To answer this question, we need to analyze both the assertion (A) and the reason (R) separately, and then determine their relationship. Let’s break it down:
Assertion (A): They run almost parallel to the eastern and South-eastern coasts.
This statement is likely referring to the Eastern Ghats of India, which indeed run roughly parallel to the eastern and southeastern coasts of the Indian peninsula.
Reason (R): The eastern highlands have steep slopes on the eastern side and gentle slopes on the western side.
This statement is generally true for the Eastern Ghats. They have steeper slopes facing the coast (eastern side) and gentler slopes towards the inland (western side).
Now, let’s consider the relationship between A and R:
1. A is true: The Eastern Ghats do run parallel to the eastern and southeastern coasts.
2. R is true: The description of the slopes is accurate for the Eastern Ghats.
3. However, R is not explaining A. The reason given (slope characteristics) doesn’t explain why the highlands run parallel to the coast. These are two separate facts about the Eastern Ghats.
Given this analysis, the correct answer is:
b) A is true but R is false.
While both statements are factually correct, R is not the explanation for A. The parallelism of the Eastern Ghats to the coast is due to geological factors related to plate tectonics and the formation of the Indian subcontinent, not because of the slope characteristics.