Q.Assertion: Genetic variation provides the raw material for selection. Reason: Genetic variations are differences in genotypes of the individuals.

Step 1. The assertion states that genetic variation provides the raw material for selection. This matches the chapter's account of plant breeding: selection can only act on traits that differ between individuals, so variation is what makes selection possible at all.

Step 2. The reason states that genetic variations are differences in genotype among individuals. This is the standard definition of genetic variation and is factually correct.

Step 3. Since the reason is a true statement and it correctly explains why the assertion holds (differences in genotype are exactly what selection needs to work with), both are right.

Evaluate the assertion and reason independently against the chapter's account of genetic variation and selection, then check whether the reason logically explains the assertion.

• Treating 'both correct' statements as automatically unrelated, missing that here the reason does explain the assertion.
• Confusing genetic variation (a difference in genotype) with purely environmental/phenotypic variation.