Consider the following statements Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United State…

Question

Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.

Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
2. B. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
3. C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
4. D. Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct.

Key Points

• The United States is the world's largest ethanol producer (~55% of global output), followed by Brazil (~27%) — so Statement I claiming Brazil produces more is incorrect.
• However, Statement II is correct: the USA uses corn as its primary feedstock for ethanol, while Brazil uses sugarcane.
• Statement I is not correct; Statement II is correct.