Given below are two statements:
Statement I: The presence or absence of hymen is a reliable indicator of virginity.
Statement II: The hymen can also be broken by a sudden fall or jolt or by active participation in some sports like cycling.
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) → Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Statement I: The presence or absence of hymen is a reliable indicator of virginity. — False. The book says the opposite. The hymen can be broken in many ways other than coitus, and in some women it persists even after coitus, so its presence or absence is not a reliable indicator of virginity or sexual experience.
Statement II: The hymen can also be broken by a sudden fall or jolt or by active participation in some sports like cycling. — True. Besides the first coitus, a sudden fall or jolt, the insertion of a vaginal tampon and sports such as horseback riding and cycling can also break the hymen.
So Statement I is false and Statement II is true.
NCERT Extract:
The Female Reproductive System – “… The hymen is often torn during the first coitus (intercourse). However, it can also be broken by a sudden fall or jolt, insertion of a vaginal tampon, active participation in some sports like horseback riding, cycling, etc. In some women the hymen persists even after coitus. In fact, the presence or absence of hymen is not a reliable indicator of virginity or sexual experience.”