NEET2026BiologyChapterActual
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The ongoing 'Sixth Extinction' episode is fundamentally different from the previous five mass extinctions that Earth has witnessed since the origin of life. Reason (R): The current species extinction rates are estimated to be 100 to 1000 times faster than in pre-human times, primarily driven by ant
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
- B(A) is correct but (R) is not correct.
- CBoth (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- D(A) is not correct but (R) is correct.
Correct answer
C. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Step-by-step solution
During the long period since the origin and diversification of life on Earth, there have been five episodes of mass extinction of species. The ongoing 'Sixth Extinction' is fundamentally different from the previous episodes. The primary difference lies in the rate of extinction. The current species extinction rates are estimated to be 100 to 1000 times faster than in pre-human times. This accelerated rate is primarily driven by anthropogenic (human) activities, such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, polluti