1) What is the main characteristic of India’s climate?
a) Desert climate
b) Equatorial climate
c) Monsoon climate
d) Mediterranean climate
Answer: c) Monsoon climate
Explanation: India’s climate is primarily described as a monsoon type, characterized by seasonal reversal in wind direction.
2) Which region in India experiences the highest diurnal range of temperature?
a) Kerala
b) Thar Desert
c) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
d) Meghalaya
Answer: b) Thar Desert
Explanation: The Thar Desert sees extreme variations in temperature between day and night, sometimes ranging from 50°C in the day to near 15°C at night.
3) What does the term ‘monsoon’ refer to?
a) A type of tropical cyclone
b) Seasonal reversal of wind direction
c) Continuous heavy rainfall year-round
d) Hot and dry winds in the northern plains
Answer: b) Seasonal reversal of wind direction
Explanation: The term ‘monsoon’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausim’, meaning season, and refers to the seasonal reversal in wind direction.
4) Which factor does NOT affect the climate of India?
a) Latitude
b) Distance from the sea
c) Ocean currents
d) Volcanic activity
Answer: d) Volcanic activity
Explanation: The main factors affecting India’s climate are latitude, altitude, pressure and wind system, distance from the sea, ocean currents, and relief features. Volcanic activity is not a significant factor for India’s climate.
5) Why does the Tamil Nadu coast receive rainfall during winter?
a) Due to western disturbances
b) Because of retreating monsoons
c) Owing to the arrival of the south-west monsoon
d) Due to the north-east trade winds
Answer: d) Due to the north-east trade winds
Explanation: Tamil Nadu coast receives rainfall in winter primarily due to the north-east trade winds.
6) Which city in India experiences the highest average rainfall in the world?
a) Cherrapunji
b) Mawsynram
c) Silchar
d) Guwahati
Answer: b) Mawsynram
Explanation: Mawsynram, located in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills, is known to receive the highest average rainfall in the world.
7) During which season does the phenomenon ‘loo’ occur in India?
a) Winter
b) Monsoon
c) Post-monsoon
d) Summer
Answer: d) Summer
Explanation: ‘Loo’ refers to strong, gusty, hot, dry winds that blow during the day over north and northwestern India, typically occurring in the summer season.
8) What causes the seasonal change in wind direction in India?
a) Ocean currents
b) Earth’s rotation
c) Differential heating and cooling of land and water
d) Volcanic eruptions
Answer: c) Differential heating and cooling of land and water
Explanation: The seasonal reversal of wind direction in the Indian subcontinent is primarily due to the differential heating and cooling of the vast landmass and the Indian Ocean.
9) What is the primary reason for the high-pressure system in northern India during winter?
a) Heavy monsoons
b) Proximity to the equator
c) Cold temperatures in the Himalayas
d) Oceanic influence
Answer: c) Cold temperatures in the Himalayas
Explanation: In winter, a high-pressure system develops in northern India due to cold temperatures in the Himalayan region.
10) Which Indian state receives rainfall from the retreating monsoons?
a) Punjab
b) Rajasthan
c) Tamil Nadu
d) West Bengal
Answer: c) Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Tamil Nadu receives significant rainfall from the retreating northeast monsoons, especially during October and November.
11) The ‘Kaal Baisakhi’ is a local name for thunderstorms in which region of India?
a) Kerala
b) West Bengal
c) Gujarat
d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: b) West Bengal
Explanation: ‘Kaal Baisakhi’ refers to the localised and often severe thunderstorms occurring in West Bengal, typically in the summer.
12) Which region in India is known for receiving the least amount of rainfall?
a) Western Ghats
b) Northeast India
c) Western Rajasthan
d) Coastal Orissa
Answer: c) Western Rajasthan
Explanation: Western Rajasthan, particularly parts of the Thar Desert, receives the least amount of rainfall in India, often less than 10 cm annually.
13) What type of houses are commonly found in the Tarai region and Goa due to climatic conditions?
a) Houses with sloping roofs
b) Flat-roofed houses
c) Houses on stilts
d) Mud houses
Answer: a) Houses with sloping roofs
Explanation: In the Tarai region and Goa, houses with sloping roofs are common, designed to handle heavy rainfall efficiently.
14) Why does the Himalayan region experience snowfall while the rest of the country receives rain?
a) Altitude
b) Proximity to the sea
c) Latitude
d) Ocean currents
Answer: a) Altitude
Explanation: The higher altitude of the Himalayan region leads to lower temperatures, causing precipitation to fall as snow rather than rain.
15) What is the major factor causing the ‘continentality’ effect in India?
a) Distance from the sea
b) Altitude
c) Latitude
d) Monsoon winds
Answer: a) Distance from the sea
Explanation: The ‘continentality’ effect, characterized by extreme temperature differences between summer and winter, is primarily due to the increasing distance from the sea.
16) Which phenomenon results in the coastal areas experiencing less temperature contrast?
a) Relief features
b) Latitude
c) Moderating influence of the sea
d) Altitude
Answer: c) Moderating influence of the sea
Explanation: The moderating influence of the sea results in coastal areas experiencing less contrast in temperature conditions.
17) Which Indian city experiences a significant drop in temperature at night due to its geographic location?
a) Thiruvananthapuram
b) Mumbai
c) Bengaluru
d) Jodhpur
Answer: d) Jodhpur
Explanation: Jodhpur, located in the Thar Desert, experiences a significant drop in temperature at night due to its desert geography, which leads to high diurnal temperature variation.
18) What causes the high annual rainfall in Meghalaya?
a) Proximity to equatorial regions
b) Western disturbances
c) Presence of mountains in the path of moisture-laden winds
d) Influence of the Thar Desert
Answer: c) Presence of mountains in the path of moisture-laden winds
Explanation: Meghalaya receives high annual rainfall, particularly in Mawsynram, due to the presence of mountains that trap the moisture-laden winds coming from the Bay of Bengal.
19) Which of the following factors contributes to milder winters in the Indian subcontinent?
a) The Himalayas blocking cold winds from Central Asia
b) Proximity to the Indian Ocean
c) Low altitude of the region
d) Tropical cyclones
Answer: a) The Himalayas blocking cold winds from Central Asia
Explanation: The Himalayas act as a barrier, blocking cold winds from Central Asia, which contributes to milder winters in the Indian subcontinent compared to regions on similar latitudes.
20) What is the primary reason for the occurrence of cyclonic depressions in the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season?
a) Low pressure over the Indian landmass
b) High sea surface temperatures
c) North-east trade winds
d) Western disturbances
Answer: a) Low pressure over the Indian landmass
Explanation: The low-pressure conditions over the Indian landmass during the monsoon season lead to the formation of cyclonic depressions in the Bay of Bengal.
21) Why does the Coriolis force affect wind direction in India?
a) It is due to India’s proximity to the equator
b) It results from the rotation of the Earth
c) It is caused by the Himalayas
d) It is due to the varying sea surface temperatures
Answer: b) It results from the rotation of the Earth
Explanation: The Coriolis force, caused by the Earth’s rotation, affects wind direction in India, deflecting winds to the right in the northern hemisphere.
22) Which Indian region is known for having houses built on stilts?
a) Rajasthan
b) Kerala
c) Assam
d) Gujarat
Answer: c) Assam
Explanation: In Assam, especially in flood-prone areas, houses are often built on stilts to protect against flooding during heavy rains.
23) Which season in India is characterized by ‘loo’, the hot, dry winds?
a) Monsoon season
b) Winter season
c) Pre-monsoon season
d) Post-monsoon season
Answer: c) Pre-monsoon season
Explanation: ‘Loo’ are hot, dry winds that typically occur in the pre-monsoon season, especially in the northern parts of India.
24) Why does the coastal area of Tamil Nadu receive most of its rainfall during the winter season?
a) Due to the southwest monsoon
b) Because of the retreating monsoon
c) Influence of western disturbances
d) Due to the northeast monsoon
Answer: d) Due to the northeast monsoon
Explanation: The coastal area of Tamil Nadu receives most of its rainfall during the winter season due to the northeast monsoon.
25) Which Indian city typically experiences heavy rainfall during the advancing monsoon season?
a) Jaisalmer
b) Chennai
c) Mumbai
d) Kolkata
Answer: c) Mumbai
Explanation: Mumbai, located on the western coast, typically experiences heavy rainfall during the advancing monsoon season due to the moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea.
26) What is the main cause of the ‘break’ in the Indian monsoon?
a) Western disturbances
b) Movement of the monsoon trough
c) Cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal
d) El Niño phenomenon
Answer: b) Movement of the monsoon trough
Explanation: The ‘break’ in the Indian monsoon, characterized by wet and dry spells, is mainly caused by the movement of the monsoon trough.
27) Why is Leh in Jammu and Kashmir one of the driest regions in India?
a) High altitude
b) Distance from the sea
c) Rain-shadow effect
d) Cold desert climate
Answer: c) Rain-shadow effect
Explanation: Leh is one of the driest regions in India due to the rain-shadow effect, as it is located on the leeward side of the Himalayas.
28) Which factor primarily influences the climate of the coastal regions in India?
a) Land relief
b) Latitude
c) Proximity to the sea
d) Altitude
Answer: c) Proximity to the sea
Explanation: The climate of the coastal regions in India is primarily influenced by their proximity to the sea, which provides a moderating influence on temperature and enhances humidity.
29) During which season do the Western Ghats receive the most rainfall?
a) Winter
b) Summer
c) Advancing monsoon
d) Retreating monsoon
Answer: c) Advancing monsoon
Explanation: The Western Ghats receive the most rainfall during the advancing monsoon season due to the orographic lifting of the moisture-laden winds.
30) What causes the occurrence of frost in northern India during winter?
a) Northeast trade winds
b) Low night temperatures
c) Western disturbances
d) High altitude
Answer: b) Low night temperatures
Explanation: Frost occurs in northern India during winter primarily due to low night temperatures.
31) Which region in India is most affected by tropical cyclones?
a) The Western Ghats
b) The Thar Desert
c) The Eastern Coastal Plains
d) The Indo-Gangetic Plain
Answer: c) The Eastern Coastal Plains
Explanation: The Eastern Coastal Plains, especially the deltas of the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri rivers, are most affected by tropical cyclones.
32) What is the characteristic feature of the weather in the Indian subcontinent during the retreating monsoon season?
a) High humidity and heavy rainfall
b) Clear skies and rising temperature
c) Cold winds and snowfall in the Himalayas
d) Cyclonic depressions and heavy rainfall in the east
Answer: b) Clear skies and rising temperature
Explanation: The retreating monsoon season in the Indian subcontinent is characterized by clear skies and a gradual rise in temperature.
33) What is a unique climatic feature of the Indian subcontinent during the hot weather season?
a) Snowfall in the Himalayas
b) Heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats
c) The occurrence of ‘loo’ in northern India
d) Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal
Answer: c) The occurrence of ‘loo’ in northern India
Explanation: During the hot weather season, a unique feature in northern India is the occurrence of ‘loo’, which are strong, gusty, hot, dry winds.
34) Which factor plays a major role in creating the desert conditions in western Rajasthan?
a) Proximity to the Himalayas
b) Distance from the sea
c) Presence of the Aravalli range
d) High temperatures and low rainfall
Answer: d) High temperatures and low rainfall
Explanation: The desert conditions in western Rajasthan are mainly due to high temperatures and extremely low rainfall.
35) Which Indian state predominantly has houses with thick walls and flat roofs?
a) Assam
b) Kerala
c) Rajasthan
d) West Bengal
Answer: c) Rajasthan
Explanation: In Rajasthan, especially in desert areas, houses commonly have thick walls and flat roofs to keep the interiors cool and to adapt to the low rainfall conditions.
36) Why does the peninsular region of India not have a well-defined cold season?
a) Because of its high altitude
b) Due to its proximity to the equator
c) Owing to the moderating influence of the sea
d) Due to the absence of the Himalayas
Answer: c) Owing to the moderating influence of the sea
Explanation: The peninsular region of India does not have a well-defined cold season due to the moderating influence of the surrounding sea, which keeps temperature relatively constant throughout the year.
37) Which phenomenon causes heavy rainfall on the windward side of the Western Ghats during the monsoon?
a) Cyclonic activity
b) Western disturbances
c) Orographic lifting
d) Thermal convection
Answer: c) Orographic lifting
Explanation: Orographic lifting, where winds carrying moisture ascend the Western Ghats, causes heavy rainfall on their windward side during the monsoon.
38) What is the primary reason for the seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent?
a) Differential heating of land and sea
b) Geographical position of India
c) The Himalayan mountains
d) Ocean currents
Answer: a) Differential heating of land and sea
Explanation: The primary reason for the seasonal reversal of wind direction over the Indian subcontinent is the differential heating and cooling of the land and the sea.
39) Why is the annual rainfall in India highly variable?
a) Varied topography of the country
b) Differences in ocean currents
c) Fluctuations in global weather patterns
d) The unpredictable nature of monsoons
Answer: d) The unpredictable nature of monsoons
Explanation: The annual rainfall in India is highly variable primarily due to the unpredictable nature of the monsoons.
40) Which region in India is prone to frequent floods during the monsoon season?
a) The Thar Desert
b) The Western Ghats
c) The Indo-Gangetic Plains
d) The Deccan Plateau
Answer: c) The Indo-Gangetic Plains
Explanation: The Indo-Gangetic Plains are prone to frequent floods during the monsoon season due to the overflowing of rivers, compounded by the heavy monsoonal rain.