Consider the following statements :Statement-I :Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.Statement-II :Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

1. A

   Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II explains Statement-I

   Both correct and II explains I. SUMED links Red Sea to Mediterranean, so Gulf oil can skip the Cape for Europe.

2. B

   Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

   Both correct but II does not explain I. The geography is the reason the route is strategic.

3. C

   Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

   I correct, II incorrect. SUMED does connect Red Sea and Mediterranean.

4. D

   Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

   I incorrect, II correct. Statement-I is also right.

Summary. Official key is (a). The SUMED (Suez–Mediterranean) pipeline runs from Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean. That bypass lets Persian Gulf crude reach Europe without rounding Africa when Suez draft or traffic is a constraint. So II explains why I is a strategic route.