UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I
Question 23: Geography
If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there?
- 1.Oak
- 2.Rhododendron
- 3.Sandalwood
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Oak and Rhododendron both grow naturally in the Himalayas: oak forests occur in the temperate zone of the middle Himalayas, and rhododendrons grow at higher altitudes, especially in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Sandalwood is a tropical peninsular tree found mainly in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and does not grow naturally in the Himalayas. So only 1 and 2 are correct.
- 1. Oak forests occur in the temperate Himalayas.
- 2. Rhododendrons grow at higher Himalayan altitudes.
- 3. Sandalwood grows in peninsular India, mainly Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: Sandalwood grows in peninsular India, mainly Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 2.
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. Oak and Rhododendron both grow naturally in the Himalayas.
- (b) Wrong. Sandalwood is a peninsular tree, not Himalayan.
- (c) Wrong. Sandalwood is not found naturally in the Himalayas.
- (d) Wrong. Sandalwood is not a Himalayan plant.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.