The Grasslands

1. Darling Downs is a

Darling Downs is a

[amp_mcq option1=”grassland in Australia” option2=”barren land in South America” option3=”tropical rainforest in South America” option4=”temperate forest in Canada” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019
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Darling Downs is a renowned agricultural region located in southeastern Queensland, Australia. It is characterized by fertile soils and extensive grasslands, making it a significant area for crop farming and livestock grazing.
– Darling Downs is situated in Queensland, Australia.
– It is known for its productive agricultural land and pastoral areas.
– The landscape consists primarily of grasslands and cultivated fields.
The Darling Downs is part of the Great Dividing Range and lies west of the McPherson Range. It is drained by the Condamine River and its tributaries. Major towns in the region include Toowoomba, Warwick, and Dalby. Its economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly grain crops, cotton, and livestock.

2. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I
(Temperate Grassland)		List-II
(Region)
A. Prairies1. Eurasia
B. Steppes2. South Africa
C. Pampas3. North America
D. Veldt4. South America

Code :

ABCD
(a)2143
(b)2413
(c)3142
(d)3412

[amp_mcq option1=”A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3″ option2=”A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3″ option3=”A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2″ option4=”A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2″ correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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The correct match is A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2.
This question asks to match temperate grasslands with their corresponding regions.
A. Prairies are temperate grasslands found in North America, primarily in the central United States and Canada. So, A matches with 3.
B. Steppes are extensive grasslands found in Eurasia, extending from Hungary across Ukraine, southern Russia, and Kazakhstan to Mongolia. So, B matches with 1.
C. Pampas are fertile South American grasslands, covering large areas in Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. So, C matches with 4.
D. Veldt refers to the open country, mainly grassland, in South Africa. So, D matches with 2.
Matching list I with list II: A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2. This matches option (c).
Temperate grasslands are found in mid-latitude regions and are characterized by grasses as the dominant vegetation, moderate rainfall, hot summers, and cold winters. Other examples of temperate grasslands around the world include the Downs in Australia and the Canterbury Grasslands in New Zealand.

3. Consider the following characteristics of a grassland: 1. An extensi

Consider the following characteristics of a grassland:

  • 1. An extensive area of mid latitude grasslands are devoid of trees and shrubs.
  • 2. The climate is characterised by hot summers, cold winters and relatively low rainfall occurring mainly in spring and summer.
  • 3. In humid parts, grasses grow to a meter or more in height.

On the basis of the above characteristics, select the correct grassland from the options given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”Steppes” option2=”Prairies” option3=”Savanna” option4=”Pampas” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
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The characteristics described – extensive mid-latitude grassland devoid of trees/shrubs, a climate with hot summers, cold winters, relatively low rainfall mainly in spring/summer, and tall grasses in humid areas – are most typical of the Steppes grassland biome. This description aligns well with the continental climate (Dfa/Dfb or BSk in Köppen classification) found across the Eurasian Steppe, which experiences significant seasonal temperature variations and distinct dry periods. While Prairies share some characteristics, the climate description, particularly “relatively low rainfall mainly in spring and summer” and pronounced hot/cold extremes, is highly representative of the Steppe climate.
Mid-latitude grasslands exist on multiple continents but have regional names (Steppes in Eurasia, Prairies in North America, Pampas in South America, Veld in Africa). Their existence is primarily determined by a climate that is too dry for forests but wet enough for grasses to thrive.
Savanna is a tropical grassland with scattered trees, not a mid-latitude grassland, and its climate is characterized by a hot wet season and a hot dry season. Pampas has a more temperate climate than the extreme continental conditions described. While Prairies fit many of the criteria, the description strongly leans towards the classic Steppe climate profile.

4. ‘Campos’ and ‘Llanos’, Tropical Savanna grasslands are generally found

‘Campos’ and ‘Llanos’, Tropical Savanna grasslands are generally found in

[amp_mcq option1=”Australia” option2=”Central Africa” option3=”South America” option4=”East Asia” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2019
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‘Campos’ and ‘Llanos’, Tropical Savanna grasslands are generally found in South America.
‘Campos’ refers to the tropical savanna grasslands primarily found in Brazil, particularly the Cerrado region. ‘Llanos’ refers to the vast tropical grassland plain stretching across parts of Venezuela and Colombia. Both are prominent savanna ecosystems located in South America. While tropical savannas exist in other continents like Africa and Australia, the terms ‘Campos’ and ‘Llanos’ are specific to South America.
Tropical savannas are grasslands with scattered trees, found in regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. Other famous tropical savanna regions include the Serengeti in East Africa and the Australian savanna. Different regions use different local names for these ecosystems. For example, in Africa, they are often just called ‘savanna’ or specific regional names, and in Australia, they are also referred to as ‘savanna’ or ‘tropical grasslands’.
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