Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Monsoon forests are called forests *par excellence*.
Reason (R): They form the natural cover almost all over India.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
- ABoth (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- B(A) is correct, but (R) is not correct
- C(A) is not correct, but (R) is correct
- DNone of the above
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Explanation
Both are correct, and (R) explains (A).
The tropical deciduous forests, the monsoon forests, are the most widespread forests in India, from central and eastern India to parts of the south. They grow where rainfall is about 70–200 cm, which covers a large part of the country, and their trees shed their leaves in the dry season to save water. Being India's natural cover over so wide an area, they are called the forests *par excellence* ("the most typical").
- Moist deciduous forests (100–200 cm): sal and teak, bamboo;
- dry deciduous forests (70–100 cm): teak, tendu, palash.