Assertion–Reason (Film awards skew to Bengali cinema)\nAssertion (A): At a regional-language film awards ceremony, most prizes were won by Bengali films.\nReason (R1): Bengal has a long and distinguished tradition of art and culture.\nReason (R2): Bengali is spoken by a sizable population in the world.\nChoose which reason(s) truly explain A.

Introduction / Context:
This Assertion–Reason item contrasts a qualitative explanation (historic art/culture tradition) with a quantitative demographic claim (numbers of speakers) to account for awards outcomes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• A: Bengali films garnered most prizes at a regional awards event.
• R1: Bengal’s artistic tradition is old and rich, plausibly supporting strong film-making.
• R2: Bengali is widely spoken globally (a population claim).

Concept / Approach:
Awards are based on quality criteria (direction, screenplay, acting, etc.), not the global count of language speakers. A deep artistic tradition (R1) can plausibly correlate with stronger output/quality in cinema, aligning with A. R2 is largely irrelevant to juried awards quality decisions.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Past recognition of Bengali cinema’s auteurs and schools supports the plausibility of R1 as an explanatory factor.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B misattributes causation; C claims both are reasons; D ignores R1’s relevance.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing market size with award merit.

Final Answer:
If only reason 1 (R1) and not reason 2 (R2) is the reason for the assertion (A).