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GeographyEasyAsked in: SSC CHSL · 15 March, 2023, Shift 4

Which of the following rocks may also contain fossils of plants, animals and other microorganisms that once lived on them?

  1. A.Sedimentary rocks
  2. B.Extrusive igneous rocks
  3. C.Metamorphic rocks
  4. D.Intrusive igneous rocks

Correct answer

A. Sedimentary rocks

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Sedimentary rocks. Only sedimentary rocks preserve fossils, because they are built up layer by layer from sediment that settles in water or on land. When a plant or animal dies and is buried in such a layer, the sediment hardens around it and keeps its shape or its hard parts as a fossil. Sandstone, shale, limestone and coal are sedimentary; the word comes from the Latin sedimentum, meaning settling, and the layers are called strata. Option B is wrong because extrusive igneous rock, such as basalt, cools from lava on the surface at temperatures that destroy any remains. Option D is wrong for the same reason: intrusive igneous rock like granite solidifies from magma deep inside the crust. Option C is wrong because metamorphic rocks are old rocks reshaped by great heat and pressure, which erases the fossils they once held. Exam tip: fossils are found only in sedimentary rocks, which is why coal seams carry plant imprints.

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.