Question

Assertion: Plants can live without special respiratory organs.
Reason: Every living cell in the plant is present very close to the plant surface which facilitates easy exchange of gases. Also, oxygen availability is not an issue since oxygen is produced during photosynthesis.

• A. Both assertion and reason are correct statements and reason is the correct explanation
• B. Both assertion and reason are correct statements but the reason is incorrect explanation
• C. Assertion is an incorrect statement but the reason is a correct statement
• D. Both are incorrect statements

Answer 1

The correct option is A Both assertion and reason are correct statements and reason is the correct explanation

Plants can live without specialised respiratory organs although they have pore like openings called stomata (leaves) and lenticels (stem). There are three major reasons:
i. Each cell is well equipped to take care of its own gaseous needs.
ii. The rate at which plants respire is lower than animals. During photosynthesis, the rate increases in which oxygen availability is not an issue since oxygen is produced during photosynthesis.
iii. Every living cell is close to the surface of the plant. The cells deep inside are dead as they provide only mechanical support. Even in thick woody stems, the living cells are arranged in thin layers beneath the bark. The openings called lenticels help in gaseous exchange. Thus, at least some part of the cells is in contact with air. Loosely arranged cells also provide interconnected air space that ensures gaseous supply.

Hence, assertion as well as reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation.