Consider the following statements :
Statement-I :
Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement-II :
Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Show answer
Answer: C. Statement-I is correct: marsupials (pouched mammals like kangaroos) occur naturally only in Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, and the Americas, not in India. Statement-II is wrong: marsupials live in many habitats, including forests, deserts and towns, and many live alongside predators (for example opossums in America). So I is correct and II is incorrect.
Watch for: Statement-II sounds like a neat reason, but marsupials are not limited to predator-free grasslands.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because Statement-II is false.
- B. Wrong because Statement-II is false.
- D. Wrong because Statement-I is true; India has no native marsupials.
Source to check: NCERT Class 12 Biology, Ch 6 Evolution (adaptive radiation of Australian marsupials)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.