS is caused by the HIV (Human Immuno deficiency Virus). The people who are at high risk of getting this infection include the individuals who have multiple sexual partners, drug addicts who take drugs intravenously, individuals who require repeated blood transfusions and children born to an HIV infected mother. It is imperative for the physical and psychological well-being that the HIV / AIDS infected persons are not isolated from the family and society. A widely used diagnostic test for AIDS is ELISA. AIDS has no cure, prevention is the best option.
AIDS, caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a syndrome that impacts the immune system. Which of the following statements about AIDS and HIV is NOT true?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → HIV, a retrovirus, has an envelope enclosing its DNA genome.
HIV belongs to a group of viruses called retroviruses. Their genetic material is RNA, enclosed in an envelope. Inside the host cell, the enzyme reverse transcriptase copies this RNA into viral DNA.
Option (1) AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome and is not a congenital disease. — A true statement. The passage states that AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) means a deficiency of the immune system acquired during the lifetime, so it is not congenital (present from birth).
Option (2) AIDS was first reported in 1981 and has since killed more than 25 million people worldwide. — A true statement. The passage states both facts: AIDS was first reported in 1981, and within about twenty-five years it had killed more than 25 million people.
Option (3) HIV, a retrovirus, has an envelope enclosing its DNA genome. — Not true. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus, and its envelope encloses an RNA genome, not a DNA genome. Viral DNA appears only later, inside the infected cell.
Option (4) People at high risk of HIV infection include individuals who have multiple sexual partners. — A true statement. The passage lists them. HIV spreads through body fluids, so people with multiple sexual partners are at high risk, along with drug users who share needles and people who need repeated blood transfusions.
NCERT Extract:
AIDS – “The word AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. This means deficiency of immune system, acquired during the lifetime of an individual indicating that it is not a congenital disease. ‘Syndrome’ means a group of symptoms. AIDS was first reported in 1981 and in the last twenty-five years or so, it has spread all over the world killing more than 25 million persons. AIDS is caused by the Human Immuno deficiency Virus (HIV), a member of a group of viruses called retrovirus, which have an envelope enclosing the RNA genome (Figure 7.6). … So, people who are at high risk of getting this infection includes - individuals who have multiple sexual partners, drug addicts who take drugs intravenously, individuals who require repeated blood transfusions and children born to an HIV infected mother.”
Figure 7.6 Replication of retrovirus