Question

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements and choose the correct option.

Assertion (A): Silver from Peru and Mexico enhanced the wealth of Europe in the sixteenth century.
Reason (R): Europe used this silver to finance its trade with Asia.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Hint:

Check the direction of each sentence. One describes silver coming into Europe and the other describes it going out to Asia. Money going out cannot explain why wealth came in.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:

• A simple direction test settles most assertion and reason questions: check whether the two sentences describe the same movement or opposite movements.
• Here one describes money coming in and the other money going out.

Step 1: Read the direction in the Assertion.
Silver from the mines of Peru and Mexico flowed into Europe and made it wealthier. This is an inflow.

Step 2: Read the direction in the Reason.
Europe then sent that silver out to Asia to pay for spices, textiles and porcelain, because Asian sellers wanted metal rather than European goods. This is an outflow.

Step 3: Apply the direction test.
Money leaving a country cannot be the reason the country became rich in the first place. The outflow is a use of the wealth, not its source.
So the Reason cannot explain the Assertion, even though both sentences are correct.

Step 4: Eliminate the remaining options.
Options (C) and (D) each call one statement false, but both are accurate. Option (A) claims an explanatory link that the direction test rules out. Option (B) is what is left.

Final Answer: (B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).