UPSC Prelims 2008 · General Studies

Question 22: Geography

Which one of the following is not essentially a species of the Himalayan vegetation?

aJuniper

bMahogany

cSilver fir

dSpruce

AnswerThe answer is (b).

Mahogany is a tropical evergreen hardwood of hot, humid lowlands, not a Himalayan tree. The Himalaya has temperate and alpine conifers: silver fir and spruce on the temperate slopes, and juniper at higher, drier altitudes towards the alpine zone. Vegetation changes with altitude, from tropical forests at the foothills to alpine scrub and meadows near the snowline.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Juniper grows in the high-altitude zone of the Himalaya.
(b) Mahogany is a tropical hardwood of warm, wet lowlands.
(c) Silver fir grows in the temperate Himalayan conifer forests.
(d) Spruce is a temperate Himalayan conifer.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious question Next question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2008, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.