SOLVED PAPER 2024 (CDS) (II) (General Knowledge)

Total Questions: 120

81. How is strong pressure gradient represented on a weather map?

Correct Answer: (a) Closely spaced isobars
Solution:On a weather map, a strong pressure gradient is represented by closely spaced isobars. Isobars are lines that connect points of equal atmospheric pressure. The spacing of these lines indicates the pressure gradient.

When isobars are close together, it indicates a steep or strong pressure gradient. This usually corresponds to high wind speeds because the air is moving more rapidly from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas.

When isobars are spaced farther apart, the pressure gradient is gentle or weak, indicating lighter winds.

82. Which one of the following is not an example of chemical weathering?

Correct Answer: (c) Salt Crystal Growth
Solution:Salt Crystal Growth is a physical weathering process, not a chemical one. It involves the growth of salt crystals within rock pores or fractures due to the evaporation of saline water, which can physically break apart the rock.

Hydrolysis is a chemical weathering process where minerals react with water, leading to the breakdown of the mineral structure. For instance, feldspar in granite can be altered to clay minerals through hydrolysis.

83. Which of the following statements regarding Arc volcanoes is/are correct?

1. Arc volcanoes are found near divergent plate boundaries.
2. Some of the world's classical examples of cone-shaped stratovolcanoes, such as Mount Fuji in Japan, Mayon in the Philippines are Arc volcanoes.
3. Some of the highest volcanoes on Earth are of the Arc type, notably Nevado Ojos del Salado in the Chilean Andes.
Select the answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3
Solution:Statements (2) and (3) are correct regarding Arc volcanoes. Arc volcanoes are typically found near convergent plate boundaries, where an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate or another oceanic plate. Divergent plate boundaries are associated with mid-ocean ridges and basaltic eruptions, not arc volcanoes.

Both Mount Fuji and Mayon Volcano are stratovolcanoes located along volcanic arcs. Mount Fuji is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and Mayon is part of the volcanic arc in the Philippines, formed by the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Philippine Mobile Belt.

Nevado Ojos del Salado is indeed one of the highest volcanoes on Earth and is part of the Andean Volcanic Belt, which is a volcanic arc formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate.

84. Which one of the following statements regarding S-waves is not correct?

Correct Answer: (b) During an earthquake S-waves are less destructive to structures like buildings and highway overpasses.
Solution:S-waves (shear waves) travel slower than P-waves (primary or compressional waves).

S-waves are generally more destructive to structures compared to P-waves because they have a shearing motion that can cause more significant shaking and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

S-waves cannot travel through liquids, which is why they do not pass through the Earth's outer core. The fact that S-waves do not travel through the outer core provides evidence that it is liquid.

85. Which of the following states is/are part of the Ganga Basin?

1. Chhattisgarh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Rajasthan
Select the answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:The Ganga Basin is the largest river basin in India by catchment area, covering 26% of the nation's land area (861,404 square kilometres) and supporting approximately 43% of its population.

It stretches between longitudes 73°02′ and 89°05' East and latitudes 21°06′ and 31°21′ North, spanning a total area of 1,086,000 square kilometres across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Of this, around 79% is located within India. The basin encompasses 11 Indian states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Delhi.

86. Which peninsular river has a tributary named 'Kabini'?

Correct Answer: (d) Kaveri
Solution:Kabini river is a tributary of the Kaveri river in Southern India. The Kabini River originates in the Wayanad district of Kerala and flows Eastward through the Mysore district of Karnataka, where it joins the Kaveri river.

The Kaveri river has many other tributaries, including the Harangi, Hemavati, Lakshmana Tirtha, Suvarnavathi, Shimsha, Arkavati, Sarabanga, Bhavani, Noyyal, Thirumanimutharu and the Amaravati.

87. Consider the following statements.

1. Bajra is predominantly grown in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, while Ragi is mainly cultivated in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
2. Bajra grows well in sandy and shallow black soils, whereas red and shallow black soil is suited for Ragi.
With regard to the statements given above, which of the following is correct?

Correct Answer: (a) Both the Statements are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1.
Solution:Both the Statements are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1. Bajra is predominantly grown in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Haryana.

Rajasthan is the largest producer of Bajra in India. Bajra grows well in sandy and shallow black soils. It is a drought-resistant crop and thrives in low-fertility, well-drained soils, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

Ragi is primarily cultivated in the Southern states of India, notably Karnataka, which is the largest producer, followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh. Ragi grows well in red and shallow black soils. It is adapted to grow in poor and marginal soils and can tolerate various soil types.

88. Which of the following peaks are situated in India?

1. Dhaulagiri
2. Namcha Barwa
3. Kamet
4. Makalu
Select the answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:Kamet is the second-highest peak in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. It is located in the Chamoli district and is part of the Zanskar range. Kamet is the third highest peak in India and the second-highest peak in the Himalayas lying entirely within India.

The other peaks listed are not situated in India

Dhaulagiri is located in Nepal

Namcha Barwa is located in Tibet (China)

Makalu is located on the border between Nepal and Tibet (China)

89. Which of the following statements regarding River Rhine is/are correct?

1. Rhine river is an important pathway for industrial activity in Northern Germany.
2. Port of Rotterdam is located at the mouth of the Rhine river.
Select the answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct regarding the Rhine river. It is an important pathway for industrial activity in Germany. It is the 12th longest river in Europe and the longest in Western and Central Europe.

It channels the flow of trade among Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The Port of Rotterdam is located at the mouth of the Rhine river.

The Port of Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe, and the world's largest seaport outside of Asia, located in and near the city of Rotterdam, in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands.

90. With reference to the continent of 'Antarctica' which of the following statements are correct?

1. It is larger than Europe in terms of area.
2. It has the highest average elevation as compared to all other continents.
3. Mt. Ross is the highest peak of this continent.
4. Waters of the Southern Ocean (West Wind Drift) move in an anticlockwise direction around it.
Select the answer using the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2
Solution:Statements (1) and (2) are correct. Antarctica is larger than Europe. Antarctica covers an area of about 14 million square kilometers whereas Europe is approximately 10 million square kilometers.

Antarctica has the highest average elevation of all the continents, primarily due to its thick ice sheet. The continent's average elevation is about 2,500 metres above sea level.

The highest peak in Antarctica is Mount Vinson, which is part of the Vinson Massif and has an elevation of 4,892 metres (16,050 feet).

The Southern Ocean currents actually move in a clockwise direction around Antarctica.