Q1: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of time (more than thirty years). Weather, on the other hand, refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at any point in time. The elements of weather and climate are the same, i.e., temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, and precipitation. India’s climate is classified as the 'monsoon type.' It is characterized by seasonal reversal in wind direction during the year. The Indian climate experiences significant variations due to factors such as latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, and pressure systems.
i. What is the difference between weather and climate? (1 mark)
ii. Why is India’s climate classified as the ‘monsoon type’? (2 marks)
iii. How do factors like latitude and altitude affect the climate of India? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Weather refers to atmospheric conditions over a short period, whereas climate refers to the long-term average of weather patterns over a region.
ii. India’s climate is classified as the ‘monsoon type’ because of the seasonal reversal of wind direction, which brings heavy rainfall in summer and dry conditions in winter.
iii. Latitude determines the temperature as areas closer to the equator are warmer, while altitude affects temperature as higher regions experience cooler conditions.
Q2: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
The climate of a place is influenced by multiple factors, including latitude, altitude, pressure and wind systems, distance from the sea, ocean currents, and relief features. The Himalayas act as a barrier against cold winds from Central Asia, making winters in northern India milder. The coastal regions have a moderate climate due to the influence of the sea, while the interior regions experience extreme weather variations.
i. How do the Himalayas influence the climate of India? (1 mark)
ii. Explain how proximity to the sea affects the climate of a region. (2 marks)
iii. Why do the interior regions of India experience extreme temperature variations? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The Himalayas act as a barrier to cold winds from Central Asia, preventing extremely harsh winters in northern India.
ii. Proximity to the sea moderates the climate by reducing temperature extremes; coastal areas experience mild winters and cooler summers due to the influence of ocean currents and sea breezes.
iii. Interior regions experience extreme temperatures because they are far from the sea’s moderating influence, leading to very hot summers and cold winters.
Q3: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
India experiences a monsoon climate, characterized by the reversal of wind patterns. During summer, a low-pressure system develops over northern India, attracting moist winds from the Indian Ocean. These winds bring heavy rainfall across most of the country. However, the distribution of rainfall is highly uneven. Some areas, like Meghalaya, receive over 400 cm of rainfall annually, while regions like Rajasthan and Ladakh get less than 10 cm. The monsoon season is marked by variability, with dry and wet spells, leading to droughts in some areas and floods in others.
i. What causes the monsoon winds to bring heavy rainfall to India? (1 mark)
ii. Why does rainfall distribution vary across different parts of India? (2 marks)
iii. How does monsoon variability impact different regions of India? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The low-pressure system over northern India in summer attracts moist winds from the Indian Ocean, leading to heavy rainfall.
ii. Rainfall varies due to geographical features such as mountains, which cause orographic rainfall, and the location of monsoon troughs, which determine wet and dry spells.
iii. Monsoon variability can cause droughts in some areas while leading to floods in others, affecting agriculture and water availability.
Q4: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
India experiences four main seasons: the cold weather season (winter), the hot weather season (summer), the advancing monsoon (rainy season), and the retreating monsoon (transition season). During winter, temperatures drop significantly in northern India, with snowfall occurring in the Himalayan region. The summer season is marked by rising temperatures, with parts of Rajasthan experiencing temperatures as high as 50°C. The monsoon season brings heavy rainfall, especially to the coastal and northeastern regions, while the retreating monsoon is characterized by cyclonic depressions in the Bay of Bengal, causing rainfall on the Coromandel Coast.
i. Why do temperatures in northern India drop significantly during winter? (1 mark)
ii. What is the significance of the retreating monsoon season? (2 marks)
iii. Why does Tamil Nadu receive most of its rainfall during the retreating monsoon? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Northern India experiences lower temperatures in winter due to the tilt of the Earth, which reduces sunlight, and the inflow of cold winds.
ii. The retreating monsoon season is significant as it marks the transition from the rainy season to winter and brings cyclonic storms that impact the eastern coast of India.
iii. Tamil Nadu receives most of its rainfall during the retreating monsoon because the northeast monsoon winds pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal before reaching the coast.
Q5: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
The monsoon acts as a unifying force in India, influencing agriculture, water supply, and the overall economy. Despite variations in rainfall, the entire country depends on the monsoon for its agricultural activities. Festivals, cultural practices, and daily life revolve around the monsoon’s arrival and retreat. The river systems of India, which support irrigation and hydroelectric power, are also dependent on monsoonal rains.
i. Why is the monsoon considered a unifying factor for India? (1 mark)
ii. How does the monsoon impact agriculture in India? (2 marks)
iii. What are some challenges associated with the monsoon in India? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The monsoon is considered a unifying factor because it affects agriculture, water availability, and cultural practices across India.
ii. Monsoonal rainfall is crucial for irrigation and determines the success of crops such as rice and wheat, making it essential for food production and rural livelihoods.
iii. Challenges associated with the monsoon include irregular rainfall, which can lead to floods, droughts, and disruption of farming activities.
Q6: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
Relief features such as mountains and plateaus play a significant role in determining the climate of a place. The Himalayas prevent the cold winds from Central Asia from entering the Indian subcontinent, keeping winters relatively milder. High mountains also act as barriers for rain-bearing winds, leading to heavy rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions on the leeward side. The coastal plains experience moderate climatic conditions due to their proximity to the sea, while interior regions face extreme variations in temperature.
i. How do the Himalayas influence India’s climate? (1 mark)
ii. What is the difference between windward and leeward sides of a mountain in terms of rainfall? (2 marks)
iii. Why do coastal areas experience less temperature variation compared to inland areas? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. The Himalayas prevent cold winds from Central Asia from entering India, making winters milder.
ii. The windward side of a mountain receives heavy rainfall as moist air is forced to rise and cool, while the leeward side remains dry because descending air loses its moisture.
iii. Coastal areas experience moderate temperatures due to the influence of sea breezes, which reduce temperature extremes.
Q7: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
India experiences significant temperature variations due to its vast geographical extent. In summer, the temperature can reach 50°C in Rajasthan, whereas it may be as low as 20°C in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. During winter, Drass in Jammu and Kashmir records temperatures as low as -45°C, while Thiruvananthapuram remains around 22°C. The Thar Desert experiences extreme diurnal variations, with day temperatures rising to 50°C and dropping to 15°C at night.
i. Why do temperature variations occur across different regions of India? (1 mark)
ii. Why does the Thar Desert experience extreme diurnal variations in temperature? (2 marks)
iii. How do coastal cities like Thiruvananthapuram maintain relatively stable temperatures throughout the year? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Temperature variations occur due to differences in latitude, altitude, proximity to the sea, and the presence of relief features.
ii. The Thar Desert experiences extreme diurnal variations because sand heats up quickly during the day and loses heat rapidly at night, causing drastic temperature changes.
iii. Coastal cities have stable temperatures due to the moderating effect of the sea, which regulates temperature changes.
Q8: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
India receives uneven distribution of rainfall due to varying geographical features. While Meghalaya gets over 400 cm of rainfall annually, regions like Ladakh and western Rajasthan receive less than 10 cm. The Ganga plains witness a gradual decrease in rainfall from east to west. Most of the country receives rain from June to September due to the southwest monsoon, but Tamil Nadu gets its major rainfall in October and November due to the retreating monsoon.
i. Which region in India receives the highest rainfall, and which region receives the least? (1 mark)
ii. Why does the Ganga plain experience decreasing rainfall from east to west? (2 marks)
iii. Why does Tamil Nadu receive most of its rainfall in October-November? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. Meghalaya (Mawsynram) receives the highest rainfall, while Ladakh and western Rajasthan receive the least.
ii. The Ganga plain experiences decreasing rainfall from east to west because the monsoon winds lose their moisture as they travel westward.
iii. Tamil Nadu receives most of its rainfall in October-November due to the northeast monsoon winds picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal.
Q9: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
During the hot weather season (March to May), temperatures rise across India. In May, northwestern parts of India experience temperatures as high as 45°C. The season is marked by the presence of ‘loo’—hot, dry winds that blow over north and northwestern India. These winds can be dangerous if exposure is prolonged. Dust storms and local thunderstorms are also common in northern India during this period. In West Bengal, thunderstorms are known as 'Kaal Baisakhi.' Towards the end of the season, Kerala and Karnataka receive pre-monsoon showers called ‘mango showers,’ which help in the early ripening of mangoes.
i. What is ‘loo,’ and where does it occur? (1 mark)
ii. Why are pre-monsoon showers in Kerala and Karnataka called ‘mango showers’? (2 marks)
iii. What is ‘Kaal Baisakhi,’ and where is it commonly observed? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. ‘Loo’ is a hot, dry wind that blows over north and northwestern India during summer.
ii. Pre-monsoon showers in Kerala and Karnataka are called ‘mango showers’ because they help in the early ripening of mangoes.
iii. ‘Kaal Baisakhi’ refers to localized thunderstorms that occur in West Bengal during summer.
Q10: Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
The retreating monsoon season occurs from October to November, marking the transition from the rainy season to winter. During this time, the monsoon trough weakens, leading to the withdrawal of monsoon winds from the northern plains. The season is characterized by clear skies, high humidity, and an oppressive climate known as ‘October heat.’ The low-pressure system over northwestern India shifts towards the Bay of Bengal, resulting in cyclonic depressions. These cyclones often cause heavy rainfall and destruction along the eastern coast, particularly in Odisha, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
i. What is ‘October heat,’ and why does it occur? (1 mark)
ii. How do cyclonic depressions affect the eastern coast of India? (2 marks)
iii. Why does the retreating monsoon season mark the transition from the rainy season to winter? (1 mark)
Ans:
i. ‘October heat’ refers to the high humidity and warm temperatures experienced in India during the retreating monsoon season due to lingering moisture.
ii. Cyclonic depressions originating in the Bay of Bengal cause heavy rainfall, strong winds, and destruction along the eastern coast of India, affecting states like Odisha and West Bengal.
iii. The retreating monsoon season marks the transition from the rainy season to winter as the monsoon winds withdraw, leading to clear skies and decreasing temperatures.
