Given below are two statements : 
Statement I : Although the aerobic respiration process takes place only in the presence of oxygen, the role of oxygen is limited to the terminal stage.
Statement II :In aerobic respiration, oxygen acts as the final hydrogen acceptor. 

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

Statement I is true. In aerobic respiration, oxygen is indeed required for the final stage of the process, which is the electron transport chain (ETC) or oxidative phosphorylation. However, the role of oxygen is limited to the terminal stage. 

Statement II is true. In aerobic respiration, oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain. During ETC, electrons are passed through a series of protein complexes, ultimately reaching oxygen, which combines with hydrogen ions (H⁺) to form water (H₂O). This process of oxygen acting as the final hydrogen acceptor is crucial for the generation of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation, as the flow of electrons through the ETC drives the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP.