UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
1)The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) Mediterranean climate
(c) Monsoon climate
(d) All of the above climates
2 ) Variations in the length of daytime and nightime from season to season are due to?
(a) The earth’s rotation on its axis.
(b) The earth’s revolution round the sun in an elliptical manner.
(c) Latitudinal position of the place.
(d) Revolution of the earth on a tilted axis.
3) The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is / are the reason / reasons?
1)Thermal difference between land and water.
2)Variation in altitude between continents and oceans.
3)Presence of strong winds in the interior.
4)Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:-
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
4) During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the?
1)Meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky.
2)Lightning that separates the nimbus clouds.
3)Violent upward movement of air and water particles.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:-
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) None of the above produces the thunder.
5) Normally the temp. Decreases with the increase in height from the earth’s surface, because
1. the atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth’s surface
2. there is more moisture in the upper atmosphere
3. the air is less dense in the upper atmosphere
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2,3
6) Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?
(a) Rainfall throughout the year
(b) Rainfall in winter only
(c) An extremely short dry season
(d) A definite dry and wet season
7) “Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders”.
The above statement best describes which of the following regions?
(a) African Savannah
(b) Central Asian Steppe
(c) North American Prairie
(d) Siberian Tundra
8) What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of African and Eurasian desert belt?
1)It is located in the sub-tropical high pressure cells.
2)It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2(d) neither 1 nor 2
9)Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?
(a) Rainfall throughout the year
(b) Rainfall in winter only
(c) An extremely short dry season
(d) A definite dry and wet season
10 ) It a tropical rain forest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest. This is because
(a) the soil of rain forest is deficient in nutrients
(b) propagules of the trees in a rain forest have a poor viability
(c) the rain forest species are slow-growing
(d) exotic species invade the fertile soil of rain forest
11) “Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over.” Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
(a) Savannah (b) Equatorial
(c) Monsoon (d) Mediterranean
12) Electrically charged particles from space travelling at speeds of several hundred km/sec can severely harm living beings if they reach the surface of the earth. What prevents them from reaching the surface of the earth?
(a) The Earth’s magnetic field diverts them toward its poles
(b) Ozone layer around the Earth reflects them back to outer space
(c) Moister in the upper layers of atmosphere prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) is correct.
13) The increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature of the atmosphere, because it absorbs
(a) the water vapour of the air and retains its heat
(b) the UV part of the solar radiation
(c) all the solar radiations
(d) the infrared part of the solar radiation
14) The jet aircrafts fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate explanation?
1)There are no clouds or water-vapour in the lower stratosphere.
2)There are no vertical winds in the lower stratosphere.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) neither 1 nor 2
15) A layer in the Earth’s atmosphere called Ionosphere facilities radio communications. Why?
1. The presence of ozone causes the reflection of radio waves to Earth.
2 Radio waves have a very long wavelength.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2(d) neither 1 nor 2
16 ) The formation of Ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the for the formation this hole?
(a) Presence prominent troposphere turbulence and inflow of chlorofluoro carbons
(b) Presence of prominent polar front and stratospheric clouds and inflow of chlorofluoro carbons
(c) Absence of polar front and stratospheric clouds and inflow of methane and chlorofluoro carbons
(d) Increased temperature at polar regions due to global warming.
17 )Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower atmosphere because of
1)It’s escape into the outer stratosphere
2)The photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans
3)The trapping of air in the polar ice caps
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 & 2 (b) 2 only
(c) 2 & 3 (d) 3 only
18) Consider the following which can be found in the ambient atmosphere:
1. Soot
2. Sulfur Hexafluoride
3.Water vapor
Which of the above contribute to the warming up of the atmosphere?
(a) 1 & 2 only (b) 3 only
(c) 2 & 3 only (d) 1, 2 & 3
19) Consider the following statements:
1)The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2)The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
20) With reference to ‘Global Climate Change Alliance’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1)It is an initiative of the European Union.
2)It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3)It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
21) With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1)IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
2)An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER KEYS:
1. (C) 2. (D) 3. (A) (A) 5. (A) 6. (D) (B) 8. (A)
9. (D) (A) 11.(B) 12. (A) 14. (B) 15. (D) (B) 17. (B) 18. (D) 20. (A) 21. (B)