Physical Geography (UPSC) (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

1. A meteor is: [1995]

(a) a rapidly moving star
(b) a piece of mater which has entered the earth's atmosphere from outer space
(c) part of a constellation
(d) a comet without a tail

Correct Answer: (b) a piece of mater which has entered the earth's atmosphere from outer space

Solution:Meteor is a small celestial body which has entered the earth’s atmosphere by the gravitational force of earth, when they pass close to it. Meteors typically occurs in the mesosphere, and most range in altitude from 75 km to 100 km.

2. Which one of the following does not belong to biosphere reserves set-up so far? [1995]

(a) Great Nicobar
(b) Sunderbans
(c) Nanda Devi
(d) Gulf of Kutch

Correct Answer: (d) Gulf of Kutch

Solution:Gulf of Kachchh has been declared a bio-sphere reserve in 2008.
There are 18 notified Bio-sphere reserves in India. Out of them, 12 Biosphere Reserves are in the UNESCO's MAB world Network.

3. The graph given below shows the mean average monthly temperatures (in °C) and mean monthly rainfall (in cms) of a place: [1995]

This graph is indicative of which one of the climatic zones of the world?

(a) Wet and dry tropical
(b) Rainy tropical
(c) Semi-arid tropical
(d) Temperate marine

Correct Answer: (a) Wet and dry tropical

Solution:In the graph the temperature ranges from 15° to 25°. So, the graph indicates wet and dry tropical region, and in this region rainfall does not exceed 25 cm.

4. Willy Willy is: [1995]

(a) a type of tree grown in temperate regions
(b) a wind that blows in a desert
(c) a tropical cyclone of the North-west Australia
(d) a kind of common fish found near Laccadives Islands

Correct Answer: (c) a tropical cyclone of the North-west Australia

Solution:It is a tropical cyclone of north-west Australia. Willy Willy originates in the Timor sea and causes rainfall in different parts of Australia.

5. Which one of the following is the continent with the highest mean elevation in the world? [1995]

(a) Antarctica
(b) North America
(c) Asia
(d) South America

Correct Answer: (a) Antarctica

Solution:Antarctica is the highest continent on the planet with an average elevation of 7,545 feet above sea level. The elevation of Antarctica at the south pole is 9,300 feet.

6. Which one of the following layers of the atmosphere is responsible for the deflection of radio waves? [1996]

(a) Troposphere
(b) Stratosphere
(c) Mesosphere
(d) Ionosphere

Correct Answer: (d) Ionosphere

Solution:Ionosphere is the top layer of the atmosphere. Radio waves are deflected in the ionosphere of the atmosphere.
Ionosphere is composed of D, E and F layers. D layer (60 km from earth) is good at absorbing AM radio waves.

7. Given below are two statements one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). [1996]

Assertion (A) : Areas near the equator receive rainfall throughout the year.

Reason (R) : High temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain in most afternoons near the equator.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

Solution:

The assertion is correct and reason correctly explains the assertion because due to high temperature the atmospheric air gets heated and rises up. The daily cycle of heating, evaporation, and convection is common in the tropics of the equator.
It cools down and precipitates while the cool air descends down to take the place of the vacuum.

8. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R) : [1996]

Assertion (A) : Mangroves are very specialised forest eco-systems of tropical and sub-tropical regions bordering certain sea coasts.

Reason (R) : They stabilise the shoreline and act as bulwark against encroachments by the sea.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

Solution:Both the statements are correct and reason is correctly explained.
Mangroves are found in the bordering region of tropical and sub-tropical sea coasts. Mangroves stabilize the shoreline and act as a bulwark against sea erosion, which makes it a specialized forest ecosystem.

9. Diamond ring is a phenomenon observed: [1996]

(a) at the start of a total solar eclipse
(b) at the end of a total solar eclipse
(c) only along the peripheral regions of the totality trail
(d) only in the central regions of the totality trail

Correct Answer: (c) only along the peripheral regions of the totality trail

Solution:Diamond ring is observed during a solar eclipse, only along the peripheral regions of the totality trail.

10. Which one of the following factors is responsible for the change in the regular direction of the ocean currents in the Indian Ocean? [1997]

(a) Indian Ocean is half an ocean
(b) Indian Ocean has monsoon drift
(c) Indian Ocean is a land-locked ocean
(d) Indian Ocean has greater variation in salinity

Correct Answer: (b) Indian Ocean has monsoon drift

Solution:Due to the monsoon drift of the Indian Ocean, its regular direction of the ocean currents changes twice a year.

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