UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 38: Geography
Consider the following statements :
- 1.In the world, the tropical deserts occur along the western margins of continents within the trade wind belt.
- 2.In India, the East Himalayan region gets high rainfall from north-east winds.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Statement 1 is correct: the hot tropical deserts, such as the Sahara, Arabian, Thar, Kalahari, Atacama and the Australian desert, lie on the western margins of continents, where the trade winds blow offshore and cold currents cool the coast. Statement 2 is wrong: the East Himalayan region gets heavy rain from the south-west (summer) monsoon, not north-east winds. The north-east monsoon brings winter rain mainly to Tamil Nadu.
- 1. Hot deserts lie on western continental margins in the trade wind belt.
- 2. The East Himalayas get their rain from the south-west monsoon.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: Hot deserts lie on western continental margins in the trade wind belt.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: The East Himalayas get their rain from the south-west monsoon.
Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.
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) Right: only statement 1 is correct.
- (b) Wrong: the east Himalayan rain comes from the south-west monsoon.
- (c) Wrong: statement 2 is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 1 is true.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.