WBBSE Class 10 Geography Solutions Chapter 5.4 Climate of India

Detailed explanations in West Bengal Board Class 10 Geography Book Solutions Chapter 5.4 Climate of India offer valuable context and analysis.

WBBSE Class 10 Geography Chapter 5.4 Question Answer – Climate of India

Answer in brief : 2 Marks

Question 1.
How does the Tropic of Cancer influence the climate of India?
Answer:
The Tropic of Cancer passes almost through the middle of India. It divides India into two broad temperature zones. The southern half lies in the Torrid zone and the northern half lies in the Temperate zone.

Question 2.
How India is saved from severe cold polar winds ?
Answer:
The lofty Himalayas lying on the northern boundary of India form a natural barrier and prevent the severely cold polar winds blowing from the north to enter the land. Thus India is saved from severely chilled winters.

Question 3.
What is the difference in climate between Delhi and Chennai ?
Answer:
Delhi lies far away from the influence of the sea. Hence, it experiences extreme or continental climate. Chennai lies on the sea coast. Hence, it experiences moderate or maritime climate.

Question 4.
With what winds can the monsoon winds be compared ?
Answer:
Sea breeze and land breeze on a large scale.

Question 5.
Why are the South-West monsoon winds moisture laden ?
Answer:
The South-West monsoon winds generate over the Indian ocean. They cross the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea on the East and West respectively before entering the land. Hence, the winds are moisture laden.

Question 6.
Why are the north-east monsoon wind dry ?
Answer:
The north-east monsoon wind or the retreating monsoon winds blow over the land towards the sea. They have very little source of collecting moisture. Hence they are comparatively dry. But a small portion of the winds passes over the Bay of Bengal and re-enter the mainland near Tamil Nadu. This portion of the winds is moisture laden and sheds the waters in Tamil Nadu coast before finally leaving the country.

Question 7.
What is ‘Kalbaishakhi’ or Norwesters ?
Answer:
‘Kalbaisakhi’ or Norwesters are violent local cyclonic storms common in eastern coastal regions of India. They are accompanied with thunder and lightning, heavy showers and sometimes hail. They occur during summer season (AprilMay) due to sudden formation. of low pressure cells on the land near coastal areas.

Question 8.
What is the difference in rainfall between the Eastern and Western ghats?
Answer:
The Arabian sea branch of the south-west monsoon causes heavy rainfall on the coastal areas of the Western Ghats (over 300 cm) because they lie in the windward side. The Deccan plateau and the Eastern Ghats receive lesser rainfall as they lie in the leeward side or in the rain-shadow area.

Question 9.
Which region of India receives the highest rainfall in India ?
Answer:
Mawsynram near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya on the southern slope of GaroKhasi-Jayantia hills in Meghalaya plateau receives the highest amount of rainfall in India as well as the world. (highest recorded 1142 cm).

Question 10.
How the Indian economy is controlled by the monsoon ?
Answer:
India is an agro-based economy. About 14% of Gross Domestic Product comes from agriculture. Agriculture is highly dependent on the monsoon winds/rainfall. Hence, monsoon plays an important role in controlling the Indian economy.

Question 11.
How does the latitudinal extent of India influence the climate?
Answer:
India stretches from 8.4′ N to 37°6′ N latitudes. The southem part of India till the 30° N latitude receives almost vertical rays of the sun and experiences tropical climate. The region lying north of the 30° N latitude receives slanting rays of the sun and experiences temperate climate in general.

Question 12.
How does presence of mountains influence the climate of India ?
Answer:
The presence of Western Ghats, Himalayas and Garo, Khasi hills help in the occurrence of rainfall from the South-West monsoons. Also, the Himalayas prevent the chilled Siberian wind of the polar regions from entering the country and giving it a chilling climate.

Question 13.
How does altitude control the climate of India ?
Answer:
Temperature reduces by 6.4°C with rise of 1000 m in altitude by the normal lapse rate. Hence, the hilly regions of the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges, the Ladakh plateau and other adjacent highlands enjoy a cool summer in spite of being situated in the low latitudes. During winter, many regions receive snowfall. The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats also remain cooler due to high altitude even though located towards the equator.

Question 14.
What is the influence of the Aravalli range in the climate of Rajasthan?
Answer:
The Aravalli range lies in the eastern margin of Rajasthan in the North-East to South-West direction. The South-West monsoon wind entering from the Arabian sea blows almost parallel to the Aravalli range. Thus, these mountains cannot stop the moisture laden monsoon wind, which escapes towards further NorthWest. Hence, very little rainfall occurs here (less than 25 cm yearly), giving rise to the Thar desert.

Question 15.
Why does Shillong receive very less rainfall in spite of lying very close to Cherrapunji which receives the highest rainfall ?
Answer:
Cherrapunji is located on the windward slope of the Khasi hills in Meghalaya. The South-Western monsoons hit against this slope and cause enough rainfall in Cherrapunji. But Shillong lies on the leeward side of the Khasi hills in the rain shadow area. Hence, it receives very less rainfall even though physical distance between the two places is not quite much.

Question 16.
What do you mean by ‘Burst of monsoon’ ?
Answer:
By the first week of June, the moisture laden South-West monsoon winds hit against the Western Ghats near the Malabar coast and in Kerala. This brings forth the first rains for the country from the monsoon winds. This is known as the ‘Burst of monsoons’. By the middle of July, the monsoon winds spread over most of the country and provide enough rainfall.

Question 17.
What is ‘Andhi’?
Answer:
‘Andhi’ is a hot sandy storm that occurs in the Thar desert of Rajasthan and adjacent areas during the summer. Wind speed may be 50-60 km per hour. It is a dry wind and does not cause any rainfall.

Question 18.
What do you mean by ‘Western disturbances’?
Answer:
During the winter, winds coming from the Mediterranean region due to the influence of the Westerlies, cause the occurrence of weak cyclones. Due to this, the states of North-West India, i.e. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan etc. receive light rainfall and the hilly regions of the north receive much snowfall. This wind is called the ‘Western disturbances’.

Question 19.
Which states receive snowfall in winter in India ?
Answer:
In India, the states that receive snowfall in winter are – Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and northern part of West Bengal (Darjeeling).

Question 20.
Which winds cause rainfall in Tamil Nadu ?
Answer:
Tamil Nadu receives rainfall by the influence of two winds – the South-West monsoon or the ongoing monsoons and the north-east monsoon or the retreating monsoon.

Question 21.
Which regions of India receive rainfall in the winters?
Answer:
The areas that receive rainfall in the winter are :
(i) Under the influence of retreating monsoon : Coromondal coast of Tamil Nadu.
(ii) Under the influence of Western disturbances : Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and some parts of West Bengal.

Question 22.
Which regions of India receive very high rainfall ?
Answer:
The regions in India that receive very high rainfall (over 200 cm) are – the western slope of the Western Ghats, the eastern Himalayas, the North-Eastern hilly region, Mizoram, North Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar islands etc.

Question 23.
Which regions of India receive less to very less rainfall ?
Answer:
The regions of India receiving less to very less rainfall (lower than 20 cm to 60 cm) are – the eastern slope of the Western Ghats, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Ladakh Valley of Kashmir etc.

Question 24.
Why winter is dry in India ?
Answer:
During winter, the north-east monsoon wind blow from the land towards the sea.
It cannot collect enough moisture in its way due to lack of water bodies. The moisture holding capacity of this wind is also low. Hence, it fails to provide rainfall, and makes the winter dry.

Question 25.
What do you mean by ‘drought’ ?
Answer:
Drought is the condition of very less or no rainfall over an area over a long period of time. Thus causes the soil to dry up tremendously and become unfit for plants to survive. About 34% area of India is under drought.

Question 26.
Name the drought prone areas of India.
Answer:
About 34% of India’s area is under the influence of drought, of which 16% area is under severe drought. The drought prone areas of India are –

1. Desert and semi-desert regions of Rajasthan.
2. The middle part of Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
3. Kutch and Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
4. Purulia of West Bengal.
5. Kalahandi of Odisha.

Question 27.
What is flood?
Answer:
If a region receives 125% more rainfall than its usual rate, the water logged condition thus created is called a flood. Also, rainfall in one region may increase the water level of the rivers so much that they cause floods in some other areas.

Question 28.
Which are the flood prone areas of India ?
Answer:
About 12% of India’s area remains under floods per year. The main flood-prone areas are :

1. Brahmaputra valley of Assam.
2. The river valleys of Yamuna, Chambal, Ghaghra of the Gangetic plains.
3. Damodar valley.
4. Terai and Duars region of the foothills of the Himalaya.

Answer in brief : 3 Marks

Question 1.
What is a jet stream ?
Answer:
Jet stream is a thin stream of speedy winds (350-450 km/hr) that blow from west to east from the winter till March-April between the Troposphere and the Stratosphere. These winds influence the onset and retreat of the monsoons in India, by seasonal shifting and creation of low pressure and high pressure cells respectively.

Question 2.
Describe the cold season in India.
Answer:
The cold season prevails in India from December to February. January and February are the coldest months. The winds blow from the land. Hence, the atmosphere remains dry. Temperature remains around 10°-15°C in the northern part and around 25°C in the southern part. Sometimes, shallow cyclonic disturbances may be caused due to western disturbances. This may cause little rainfall which is beneficial for wheat cultivation in north-west India.

Question 3.
Describe the hot season in India ?
Answer:
The hot season prevails in India from March to May. In May, the average temperature reaches about 44°C in Jaisalmer, 41°C in Delhi, 35°C in Kolkata. A low pressure zone develops over the Indian desert to the Chotanagpur plateau. Around this low pressure cell, several local winds may set in. Eg- Loo, Andhi, Kalbaisakhi etc. The low pressure cell gradually becomes so intense, that it pulls or attracts the monsoon winds towards the mainland.

Question 4.
Describe the season of the retreating monsoon in India.
Answer:
The retreating of monsoon occurs from October to November. This actually begins to set in by the end of September when the low pressure cell over north western India becomes weak because the direct rays of the sun shift towards the

equator. The direction of the surface winds starts reversing and the monsoon is said to start ‘retreating’. These winds are also called North-east monsoon winds.

Question 5.
Why does Tamil Nadu receive rainfall twice a year?
Answer:
During summer, when an intense low pressure cell is developed over north-west India, the south-west monsoon wind is attracted towards the land. These winds generate over the Indian ocean and hence are moisture laden. As they enter the mainland, they cause rainfall to the Coromondal coast of Tamil Nadu.

During winter, when the low pressure cell of the land gets weakened, the wind blows in the reverse direction. These are dry winds blowing outward from the land, hence cause almost no rainfall. But a small branch of the retreating monsoons blow over the Bay of Bengal and re-enter the land. This portion of the wind is moisture laden and hence causes rainfall in Tamil Nadu before finally leaving the country. Thus Tamil Nadu receives rainfall twice a year.

Question 6.
Discuss the effect of mountains on the climate of India.
Answer:
The mountains that influence the climate of India are:
i. Himalayan range : The Himalaya prevents the chilled Siberian wind from entering the country from the north. It also stops the south-west monsoon wind from escaping outside the country. It helps the monsoon wind to cause orographic rainfall.
ii. Western Ghats : The western slopes of the Western Ghats receive much rainfall from the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon wind. The eastern slope is a rain shadow area.
iii. Eastern Ghats : The retreating monsoon hits against the mountains and cause rainfall in the Coromondal coast in winter.
iv. Aravalli range : They lie parallel to the direction of the south-west monsoon, and fail to stop the moisture laden wind. The eastern slopes receive little rainfall but the western slope is almost dry.

Question 7.
How does the presence of oceans on three sides of India influence the climate?
Answer:

1. The climate of South India is more or less moderate due to influence of the sea breeze and land breeze.
2. The south-west monsoon wind collects enough moisture while blowing over the oceans and causes rainfall in India.
3. Cyclones generated in coastal areas cause storms and rainfall.

Question 8.
Why is India called a tropical monsoon country ?
Answer:
The climate of India is highly controlled by the south-west and north-east monsoons. About 90% rainfall occurs due to the south-west monsoon. The north-east monsoon keeps the season dry. The economy of India is much dependent on the onset of the monsoon winds. Thus, India is called a tropical monsoon country.

Question 9.
Why does the western part of India receive lesser rainfall than the eastern part?
Answer:
The Bay of Bengal branch of the south-west monsoon enters India from the eastern side, causes much rainfall in the Terai-Duars region and the north-eastern states and gradually move westwards. As they move, they shed water and by the time they reach the western side they have no moisture left. Again, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon wind that enters India from the west, passes over the western region as the Aravalli fails to stop the moisture laden winds. Thus, the western part of India receives lesser rainfall than the eastern part.

Answer in details : 5 Marks

Question 1.
Discuss the factors affecting climate of India.
Answer:
The factors that affect the climate of India are as follows:
i. Latitude : India lies between 8°4′ N and 39° 6′ N latitudes. The tropic of Cancer runs through the middle of the country dividing the land into two distinct temperature zones. The southern part belongs to the Torrid zone and the northern part belongs to the Temperate zone.

ii. Relief : Temperature is inversely proportional to altitude. Hence, high relief regions have cooler climate compared to lower regions. Eg- some regions of Deccan plateau enjoy cool summers due to altitude, inspite of being nearer to the equator than the northern plains. The coastal regions enjoy an equable climate throughout the year.

iii. The Hinalavas. The lofty Himalayas act as a barrier to the severely cold polar winds that come from the north, thus saving the country from chilling winters. It also prevents the monsoon winds from escaping northwards, thus ensuring monsoon rainfall in India.

iv. Distance from the rightarrow a : The regions near the long coastline of India enjoy maritime or moderate climate throughout the year due to the influence of the sea. Regions lying far away from the sea experience extreme or continental climate with harsh summers and winters.

v. Winds : India lies under the prevailing north-eastern trade winds. Due to inequal heating of land and sea in different seasons, section of the wind blow seasonally from opposite directions. These are called the monsoon winds. They have a remarkable impact on Indian climate and economy.

vi. Western disturbance: In winter, some cyclones of the Mediterranean region, called western disturbances, enter India causing a little rainfall in the north.

vii. stream : This is a thin stream of speedy winds (350-450 km/hr) blowing from west to east between the Troposphere and Stratosphere. These winds influence the onset and retreat of monsoons in India.

viii. F-Nino and La-Nina : El- Nino is associated with high pressure in western Pacific Ocean and low pressure in the eastern part. Warm ocean currents develop in eastern and central Pacific Ocean which influence the temperature and rainfall of the associated regions. La-Nina is just the reverse phenomena, resulting in sustained cooling of the same regions. They both have an impact on onset of monsoons in India and the moisture content of the winds.

Question 2.
Describe the monsoon in India.
Answer:
The monsoon prevails in India from June to September. In June, the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Cancer. The landmass gets highly heated and develops a low pressure cell in the north-western region. This low pressure cell attracts winds from oceanic high pressure regions and even the South-East Trade winds from south of the Equator. These winds are warm and carry enough moisture. They advance towards the landmass with furious speed and violent thunder and lightning. This is called the ‘Burst of Monsoon’.
On reaching the Indian sub-continent, the monsoon winds are divided into two

branches – The Bay of Bengal branch and the Arabian sea branch. The Arabian sea branch hits the western slopes of the Western ghats and causes immense rainfall. The Deccan plateau and the Eastern ghats lie in the rainshadow area and receive lesser rainfall. The Bay of Bengal branch strikes against the Himalayas and causes heavy rainfall in the north-eastern and eastern states. Mawsynram near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya receive the maximum rainfall in the world. Amount of rainfall recedes or reduces from east to west.

Question 3.
Discuss the impacts of monsoon winds on India.
Answer:
The monsoon winds have a great impact on the climate, vegetation, agriculture, soil, economy and daily life of India. They can be discussed as follows –

1. Most rainfall in India occurs in summer due to the south-west monsoon winds.
2. In winter, the retreating monsoon winds blow from land to sea, causing rainfall only to the Coromondal coast in the south-east.
3. The crop calendar of India depends on the monsoons.
4. Immense rainfall in some regions (Eg- foothills of Himalayas, western slope of Western ghats) bring about lush green vegetation, whereas, lack to rainfall makes the western part a desert.
5. Irregular rainfall may cause floods, droughts and result in crop failure.
6. The quality of soil, its structure, texture, water holding capacity etc. are also influenced by the presence of water in it.
7. Monsoon influences almost all economic activities in India. Eg-mining, fishing, industries, tourism etc.
8. The Gross Domestic Product of India, of which 14% comes from agriculture, is highly influenced by the monsoons.

Question 4.
Discuss the climatic characteristics of India.
Answer:

India is basically a tropical monsoon climatic country. The Meteorological Department of India identifies four seasons that prevail in the country.

i. The cold season or winter (December to February) : January and February are the coolest months in India. Temperature varies between 10°C-15°C in the northern parts and about 25°C in southern part of India. The winds generally dry as they blow from land towards the sea. In the north-western part, a series of shallow cyclones caused by western disturbances cause little rainfall. Such winter rainfall is beneficial for wheat cultivation in the north-western regions.

ii. The hot season or summer (March to May) : This period is marked by the shifting of heat zone from south to north. May is the hottest month, when average day time temperature

reaches 44°C in Jaisalmer, 41°C in Delhi, 35°C in Kolkata etc. A low pressure zone extends from the Indian desert upto the Chotanagpur plateau. Local hot dusty wind like Loo and Andhi are common in the north western regions. Gusty cyclonic winds called Kalbaishakhi is experienced in eastern coastal areas, which brings in torrential rainfalls.

iii. The South-West monsoon season (June to September) : The low pressure created on the landmass during summer helps to drag the

monsoon wind from the adjoining oceans. This wind is warm and moist and approaches towards the land with furious thunder and lightning. On reaching the land, they are divided into the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea branches. Most of the rainfall in India occurs due to the southwest monsoons. Mawsynram near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is the wettest place of the world (1142 cm rainfall).

iv. The north-west monsoon or Retreating monsoon season (October to November) : This season begins from the end of September when the monsoonal low pressure becomes weak as the direct sunrays shift from the tropical region back southwards. The wind reverses and starts flowing out from land to sea. As the wind leaves the mainland, it causes the formation of small cyclones locally known as ‘Aswiner Jhar’ or the storms of autumn. It brings in some amount of rainfall.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) : 1 Mark

Question 1.
Which of the following does not have influence over the climate in India?
(A) Nearness to equator
(B) Presence of Indian Ocean
(C) Monsoons
(D) Ocean currents
Answer:
(D) Ocean currents

Question 2.
The place in India receiving the lowest rainfall is :
(A) Leh
(B) Jaisalmer
(C) Bikaner
(D) Jodhpur
Answer:
(A) Leh

Question 3.
The western disturbances which cause winter rain in India originate in
(A) Pakistan
(B) Bay of Bengal
(C) West Asia
(D) Himalayas
Answer:
(C) West Asia

Question 4.
How do the ‘western disturbances’ affect the crops in north India?
(A) They cause heavy damage to the standing crops
(B) They bring in locusts which destroy the crops
(C) They are beneficial to the crops by causing winter rain
(D) They help in keeping the plants warm to some extent in winter
Answer:
(C) They are beneficial to the crops by causing winter rain

Question 5.
How do the Central Asian highlands affect the Indian climate?
(A) The low pressure in these areas intensifies the cold during the winter
(B) The atmospheric pressure in this region has an effect on the Indian atmosphere in summer
(C) Dry continental air is blowing towards India throughout
(D) The atmospheric pressure in this region has an impact on the onset of monsoon in India
Answer:
(D) The atmospheric pressure in this region has an impact on the onset of monsoon in India

Question 6.
Which of the following regions has the minimum seasonal variations in temperature?
(A) The Shillong Plateau
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) The Kerala coast
(D) The entire peninsula
Answer:
(C) The Kerala coast

Question 7.
The wettest place found in the north-east of India is …
(A) Mawsynram
(B) Jacobabad
(C) Cherrapunji
(D) Kohima
Answer:
(A) Mawsynram

Question 8.
The place that gets rainfall from the western disturbances is …
(A) Agra
(B) Ahmedabad
(C) Mumbai
(D) Srinagar
Answer:
(D) Srinagar

Question 9.
The place which has the lowest mean temperature in January is …
(A) Kolkata
(B) Patna
(C) Lucknow
(D) Srinagar
Answer:
(D) Srinagar

Question 10.
The hottest month in Mumbai is
(A) July
(B) April
(C) May
(D) June
Answer:
(C) May

Question 11.
Tamil Nadu gets most of its rainfall in the months of …
(A) May-June
(B) March-April
(C) July-August
(D) October-November
Answer:
(D) October-November

Question 12.
During ……. difference in air pressure arises between large land masses of Asia and Indian Ocean in the South.
(A) Rainy
(B) Winter
(C) Summer
(D) Autumn
Answer:
(C) Summer

Question 13.
The monsoon winds have a effect on Indian climate.
(A) Disturbing
(B) Unifying
(C) Mystifying
(D) None
Answer:
(B) Unifying

Question 14.
Warm and moist winds blow from the oceans during …. and dry winds blow during winter.
(A) Summer
(B) Winter
(C) Hot
(D) Autumn
Answer:
(A) Summer

Question 15.
Western disturbances bring rainfall that promote cultivation of
(A) Wheat
(B) Ragi
(C) Rice
(D) Jute
Answer:
(A) Wheat

Question 16.
During the hot dry season, the low pressure trough extends from ____________ to the Chotanagpur plateau in the east.
(A) Deccan
(B) Malwa
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Ladakh
Answer:
(C) Rajasthan

Question 17.
The peninsular shape and the of the country modify the direction of wind approaching into India.
(A) Crops
(B) Lakes
(C) Relief
(D) Rivers
Answer:
(C) Relief

Question 18.
Bay of Bengal branch blows roughly parallel to the coast and Eastern Ghats.
(A) Konkan
(B) West
(C) Malabar
(D) Eastern
Answer:
(D) Eastern

Question 19.
Owing to rainfall and cloudiness, here is a fall in during the advancing Monsoon Season.
(A) Weather
(B) Pressure
(C) Temperature
(D) Seismisity
Answer:
(C) Temperature

Question 20.
Cool weather sets in by ________ in India.
(A) December
(B) October
(C) November
(D) September
Answer:
(A) December

Question 21.
In June the slopes of the Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall.
(A) Northern
(B) Eastern
(C) Western
(D) South-eastern
Answer:
(C) Western

Question 22.
The state of Assam falls in the region.
(A) Low rainfall
(B) Heavy rainfall
(C) Moderate rainfall
(D) Very heavy rainfall
Answer:
(B) Heavy rainfall

Question 23.
Monsoons are winds.
(A) Local
(B) Seasonal
(C) Permanent
(D) Temporary
Answer:
(B) Seasonal

Question 24.
Tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are most frequent during
(A) March-April
(B) October-November
(C) May-June
(D) January-February
Answer:
(B) October-November

Question 25.
India lies to the north and south of the ….
(A) Arctic circle
(B) Tropic of Cancer
(C) Equator
(D) Tropic of Capricorn
Answer:
(B) Tropic of Cancer

Question 26.
The maximum rainfall area of India, i.e., Meghalaya has average annual rainfall of –
(A) 1050 cm
(B) 795 cm
(C) 1150 cm
(D) 1000 cm
Answer:
(A) 1050 cm

Question 27.
Driest areas of India which lie in Rajasthan have an average annual rainfall of –
(A) 100 cm
(B) 20 cm
(C) 10 cm
(D) Less than 1 cm
Answer:
(D) Less than 1 cm

Question 28.
In which region of India does monsoon type with cold humid winter and short summer prevail ?
(A) Kashmir
(B) South India coast of the Western Ghats
(C) North-East India
(D) The Central Indian Plateau
Answer:
(C) North-East India

Question 29.
Which of the following statements about the Indian monsoon is incorrect?
(A) South-West monsoon arc on-shore winds
(B) North-East monsoon arc off-shore winds
(C) The monsoon retreat gradually
(D) The onset of the monsoon is from West Bengal only
Answer:
(D) The onset of the monsoon is from West Bengal only

Question 30.
Which of the following does not get rains from the Arabian Sea current alone during the South-West monsoon?
(A) Gujarat
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Punjab
(D) Western Ghats
Answer:
(C) Punjab

Question 31.
The amount and intensity of monsoon rainfall is determined by the frequency of
(A) Western disturbances
(B) Dust-storms
(C) Cyclones
(D) Tropical depressions
Answer:
(D) Tropical depressions

Question 32.
One of the regions that receives rainfall from the North-easterly monsoon is
(A) Assam
(B) Kerala
(C) West Bengal
(D) Tamil Nadu
Answer:
(D) Tamil Nadu

Question 33.
The retreating South-West monsoon does not affect
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Odisha
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer:
(D) Uttar Pradesh

Question 34.
Rajasthan receives very little rain because
(A) It is too hot
(B) There is no water available and thus the winds remain dry
(C) The monsoon fail to reach this area
(D) The winds do not come across any barrier to cause the necessary uplift to cool the winds
Answer:
(D) The winds do not come across any barrier to cause the necessary uplift to cool the winds

Question 35.
Which time of the day is generally the hottest period all over India?
(A) Noon
(B) 1 p.m.
(C) 2 p.m.
(D) One cannot say
Answer:
(C) 2 p.m.

Question 36.
The retreating monsoon withdraws itself from
(A) The west coast to the east coast
(B) North-East India to the west coast
(C) The north to the south
(D) North-West India to Bengal and then to Kerala
Answer:
(D) North-West India to Bengal and then to Kerala

Question 37.
How do dust storms in summer affect the temperature?
(A) Increase it
(B) Decrease it
(C) No effect
(D) Cannot say
Answer:
(B) Decrease it

Question 38.
At which place will you find maximum sunlight in December?
(A) Kanya Kumari
(B) Pune
(C) Calcutta
(D) Leh
Answer:
(A) Kanya Kumari

Question 39.
There is heavy rainfall on the western coast of India but very little in the Deccan because ..
(A) The Deccan plateau is situated in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats
(B) The region is bypassed by the South-West monsoons
(C) Lack of high mountains in the Deccan
(D) Of some unknown reasons
Answer:
(A) The Deccan plateau is situated in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats

Question 40.
In winter, Punjab gets rainfall from –
(A) North-eastern trade winds
(B) South-west monsoons
(C) Cydones coming from the Mediterranean sea
(D) Retreating monsoon
Answer:
(C) Cydones coming from the Mediterranean sea

Question 41.
Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
(A) Mango-shower-Kerala
(B) Kalbaisakhi – West Bengal
(C) Norwester – Maharashtra
(D) Loo-Haryana and Uttar Pradesh
Answer:
(C) Norwester – Maharashtra

Question 42.
Which of the following places receives maximum sunlight in December?
(A) Shillong
(B) Ranchi
(C) Kanyakumari
(D) Jodhpur
Answer:
(C) Kanyakumari

Question 43.
In which season is the frequency of tropica cyclones in the Bay of Bengal maximum?
(A) During monsoon
(B) After summer
(C) During winter
(D) During autumn
Answer:
(C) During winter

Question 44.
The retreating monsoon has maximum effect on-
(A) Orissa
(B) West Bengal
(C) Punjab
(D) Tamilnadu
Answer:
(D) Tamilnadu

Question 45.
The easterly depressions develop over the
(A) Rann of Kachch
(B) Bay of Bengal
(C) Indian Ocean
(D) Gulf of Cambay
Answer:
(B) Bay of Bengal

Question 46.
If a strong anticyclone develops on the Southern arc of the Arabian sea, it will
(A) Cause premature coming of monsoon
(B) Delay the monsoon
(C) Have no effect on monsoon
(D) Hamper the monsoon
Answer:
(B) Delay the monsoon

Question 47.
The coldest inhabited place ranking second in the world is
(A) Kullu (Himachal Pradesh)
(B) Manali (Himachal Pradesh)
(C) Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh)
(D) Dras (Jammu & Kashmir)
Answer:
(D) Dras (Jammu & Kashmir)

Question 48.
Dust storms in the northem parts of Thar desert occur more frequently in
(A) April
(B) May
(C) March
(D) June
Answer:
(D) June

Question 49.
South-east trades cross the equator and reach the West coast of India as
(A) South-East trades
(B) South-West monsoons
(C) North-West tradess
(D) None of these
Answer:
(B) South-West monsoons

Question 50.
The easterly jet stream owes its origin to the
(A) Summer heating of the Arabian sea
(B) Summer heating of the Thar desert
(C) Summer heating of the Himalayan and Tibetan highlands
(D) Summer heating of the Arakan Yoma extension.
Answer:
(C) Summer heating of the Himalayan and Tibetan highlands

Fill in the blanks : 1 Mark

1. The western coast of India is warmer than the eastern coast by about ______ in winter season.
2. The normal date of the onset of the monsoon in Andaman and Nicobar islands is ______.
3. ______ is the hottest month in Srinagar and Shillong.
4. The norwesters (Kalbaisakhi of West Bengal) originate over the ______ plateau.
5. The thunderstorms and rains in the premonsoon time is known as ‘cherry blossoms’ in ______ state.
Answer:
1. 1.7°C
2. 20 may
3. July
4. Chotanagpur
5. Karnataka

Match the following : 1 Mark

List I (Rivers)	List II (Tributaries)
A. Asvina-Kartika	1. July-August
B. Jyestha-Asdha	2. November-December
C. Sravana-Bhadra	3. May-June
D. Margashirsha-Pausa	4. September-October

Answer:

List I (Rivers)	List II (Tributaries)
A. Asvina-Kartika	4. September-October
B. Jyestha-Asdha	3. May-June
C. Sravana-Bhadra	1. July-August
D. Margashirsha-Pausa	2. November-December

Answer in few words : 1 Mark

Question 1.
What is the general climate of India called?
Answer:
Tropical monsoon climate.

Question 2.
What is the relation between altitude and temperature?
Answer:
Temperature reduces by 6.4°C for every 1000 m rise in altitude.

Question 3.
What kind of climate is experienced by places near seas ?
Answer:
Moderate or Maritime climate.

Question 4.
What kind of climate is experienced by places far away from seas ?
Answer:
Extreme or continental climate.

Question 5.
Which planetary winds are associated with the monsoon winds?
Answer:
North-Eastern Trade winds.

Question 6.
Between which layers of the atmosphere does the Jet stream flow ?
Answer:
Between the Troposphere and Stratosphere.

Question 7.
Which months of the year comprise winter season in India ?
Answer:
December to February.

Question 8.
Which months comprise the summer season in India ?
Answer:
March to May.

Question 9.
Which months comprise the monsoon season in India ?
Answer:
June to September.

Question 10.
When does the monsoon winds retreat?
Answer:
October-November.

Question 11.
What is the major factor that controls the crop calendar in India ?
Answer:
The monsoon wind.

Question 12.
Which is the driest part of India?
Answer:
The western part of Rajasthan.

Question 13.
Which is the wettest part of India ?
Answer:
Mawsynram near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya in the east.

Question 14.
Which part of India receives rainfall twice a year?
Answer:
The South-Eastern coast or the Coromondal coast in coastal Tamil Nadu.

Question 15.
What are the cyclonic storms caused in summer in eastern coast called?
Answer:
‘Kalbaisakhi’ or Norwesters.