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Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Though the US prides itself on being a leader in the World community, a recent report shows that it lags far behind other industrialised countries in meeting the needs of its youngest and most vulnerable citizens. The US has a higher infant mortality rate, a higher proportion of low birth weight babies, a smaller proportion of babies immunised against childhood diseases and a much higher rate of adolescent pregnancies. These findings, described as a ‘quiet crisis' requiring immediate and far reaching action, appeared in a report prepared by a task force of educators, doctors, politicians and business people.
According to the report, a fourth of the nation's 12 million infants and toddlers live in poverty. As many as half confront risk factors that could harm their ability to develop intellectually, physically and socially. Child immunisations are too low, more children are born into poverty, more are in substandard care, while their parents work and more are being raised by single parents. When taken together, these and other risk factors can lead to educational and health problems that are much harder and costlier to reverse.
The crisis begins in the womb with unplanned parenthood. Women with unplanned pregnancies are less likely to seek pre-natal care. In the US, 80% of teenage pregnancies and 56% of all pregnancies are unplanned. The problems continue after birth, where unplanned pregnancies and unstable partnerships often go hand in hand. Since 1950, the number of single parent families has nearly tripled. More than 25% of all births today are to unmarried mothers, As the number of single parent families grows and more women enter the work force, infants and toddlers are increasingly in the care of people other than their parents. Most disturbingly, recent statistics show that American parents are increasingly neglecting or abusing their children. In only four years from 1987-1991, the number of children in foster care increased by over 50%. Babies under the age of one are the fastest growing category of children entering foster care. This crisis affects children under the age of three most severely, the report says. Yet, it is this period - from infancy through preschool years - that sets the stage for a child's future.
Which of the following statements best summarises what the author is trying to do in this passage?
Let's take a look at each option individually:
A: The author's main point is not to say that the parents are failing their children. Yes, they might not be taking care of their children and going to work, leaving them in the care of other people and foster homes, but the author does not blame the parents for this. He states those facts and tells us about the impact of these numbers; he does not say that it is the parent's fault for not planning their children's birth or not taking care of them. He simply states the facts and information about the serious condition the US is going through.
B: This is exactly what the author tries to do throughout the passage. He tells us the statistics about the problem in the USA regarding unplanned parenthood, single parents, and an increase in the number of children in healthcare. He is not giving an opinion or blaming any single entity for the condition but simply informing his readers about it.
C: This is again not true, as the author nowhere blames the state for the state of affairs.
D: There has been little to no discussion about the lack of nutrition in the children (infants and toddlers), this is complete;y out of scope of the passage.
Hence, Option B best represents the main point of the author's passage.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
