Question

Assertion (A): The population of melanized moths increased in industrial areas after Industrial Revolution.

Reason (R): In Industrial environment lichen covered trees were replaced by soot-covered trees offering better camouflage to dark coloured moths.

Options

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation for Assertion (A).

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation for Assertion (A).

• Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

• Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Answer 1

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation for Assertion (A).

Explanation:

During the Industrial Revolution, soot killed or covered lichens and darkened tree trunks, so the dark (melanised) moths were better camouflaged against predators and thus had higher survival and reproductive success, an example of natural selection; when pollution later declined, the light form regained advantage.