Tuberculosis and infection risk: consider the following two statements about how the disease spreads and where it is commonly contracted. Which option correctly evaluates them?

Introduction / Context:
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Understanding how TB spreads is important for public health and personal prevention. This assertion–reason type question presents two statements: one about risk in crowded places and another about droplet transmission. You must decide if each statement is true and whether the second explains the first.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Statement I: A person may suffer from tuberculosis if she or he frequently visits crowded places.
• Statement II: Bacteria of tuberculosis spread through droplets released when an infected person sneezes or coughs.
• We assume typical environmental conditions where people are close together in enclosed or crowded spaces.

Concept / Approach:
TB is primarily a respiratory infection transmitted through airborne droplets or droplet nuclei containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even speaks loudly, tiny droplets containing bacteria can remain suspended in the air, especially in poorly ventilated, crowded environments. People who frequently visit such crowded or enclosed places have higher chances of inhaling these droplets, thereby increasing their risk of infection. Thus, both statements can be true, and the mode of spread in Statement II provides the reason for the increased risk mentioned in Statement I.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate Statement I. Crowded places such as buses, markets, or closed rooms with many people make it easier for airborne infections to spread, including TB. So Statement I is true as a general risk factor.Step 2: Evaluate Statement II. It correctly states that TB bacteria spread through droplets expelled when infected individuals cough or sneeze. This is the accepted mechanism of transmission, so Statement II is also true.Step 3: Check if Statement II explains Statement I. Crowded places typically involve many people in close proximity, so droplets from an infected person are more likely to be inhaled by others. This direct relationship shows that the droplet spread mechanism explains why frequenting crowded places increases TB risk.Step 4: Since both statements are true and Statement II provides the correct reason for Statement I, the correct option is the one that reflects this relationship.

Verification / Alternative check:
Public health guidelines for TB control emphasize improving ventilation, reducing overcrowding, and encouraging infected individuals to cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. These guidelines are based on the knowledge that TB spreads via respiratory droplets in shared air spaces. Such measures target exactly the risk described in crowded environments, confirming that Statement II explains Statement I.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because it denies the explanatory link even though Statement II clearly explains Statement I. Option C is wrong because it claims Statement II is false, which contradicts well established knowledge about droplet transmission. Option D is wrong because it claims crowded places do not increase TB risk, which goes against epidemiological evidence showing higher TB transmission in overcrowded, poorly ventilated settings.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to treat all assertion–reason questions as tricky and overthink the connection. Another pitfall is to assume that crowded places alone cause TB, forgetting that an infected source and droplet spread are necessary components. Always separate the factual correctness of each statement from the logical relationship between them. In this case, remembering that TB is an airborne disease makes it easier to see why crowded places are risky.

Final Answer:
Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.