A: Archaeopteryx had free caudal vartebrae and toothed beak with teeth like reptiles.
R: It is missing link between heptiles and bird.

Options

A. If both Assertion `&` Reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion. Then mark (1)
B. If both Assertion `&` Reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (2)
C. If Assertion is true statement but Reason is false, then mark (3)
D. If both Assertion and Reason are falses statements, then mark (4)

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Assertion (A)**: The assertion states that Archaeopteryx had free caudal vertebrae and a toothed beak with teeth similar to reptiles. This indicates that Archaeopteryx possessed physical traits that are characteristic of both reptiles and birds.

2. **Identifying the Characteristics of Archaeopteryx**: Archaeopteryx is known for its unique combination of features. It had:
- Free caudal vertebrae (tail bones) which are typical in reptiles.
- A toothed beak, which is also a trait found in reptiles, as modern birds typically do not have teeth.
- Wings and feathers, which are characteristic of birds.

3. **Understanding the Reasoning (R)**: The reasoning states that Archaeopteryx is a missing link between reptiles and birds. This means that Archaeopteryx is considered a transitional fossil that exhibits traits of both groups, helping to illustrate the evolutionary connection between them.

4. **Connecting Assertion and Reasoning**: Since the assertion describes the physical characteristics of Archaeopteryx that align with both reptiles and birds, and the reasoning explains that Archaeopteryx serves as a missing link due to these characteristics, we can conclude that both statements are true.

5. **Conclusion**: Both the assertion and reasoning are true, and the reasoning correctly explains the assertion. Therefore, Archaeopteryx is indeed a significant fossil in understanding the evolution from reptiles to birds.

**Final Answer**: Both assertion (A) and reasoning (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

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