Pre 2011

1. The Brahmaputra, Irrawady and Mekong rivers originate in Tibet and flow through narrow and parallel mountain ranges in their upper reaches. Of these rivers, Brahmaputra makes a “U” turn in its course to flow into India. This “U” turn is due to 

(a.) Uplift of folded Himalayan series

(b.) Syntaxial bending of geologically young Himalayas

(c.) Geo-tectonic disturbance in the tertiary folded mountain chains

(d.) Both (a) and (b) above

• NCERT
• Brahmpaputra take a famous U turn near Mount Namcha Barwa, also known as Great Bend. The U Turn is because of the 180° bend of the Himalayan structural trend

2. La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino? 

1. La Nina is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperature in equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterised by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
2. El Nino has adverse effect on south-west monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a.) 1 only

(b.) 2 only

(c.) Both 1 and 2

(d.) Neither 1 nor 2

• El Nino and la nina are opposite of each other. So warm current in El Nino, cold current in la nina but both would happen in Pacific so 1st statement is wrong
• As they are opposite if el nino affects monsoons adversely, la nina would affect monsoon positively

Learning – learn factors affecting monsoon, role of jet streams, burst of monsoon, El nino, El nono modoki,  la nina, Indian ocean dipole

3. Westerlies in southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why?

1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere.
2. Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisphere

Which of-the statements given above is/are correct?

(a.) 1 only

(b.) 2 only

(c.) Both 1 and 2

(d.) Neither 1 nor 2

• 1st statement is factually true. Very less landmass very few countries in southern hemisphere.
• Less landmass meaning vast expanse of ocean, less friction to movement of westerlies, stronger westerlies
• 2nd statement is factually incorrect. Coriols force depends on latitude not on hemisphere

4. The jet aircrafts fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate explanation?

1. There are no clouds or water vapour in the lower stratosphere.
2. There are no vertical winds in the lower stratosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

(a.) 1 only

(b.) 2 only

(c.) Both 1 and 2

(d.) Neither 1 nor 2

• No clouds or water vapour, sweeping statement, red flag, pause and think
• No vertical winds, red flag, pause and think
• Because the temperature in the tropopause and lower stratosphere is largely constant with increasing altitude, very little convection <verticall wind> and its resultant turbulence occurs there
• Clouds and water vapour occur in lower stratosphere
• Obviously you can say there is some turbulence but bhawnayen samjho

5. Among the following States, which one has the most suitable climatic conditions for the cultivation of a large variety of orchids with minimum cost of production, and can develop an export oriented industry in this field?

(a.) Andhra Pradesh

(b.) Arunachal Pradesh

(c.) Madhya Pradesh

(d.)Uttar Pradesh

Orchids – North east India

6. With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced.
2. It is the only means of irrigation in dry land farming.
3. In some areas of farming, receding of ground water table can be checked.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a.) 1 only

(b.) 2 and 3 only

(c.) 1 and 3 only

(d.) 1, 2 and 3

• 2nd statement, only means of irrigation, red flag, pause and think. Obviously even prior to the technology of micro irrigation, dry lands were irrigated by canals and Wells
• Exclude 2 and look at 3, if it’s more efficient method of irrigation, water wastage would be less and receding of water tables would be prevented

Learning – Fertigation, Micro-irrigation, Rainfed farming v/s dryland farming

7. If a tropical rain forest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest. This is because

(a.) the soil of rain forest is deficient in nutrients

(b.) propagules of the trees in a rain forest have poor viability

(c.) the rain forest species are slow-growing

(d.) exotic species invade the fertile soil of rain forest

• Covered in titbits
• Very high rainfall, leaching of minerals and nutrients, soil deficient in nutrients

8. The lower Gangetic plain is characterized by humid climate with high temperature throughout the year. Which one among the following pairs of crops is most suitable for this region?

(a.) Paddy and cotton

(b.) Wheat and Jute

(c.) Paddy and Jute

(d.) Wheat and cotton

• Paddy in Bihar, Jute in West bengal
• Wheat is rabi crop, mainly in northern India , Cotton in central India

9. A state in India has the following characteristics:

1. Its northern part is arid and semi-arid.
2. Its central part produces cotton.
3. Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops.

Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics?

(a.) Andhra Pradesh

(b.) Gujarat

(c.) Karnataka

(d.) Tamil Nadu

• Cotton – Gujarat, Mahrashtra
• Gujarat’s northern part is arid

10. Salinization occurs when the irrigation water accumulated in the soil evaporates, leaving behind salts and minerals. What are the effects of salinization on the irrigated land? 

(a.) It greatly increases the crop production

(b.) It makes some soils impermeable

(c.) It raises the water table

(d.) It fills the air spaces in the soil with water

• a is clearly wrong, if it were so, salinization would be such a great thing
• B and c are sort of contradictory, one has to be true
• Soil becomes impermeable as sodium and other ions are absorbed by clay particles

11. Two important rivers — one with its source in Jharkhand (and known by a different name in Odisha), and another, with its source in Odisha — merge at a place only a short distance from the coast of Bay of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This is an important site of wildlife and biodiversity and a protected area. Which one of the following could be this?

(a.) Bhitarkanika

(b.) Chandipur-on-sea

(c.) Gopalpur-on-sea

(d.) Simlipal

• Map based question
• Bhitarkanika has been asked so many times

12. The Himalayan Range is Very rich in species diversity. Which one among the following is the most appropriate reason for this phenomenon?

(a.) It has a high rainfall that supports luxuriant vegetative growth

(b.) It is a confluence of different bio-geographical zones

(c.) Exotic and invasive species have not been introduced in this region

(d.) It has less human interference

B seems like most correct right answer <all other options also true but they are not specific to himalayas>

13. The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge?

(a.) The mangrove swamps separate the human settlements from the sea by a wide zone in which people neither live nor venture out

(b.) The mangroves provide both food and medicines which people are in need of after any natural disaster

(c.) The mangrove trees are tall with dense canopies and serve as art excellent shelter during a cyclone or tsunami

(d.) The mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive roots

• A and c are rubbish
• B obviously illogical
• D is the only logical answer

Learning – Mangroves, Halophilic plants, Carnivorous plants