Question

Given below are two statements:

Statement (I): Soil and water conservation consists of prevention and control of soil erosion caused due to water. It also includes conserving rain water and soil moisture for the purpose of crop production.

Statement (II): Soil erosion severely affects hilly areas because of steep slopes.

In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are incorrect.
• C. Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
• D. Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.

Hint:

Think about why erosion is generally worse on steep land compared to flat land, and what the basic goal of soil and water conservation is.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Instead of judging each statement alone, compare them against the basic cause and effect chain of erosion. Soil and water conservation exists precisely because moving water on land can strip away topsoil, so any definition that mentions preventing water-caused erosion while saving rain water and soil moisture for crops lines up with the accepted meaning of the subject, which confirms Statement (I).

For Statement (II), remember that erosion severity depends heavily on the velocity of runoff, and velocity depends on slope. Steeper slopes give water more gravitational pull, so it moves faster and detaches and carries more soil particles, which is why hilly tracts are erosion hotspots compared to plains. This confirms Statement (II) as well.

Both explanations hold up on their own and do not contradict each other, so both are correct together.

\[\boxed{\text{Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct}}\]