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GeographyMediumAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2020, GK

Which one of the following countries does not have Tundra vegetation?

  1. A.Belarus
  2. B.USA
  3. C.Russia
  4. D.Canada

Correct answer

A. Belarus

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Belarus. Belarus is a landlocked country in eastern Europe, far south of the Arctic, so it has no tundra.

Tundra vegetation grows beyond the tree line, mainly north of the Arctic Circle, where summers are short and cool and the subsoil stays frozen as permafrost. Only mosses, lichens, sedges and dwarf shrubs survive there. The tundra belt runs along the Arctic coasts of North America, Europe and Asia. Belarus lies between roughly 51 and 56 degrees North, with no Arctic coast; its natural cover is mixed forest of pine, birch and oak, along with large marshes such as Polesie.

B is wrong because the USA has tundra in northern and western Alaska. C is wrong because Russia has a wide belt of tundra along its Arctic coast in Siberia and the far north of its European part. D is wrong because northern Canada and its Arctic islands are among the largest tundra areas in the world.

Exam tip: tundra means permafrost, mosses and lichens, north of the tree line: Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland's coasts, northern Scandinavia and Russia.

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.