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GeographyEasyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2020, GK

Which one of the following is not a type of commercial agriculture?

  1. A.Dairy farming
  2. B.Grain farming
  3. C.Livestock ranching
  4. D.Intensive subsistence agriculture

Correct answer

D. Intensive subsistence agriculture

Explanation

The correct answer is D, Intensive subsistence agriculture. As its name says, it is subsistence farming, where the family grows food mainly for its own use, not for sale.

Geographers divide farming into two broad groups. In subsistence agriculture the farmer meets the needs of the household and sells little; it includes primitive subsistence farming, such as shifting cultivation and nomadic herding, and intensive subsistence farming. The intensive kind is practised on small plots in densely populated monsoon Asia, especially for wet paddy, using much family labour and simple tools. Commercial agriculture grows crops and rears animals for the market on a large scale, with machines and capital; it includes commercial grain farming, mixed farming, dairy farming, plantation agriculture and livestock ranching.

A is wrong because dairy farming produces milk for nearby urban markets. B is wrong because commercial grain farming grows wheat and maize on vast farms, as in the prairies. C is wrong because livestock ranching rears cattle and sheep for sale on large ranches.

Exam tip: Subsistence: shifting, nomadic herding, intensive (wet paddy of Asia); commercial: grain, mixed, dairy, plantation, ranching.

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Q1.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2019, GATEasy

Which one of the following rivers was earlier known as "Vitasta" ?

  1. A.Tista
  2. B.Jhelum
  3. C.Tungabhadra
  4. D.Bharatpuzha A - EDF-F-KJU
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Jhelum

The Jhelum was called the Vitasta in the Rig Veda and in later Sanskrit texts. The rivers of the Punjab region carried Vedic names: Vitasta for the Jhelum, Asikni for the Chenab, Parushni for the Ravi, Vipasha for the Beas and Shutudri for the Satluj.

Q3.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2023, GATMedium

Consider the following statements : 1. Distance between the longitudes becomes zero on North Pole and South Pole. 2. Distance between the longitudes is maximum on the Equator. 3. Number of longitudes is more than number of latitudes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.1 and 3 only
  4. D.1,2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1,2 and 3

All three statements are correct. Meridians of longitude are half-circles that run from the North Pole to the South Pole, so they are farthest apart on the Equator, about 111 km per degree, and come closer towards the poles until they meet there, where the gap becomes zero.

Q5.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IEasy

Consider the following statements : 1. Areas where rainfall exceeds 250 cm 2. Annual temperature 25°C - 27°C 3. Average humidity exceeds 75% 4. Trees do not shed the leaves To which one of the following types of vegetation does the above represent ?

  1. A.Tropical wet evergreen
  2. B.Tropical semi evergreen
  3. C.Tropical moist deciduous
  4. D.Tropical dry evergreen
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Tropical wet evergreen

Very heavy rainfall, high and steady temperature, humidity above 75 per cent and trees that stay green all year are the marks of tropical wet evergreen forests.