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GeographyEasyAsked in: SSC CHSL · 17 March 2020, Shift 1

Laterite soil is rich in:

  1. A.Phosphorus
  2. B.Calcium carbonate
  3. C.Potassium
  4. D.Iron oxide

Correct answer

D. Iron oxide

Explanation

The correct answer is D, Iron oxide. Laterite soil is rich in oxides of iron and aluminium, and the iron oxide gives it its red brick colour. The soil develops in regions of high temperature and heavy seasonal rain, where water washes the lime, silica and plant nutrients down through the soil and leaves the insoluble iron and aluminium behind. This process is called leaching, and the name laterite comes from the Latin word for brick, since the hardened soil is cut into blocks for building. It is found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and the hills of Maharashtra. Option A is wrong because laterite soil is poor in phosphorus, nitrogen and humus and needs manure. Option B is wrong because calcium carbonate, or lime, is exactly what leaching removes, and it is instead plentiful in black and arid soils. Option C is wrong because potash too is washed away. Exam tip: leaching leaves iron and aluminium, so laterite is red and acidic.

Practice Questions

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Q2.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Himalayan rivers have their origin in the snow-covered areas, hence are dry in winter season. 2. Rivers of the Peninsular Plateau have reached maturity. 3. Himalayan rivers depict all the three stages of normal cycle of erosion. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 2 and 3 only

Himalayan rivers are perennial, so statement 1 is wrong, while statements 2 and 3 are correct. Himalayan rivers such as the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra rise from glaciers and snowfields and also get monsoon rain, so they flow all year round, including in winter.

Q3.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements related to latitude are true? 1. Rainfall, temperature and vegetation vary with latitude. 2. The difference between the longest day and the shortest day increases with latitude. 3. Indira Point is located approximately at 6°45' N latitude. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

All three statements about latitude are true. Latitude decides how directly the Sun's rays strike a place, so temperature, rainfall and the type of vegetation change from the equator towards the poles, from hot, wet rainforests to cold tundra.

Q4.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following lakes is/are situated in Ladakh? 1. Tso Kar 2. Pangong Tso 3. Tsomgo 4. Tso Moriri Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 and 3
  3. C.1, 2 and 4
  4. D.2 and 4 only
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1, 2 and 4

Tso Kar, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri are high-altitude lakes of Ladakh, while Tsomgo lies in Sikkim. Pangong Tso, at about 4,350 metres, is a long, narrow lake that stretches from Ladakh into Tibet, and most of its length lies on the Chinese side.