Judge the following sentence according to the criteria given below: Land conversion from forests to cropland results in an increase in biological carbon storage capacity BECAUSE the annual planting and harvesting of crops involves far more biomass than mature forests.
A) The assertion and reason are both correct, and the reason is valid.
B) The assertion and reason are both correct, and the reason is invalid.
C) The assertion is correct and the reason is incorrect.
D) The assertion is incorrect and the reason is correct.
E) Both the assertion and the reason are incorrect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Land conversion from forests to cropland typically results in a decrease, not an increase, in biological carbon storage capacity because mature forests generally store more carbon both in biomass and in the soil than agricultural lands. The annual planting and harvesting of crops does not involve more biomass than mature forests in a way that would increase carbon storage capacity. Mature forests have a complex structure with multiple layers of vegetation and a significant amount of biomass in both living and dead material (e.g., trees, underbrush, fallen logs) that can store carbon over long periods, whereas agricultural lands often have simpler structures and store less carbon, especially since they are frequently disturbed for planting and harvesting.

Judge the Following Sentence According to the Criteria Given Below