UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies
Question 3: Geography
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: List I (Climatic Conditions) I. Chennai is warmer than Calcutta II. Snowfall in Himalayas III. Rainfall decreases from Depressions IV. Sutlej-Ganga Plain gets some rain in winter List II (Reasons) A) North-east Monsoon B) Altitude C) Western West Bengal to Punjab D) Distance from sea E) Latitude Codes:
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Each condition has one main cause. Chennai lies nearer the equator than Calcutta, so latitude makes it warmer. Himalayan snowfall comes from altitude, since temperature falls with height. Rainfall thins out from West Bengal towards Punjab because the Bay of Bengal's moisture weakens with distance from the sea. Winter rain in the Sutlej-Ganga plain comes from western disturbances, which arrive from the Mediterranean region. The north-east monsoon matters for Tamil Nadu's winter rain, not for these.
- I. I-E: Chennai is nearer the equator, so latitude explains its warmth.
- II. II-B: snow falls in the Himalayas because of altitude.
- III. III-D: rain falls off from West Bengal to Punjab as the distance from the sea grows.
- IV. IV-C: winter rain in the plains comes from western disturbances.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) I-A and IV-E are wrong: the north-east monsoon does not explain Chennai's warmth, and latitude does not explain winter rain in the plains.
- (b) I-D and II-E are wrong: distance from the sea does not make Chennai warmer, and snowfall is not about latitude.
- (c) Right: latitude, altitude, distance from the sea and western disturbances.
- (d) II-A is wrong, since the north-east monsoon does not cause Himalayan snow, and IV-D misses western disturbances.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.