UPSC Prelims 2003 Q61: Science & Technology – Health & Diseases
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
- (a) Milk contains none of the B - vitamins
- (b) Vitamin A (retinal) deficiency leads to dry and scaly skin
- (c) One of the symptoms of scurvy is pain in the joints
- (d) Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency can lead to heart failure
Answer: (a) Milk contains none of the B - vitamins
Explanation
> Note for students: The exam asked which statement is NOT correct. Milk does contain B-vitamins, so (a) is the answer by facts, even though some keys give (c).
Vitamins and deficiency diseases (NOT correct)
| Statement | Verdict |
|---|---|
| a. Milk contains none of the B-vitamins | Not correct — milk contains riboflavin (B2) and other B-vitamins |
| b. Vitamin A deficiency leads to dry and scaly skin | Correct |
| c. Scurvy causes pain in the joints | Correct |
| d. Vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to heart failure | Correct (wet beri-beri) |
The question asks which statement is NOT correct: it is (a), because milk contains several B-vitamins, notably riboflavin. (The stored stem had dropped NOT and the stored key (c) pointed at a true statement; both are corrected.)
Answer: (a) Milk contains none of the B-vitamins.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Milk contains B-vitamins such as riboflavin, so this statement is wrong.
- (b) Incorrect. Vitamin A deficiency does cause dry, scaly skin.
- (c) Incorrect. Joint pain is a symptom of scurvy.
- (d) Incorrect. Thiamine deficiency can cause heart failure.
Key point
Milk: B2, B12, A, D (fortified), calcium; poor in iron and vitamin C.
Remember
Milk is a source of B-vitamins, especially riboflavin.
Common mistakes
- Reading the stem as asking for a correct statement.
- Thinking that milk has no B-vitamins at all.
- Forgetting wet beri-beri as a cardiac disease.
Exam tip
Riboflavin (B2) is the main B-vitamin in milk.
Sources
- NCERT Class VI Science — Food: Components of Food
- National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR) — Nutritive Value of Indian Foods (C. Gopalan, B. V. Rama Sastri and S. C. Balasubramanian)