Question

Assertion (A): The southwest monsoon winds have two branches.

Reason (R): They blow over two water bodies-the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Options

• Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

• Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

• (A) is true but (R) is false.

• (A) is false but (R) is true.

Answer 1

Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation:

Statement (A) is correct because the advancing southwest monsoon divides into two distinct branches once it reaches the Indian landmass. Statement (R) serves as the direct geographical reason for this break, as the peninsular shape of southern India separates incoming winds over two separate surrounding sea bodies, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, resulting in the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.