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UPPSC 2013 — Geography Questions with Answers
All 16 Geography previous-year questions from UPPSC 2013, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Geography as a timed test →- Q1.World Geography — Landforms
With reference to geographical features and the regions where they are located, which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
- a)Abyssinian Plateau : Arabia
- b)Atlas Mountains : North-Western Africa
- c)Guyana Highlands : South-Western Africa
- d)Okavango Basin : Patagonia
Explanation: The Atlas Mountains are correctly located in north-western Africa; the other geographical features are paired with the wrong regions.
- Q2.Earth Movements
Variations in the length of daytime and night-time from season to season are due to
- a)Earth's rotation on its axis
- b)Earth's revolution around the Sun in an elliptical orbit
- c)Latitudinal position of the place
- d)Earth's revolution on a tilted axis
Explanation: The varying length of day and night through the seasons results from the Earth revolving around the Sun on a tilted axis.
- Q3.Indian Rivers
The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why? Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- a)1 only
- b)2 and 3
- c)1 and 3
- d)None
Explanation: The Narmada flows west because it occupies a linear rift (fault) valley, which controls its course.
- Q4.Hydrology
On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion
- a)In the atmosphere as humidity and clouds
- b)In freshwater lakes and rivers
- c)In the form of groundwater
- d)In the form of soil moisture
Explanation: After ice caps and glaciers, the largest share of the remaining freshwater is stored underground as groundwater.
- Q5.Earth Processes
Consider the following factors. Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?
- a)1, 2, 3 and 4 only
- b)1, 3, 5 and 6 only
- c)2, 4, 5 and 6 only
- d)1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Explanation: All the listed factors—internal energy sources, external solar/gravitational forces and the Earth's motions—contribute to dynamic changes on the Earth's surface.
- Q6.Soil Conservation
Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in
- a)Desert margins under strong wind action
- b)Low flat plains adjacent to river flows, prone to flooding
- c)Gully land with a high probability of increasing erosion
- d)None of the above
Explanation: Contour bunding, building earthen bunds along contour lines, is suited to dry desert-margin lands exposed to strong wind action.
- Q7.Oceanography
The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where
- a)Warm and cold atmospheric currents meet.
- b)Rivers discharge abundant fresh water into the seas.
- c)Warm and cold oceanic currents meet.
- d)The continental shelf is undulating.
Explanation: The richest fishing grounds form where warm and cold ocean currents meet, mixing nutrients and supporting plankton.
- Q8.Natural Vegetation
Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/characteristics of equatorial forests? Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- a)1 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Equatorial rainforests are marked by a continuous tall canopy, very high species diversity and abundant epiphytes—all three traits.
- Q9.Climatology
The annual range of temperature in the interior of continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason/reasons? Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- a)1 only
- b)1 and 2 only
- c)2 and 3 only
- d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: The wider annual temperature range inland arises mainly from the differing thermal properties of land and water (continentality).
- Q10.Mineral Resources
Which of the following are the characteristics of Indian coal? Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Indian coal is characterized by high ash content but has low sulphur; its ash fusion temperature is generally high, so only 1 and 2 are correct.
- Q11.Indian Soils
Which of the following statements regarding Laterite soils of India are correct? Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- a)1, 2 and 3
- b)2, 3 and 4
- c)1 and 4
- d)2 and 3 only
Explanation: Laterite soils are typically red and support tapioca and cashew, but they are poor in nitrogen/potash and are not well developed in Rajasthan or UP.
- Q12.Mineral Resources
Consider the following statements about Indian mineral resources. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 and 2
- b)2 only
- c)2 and 3
- d)None
Explanation: Only the statement that mica occurs abundantly in Kodarma is correct; the natural gas and petroleum claims are wrong.
- Q13.Agriculture — Cropping Seasons
Consider the following crops. Which of these are Kharif crops?
- a)1 and 4
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1, 2 and 3
- d)2, 3 and 4
Explanation: Cotton, groundnut and rice are sown in the Kharif (monsoon) season, whereas wheat is a Rabi crop.
- Q14.World Climatic Regions
Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders. The above statement best describes which of the following regions?
- a)African Savanna
- b)Central Asian Steppe
- c)North American Prairies
- d)Siberian Tundra
Explanation: Extreme climate with scanty rainfall and nomadic herding best fits the Central Asian Steppe.
- Q15.Atmospheric Processes
During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by — Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- a)1 only
- b)2 and 3
- c)1 and 3
- d)None of the above produces the thunder
Explanation: None of the listed processes alone produces thunder; thunder results from the rapid expansion of air heated by a lightning discharge.
- Q16.Industries — Resource Use
Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?
- a)Engineering
- b)Paper and pulp
- c)Textile
- d)Thermal power
Explanation: Thermal power generation is the single largest industrial consumer of water in India.
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