21. Consider the following characteristics of Tropical Evergreen forests:
- Found in warm and humid areas with an annual precipitation of over 300 cm.
- In these forests, trees reach great heights up to 60 m or above.
- Trees shed leaves during winter season.
- Found in hills of the northeastern region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 4
[C] Only 1, 2, and 3
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2 and 4]
Notes:
Tropical Evergreen forests are found in the western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the north-eastern region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are found in warm and humid areas with an annual precipitation of over 200 cm. Tropical Evergreen forests are well stratified, with layers closer to the ground and are covered with shrubs and creepers, with short structured trees followed by tall variety of trees. In these forests, trees reach great heights up to 60 m or above. There is no definite time for trees to shed their leaves, flowering and fruition. As such these forests appear green all the year round. Species found in these forests include rosewood, mahogony, aini, ebony, etc.
22. Consider the following statements related to retreating monsoon:
- October and November are the rainiest months in eastern part of the Peninsula.
- A bulk of the rainfall of the Coromondal Coast is derived from cyclonic depressions originating over Andaman Sea.
- These cyclonic depressions bring destructive tropical cyclones on eastern coast.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 3
[B] Only 1 and 2
[C] Only 3
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [All of the above ]
Notes:
The weather in the retreating monsoon is dry in north India but it is associated with rain in the eastern part of the Peninsula. Here, October and November are the rainiest months of the year. The widespread rain in this season is associated with the passage of cyclonic depressions which originate over the Andaman Sea and manage to cross the eastern coast of the southern Peninsula. These tropical cyclones are very destructive. The thickly populated deltas of the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are their preferred targets. A bulk of the rainfall of the Coromondal Coast is derived from these depressions and cyclones.
23. Consider the following statements:
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are situated roughly between 6°N-14°N and 92°E – 94°E.
- The two principal groups of islets include the Ritchie’s archipelago and the Labrynth island.
- They are separated by Palk Strait.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 3
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1 and 2]
Notes:
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consist of about 572 islands/islets. These are situated roughly between 6°N-14°N and 92°E -94°E. The two principal groups of islets include the Ritchie’s archipelago and the Labrynth island. The entire group of island is divided into two broad categories – the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south. They are separated by a waterbody which is called the Ten degree channel.
24. Saddle Peak, the highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is located in:
[A] North Andaman
[B] Middle Andaman
[C] South Andaman
[D] Great Nicobar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [North Andaman]
Notes:Some important mountain peaks in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are
- Saddle peak (North Andaman – 738 m),
- Mount Diavolo (Middle Andaman – 515 m),
- Mount Koyob (South Andaman – 460 m) and
- Mount Thuiller (Great Nicobar – 642 m).
25. Consider the following statements:
- The species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category are called Vulnerable species.
- The species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers are Rare Species.
- Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig are examples of rare species
Which of the above mentioned statements is/ are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 1 and 3
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 1 and 3]
Notes:- Vulnerable Species: These are species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate.
- Rare Species: Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. The examples of such species are the Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill, etc.
- Endemic Species: These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples of such species are the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunachal Pradesh.
26. Consider the following statements:
- The Great Barrier Reef is located in Andaman Sea.
- Coral polyps live in colonies.
- Corals flourish in shallow, mud-free and warm waters.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 1 and 3
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2 and 3]
Notes:
Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms, which live in colonies. They flourish in shallow, mud-free and warm waters. They secrete calcium carbonate. The coral secretion and their skeletons from coral deposits in the form of reefs: they are mainly of three kinds: barrier reef. Fringing reef and atolls. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a good example of the first kind of coral reefs. Atolls are circular or horse shoe-shaped coral reefs.
27. The Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands got submerged after the tsunami in:
[A] 2001
[B] 2004
[C] 2009
[D] 2011
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2004]
Notes:
The tsunami of 2004 caused wide spread damage in the coastal areas of India. The Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands got submerged after the tsunami.
28. Which of the following regions fall under seismic zone III?
- Goa
- Kerala
- Andhra Pradesh
- Andaman & Nicobar
- Lakshadweep
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1, 2 & 5
[B] Only 2, 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 2, 3 & 5
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1, 2, 3 & 5]
Notes:- Zone V includes entire north-eastern India, parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, parts of North Bihar and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Zone-IV includes the remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Delhi-NCR region, Sikkim, northern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, parts of Gujarat and small portions of Maharashtra near the west coast and Rajasthan also fall in this zone.
- Regions under zone III are Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep, remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
- The remaining portion of the country falls under zone II.
29. Indian Navy conducted a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with which country in the Andaman Sea?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] USA
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Japan]
Notes:
A Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) was conducted between Japan Maritime Self-Defencee Force and the Indian Navy in the Andaman Sea.
India’s INS Sukanya, an offshore patrol vessel and Japan’s destroyer JS Samidare undertook several exercises including seamanship activities, aircraft operations and manoeuvres as part of the exercise.
30. Which of the following Union Territories of India is/are connected to National Grid?
- Ladakh
- Andaman and Nicobar
- Lakshadweep
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1 ]
Notes:- National Grid is the high-voltage electric power transmission network in mainland India, connecting power stations and major substations and ensuring that electricity generated anywhere in mainland India can be used to satisfy demand elsewhere.
- The National Grid is owned, operated, and maintained by state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India.
- The union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are not connected to the National Grid.
- Ladakh gets connected to it in 2019 through a 220 kV Srinagar- Alusteng – Drass- Kargil – Leh Transmission Line.
