Question

Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows.
Emotions often trump reason. The Cauvery water dispute is turning out to be less about water and irrigation and more about linguistic chauvinism and regional identity. Nothing else can explain the mindless violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Supreme Court order asking the former to release water to the latter, keeping in view the distress situation in both States in a season of deficit rainfall. Many of the acts of violence have been perpetuated in the two States by chauvinistic, fringe organizations that have little to do with the farming community or its interests. It is clear that there is insufficient water in Karnataka's reservoirs to meet the full irrigation needs of both states. The point of the Supreme Court order was to make the States share their distress and not to magically fulfil the needs of farmers on both sides. But political parties and some media houses, especially regional language television channels, have sought to portray the issue as one that pits the people of one State against that of the other. Indeed, the two major national parties, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, have taken different stands in the two States on this issue. No party or State government appears to believe it can afford to be seen as taking even so much as a conciliatory step toward defusing the crisis. On some previous occasions when Karnataka released water in a distress year the State government did so quietly so as to not give chauvinistic elements any opportunity to inflame passions. Cauvery is an inter-State dispute, but this is no reason to turn the issue into a raging controversy that draws the peoples of the two States into confrontation!

What was the purpose behind the Supreme Court's order regarding Cauvery water?

• A. To solve the irrigation needs faced by the farmers of Tamil Nadu.
• B. That the two states share their distress due to shortage of water.
• C. To fulfil the needs of the farmers in both states.
• D. To solve the irrigation needs faced by the farmers of Karnataka.
• E. Not any of the above

Hint:

When answering questions about a court order or official decision in a text, look for the word "purpose" or "point." Authors often contrast the real purpose with what the public wants it to be to highlight a specific nuance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B