SSC Selection Post 2022 PYQ — Question 5

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follows.

 Xandersol, a new, potentially lethal drug, is being blamed for numerous illnesses and the death of six Anchorstown residents. According to water and sewer authority officials, the drug has somehow found its way into the city water system, resulting in the contamination of household drinking water for thousands of local residents. The question lies not in determining how, but, more importantly, where the drug entered the city water system; once the leak is found it can quickly be contained. Experts agree that, given the relative scarcity of Xandersol in amounts large enough to affect an entire community. According to a recent poll, an overwhelming majority of local residents - nearly 80% - believe this to be the case. As a result of the disaster, Marcia has had to take off work to care for her children, whom she believes have been adversely affected by the contaminated water. “I’ve taken off three days since the disaster. And those are unpaid days. I don’t have the luxury of paid sick days like some people.” She shakes her head. “You know things are bad when you can't even drink the water.” The big-name actor Evert Milkin on location for a shoot for his upcoming blockbuster movie, had a chance to spend two days in Anchorstown. Upon being warned about the drinking water problem, he decided to investigate for himself. Milkin was shocked at what he found. He purports to have discovered a dried pool of Xandersol residue collected about the entrance of a city sewer opening just outside a pharmaceutical company. Acting upon these findings, Milkin has galvanised many to support the claim that the Xandersol entered the city water system at the WPP Pharmaceuticals. According to local engineer Todd Severs, RTC pharma is the one at fault. “It should be pretty clear to everyone that the RTC is responsible for the disaster. Just take a look at their past record. In the last two years alone, the RTC has incurred 16 citations for non-compliance with federal and state drug testing standards.” In recent days, Severs’ statements have begun to resonate with the public. When confronted with growing concern, the RTC issued the following statement in its defence: "While we understand that much of this blame stems from our poor record of upholding testing standards, we would like to remind local residents of the simple, yet important facts: The RTC has been testing the drugs that the people have come to depend on. Reports of those adversely affected by Xandersol are on the rise. In desperation, residents have resorting to fitting out their taps with makeshift Xandersol filters.