80 practice questions on Geomorphology from the Geography section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus.
80 come with a written explanation and 14 are actual previous year questions.
Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.
11 Easy40 Medium29 Hard14 from past papers
Sample questions
Q1
Previous year questionhard
Consider the following:
1. Electromagnetic radiation
2. Geothermal energy
3. Gravitational force
4. Plate movements
5. Rotation of the earth
6. Revolution of the earth
Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?
A1, 2, 3 and 4 only
B1, 3, 5 and 6 only
C2, 4, 5 and 6 only
D1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
All six listed factors contribute to dynamic surface processes. Solar electromagnetic radiation drives weathering, the heat budget and atmospheric circulation; geothermal energy powers volcanism and diastrophism; gravitational force drives mass movements and tides; plate movements build mountains and ocean basins; the earth's rotation generates pressure belts, winds and the Coriolis effect; and its revolution, with the tilted axis, produces seasons and tidal effects. Since each plays a role, option (d) is correct.
Q2
Previous year questioneasy
Consider the following statements:
1. In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves.
2. In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct, so the answer is (c). P (primary) waves are the fastest seismic waves and reach a seismograph before the slower S (secondary) waves, confirming statement 1. P waves are longitudinal, with particle motion parallel to the direction of travel, while S waves are transverse, with particle motion perpendicular to travel, which validates statement 2. Since both are accurate, the options limiting correctness to one statement or to neither are wrong.
Q3
Previous year questionmedium
The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why?
1. It occupies a linear rift valley.
2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.
3. The land slopes to the west from Central India.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
A1 only
B2 and 3
C1 and 3
DNone
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - 1 only
The Narmada flows westward because it occupies a linear rift (fault) valley that slopes to the west, so statement 1 is the correct reason and option (a) is right. Statement 2 merely describes its location between the Vindhyas and Satpuras, which does not by itself dictate westward flow. Statement 3 is factually wrong because the peninsular plateau generally slopes from west to east, which is why most peninsular rivers like the Godavari and Krishna flow eastward.
Q4
Previous year questionmedium
Consider the following statements:
1. The Earth's magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years.
2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide.
3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The Earth's magnetic field has undergone many polarity reversals over geological time, recorded in the magnetic minerals of sea-floor rocks, so statement 1 is right. Early life, especially photosynthetic organisms, transformed the atmosphere by releasing oxygen in the Great Oxidation Event, so statement 3 is right. Statement 2 is wrong because the primitive atmosphere was rich in gases like carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and water vapour with almost no free oxygen, certainly not 54% oxygen. Hence the answer is 1 and 3 only.
Q5
Previous year questionmedium
Consider the following:
1. Pyroclastic debris
2. Ash and dust
3. Nitrogen compounds
4. Sulphur compounds
How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?
AOnly one
BOnly two
COnly three
DAll four
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - All four
Volcanic eruptions throw out solid pyroclastic debris and fine ash and dust, so items 1 and 2 qualify. Volcanic gases include sulphur compounds such as sulphur dioxide and also nitrogen and its compounds, so items 3 and 4 qualify too. All four are recognised products of volcanism, making option (d) correct. Any choice limiting the count to fewer than four understates the range of solid and gaseous volcanic emissions.
Q6
Previous year questionhard
Consider the following statements :
Statement I : Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth's rotation and axis.
Statement II : Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth's outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.
Statement III : As the Earth's polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
ABoth Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
BBoth Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
COnly one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
DNeither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
Both statements II and III are factually correct: solar flares with coronal mass ejections do bombard the upper atmosphere, and melting polar ice does redistribute water towards the equator. However, it is the redistribution of mass from the poles towards the equator (statement III) that actually alters the Earth's rotation and axis, while solar flares do not cause such a shift. Hence both II and III are correct but only one of them explains statement I.
Q7
Previous year questionhard
The Brahmaputra, Irrawady and Mekong rivers originate in Tibet and flow through narrow and parallel mountain ranges in their upper reaches. Of these rivers, Brahmaputra makes a "U" turn in its course to flow into India. This "U" turn is due to
AUplift of folded Himalayan series
BSyntaxial bending of geologically young Himalayas
CGeo-tectonic disturbance in the tertiary folded mountain chains
DBoth (a) and (b) above
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - Syntaxial bending of geologically young Himalayas
Correct answer (b) Syntaxial bending of geologically young Himalayas. Near Namcha Barwa the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo) takes its sharp U-shaped bend because of the syntaxial bend, the acute hairpin warping of the still-rising young Himalayan ranges at their eastern terminus, which deflects the river around the structure into India. (a) names only a partial cause, the uplift, without the bending geometry, and (c) describes general tectonic disturbance too vaguely. The precise structural cause is the eastern syntaxis, so (b) is the best answer and (d) is unnecessary.
Q8
Previous year questionmedium
When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:
1. Deep gorges
2. U-turn river courses
3. Parallel mountain ranges
4. Steep gradients causing land sliding
Which of the above can be said to be the evidences for Himalayas being young fold mountains?
A1 and 2 only
B1, 2 and 4 only
C3 and 4 only
D1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 1, 2, 3 and 4
All four features point to the Himalayas being geologically young fold mountains still undergoing upliftment. Deep gorges form because vigorous rivers cut down rapidly through rising land. U-turn (hairpin) river courses reflect antecedent drainage adjusting to ongoing tectonic uplift. Parallel mountain ranges (the Shiwaliks, Lesser and Greater Himalayas) result from successive folding of crustal sheets during the India-Eurasia collision. Steep, unstable slopes producing frequent landslides indicate immature topography that has not yet been worn down. Since every one of these is an evidence of youth, the answer is 1, 2, 3 and 4.
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