Climate, Soils and Natural Vegetation of India MCQs

Solved MCQs on India's monsoon and local winds, seasons, soil types, soil conservation and forest types, as asked in SSC, railway and state exams.

1. 1

   Which type of forest covers the largest area in India?

   AMangrove forestsBTropical deciduous (monsoon) forestsCAlpine forestsDTropical evergreen forests

   Correct answer: B. Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forests

   Tropical deciduous forests, which shed their leaves in the dry season, are the most widespread forests in India.

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2. 2

   Mangrove forests are also known as:

   AMonsoon forestsBTidal forestsCMontane forestsDThorn forests

   Correct answer: B. Tidal forests

   Mangroves grow in coastal areas flooded by tides, such as river deltas, so they are called tidal forests.

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3. 3

   The Sundari tree, which gives the Sundarbans their name, grows in:

   ADesert forestsBMangrove forestsCTropical evergreen forestsDAlpine forests

   Correct answer: B. Mangrove forests

   The Sundari is a mangrove tree of the Ganga–Brahmaputra delta.

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4. 4

   Alluvial soil is most widespread in:

   Athe Deccan PlateauBthe Western GhatsCthe Thar DesertDthe Northern Plains

   Correct answer: D. the Northern Plains

   Rivers such as the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra deposited alluvium across the Northern Plains, India's most fertile region.

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5. 5

   Red soil gets its colour from:

   ACalciumBHumusCSaltDIron oxide

   Correct answer: D. Iron oxide

   Iron oxides in the crystalline rocks colour the soil red; it looks yellow when hydrated.

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6. 6

   Arid (desert) soil is found mainly in:

   AWest BengalBKeralaCAssamDRajasthan

   Correct answer: D. Rajasthan

   Arid soil, sandy and low in humus, covers much of western Rajasthan.

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7. 7

   Which winds bring most of India's rainfall?

   ALooBNorth-east trade windsCSouth-west monsoon windsDWesterlies

   Correct answer: C. South-west monsoon winds

   The south-west monsoon (June–September) brings most of India's annual rainfall.

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8. 8

   Tamil Nadu receives a large part of its rainfall from the:

   AWestern disturbances in JanuaryBNorth-east (retreating) monsoon in October–DecemberCLoo in MayDSouth-west monsoon in July

   Correct answer: B. North-east (retreating) monsoon in October–December

   The Coromandel coast lies in the rain shadow of the south-west monsoon and gets much of its rain from the north-east monsoon.

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9. 9

   "Mango showers" are pre-monsoon rains that help ripen mangoes in:

   APunjab and HaryanaBBihar and JharkhandCKerala and KarnatakaDRajasthan and Gujarat

   Correct answer: C. Kerala and Karnataka

   These April–May showers along the south-west coast help mangoes ripen early.

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10. 10

    The "Loo" is:

    Aa hot, dry wind blowing over the northern plains in summerBa sea breeze in KeralaCa cold wind in the HimalayasDa cyclone in the Bay of Bengal

    Correct answer: A. a hot, dry wind blowing over the northern plains in summer

    The Loo blows in May and June across the plains of north and north-west India and can cause heatstroke.

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12. 11

    "Kal Baisakhi" (Nor'westers) are evening thunderstorms in summer that are well known in:

    AWest BengalBPunjabCGujaratDTamil Nadu

    Correct answer: A. West Bengal

    These violent storms strike West Bengal and neighbouring states in April–May; their rain helps tea and jute.

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13. 12

    Western disturbances bring winter rain mainly to:

    Athe Andaman IslandsBNorth-western IndiaCKeralaDthe North-East

    Correct answer: B. North-western India

    These low-pressure systems from the Mediterranean region bring winter rain to Punjab and Haryana and snow to the hills, helping the rabi crop.

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14. 13

    Western Rajasthan gets very little rain mainly because:

    Ait is far from the seaBit is at a high altitudeCit lies south of the Tropic of CancerDthe Aravallis lie parallel to the south-west monsoon winds, so they do not block them

    Correct answer: D. the Aravallis lie parallel to the south-west monsoon winds, so they do not block them

    Moist winds pass along the Aravallis instead of being forced to rise, so little rain falls on the Thar region.

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15. 14

    Teak and sal are important trees of the:

    AMangrove forestsBThorn forestsCTropical deciduous forestsDAlpine forests

    Correct answer: C. Tropical deciduous forests

    Teak and sal grow in the monsoon (deciduous) forests and are valued for timber.

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16. 15

    Tropical evergreen forests grow where the annual rainfall is usually more than:

    A100 cmB20 cmC50 cmD200 cm

    Correct answer: D. 200 cm

    Evergreen rainforests, such as those of the Western Ghats and the North-East, need more than about 200 cm of rain a year.

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17. 16

    When running water cuts deep channels into the land, the type of soil erosion is called:

    AGully erosionBWind erosionCSplash erosionDSheet erosion

    Correct answer: A. Gully erosion

    Gully erosion creates ravines, as in the Chambal valley; sheet erosion removes a thin layer over a wide area.

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18. 17

    Contour ploughing is done mainly to:

    Areduce soil erosion on slopesBadd fertiliserCremove weedsDincrease irrigation

    Correct answer: A. reduce soil erosion on slopes

    Ploughing along the contours slows the flow of water down a slope, so less soil is washed away.

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19. 18

    Which soil is also called "regur"?

    ABlack soilBLaterite soilCAlluvial soilDRed soil

    Correct answer: A. Black soil

    Regur is another name for black soil, found mainly on the Deccan Plateau.

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20. 19

    Shola forests are found mainly in:

    Athe Thar DesertBthe SundarbansCthe high hills of the Western Ghats, such as the NilgirisDthe Indo-Gangetic Plain

    Correct answer: C. the high hills of the Western Ghats, such as the Nilgiris

    Sholas are patches of evergreen montane forest in the valleys of the Nilgiri, Anamalai and Palani hills, surrounded by grassland.

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21. 20

    In India, the season of the retreating monsoon falls in:

    ADecember–FebruaryBJune–SeptemberCOctober–NovemberDMarch–May

    Correct answer: C. October–November

    In October–November the monsoon winds withdraw from the north, and the weather turns hot and humid for a while ("October heat").

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