Consider the following statements:

1. 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.
2. 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. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
2. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
3. Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
4. Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Explanation

Statement I is not correct

• The United States is the leading producer of fuel ethanol in the world. In 2024, the U.S. produced an estimated 16.1 billion gallons of the biofuel. Brazil is the world’s second-largest producing country, with an output of 8.8 billion gallons that same year.

Statement II is correct

• Corn is the primary feedstock of ethanol in the United States. Brazil primarily uses sugar cane as feedstock.

Answer: (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct; Difficulty Level: Hard