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GeographyEasyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2021, GAT

The natural vegetation which covers maximum geographical areas of India is

  1. A.Tropical deciduous forests.
  2. B.Tropical thorn forests.
  3. C.Montane forests.
  4. D.Tropical evergreen forests.

Correct answer

A. Tropical deciduous forests.

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Tropical deciduous forests. These monsoon forests are the most widespread natural vegetation in India.

Tropical deciduous forests grow where annual rainfall is roughly 70 to 200 cm, which covers much of the peninsula, the Ganga plain margins and the lower Himalayan slopes. The trees shed their leaves for six to eight weeks in the dry summer to save water. The moist type (100–200 cm) has teak, sal, shisham and sandalwood; the dry type (70–100 cm) has teak, sal, peepal and neem. Teak and sal make these forests commercially the most valuable in the country.

B is wrong because tropical thorn forests are limited to dry areas with under about 70 cm of rain, such as parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the Deccan. C is wrong because montane forests occur only in high mountain areas such as the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. D is wrong because tropical evergreen forests need over 200 cm of rain and are confined to the Western Ghats, the north-east and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Exam tip: most widespread forest in India = tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest: teak and sal.

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.