UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I
Question 58: Geography
Consider the following statements :
- 1.In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
- 2.In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
In the tropics the trade winds blow from east to west and push warm surface water towards the western sides of oceans, piling it up there while cooler water wells up in the east. In the temperate zone the westerlies blow towards the east and carry warm water to the eastern sides of oceans, as the North Atlantic Drift warms north-western Europe. So the western tropical ocean and the eastern temperate ocean are the warmer sections.
- 1. Trade winds push warm water to the western sides of tropical oceans.
- 2. Westerlies drive warm water to the eastern sides of temperate oceans.
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: Trade winds push warm water to the western sides of tropical oceans.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Westerlies drive warm water to the eastern sides of temperate oceans.
Only (c) is left. This one needs every statement.
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) Wrong: statement 2 is also correct.
- (b) Wrong: statement 1 is also correct.
- (c) Right: trade winds warm the tropical west and westerlies warm the temperate east.
- (d) Wrong: both statements are correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.