Q) The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small 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?
- Burrowing animals and termites.
- Fire
- Grazing herbivores
- Seasonal rainfall
- Soil properties
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- 1 and2
- 4 and 5
- 2, 3 and 4
- 1, 3 and 5
Answer: 3
Q) With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:
- The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
- 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?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: 2
Statement 1 is incorrect. Of the total freshwater, 69% resides in glaciers, 30% underground, and less than 1% is located in lakes, rivers, and swamps. Thus, the amount of water in rivers and lakes is less than amount of groundwater.
Q) Consider the following statements:
- Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree.
- Tamarind tree is endemic to south Asia.
- In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
- India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
- Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1, 2, 4 and 5
- 3, 4 and 5
- 1, 3 and 4
- 1,2, 3 and 5
Answer: 2
- Statement 1 is incorrect. Moringa is a green leafy fast-growing deciduous plant, native to the Indian subcontinent. It is a non-leguminous tree.
- Statement 2 is incorrect. Tamarind is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is indigenous to tropical Africa (and not endemic to South Asia).
- Statement 3 is correct. Tamarind is collected mostly as the minor forest produce in India.
- Statement 4 is correct. India exports tamarind and moringa seeds to the US, Germany, China, Canada, South Korea, and other European countries.
- Statement 5 is correct. Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used for biofuel. The oil from the Moringa tree is considered to be a more sustainable biodiesel feedstock than jatropha oil.
Q) The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of
- Brown forest soil
- Fissure volcanic rock
- Granite and schist
- Shale and limestone
Answer: 2
- Black soil in India is formed by the weathering of fissure volcanic rock.
- Climatic condition along with the parent rock material is the important factors for the formation of black soil. Black soils are spread mostly across interior Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan lava plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock.
Q) How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?
- Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
- Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
- Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in such regions.
- 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.
- 1 and 3
- 1, 2 and 4
- 4 only
- 2 and 3
Answer: 2
- Statement 1 is correct. Permaculture is a totally integrated design system that’s modelled on nature. Permaculture farming promotes multicropping and integrated farming systems. Agroforestry is its example.
- Chemical farming is more suitable for monoculture cropping due to use of crop specific inputs like irrigation, chemical fertiliser and harvesting methods.
- Statement 2 is correct. Chemical fertilizers will make the soil less fertile over time, which can lead to serious problems like soil salinisation. But such problems are not seen in permaculture farming as it relies on organic fertilizers.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. Chemical farming is based on intense use of inputs like Chemical fertilizers and irrigation that make the soil less fertile over time, thus restricting its practise in semi-arid region. Thus, conventional farming is not suitable for semi-arid regions.
Q) With reference to ‘palm oil’, consider the following statements:
- The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
- The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
- The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: 2
- Palm oil is derived from the oil palm tree which is native to West Africa (and not Southeast Asia) and grows best in tropical climates with abundant water.
Q) With reference to the Indus River system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of the which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct?
- Chenab
- Jhelum
- Ravi
- Sutlej
Answer:1
Q) With references to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and khatu are the names of
- Glaciers
- Mangrove areas
- Ramsar sites
- Saline lakes
Answer: 4
- Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatuare saline lakes of Rajasthan.
- Didwana is a town in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan. It has a famous Didwana salt-water lake of Rajasthan.
- Kuchaman lake is located in Nagaur district of Rajasthan.
Q) Consider the following Rivers:
- Brahmani
- Nagavali
- Subarnarekha
- Vamsadhara
Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 4
- 3 and 4
- 1 and 3
Answer: 2
Q) Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
- Sugarcane
- Sunflower
- Pearl millet
- Red gram
Answer: 1
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