Correct Answer: Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Solution : The correct answer is (a) Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

The assertion states that renewable energy sources are considered sustainable because they can be naturally replenished, which is correct. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, are derived from natural processes that can be naturally replenished or renewed over time. For example, sunlight is an abundant and continuously available resource, wind is generated by natural atmospheric patterns, and water in rivers and oceans is continually replenished through the water cycle. This means that renewable energy sources can be harnessed without depleting their availability for future generations.

The reason provided states that renewable energy sources harness natural processes such as sunlight, wind, and water, and this is the correct explanation of the assertion. Renewable energy technologies capture and convert these natural processes into usable forms of energy. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, wind turbines harness the kinetic energy of wind, hydroelectric power plants use the energy of flowing or falling water, and biomass systems utilize organic matter derived from plants and animals. By harnessing these natural processes, renewable energy sources offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to non-renewable sources of energy.

Therefore, both the assertion and reason are correct, and the reason serves as the correct explanation for why renewable energy sources are considered sustainable because they can be naturally replenished.