2005 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2005 · General Studies

Question 87: Geography

Assertion (A): Wind patterns are clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Reason (R): The directions of wind patterns in the northern and the southern hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis Effect.

aBoth A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
bBoth A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
cA is true but R is false
dA is false but R is true

AnswerThe answer is (a).

Because of Earth's rotation, the Coriolis effect deflects moving air to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern. The large-scale result is clockwise flow around high-pressure areas in the north and anticlockwise in the south, so A is true and R explains it. Around low-pressure cyclones the sense is reversed.

  • A. Large-scale flow is clockwise in the north and anticlockwise in the south.
  • R. The Coriolis effect sets the sense of this deflection.

How you could have got this

If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (d) goes. Then judge the second statement; if it is correct too, decide whether it explains the first.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Correct: both true and R explains A.
  • (b) R does explain A, so this is wrong.
  • (c) R is true, so this is wrong.
  • (d) A is true, so this is wrong.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2005, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.