Understanding the Weather — Hard

Q1. Read the two statements about the Earth's atmosphere Statement I: The atmosphere may be compared to a cake with several layers. Statement II: The troposphere is the layer closest to the surface of the Earth and is where all land-based plants and animals live. Which of the following is correct?

• A. Only Statement I is correct.
• B. Only Statement II is correct.
• C. Both Statements I and II are correct.
• D. Both Statements I and II are incorrect.

Q2. Five elements that together define the weather at a particular place. Which of the following is NOT one of these five elements?

• A. Atmospheric pressure
• B. Wind
• C. Altitude
• D. Humidity

Q3. Read the description of a rain gauge and match the parts in Column A with their function in Column B: Column A — (i) Collecting funnel (ii) Measuring tube (iii) Measuring scale Column B — (a) reads the depth of rainwater in mm (b) directs rain into the cylinder below (c) holds the collected water in a thin column

• A. (i)–(b), (ii)–(c), (iii)–(a)
• B. (i)–(a), (ii)–(b), (iii)–(c)
• C. (i)–(c), (ii)–(a), (iii)–(b)
• D. (i)–(b), (ii)–(a), (iii)–(c)

Q4. On, the wind vane shown on an airport tarmac is given a special name. The instrument is called a 'wind sock' because it primarily gives pilots information about the

• A. Wind speed in kilometres per hour, like an anemometer.
• B. Direction of the wind during take-off and landing.
• C. Atmospheric pressure on the runway in millibars.
• D. Humidity around the aircraft, as a percentage.

Q5. Match the weather instrument with the element it measures, based (i) Hygrometer (ii) Anemometer (iii) Barometer (iv) Thermometer (a) Atmospheric pressure (b) Temperature (c) Wind direction and speed (d) Humidity

• A. (i)–(d), (ii)–(c), (iii)–(a), (iv)–(b)
• B. (i)–(b), (ii)–(a), (iii)–(c), (iv)–(d)
• C. (i)–(a), (ii)–(d), (iii)–(b), (iv)–(c)
• D. (i)–(c), (ii)–(b), (iii)–(d), (iv)–(a)

Q6. Assertion (A): Meteorologists watching a barometer reading drop below 1000 mb on the Bay of Bengal coast issue cyclone warnings. Reason (R): A pressure below 1000 mb at the sea coast indicates a depression that can sometimes develop into a storm or cyclone.

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, R is false.
• D. A is false, R is true.

Q7. One element of weather can be 'dominant' at a given time or event. Match each situation with the element that is dominant: (i) Rainfall in July (ii) Temperature in May and December (iii) Atmospheric pressure (iv) Wind (a) When a loo is blowing in north India (b) Monsoon downpour (c) Peak summer and peak winter (d) When a cyclone is moving

• A. (i)–(b), (ii)–(c), (iii)–(d), (iv)–(a)
• B. (i)–(a), (ii)–(b), (iii)–(c), (iv)–(d)
• C. (i)–(d), (ii)–(a), (iii)–(b), (iv)–(c)
• D. (i)–(c), (ii)–(d), (iii)–(a), (iv)–(b)

Q8. Read the two statements based Statement I: When you climb a mountain, the air gets thinner than in the plain below, so the air pressure is lower. Statement II: At Khardung La in Ladakh, over 5600 metres above sea level, the atmospheric pressure is generally about 1013 mb. Which is correct?

• A. Only Statement I is correct.
• B. Only Statement II is correct.
• C. Both Statements I and II are correct.
• D. Both Statements I and II are incorrect.

Q9. People travelling to high-altitude places like Ladakh are advised to 'make pauses on the way to allow the body to acclimatise.' The BEST reason for this advice is that, at high altitude

• A. The temperature drops below freezing, and the body needs time to warm up.
• B. The wind becomes very strong, and the body needs time to balance itself.
• C. The air pressure is lower and less oxygen is available, so the body needs time to adjust.
• D. The humidity rises sharply, so the body needs time to release water.

Q10. The complete Manusmriti verse reads: 'From the sun arises rain, from rain comes food, and from food, living beings originate.' Arrange the four items in the order given in the verse: 1. Food 2. Rain 3. Living beings 4. Sun

• A. 1 → 2 → 4 → 3
• B. 4 → 2 → 1 → 3
• C. 2 → 4 → 1 → 3
• D. 4 → 1 → 2 → 3

Q11. Read the statements about atmospheric pressure Statement I: Atmospheric pressure is always high in the plains and on the coast. Statement II: Sometimes the pressure drops dramatically, producing what meteorologists call a 'depression' that can develop into a cyclone. Which is correct?

• A. Only Statement I is correct.
• B. Only Statement II is correct.
• C. Both Statements I and II are correct.
• D. Both Statements I and II are incorrect.

Q12. On, the IMD weather warning map of 19 May 2024 uses different icons for various conditions. Which of the following is NOT one of the conditions for which an icon is shown on that map?

• A. Heat wave
• B. Heavy snow
• C. Earthquake
• D. Thunder and lightning

Q13. Assertion (A): Weather predictions have become very important nowadays. Reason (R): Climate change is making extreme weather, such as droughts, floods and cyclones, more frequent.

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, R is false.
• D. A is false, R is true.

Q14. Question 4 gives the IMD 'Daily Weather Parameters' table for Jammu & Kashmir on 01-02-2024. In the table, S/N stands for snowfall in cm, R/F for rainfall in mm, and 'TR' means a trace amount. According to that table, Srinagar received

• A. Heavy rainfall of 13.4 mm and 2.4 cm of snow.
• B. Only a trace amount of rainfall between 0830 and 1730 hrs, with 13.4 mm of rain and 2.4 cm of snow in the 24-hour spell ending 0830.
• C. No rainfall at all during the 24 hours.
• D. 13.4 cm of snowfall and 2.4 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour spell.

Q15. The side margin defines 'statistics' as a technique. According to this definition, the MAIN purpose of using statistics on temperature recordings is to

• A. Make the data look colourful in newspaper graphs.
• B. Gather and analyse data so as to detect patterns, understand events or make predictions.
• C. Reduce the size of the data set so that it fits on one printed page.
• D. Help students remember the maximum temperature each day.