1. Which of the following is/are the minor plates according to ‘Plate Tectonic Theory’?
(1) Cocos plate
(2) Antarctica plate
(3) Caroline plate
(4) Arabian plate
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 2 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (c) Explanation: According to Plate Tectonic theory, a tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly-shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Plates move horizontally over the asthenosphere as rigid units. A plate may be referred to as the continental plate or oceanic plate depending on which of the two occupy a larger portion of the plate. The theory of plate tectonics proposes that the earth’s lithosphere is divided into seven major and some minor plates.
The major plates are as follows:
1) Antarctica and the surrounding oceanic plate
2) North American (with western Atlantic floor separated from the South American plate along the Caribbean islands) plate
3) South American (with western Atlantic floor separated from the North American plate along the
Caribbean islands) plate
4) Pacific plate
5) India-Australia-New Zealand plate
6) Africa with the eastern Atlantic floor plate
7) Eurasia and the adjacent oceanic
plate.
Some important minor plates are listed below:
1) Cocos plate: Between Central America and Pacific plate
2) Nazca plate: Between South America and Pacific plate
3) Arabian plate: Mostly the Saudi Arabian landmass
4) Philippine plate: Between the Asiatic and Pacific plate
5) Caroline plate: Between the Philippine and Indian plate (North of New Guinea) 6) Fuji plate: North-east of Australia.
2. Which of the following does not belong to the list of leading sugarcane-
producing States?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Maharashtra
Answer (c) Explanation: The leading sugarcane-producing States are the leading sugar producers as well. They are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar and Jharkhand. There are more than 250 sugar mills in India, with the largest number located in Uttar Pradesh followed by Maharashtra.
3. Consider the following statements:
Assertion: The western coastal plains are narrower than eastern coastal plains.
Reason: The west coast is a coast of submergence and the east coast is a coast of emergence.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true but Reason is wrong.
(d) Assertion is wrong but Reason is true
Answer: (a) Explanation: The western coastal plains are an example of submerged coastal plain. Because of this submergence, it is a narrow belt and provides natural conditions for the development of ports and harbours. As compared to the western coastal plain, the eastern coastal plain is broader because it is an example of an emergent coast. The submergence and emergence of the coasts can be attributed to the tilting of peninsula due to Himalayan orogeny.
4. ‘Namcha Barwa’ mountain peak is situated in ____________?
(a) Arunachal Himalayas
(b) Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas
(c) Himachal and Uttarakhand Himalayas
(d) Kashmir and Northwestern Himalayas
Answer: (a) Explanation: Namcha Barwa is a part of Arunachal Himalayas. It stands inside the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River as the river enters its notable gorge across the Himalaya.
5. Which of the following statement correctly describes the ‘Kayals’?
(a) Relict hills in the scarped plateaus north of Vindhya range.
(b) Backwaters or brackish lagoons of Kerala which are used for fishing, inland navigation and tourism.
(c) Shifting sand dunes in the Great Indian Desert in Western Rajasthan.
(d) Salty marshes in Great Runn of Kutch in Northern Gujarat.
Answer: (b) Explanation: The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man- made and natural. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. The 'kayals' are used for fishing, inland navigation and tourism (every year the famous Nehru Trophy Vallamkali - boat race is held in Punnamada kayal in Kerala).