Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): An increase in carbon dioxide would melt polar ice.
Reason (R): Global temperature would rise.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Assertion (A): An increase in carbon dioxide would melt polar ice. True. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas: it lets sunlight in but traps part of the heat the Earth gives back, so more of it warms the Earth, and the polar ice and glaciers melt faster.
Reason (R): Global temperature would rise. True. This rise in the average temperature of the Earth is global warming, caused by the extra greenhouse gases.
The Reason explains the Assertion: carbon dioxide does not melt ice by itself; it melts the ice through the rise in global temperature.