Question

Assertion: The current mass extinction is different from the previous episodes of mass extinctions

Reason: It is happening at a faster rate and is mainly anthropogenic in nature

• A. Both the assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion
• B. Both the assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion
• C. Assertion is true but the reason is false
• D. Both the assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

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

Mass extinction is catastrophic and widespread and is a global event where relatively major groups of species are wiped out in a short period when compared to normal extinction due to natural causes.

The sixth mass extinction which is called holocene extinction started around 11,000 years ago and is continuing till the present time. It is an anthropogenic extinction caused due to human activities such as habitat destruction and fragmentation, overexploitation of bioresources, alien species introduction, etc.

Present anthropogenic extinction is relatively much different compared to the 5 episodes of mass species extinctions that have occurred in the past, since the origin of life on earth. The rate of the sixth mass extinction is 100-1000 times faster than the earlier extinction rates because of mindless human intervention. Thus both the assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.