Consider the following statements: If there were no phenomenon of capillarity<br/>1. It would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp.<br/>2. One would not be able to use a straw to consume a soft drink.<br/>3. The blotting paper would fail to function.<br/>4. The big trees that we see around would not have grown on the Earth.<br/><br/>Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. Kerosene lamp — Correct. The wick draws kerosene upward by capillary action; without capillarity, fuel would not reach the flame properly.

2. Drinking with a straw — Incorrect. A straw works mainly due to pressure difference created by sucking, not capillarity.

3. Blotting paper — Correct. Blotting paper absorbs ink/liquid through its fine pores by capillary action; without it, it would not work.

4. Growth of big trees — Correct. Upward movement of water in narrow xylem vessels is aided by capillarity (along with cohesion-transpiration mechanisms); without this effect, tall trees could not grow as they do.

Hence, statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct.