NTA UGC NET/JRF Re-Exam, June, 2024 Geography

The correct order of forest cover types found in India in descending order of their area is: Tropical dry deciduous forest Tropical moist deciduous forest → Tropical semi-evergreen forest
Tropical moist evergreen forest.
(Forest group)                                            (Forest cover in percent)
Tropical dry deciduous forest                              40.86
Tropical moist deciduous forest                           17.65
Tropical semi-evergreen forest                             9.27
Tropical moist evergreen forest                            2.61
Hence, option (b) is correct.

In the Hartshorne-Shaffer controversy, Hartshorne held that geography was what geographers had actually created, while Shaffer attempted to define what geography should be. Shaffer published the paper "Exceptionalism in Geography," while Hartshorne promoted the study of regional differentiation. Shaffer advocated the formulation of rules in geography.
Shaffer was not against the application of positivist methods in geography, but rather supported them. Therefore, statements (A) and (C) are correct, while statements (B) and (D) are not correct. Therefore, option (b) is correct.

During the establishment phase, plants in a given habitat establish themselves in the newly created open area through seed germination and plant growth. The replacement of one plant community by another in any ecosystem or habitat is called succession, and the sequence of such changes (of plant communities) is called a sequence. Clements described five migration phases in the sequential development of vegetation, which are:
Phase I-Nudation
Phase II - Migration
Phase III - Ecesis
Phase IV - Reaction
Phase V- Stabilization
Hence, option (c) is correct.

According to von Thünen, land productivity and net profit decrease with increasing distance from the central city (market) in Zone III, resulting in changes in land use or cropping patterns. Farmers here are fully aware of market needs. In Zone V, one-third of the land is kept fallow. Von Thünen first formulated the theory of agricultural localization in 1826. According to von Thünen's model, various concentric belts of agricultural land use are found around the central city in the isolated region, the order of which from the city outward is as follows:
First Belt - This belt is adjacent to and closest to the city. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy are produced here. Second Belt - Fuelwood is produced here.
Third Belt - In this belt, food is produced through intensive agriculture, and no land is left fallow.
Fourth Belt - Food is cultivated in this belt as well, but some land is left fallow, and some land is also used for pasture.
Fifth Belt - This belt has a predominance of fallow and pasture land, and some land is also used for grain cultivation. Thus, a three-field system is found in this belt.
Sixth Belt - This is the outermost belt of agricultural production, where animal husbandry is practiced.
Hence, option (d) is correct.

The chi-square test is not a criterion test but a statistical test. The null hypothesis states that the difference between the observed and expected frequencies is not significant. Rejection of the null hypothesis indicates that the difference between the observed and expected frequencies is real.
To reject the null hypothesis, the tabulated value must be less than, not greater than, the calculated chi-square value. Therefore, statements (B) and (C) are correct, while statements (A) and (D) are incorrect. Therefore, option (a) is correct.

Growth is first visible in the periphery. This is not a characteristic of the core-periphery model, whereas the uneven distribution of resources and development, the human and material advantages of the core region, and certain regions developing faster than others are characteristic of the core-periphery model.
American planner and economist J. Friedman, using a different form of the concept of the growth pole, formulated his "center-periphery model" in 1966. He conceptualized the core as a growth hub where all important economic activities, including industry, are concentrated, while the outer region, or periphery, is dependent on the economic activities concentrated at the core. Thus, the center represents the urban center, and the periphery represents the rural areas surrounding it. Therefore, option (b) is correct.

The width of the road on the ground is 60 feet. The width in the aerial photograph is 2 inches. The aerial photograph measurement is 2 inches: 60 feet.
(Since 1 foot is 12 inches.)
Hence, 2: 60 × 12 ⇒ or 1: 360.
Therefore, option (b) is correct.

In the "Abstigeende Entwicklung" stage of Penck's landscape evolution model, absolute elevation and relative relief decrease. According to Penck, "landformation is not a function of process or state, but of the ratio between the rate of uplift and the rate of erosion and displacement of materials."
Penck used the term "Entwicklung" instead of "stage," which means "development." Thus, Penck used the term "Afstigeende Entwicklung" (increasing rate of development) instead of the young, mature, and old stages, respectively.
This is the first stage of Penck's erosion cycle. During this time, both absolute and relative relief increase rapidly because the rate of uplift exceeds the rate of erosion, and the rate of valley deepening exceeds the rate of watershed subsidence.
Gleichfarming Entwicklung (even-rate development) is the middle phase of the bank erosion cycle during which there is a relief increase or decrease in absolute and relative relief because the rates of uplift and erosion, subsidence of watersheds and depression of valleys, are equal. Obstigenden Entwicklung (decreasing development) is the final phase of bank erosion during which there is a rapid decrease in both absolute and relative relief. Therefore, option (d) is correct.

It can be defined as a small market town in which traditional values are still prevalent while modern amenities have also begun to emerge, this stage of towns is called the polis stage. Lewis Mumford (1938) describes six stages of urban development in his book "The Culture of Cities", which are as follows:

1. Eopolis (Pre-City): This represents the first stage of human civilization's development, in which primary activities such as agriculture and animal husbandry begin to develop.

2. Polis or Town: In this stage, large villages begin to transform into small towns or cities, and as a result of the development of equal division, each family becomes specialized, with urban functions becoming increasingly dominant.

3. Metropolis or Mahanagar: In this stage, some cities become large and serve neighboring towns and rural areas.

4. Megalopolis: This represents the peak stage of urban development, in which, due to increased trade and prosperity, a concentration of housing and population occurs in the city.

5. Tyrannopolis or Declining City: In the city, industries, trade and services begin to decline, a stage that indicates the city's decline.

6. Necropolis or Ruined City: This is the final stage of urban decline, in which the city is nearly destroyed and its economic and social significance is virtually lost, leaving only its name. Therefore, option (a) is correct.