Question

Assertion: Tapeworm, roundworm, and pinworm are endoparasites of the human intestine.
Reason: Improperly cooked food is the source of all intestinal infections.
(a)If both the assertion and the reason are true and the reason is a correct explanation of the assertion.
(b)If both the assertion and the reason are true but the reason is not a correct explanation of the assertion.
(c)If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
(d)If both the assertion and reason are false.

Answer 1

Hint: Intestinal infections are mainly caused by the endoparasites living inside the intestine of the human body. They are spread mainly by poor hygiene and contaminated food and water. These are contagious through contact with an infected surface.

Complete answer:
Here both the assertion and the reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion. Tapeworm, roundworm, and pinworm all are parasites and cause disease in the human body and live mainly in the human intestine. They cause infection in the intestine. Improperly cooked foods can cause infection as it may cause tapeworm infection. But roundworm and pinworm are transmitted by contaminated food and water and improper sanitary conditions. Therefore, the reason is partially correct but doesn't properly explain the assertion.

Additional Information: The tapeworm infection is caused by tapeworm eggs or larvae that may be present in the food or water. Proper cooking of food is, therefore, necessary to kill these larvae that may develop into adult tapeworm inside the intestine. The symptoms of this infection may be nausea, weakness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.
The roundworm infection is caused by poor hygiene and contaminated food or water. It is found mainly in human faces. Typical roundworm infection has no symptoms however live worm can be seen in the stool of the infected person and symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, disturbed sleep, etc can be seen.
The pinworm infection is mainly caused by the pinworm egg that transmits when the female pinworm deposits her egg around the anus of a person. These worms are found in the colon and rectum. When the person touches the eggs with fingers it enters the mouth and travels to the intestine. There are no common symptoms but mild itching around the anus or vagina can be seen.
So, the correct answer is "both the assertion and the reason are correct, but the reason is not a correct explanation of the assertion".

Note: The parasite that lives inside the body of the host and harms it from there are known as endoparasites. In the case of the human body, the worms living inside the intestine are endoparasites. They are found in soil and stool and can enter the body through the mouth or direct contact with the skin. They can be quite harmful when they infect the body of a person. Apart from roundworm, pinworm, and tapeworm, there are other parasites like hookworm, trichinosis, whipworm, etc are found in the human body and cause more or less similar symptoms.