Given below are two statements:

Statement I: A Spurious relationship can be there when a relationship appears to exist between two variables.

Statement II: The relationship between two variables is always direct, without any scope for an intervening variable.

In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.

Key Points 

Statement I: A Spurious relationship can be there when a relationship appears to exist between two variables.

• A spurious relationship occurs when two variables appear to have a causal relationship but in reality, there is no direct relationship between them.
• This can happen when there is an intervening variable that affects both variables, creating the appearance of a relationship.
• For example, a study may find a positive correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates, but this relationship is spurious because both variables are affected by a third variable, such as temperature. 

Statement I is correct.

Statement II: The relationship between two variables is always direct, without any scope for an intervening variable.

• The relationship between two variables can be direct or indirect, depending on whether there is an intervening variable.
• An indirect relationship occurs when the two variables are related through a third variable.
• For example, a study may find a negative correlation between income and smoking, but this relationship is indirect because income affects smoking through factors such as education, stress, and social norms.

Statement II is incorrect. 
The first statement is true and the second statement is false.