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?
Show answer
Answer: D. Statement I is wrong: the USA is the world's largest ethanol producer (about 16 billion gallons in 2024), well ahead of Brazil (about 9 billion gallons). Statement II is correct: the USA makes ethanol mainly from corn, and Brazil mainly from sugarcane. So I is not correct but II is correct.
Watch for: Brazil is famous for sugarcane ethanol and flex-fuel cars, so students assume it is the biggest producer.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Statement I is wrong, because the USA, not Brazil, produces more ethanol.
- B. Statement I is wrong, because the USA produces more ethanol than Brazil.
- C. Statement I is wrong and Statement II is correct, the reverse of this option.
Source to check: U.S. Energy Information Administration; Renewable Fuels Association world fuel ethanol production data
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.