Passage

Medium

Donkeys may be the proverbial beast of burden, and the animal itself has come to symbolise a dimwit, someone of little value. But not all donkeys are created equal. The Halari donkeys, a breed native to Gujarat's Halar region, is not just valued, it is a VVIP.

The Halari donkey is a source of 'liquid gold', with its milk, valued for its distinctive properties, known to have sold for an astounding Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per litre at some online platforms.

But this acclaim comes with its own set of challenges. With fewer than 500 Halari donkeys remaining, the primary need is, of course, conservation. But the larger aim is not just increasing their numbers; it's about teaching farmers the best practices, so that they can command premium prices.

Recognising the pressing need for conservation, the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) in Bikaner has started a dedicated programme to safeguard these animals. NRCE is also evaluating donkey milk for potential use in skincare products to sustain its value.

The Halari donkey is not just valued for its milk; its unique characteristics make it particularly valuable for sustainable dairy farming. Their docile nature, combined with their adaptability to various climates, makes them ideal for small-scale farmers. They also have a much lower environmental foot-print, compared to larger livestock, requiring less feed and water. Infact, their grazing habits even help maintain grassland ecosystems.

The Halari donkey is valuable due to the fact that it :

can lead to sustainable farming

is self-indulgent in nature

is weather-resistant

has high food consumption

✅ Correct Option: 1

Option 1 -> The passage explicitly states the Halari donkey is "particularly valuable for sustainable dairy farming" due to its docile nature, climate adaptability, lower environmental footprint, reduced feed/water requirements, and ecosystem-maintaining grazing habits.

Option 2 -> The passage describes them as having a "docile nature," not self-indulgent nature, making this incorrect.

Option 3 -> While the passage mentions "adaptability to various climates," this is only one characteristic, not the primary reason for their value in sustainable farming.

Option 4 -> The passage states they have "much lower environmental footprint" and require "less feed and water," which contradicts high food consumption.

Hence, Option 1: can lead to sustainable farming -> The passage dedicates an entire paragraph to explaining how the Halari donkey's unique characteristics make it particularly valuable for sustainable dairy farming, including lower resource requirements, environmental benefits, and ecosystem maintenance through grazing -> correct

Question 5

The donkey is not commonly accepted as :

Question 7

The passage highlights the fact that the need of the hour is:

Question 8

Identify the literary device used in the following sentence.

Halari donkey's milk is 'liquid gold'.

The Halari donkey is valuable due to the fact that it :

Solution

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CUET English Past Year Questions (Topic-Wise)