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GeographyMediumAsked in: SSC MTS · 03 May 2023, Shift 3

Which among the following wind is associated with extreme cold and dryness?

  1. A.Monsoon Winds
  2. B.Westerlies
  3. C.Trade Winds
  4. D.Polar Easterlies

Correct answer

D. Polar Easterlies

Explanation

The correct answer is D, Polar Easterlies. The polar easterlies blow out of the high pressure belts over the poles towards the sub-polar low pressure belts, so they carry extremely cold and dry air. Cold air holds very little moisture, which is why these winds bring almost no rain and the polar regions are counted among the driest places on earth. They are one of the three planetary wind systems, along with the trade winds and the westerlies, and where they meet the warmer westerlies near sixty degrees latitude they form the polar front, the birthplace of temperate cyclones. Option A is wrong because monsoon winds reverse with the season and the summer monsoon is warm and heavy with moisture. Option B is wrong because the westerlies, blowing from the sub-tropical highs towards the sub-polar lows, bring rain to the western margins of continents. Option C is wrong because the trade winds blow towards the equator and are warm and moist over the oceans. Exam tip: trades from the east near the equator, westerlies in the middle latitudes, easterlies again at the poles.

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.