A long narrow stretch of sand and/or shingle with one end attached to the mainland is called
- A.Sand spit
- B.Sand bar
- C.Sand dune
- D.Tombolo
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Sand spit. A spit is a ridge of sand or shingle joined to the land at one end, with the other end running out into open water.
Spits form where longshore drift carries sediment along a coast and the coastline suddenly changes direction, as at the mouth of a bay or river. The material keeps building out into the water, and waves often curve the free end into a hook. Famous examples are Spurn Head in England and Farewell Spit in New Zealand. If a spit grows right across a bay it becomes a bar and can trap a lagoon behind it, as on parts of India's east coast.
B is wrong: a sand bar is a ridge lying offshore or across a bay, often joined to the land at both ends or at neither.
C is wrong: a sand dune is a hill of sand piled up by wind, not a ridge built by waves into the sea.
D is wrong: a tombolo is a bar that links an island to the mainland or to another island.
Exam tip: spit = one end joined; bar = across a bay; tombolo = island tied to land.
Practice Questions
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- A.Godavari
- B.Periyar
- C.Tungabhadra
- D.Cauvery
Show answer
The Periyar rises in the Western Ghats of Kerala and flows west into the Arabian Sea. The Periyar is the longest river of Kerala.
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- A.Granite
- B.Gneiss
- C.Pumice
- D.Basalt
Show answer
Gneiss is a metamorphic rock, formed when existing rocks are changed by great heat and pressure. Igneous rocks form when molten magma or lava cools and hardens.
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1. Itanagar
2. Imphal
3. Agartala
4. Aizawl
Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the above places in terms of sunrise time?
- A.3-2-1-4
- B.2-1-4-3
- C.1-4-3-2
- D.4-3-2-1
Show answer
The sun rises first in the place farthest east, so the order follows longitude: Imphal, Itanagar, Aizawl and then Agartala.
Read the full explanation →"Viticulture" is a common feature of which one of the following Australian cities ?
- A.Adelaide
- B.Darwin
- C.Hobart
- D.Brisbane
Show answer
Viticulture, the growing of grapes, is a hallmark of Adelaide, which is surrounded by Australia's best-known wine regions. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, the conditions grapevines like best.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following statements regarding Barchan is/are correct ?
1. It is a crescent shaped mound of sand, which is deposited by the wind blowing constantly from one direction in a desert.
2. The windward side has a convex steep slope with maximum height at the centre.
3. Two ends of Barchan are called horns and point opposite to the direction the wind blows.
Select the answer using the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
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Read the full explanation →