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GeographyMediumAsked in: SSC CHSL · 12 April 2021, Shift 1

What kind of soil is most suitable for growing cashew nuts?

  1. A.Black soil
  2. B.Red laterite soil
  3. C.Red and yellow soil
  4. D.Alluvial soil

Correct answer

B. Red laterite soil

Explanation

The correct answer is B, Red laterite soil. Cashew grows best on red laterite soil, which is coarse, well drained and slightly acidic, exactly what the crop needs. Laterite soil forms in areas of heavy rain and high temperature, where running water washes away the lime and silica and leaves behind iron and aluminium oxides. It is poor in nitrogen and organic matter, so ordinary food grains do badly on it, but plantation crops such as cashew, tea, coffee, rubber and coconut do well. This is why the cashew belt runs along the laterite coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Option A is wrong because black or regur soil holds moisture and is the cotton soil of the Deccan. Option C is wrong because red and yellow soil is used mainly for millets, pulses and groundnut. Option D is wrong because alluvial soil of the plains suits wheat, rice and sugarcane. Exam tip: laterite soil means plantation crops, cashew above all.

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.