Q1: The vegetation of the savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no trees. The forest development in such areas is generally kept in check by one or more or a combination of some conditions. Which of the following are such conditions?
Burrowing animals and termites
Fire
Grazing herbivores
Seasonal rainfall
Soil properties
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 2 (b) 4 and 5 (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 3 and 5
Solution:
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
The forest development in such areas is kept in check due to certain conditions including:
Fire: Periodic fires are common in savannahs and kill young tree seedlings while grasses recover quickly, so fire prevents establishment of closed forest. Hence statement 2 is correct.
Grazing herbivores: Large herds of grazers eat young shoots and saplings, limiting tree recruitment and favouring grasses. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Seasonal rainfall: Savannas have a marked wet and dry season; the long dry season restricts continuous tree growth and favours grasses adapted to seasonal moisture. Hence statement 4 is correct.
Although burrowing animals, termites and soil properties can influence vegetation locally, the key widespread controls are fire, grazing and seasonal rainfall in savannah regions; these three together keep forest development in check.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Q2: With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:
The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.
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
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect. The volume of groundwater worldwide is much greater than the combined volume of water in rivers and lakes; rivers and lakes hold only a very small fraction of Earth's freshwater at any time.
Statement 2 is correct. A large proportion of Earth's freshwater is stored as ice in polar ice caps and glaciers; roughly two-thirds or more of freshwater is locked in ice, while a substantial but smaller share is groundwater.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Q3: Consider the following statements:
Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree.
Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia.
In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 (b) 3, 4, and 5 (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 5
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect. Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is not a legume; it belongs to the family Moringaceae and is a fast-growing softwood tree native to parts of India.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is native to tropical Africa and was introduced long ago into South Asia; it is therefore not endemic to South Asia.
Statement 3 is correct. In India, much tamarind is collected as minor forest produce from wild and semi-wild trees in forested areas and sold in markets.
Statement 4 is correct. India exports processed tamarind; moringa products, including seeds, are also traded internationally.
Statement 5 is correct. Seeds of tamarind and moringa have oils or compounds that can be processed into biodiesel or biofuel feedstocks, so they are explored as potential biofuel sources.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Q4: The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of (a) brown forest soil (b) fissure volcanic rock (c) granite and schist (d) shale and limestone
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
Black (regur) soil is characteristic of the Deccan Plateau and has formed from the weathering of Deccan Traps (basalt), which are fissure volcanic rocks produced by successive lava flows.
These soils retain moisture and are well suited for cotton cultivation, hence the name 'black cotton soil'.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Q5: How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?
Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 3 (b) 1, 2 and 4 (c) 4 only (d) 2 and 3
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct. Permaculture emphasises diversity, mixed cropping and integrating trees, animals and crops; it discourages large-scale monoculture. Conventional chemical farming often uses monocultures because inputs and practices are crop-specific.
Statement 2 is correct. Intensive use of chemical fertilisers and improper irrigation in conventional systems can lead to soil degradation and salinisation; permaculture relies on organic matter, mulches and soil-building techniques that reduce such risks.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Permaculture is a design approach that can be adapted to local conditions, including semi-arid regions, by using water-harvesting, drought-tolerant species and soil cover; it is not inherently impossible in semi-arid areas.
Statement 4 is correct. Mulching is a fundamental practice in permaculture to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and build soil; it is not an essential feature of conventional chemical farming.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Q6: With reference to 'palm oil', consider the following statements:
The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect. The oil palm (Elaeis) is native to tropical Africa; it was later introduced and widely cultivated in Southeast Asia.
Statement 2 is correct. Palm oil and its derivatives are used in many cosmetics and personal-care products, including lipstick and fragrances, because of their fatty properties.
Statement 3 is correct. Palm oil can be processed into biodiesel and is used as a feedstock for biofuel production in several countries.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Q7: With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus directly. Among the following, which one is such a river that joins the Indus direct? (a) Chenab (b) Jhelum (c) Ravi (d) Sutlej
Solution:
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
The Jhelum joins the Chenab; the Ravi also contributes its flow into the combined system of these rivers.
The Sutlej is the river that receives the combined drainage of several of the Punjab rivers and then joins the Indus directly a short distance downstream. Thus, among the options, Sutlej is the river that joins the Indus directly.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Q8: With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of (a) glaciers (b) mangrove areas (c) Ramsar sites (d) saline lakes
Solution:
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
A saline lake is a landlocked water body with high concentrations of salts. Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are saline lakes located in Rajasthan, India, and are known for their high salinity and associated ecosystems.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Q9: Consider the following rivers:
Brahmani
Nagavali
Subarnarekha
Vamsadhara
Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 4 (c) 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 3
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
Nagavali originates in the Eastern Ghats and flows eastwards to the Bay of Bengal; hence item 2 is correct.
Vamsadhara also rises in the Eastern Ghats and drains eastwards into the Bay of Bengal; hence item 4 is correct.
The Brahmani and Subarnarekha originate in upland regions of the Chota Nagpur Plateau / adjoining areas rather than the main Eastern Ghats, so items 1 and 3 are not correct for this question.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Q10: Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop? (a) Sugarcane (b) Sunflower (b) Pearl millet (d) Red gram
Solution:
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
Sugarcane is a very water-intensive crop; its seasonal water requirement is typically very high (commonly around 1,800-2,200 mm per season), making it the least water-efficient among the listed crops.
Crops such as sunflower, pearl millet and red gram are considerably more drought-tolerant and require much less water than sugarcane.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q11: Consider the following statements:
In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.
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
Solution:
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct. In tropical regions, the trade winds drive surface waters westward, piling up warmer water on the western side of ocean basins; this leads to warmer western ocean margins (for example, the western Pacific is warmer than the eastern Pacific in the tropics).
Statement 2 is correct. In the temperate latitudes, prevailing westerly winds transport warmer water and air from lower latitudes towards the eastern sides of ocean basins, making those eastern sections relatively warmer than their western counterparts.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Q12: "Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, the vegetation is largely composed of plant forms that reach up into the canopy vicariously, by climbing the trees or growing as epiphytes, rooted on the upper branches of trees." This is the most likely description of (a) coniferous forest (b) dry deciduous forest (c) mangrove forest (d) tropical rainforest
Solution:
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
This description matches the tropical rainforest biome. Warm, wet conditions and abundant decomposers cause very rapid breakdown of leaf litter, so nutrients are quickly recycled and the forest floor often appears relatively bare.
Tropical rainforests also have dense canopies; many plants survive by climbing into the canopy (lianas) or by growing as epiphytes on branches, which fits the passage description.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
The document UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2021: Geography is a part of the UPSC Course Geography for UPSC CSE.
FAQs on UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2021: Geography
1. What are the major geomorphological features of the Indian subcontinent?
Ans. The Indian subcontinent is characterised by diverse geomorphological features, including the Himalayas, which are the highest mountain range and formed due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Other significant features include the Indo-Gangetic Plain, a fertile alluvial region formed by the sedimentation of rivers, and the Deccan Plateau, a large elevated region consisting of volcanic rock. Additionally, the coastal regions include the Western and Eastern Ghats, which are important for biodiversity and climate regulation.
2. How do monsoon winds affect the climate of India?
Ans. Monsoon winds are a crucial aspect of India's climate, bringing seasonal rainfall that supports agriculture and replenishes water resources. The southwest monsoon, which occurs from June to September, is characterised by moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean, leading to heavy rainfall in the western and northern regions. Conversely, the retreating northeast monsoon from October to December influences the southeastern coast. The variability in monsoon patterns can significantly affect crop yields and water supply.
3. What role do the Western Ghats play in the ecology of India?
Ans. The Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage site and play a vital role in India's ecology. They act as a barrier to the southwest monsoon winds, leading to significant rainfall on the western side and creating a unique climate for diverse flora and fauna. This mountain range is home to many endemic species, including numerous plants, animals, and birds. Additionally, the Western Ghats are important for maintaining hydrological cycles and supporting agriculture, making them essential for the ecological balance of the region.
4. What is the significance of the Indo-Gangetic Plain in Indian agriculture?
Ans. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is one of the most fertile regions in India, playing a crucial role in the country's agriculture. The alluvial soil, enriched by the silt from the Himalayan rivers, supports the cultivation of a variety of crops, including rice, wheat, and sugarcane. The extensive network of rivers provides irrigation, while the flat terrain facilitates mechanised farming. This region supports a large population and is often referred to as the 'breadbasket' of India due to its high agricultural productivity.
5. How does urbanisation impact the geographical landscape of India?
Ans. Urbanisation in India significantly impacts the geographical landscape by altering land use patterns, increasing infrastructure development, and contributing to environmental changes. Rapid urban growth leads to the expansion of cities, resulting in the conversion of agricultural land and natural habitats into urban areas. This transformation can cause issues such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and increased pollution. Furthermore, urbanisation can exacerbate challenges related to water management and waste disposal, necessitating sustainable urban planning to mitigate negative effects.
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