Q71moderatePartial Truth
The vegetation of 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?
1. Burrowing animals and termites
2. Fire
3. Grazing herbivores
4. Seasonal rainfall
5. 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
Answer: (c)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 1 (burrowing animals and termites) and statement 5 (soil properties) are traps because they do affect vegetation but are NOT the primary factors keeping savannahs tree-free. Fire, grazing by large herbivores, and seasonal/limited rainfall are the three main factors. Students might include soil properties thinking laterite soil limits tree growth.
Q72easy
With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements :
1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
2. 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
Answer: (b)
Q73hardCommon Misconception
Consider the following statements :
1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree.
2. Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia.
3. In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
4. India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
5. 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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 1 is the key trap. Moringa belongs to family Moringaceae, NOT Fabaceae (leguminous family). It's also deciduous in some conditions, not strictly evergreen. Statement 2 is wrong - tamarind is native to tropical Africa, not endemic to South Asia (it was introduced to India). Students assume tamarind is Indian in origin.
Q74easy
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
Answer: (b)
Q81moderateCommon Misconception
How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?
1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
4. 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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 3 is the main trap. It claims permaculture is not possible in semi-arid regions, but permaculture actually has extensive applications in semi-arid regions through water harvesting, swales, and drought-resistant polycultures. Permaculture originated partly in Australian drylands. Students might think 'natural farming = needs lots of water.'
Q82moderateCommon Misconception
With reference to 'palm oil', consider the following statements :
1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
2. The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
3. 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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 1 is the trap. Most people associate palm oil with Indonesia and Malaysia (which produce ~85% of world's palm oil) and assume it's native to Southeast Asia. But the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is actually native to WEST AFRICA. It was introduced to Southeast Asia during colonial era.
Q83moderateCommon Misconception
With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct?
(a) Chenab
(b) Jhelum
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej
Answer: (d)
Trap: Common Misconception
Chenab (option a) is the most tempting wrong answer because it's the largest tributary and receives Jhelum and Ravi. Students might think the biggest tributary joins Indus directly. But the combined river (Jhelum+Chenab+Ravi) joins Sutlej to form Panchnad, and it's the SUTLEJ (as Panchnad) that joins the Indus directly.
Q84moderateDistractor Pairing
With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of
(a) glaciers
(b) mangrove areas
(c) Ramsar sites
(d) saline lakes
Answer: (d)
Trap: Distractor Pairing
Option (c) Ramsar sites is a tempting trap because many Indian lakes have received Ramsar designation, and students might assume these important-sounding lakes are Ramsar sites. But these are saline/salt lakes in Rajasthan's Thar Desert region, known for salt production rather than wetland conservation.
Q85hardCommon Misconception
Consider the following rivers :
1. Brahmani
2. Nagavali
3. Subarnarekha
4. 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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Common Misconception
Brahmani and Subarnarekha are traps because they flow through eastern India and might seem to originate from Eastern Ghats. But Brahmani rises from the Chota Nagpur Plateau (confluence of Sankh and South Koel), and Subarnarekha rises from Ranchi Plateau. Nagavali and Vamsadhara actually originate from the Eastern Ghats.
Q86moderateSimilar Sounding
Consider the following statements :
1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
3. 'Rare earth minerals' are present on seafloor in international waters.
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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Similar Sounding
Statement 1 is the trap. The body that grants seabed exploration licences is the International Seabed Authority (ISA), NOT the Global Ocean Commission. The 'Global Ocean Commission' sounds authoritative and ocean-related, but it was an independent advocacy body. Students confuse the two ocean-related organizations.
Q87easy
Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
(a) Sugarcane
(b) Sunflower
(c) Pearl millet
(d) Red gram
Answer: (a)
Q88moderateAbsolute Qualifier
Consider the following statements :
1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
2. 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
Answer: (c)
Trap: Absolute Qualifier
Statement 2 might confuse students. Westerlies blow from west to east, pushing warm surface water eastward in the temperate zone, making eastern sections warmer. But students might think 'western winds = western side warmer' which is the opposite. The directional logic (wind pushes water in its direction of flow) is the source of confusion.
Q90easyPartial Truth
"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 rain forest
Answer: (d)
Trap: Partial Truth
The description mentions 'bare soil surface' which might mislead students to think of dry deciduous forests where soil is visible due to leaf-fall. But the reason here is FAST decomposition (not leaf-fall), which is characteristic of tropical rainforests. Epiphytes and climbers reaching for canopy light are classic rainforest features.