JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3ev186
Assertion (A): Organophosphate insecticides are preferred to DDT for environmental reasons even though many are more acutely toxic to mammals.
Reason (R): Organophosphates are hydrolysed in the environment, so they do not persist or accumulate in food chains.
ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
BBoth A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
CA is true but R is false
DA is false but R is true
Answer: A
A is true: the preference rests on environmental persistence rather than acute toxicity. R is true: organophosphates break down quickly by hydrolysis. Non-persistence is exactly why they are preferred, so R explains A.