Question

Read the following statements and choose the correct option.

Statement I: Wombat, bandicoot and koala are examples of Australian marsupials.
Statement II: The reason for their survival is the absence or less of competition from any other mammal.

• A. Statement I is true, statement II is false
• B. StatementI is false, statement II is true
• C. Both statements I and II are false
• D. Both statements I and II are true

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both statements I and II are true

Marsupials are pouched mammals inhabiting Australia. Different species of marsupials have evolved from a common ancestral within the Australian continent. Wombat, bandicoot, koala, sugar glider, marsupial mole are few examples of marsupials.

Continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates. The plates are always moving and interacting in a process called plate tectonics. As per scientists, a major continental drift might have occurred during the evolution of these marsupials and that might have altered their distribution. The continental drift resulted in isolation of Australia, that must have helped the marsupials to survive by preventing competition from other mammals and establishing themselves on that continent.