Q 1 . Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A) : Unlike temperate forests, the tropical rain forests, if cleared, can yield productive farmland that can support intensive agriculture for several years even without chemical fertilizers.
Reason (R) : The primary productivity of the tropical rain forest is very high when compared to that of temperate forests.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(d) EXPLANATION : Due to Constant rain in tropical rain forests the nutrients in the soil continuously leaches out. To compensate for the loss , additional minerals and essential elements are required through chemical fertilizers.
Q 2 . Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A) : Areas lying within five to eight degrees latitude on either side of the equator receive rainfall throughout the year.
Reason (R) : High temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain to fall mostly in the afternoons near the equator.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(a) EXPLANATION : The highest rainfall occur near the equator in the tropics, where the strong heating by the sun creates significant vertical uplifts of air and the formation of clouds resulting in prolonged heavy showers and frequent thunderstorms.
Q 3 . Which one among the following covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world?
(a) Temperate coniferous forests
(b) Temperate deciduous forests
(c) Tropical monsoon forests
(d) Tropical rain forests
(a) EXPLANATION : Temperate coniferous forests covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world.
Q 4 . Among the following which planet takes maximum time for one revolution around the Sun?
(a) Earth
(b) Jupiter
(c) Mars
(d) Venus
(b) EXPLANATION : Jupiter takes maximum time for one revolution i.e., 11 year 86 days. Mars take 687 days, Venus takes 267 days.
Q 5 . Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A) : Thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator.
Reason (R) : High insolation and strong convection currents occur over the Equator.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
(d) EXPLANATION : The circulation of atmosphere and oceans is fundamentally caused by the fact that the amount of incoming solar radiation varies from a maximum at the equator to a minimum at the poles. More reflection and absorption of incoming radiation takes place in high latitude because of the greater thickness of atmosphere (due to inclined rays) that must be penetrated . Thickness of the earth is maximum over the pole.
Q 6 . Where is the volcanic mountain, Mount St. Helens located?
(a) Chile
(b) Japan
(c) Philippines
(d) United States of America
(d) EXPLANATION : Volcanic mountain St. Helen is located in United States of America.
Q 7 . Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A) : The same face of the moon is always presented to the earth.
Reason (R) : The moon rotates about its own axis in 23 and half days which is about the same time that it takes to orbit the earth.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(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
(c ) EXPLANATION : The moon rotates about its own axis in 27.322 days.The rotation period and revolution period of moon are same that is why the same face of the moon is always presented to the earth . When the Moon first formed, its rotational speed and orbit were very different than they are now. Over time, the Earth’s gravitational field gradually slowed the Moon’s rotation until the orbital period and the rotational speed stabilized, making one side of the moon always face the Earth.
Q 8 . Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A) : Existence of human life on Venus is highly improbable.
Reason (R): Venus has extremely high level of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(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
(a) EXPLANATION : The atmosphere of Venus is composed primarily of carbon dioxide and is much denser and hotter than that of Earth. The atmosphere of Venus supports opaque clouds made of sulfuric acid, making optical Earth-based and orbital observation of the surface impossible.
Q 9 . Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A) : Wind patterns are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Reason (R) : The directions of wind patterns in the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis effect.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(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
(a) A is true as the direction of wind in the northern hemisphere is clock wise and in southern hemisphere it is anti clock wise. The explanation is correct as this is mainly due to coriolis effect.
Q 10 . Where are the Balearic Islands located?
(a) Mediterranean Sea
(b) Black Sea
(c) Baltic Sea
(d) North Sea
(a) EXPLANATION : The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the Western Mediterranean sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula.
