Correct Option
Assertion (A) states that areas near the equator receive rainfall throughout the year. This statement is correct. Equatorial regions, typically situated between 5°N and 5°S latitudes, are characterized by an equatorial climate zone. This zone experiences consistently high temperatures and abundant moisture, leading to a lack of distinct dry seasons and receiving significant precipitation year-round.
Reason (R) states that high temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain in most afternoons near the equator. This statement is also correct. The intense solar insolation at the equator causes the land surface and the air above it to heat up considerably. This warm, moist air becomes less dense and rises rapidly through convection currents. As the air ascends, it cools, condenses, and forms cumulonimbus clouds, which then lead to heavy convectional rainfall, often observed in the afternoons. This process is a regular feature of equatorial climates.
Reason (R) accurately explains Assertion (A). The continuous cycle of high temperatures, high humidity, and the subsequent daily occurrence of convectional rainfall is the fundamental mechanism responsible for the consistent, year-round precipitation pattern observed in equatorial regions. Therefore, both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason provides a correct explanation for the assertion.
Incorrect Options
Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because Assertion (A) is factually true, Reason (R) is factually true, and Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A). Option 2 incorrectly suggests that R does not explain A. Option 3 incorrectly states that R is false. Option 4 incorrectly states that A is false.