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Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1]
Assertion (A) : Accumulation of harmful chemicals is maximum in the organisms at the highest trophic level of a food chain. Reason (R) : Harmful chemicals are sprayed on the crops to protect them from diseases and pests.
  1. (a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
  2. (b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
  3. (c) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. (d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2024 31/1/1 Q18
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:44 · grounding rag
Model Answer

(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. A is explained by biological magnification — chemicals accumulate at each trophic level, so the top level has maximum concentration.

Explanation

The Assertion is true — biological magnification causes maximum accumulation at the highest trophic level. The Reason is also true — pesticides/chemicals are indeed sprayed on crops. However, R only states the source of chemicals entering the food chain, not why they accumulate most at the top trophic level. The correct explanation of A is biological magnification (progressive accumulation at each trophic level), not merely that chemicals are sprayed. Hence option (b).

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