Under theme: Geography
86 PYQs. Learn elimination tricks first, then attempt the questions below.
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Common distractors and how to eliminate wrong options in this subtopic.
Always scrutinize absolute terms like 'endemic to' or 'only found in'; UPSC frequently uses them to create in…
Associate 'Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests' with regions of consistently high temperature and rainfall.
Associate specific National Parks with their unique ecological features, like Valley of Flowers with alpine m…
Associate the unique ecosystem with its geographical location, such as Loktak Lake in Manipur.
Associate unique natural-cultural features like Living Root Bridges with specific regions, particularly North…
Avoid assuming a plant's presence based solely on its general popularity; verify its specific ecological nich…
Avoid assuming a statement is false without specific counter-knowledge; basic biological facts are often test…
Avoid assuming all animals within a broad group (e.g., all bears) hibernate identically.
Avoid assuming only one type of modification is correct; plants often employ multiple strategies.
Avoid assuming that only recent or rapid changes influence evolution; long-term processes are equally signifi…
Avoid confusing lichens with other pioneer species or simple plants like mosses.
Avoid confusing the Great Indian Hornbill's habitat with other bird species or less biodiverse regions of Ind…
Avoid distractors related to other marine activities: Do not confuse its purpose with deep-sea mining, aquacu…
Avoid extreme qualifiers: Statements using words like 'all,' 'every,' 'never,' or 'anywhere' are often incorr…
Avoid options suggesting deep-sea trenches or areas with minimal current activity, as these are typically les…
In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of
The precipitation is so erratic that drought and fire prevent large forests from growing. - Grasses can survive fires because they grow from the bottom instead of the top. - Their stems can grow again after being burned off. - The soil of most grasslands is also too thin and dry for trees to survive.
Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism but also its functional role in the community of organisms?
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in an ecosystem. More formally, the niche includes how a population responds to the abundance of its resources and enemies (e.g., by growing when resources are abundant, and predators, parasites, and pathogens are scarce) and how it affects those same factors (e.g., by reducing the abundance of resources through consumption and contributing to the population growth of enemies by falling prey to them). Gause's competitive exclusion principle says that those species having identical requirements cannot occupy the same niche indefinitely.
172 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit
With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements :
1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feeds upon each other.
2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species.
3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: A food chain shows the linear sequence of organisms through which energy and nutrients pass, from producer → herbivore → carnivore → decomposer. Statement 2 is incorrect: Food chains are not found within the populations of a species, because technically, the food chain is the sequence of organisms through which the energy flows. Statement 3 is incorrect: A food chain does not show the number of organisms, it only shows the feeding relationship and energy flow.
Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/characteristics of equatorial forests?
1. Presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy
2. Coexistence of a large number of species
3. Presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is correct: The trees are very tall (up to 50 m or more) and grow close together, competing for sunlight. Their crowns form a dense, multilayered canopy that blocks most sunlight from reaching the ground. Statement 2 is correct: Equatorial forests are the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. A single hectare can host hundreds of tree species, along with diverse fauna and microorganisms. This is due to stable climate and continuous growing season. Statement 3 is correct: Epiphytes (plants growing on other plants) such as orchids, mosses, and ferns thrive here. The humid atmosphere and dense canopy support their growth on trunks and branches.
172 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit
“Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders.” The above statement best describes which of the following regions?
Steppes: Steppes are usually characterized by a semi-arid or continental climate. Extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to 45 °C (113 °F) and in winter, 55 °C (67°F). Besides this huge difference between summer and winter, the differences between day and night are also very great. African Savannah & North American Prairie: These regions have more rainfall and varied landscapes compared to the Steppe. Nomadic herding existed, but wasn't the sole way of life. Siberian Tundra: Colder, less rain, permafrost. Not ideal for grazing animals. Nomadic herding is less prevalent. Therefore, the Central Asian Steppe, with its extreme climate, limited rainfall, and historical dependence on nomadic herding, best fits the description in the statement.
The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where:
The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where warm and cold oceanic currents meet. Here's why: Nutrient-rich waters: When warm and cold currents converge, a process known as upwelling occurs. This upwelling brings nutrient-rich deep ocean water to the surface. These nutrients act like fertilizer for plankton, which forms the base of the marine food chain. Abundant Marine Life: The abundance of plankton attracts a vast array of fish species, making these areas highly productive fishing grounds. Examples include:
1. The Grand Banks (Newfoundland) - Labrador Current (cold) meets the Gulf Stream (warm)
2. The Humboldt Current (South America) - Cold, nutrient-rich current flowing up the western coast
3. The Canary Current (West Africa) - Cold, nutrient-rich current flowing up the western coast