Climates of India — Quiz

Q1. Asks whether seasons are related to the weather or to the climate. Which answer does the chapter give and why?

• A. Only to weather, because weather changes every day.
• B. Only to climate, because climate is long-term.
• C. To both — weather changes with the season, and the seasonal pattern is tied to climate.
• D. To neither — seasons depend only on the Earth's rotation.

Q2. Most of the world has four main seasons, but India adds a fifth. Which one is it, and why does India have it?

• A. Spring — because India is in the tropics.
• B. Autumn — because trees shed leaves.
• C. The rainy season or monsoon — because India receives rainfall during a specific period of the year.
• D. Pre-winter (hemanta) — because the Himalayas cool the plains.

Q3. India's western coastal strip has a tropical wet climate with heavy rainfall during the monsoon months. Which crops does the chapter say this climate favours?

• A. Wheat and barley
• B. Apples and saffron
• C. Cotton and millets
• D. Rice and spices

Q4. The central Deccan plateau is described as having a semi-arid climate. Which combination matches this description?

• A. Cold summers, cold winters, heavy snowfall
• B. Cool summers, harsh winters, heavy monsoon rainfall
• C. Hot summers, hot winters, no rainfall
• D. Hot summers, mild winters, moderate rainfall in the rainy season

Q5. Eastern India and the southern peninsula experience a tropical climate. The wet and dry periods of this climate are mainly controlled by

• A. The Himalayan rivers
• B. The Arabian deserts
• C. The Equator
• D. The monsoon winds

Q6. Low-latitude places are warmer than high-latitude places. The BEST reason is

• A. At low latitudes the sun's rays are nearly perpendicular, focusing energy on a smaller area.
• B. Low latitudes are closer to the Moon, which warms them.
• C. High-latitude places have more clouds, so they stay cold.
• D. Low latitudes get more rainfall, which warms the surface.

Q7. Ooty's summer temperature range is 10–25°C while Coimbatore's is 25–38°C, even though both are at nearly the same latitude. The BEST explanation is

• A. Coimbatore is closer to the sea than Ooty.
• B. Coimbatore lies further from the Equator.
• C. Ooty receives the southwest monsoon first.
• D. Ooty is at a much higher altitude than Coimbatore, so its air is cooler.

Q8. Priya reads that Mumbai's temperature range is about 14°C, while Nagpur's reaches 34°C, even though both are at a similar latitude. The BEST conclusion she can draw is

• A. Latitude has no effect on temperature anywhere in India.
• B. Higher altitude always raises the temperature range.
• C. Proximity to the sea reduces the temperature range by moderating both summers and winters.
• D. Inland cities always receive more rainfall than coastal cities.

Q9. The Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges protect the Indian subcontinent from which winds, and through which factor?

• A. Hot dry winds from Arabia, through proximity to the sea
• B. Cyclonic winds from the Bay of Bengal, through altitude
• C. Monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean, through latitude
• D. Cold winds from the deserts of Central Asia, through topography

Q10. 'microclimate'. Which of the following is the BEST example of an urban heat island, as described in the chapter?

• A. A hill station like Shimla, cooler than the plains because of altitude
• B. A coastal city like Mumbai, with milder summers because of the sea
• C. A city with many buildings and concrete structures and little vegetation, often warmer than surrounding areas
• D. The Thar Desert, with hot days and cool nights

Q11. The mechanism of the monsoon is based on which simple physical fact?

• A. Land heats up and cools down faster than the ocean.
• B. Oceans heat up faster than land.
• C. Mountains absorb sunlight more than valleys.
• D. Winds always blow from east to west.

Q12. Aarti reads that the Western Ghats act as a natural barrier to the southwest monsoon. What follows from this?

• A. Both the western slopes and the Deccan plateau receive equally heavy rainfall.
• B. Neither the western slopes nor the Deccan plateau receives any rainfall.
• C. The Deccan plateau receives heavier rainfall than the western slopes.
• D. The western slopes receive much rainfall, while the Deccan plateau to the east receives less.

Q13. As winter approaches, the winds reverse and blow from the land to the ocean. A part of these winds, however, passes over the Bay of Bengal and brings rainfall to

• A. Western Rajasthan and Punjab
• B. The entire western coast
• C. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
• D. Parts of east and south India

Q14. Several consequences of a 'monsoon failure'. Which of these is NOT mentioned in the chapter as a direct consequence?

• A. Women generally have to walk long distances in search of water.
• B. Agricultural labourers are likely to migrate to the cities.
• C. Food prices rise, fuelling inflation.
• D. The number of cyclones on the eastern coast increases.

Q15. Carbon dioxide and certain other gases released by burning fossil fuels affect the climate because they

• A. Cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into space.
• B. Cause earthquakes by warming underground rocks.
• C. Block the southwest monsoon from reaching India.
• D. Trap heat from the Sun in the Earth's atmosphere, causing global warming.