World and Physical Geography

131. Consider the following statements about rock structure : 1. Conglome

Consider the following statements about rock structure :

  • 1. Conglomerates are clastic sedimentary rocks.
  • 2. Slate is a non-clastic sedimentary rock.
  • 3. Granite is a plutonic igneous rock.
  • 4. Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3 only” option2=”3 and 4 only” option3=”1 and 2 only” option4=”1, 3 and 4 only” correct=”option4″]

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Statement 1 is correct: Conglomerates are clastic sedimentary rocks formed by the cementation of rounded gravel, pebbles, and boulders. Clastic rocks are composed of fragments of pre-existing rocks or minerals. Statement 3 is correct: Granite is a common type of felsic intrusive igneous rock. Intrusive igneous rocks are also known as plutonic rocks, forming from magma that cools and solidifies slowly beneath the Earth’s surface. Statement 4 is correct: Basalt is a common type of mafic extrusive igneous rock. Extrusive igneous rocks, also known as volcanic rocks, form from lava that erupts onto the surface and cools rapidly. Statement 2 is incorrect: Slate is a fine-grained, foliated metamorphic rock, formed by the metamorphism of shale or mudstone. It is not a sedimentary rock, and clastic/non-clastic classification applies to sedimentary rocks, not metamorphic rocks.
Rocks are classified into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic based on their formation process. Sedimentary rocks can be clastic or non-clastic. Igneous rocks can be intrusive (plutonic) or extrusive (volcanic). Metamorphic rocks are formed by transformation of existing rocks.
Clastic sedimentary rocks are formed from weathered and eroded fragments (clasts) of other rocks. Non-clastic sedimentary rocks are formed by chemical precipitation or accumulation of organic matter (e.g., limestone, coal). Metamorphic rocks like slate form under heat and pressure.

132. Consider the following statements about Barchans: 1. These landforms

Consider the following statements about Barchans:

  • 1. These landforms are found in Thar desert in India.
  • 2. The windward side has concave slope with maximum height at the centre.
  • 3. Two ends of the barchan are called horns.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”3 only” correct=”option3″]

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Statement 1 is correct; Barchan dunes are common landforms found in various deserts, including the Thar Desert in India. Statement 3 is correct; the two tapering ends of a crescent-shaped barchan dune, which point downwind, are called horns. Statement 2 is incorrect; the windward side of a barchan dune has a gentle, *convex* slope where sand is pushed up by the wind. The leeward side is the steep *concave* slip face.
Barchans are characteristic crescent-shaped dunes formed by unidirectional wind, commonly found in sand deserts. Their structure includes a gentle, convex windward slope, a steep, concave leeward slip face, and horns pointing in the direction of the wind.
Barchans typically form where there is a limited supply of sand and a relatively constant wind direction. Their movement is primarily determined by wind speed and direction. Statement 2 incorrectly describes the windward slope as concave; it is the leeward slip face that is concave and steep.

133. Trans-Siberian Railway from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok does *not* r

Trans-Siberian Railway from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok does *not* run across:

[amp_mcq option1=”Altai range” option2=”Caucasus mountains” option3=”Ural mountains” option4=”Ob and Yenisei rivers” correct=”option2″]

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The Trans-Siberian Railway runs from St. Petersburg in European Russia, across the Ural Mountains into Siberia, and through to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. Its route traverses the Ural Mountains and crosses major Siberian rivers like the Ob and Yenisei (or passes near them). The Altai range is located in Southern Siberia, south of the main Trans-Siberian route. The Caucasus Mountains are located far to the southwest of Russia, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, completely separate from the Trans-Siberian path.
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a major east-west artery across Russia. While it passes through or near various geographical features in Siberia (like crossing rivers and passing north of certain mountain ranges), it is geographically distant from the Caucasus Mountains.
The route crosses the Urals near Yekaterinburg, spans the vast Siberian plains, and traverses several major river systems before reaching the Far East. The Caucasus region is a separate mountainous area in South Russia/Eurasia, unconnected to the course of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

134. 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″]

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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.

135. Consider the following statements: 1. Many of the world’s largest mo

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. Many of the world’s largest mountain chains exist beneath the sea.
  • 2. Some mountain chains are revealed as island arcs.
  • 3. The mid-oceanic ridges form the longest mountain chains.
  • 4. The mid-Atlantic ridge rises thirty-three metres above the floor of the Atlantic.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”3 and 4 only” option3=”1, 2 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3 only” correct=”option4″]

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Statements 1, 2 and 3 are all correct.
Statement 1: Many of the world’s largest mountain chains are indeed located beneath the sea. The most prominent example is the mid-oceanic ridge system. This statement is correct.
Statement 2: Island arcs are curved chains of volcanic islands that are often formed along convergent plate boundaries where one oceanic plate subducts beneath another. These volcanic islands represent the peaks of underwater mountain ranges that have risen above the sea surface. Thus, some mountain chains are revealed as island arcs. This statement is correct.
Statement 3: The mid-oceanic ridge system is a vast underwater mountain range that stretches for over 65,000 kilometers across the globe’s oceans. It is considered the longest mountain chain on Earth. This statement is correct.
Statement 4: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a major part of the mid-oceanic ridge system. While it rises significantly above the surrounding abyssal plains, its rise is typically hundreds or thousands of metres, not just thirty-three metres. Most of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge remains submerged, although it surfaces in Iceland. This statement is incorrect.
Mid-oceanic ridges are formed by tectonic plate divergence and volcanic activity. Island arcs are typically associated with deep oceanic trenches and high seismic activity. Submarine mountain chains are significant features of the Earth’s topography and play a crucial role in oceanographic processes.

136. Which one of the following correctly explains the change in seasons on

Which one of the following correctly explains the change in seasons on Earth ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Tilt of the Earth’s axis” option2=”Rotation of the Earth on its own axis” option3=”Revolution of the Moon around the Sun” option4=”Interaction of the Earth with other planets” correct=”option1″]

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The tilt of the Earth’s axis correctly explains the change in seasons on Earth.
The primary cause of the change in seasons on Earth is the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis relative to its orbital plane (the plane of Earth’s path around the Sun), which is approximately 23.5 degrees. As the Earth revolves around the Sun over the course of a year, the tilted axis means that different parts of the Earth receive more direct sunlight at different times. When a hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it receives more direct sunlight and experiences summer, with longer days. When it is tilted away from the Sun, it receives less direct sunlight and experiences winter, with shorter days. The Earth’s revolution around the Sun is necessary for the tilt to cause different hemispheres to be oriented towards or away from the Sun over time.
The Earth’s rotation on its own axis causes the cycle of day and night. The revolution of the Moon around the Earth causes phases of the Moon and tides. The interaction of the Earth with other planets has minor gravitational effects but does not cause the regular seasonal changes. The slight eccentricity of Earth’s orbit means the Earth is closer to the Sun in January (perihelion) and farther in July (aphelion), which has a small influence on temperature but is secondary to the effect of the axial tilt in causing the seasons.

137. Which one of the following is the busiest sea route and links two indu

Which one of the following is the busiest sea route and links two industrially developed regions of the world ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Mediterranean – Indian Ocean sea route” option2=”The Northern Atlantic sea route” option3=”Cape of Good Hope sea route” option4=”The North Pacific sea route” correct=”option2″]

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The correct option is B) The Northern Atlantic sea route.
The Northern Atlantic sea route is the busiest sea route in the world. It connects two major industrially developed regions: Western Europe and Eastern North America. The high volume of trade between these highly industrialized areas contributes to its status as the busiest route.
Other important sea routes:
– Mediterranean – Indian Ocean sea route connects Europe/North Africa/Middle East to Asia/Australia via the Suez Canal. It is extremely important and busy, but generally considered less busy than the North Atlantic in terms of total freight volume.
– Cape of Good Hope sea route goes around the southern tip of Africa. Historically vital before the Suez Canal, it is still used, particularly by very large vessels or when the Suez Canal is closed or congested, but it is not the busiest.
– The North Pacific sea route connects East Asia and North America. It is a major route for trade between these significant economies but carries less volume than the North Atlantic route.

138. Which one among the following statements about ‘Drumlin’ is correct ?

Which one among the following statements about ‘Drumlin’ is correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It is a streamlined hill moulded in glacial drift on the till plains.” option2=”It is a city located in central Europe.” option3=”It is a river.” option4=”It is a narrow road in Tibet.” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A. A drumlin is a glacial landform, specifically a streamlined hill composed of glacial till, molded by ice flow.
– Drumlins are typically elongated features, with their long axis oriented parallel to the direction of glacial movement.
– They are formed beneath glacial ice sheets or glaciers.
– They are composed of unconsolidated glacial drift or till (sediment deposited directly by the glacier).
– Drumlins often occur in fields or swarms, giving a characteristic landscape appearance.
The shape of a drumlin is thought to be a result of the ice molding the underlying sediment as it flows over it. They typically have a blunt, steeper “stoss” end facing up-ice and a tapering, gentler “lee” end pointing down-ice. The term “drumlin” comes from the Irish word “droimnín”, meaning “little ridge”.

139. Which one of the following is a permeable rock that allows water to pa

Which one of the following is a permeable rock that allows water to pass through it ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Granite” option2=”Limestone” option3=”Quartzite” option4=”Sill” correct=”option2″]

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The correct answer is B. Permeability is the measure of the ability of a material to transmit fluids. Among the given options, limestone is generally considered permeable, especially when fractured or dissolved to form karst features.
– Permeable rocks contain interconnected pores or fractures that allow water (or other fluids) to flow through them.
– Limestone is a sedimentary rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate. While the rock matrix itself can have some porosity, its permeability is often significantly enhanced by dissolution of the carbonate material by acidic groundwater, creating channels, caves, and fractures. This forms karst topography and makes limestone important aquifers.
– Granite, Quartzite, and Sill (intrusive igneous) are typically dense, crystalline rocks with low primary porosity and permeability unless they are significantly fractured.
Permeability is distinct from porosity, which is the percentage of void space in a material. A material can be porous but not permeable if the pores are not connected. For example, clay can be highly porous but has very low permeability. Limestone can exhibit both porosity and, importantly, high permeability, particularly secondary permeability developed through dissolution and fracturing.

140. Which among the following countries is not a member of the North Atlan

Which among the following countries is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

[amp_mcq option1=”Hungary” option2=”Poland” option3=”Belarus” option4=”Turkey” correct=”option3″]

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Belarus is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
– NATO is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949.
– Hungary, Poland, and Turkey are all member states of NATO. Hungary and Poland joined in 1999, and Turkey joined in 1952.
– Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, allied with Russia, and is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), not NATO.
As of 2024, NATO has 32 member states. Membership is open to any other European state in a position to further the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. Belarus has no intention of joining NATO and has historically viewed the alliance with suspicion due to its close ties with Russia.
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