Static Quiz 23 November 2022 (Geography)

Solution: C Justification: The term karst describes a distinctive topography that indicates dissolution (also called chemical solution) of underlying soluble rocks by surface water or ground water. Although commonly associated with carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite) other highly soluble rocks such as evaporates (gypsum and rock salt) can be sculpted into karst terrain. Statement 2: Though most abundant in humid regions where carbonate rock is present, karst terrain occurs in temperate, tropical, alpine and polar environments. Karst features range in scale from microscopic (chemical precipitates) to entire drainage systems and ecosystems which cover hundreds of square miles, and broad karst plateaus. Although karst processes sculpt beautiful landscapes, karst systems are very vulnerable to ground water pollution due to the relatively rapid rate of water flow and the lack of a natural filtration system. This puts local drinking water supplies at risk of being contaminated

Solution: B
Justification: It is the longest mountain-chain on the surface of the earth though submerged under the
oceanic waters. It is characterised by a central rift system at the crest, a fractionated plateau and flank zone
all along its length. The rift system at the crest is the zone of intense volcanic activity. There is no such zone of
Wegner’s Oscillations.

Solution: B Justification: Statement 1: It is a large area of exposed Precambrian igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks (geological shield) that forms the ancient geological core of the North American continent. Composed of igneous rock resulting from its long volcanic history, the area is covered by a thin layer of soil.
Statement 2: They are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachian chain is a barrier to east-west travel, as it forms a series of alternating ridgelines and valleys oriented in opposition to most roads running east or west.

Solution: D Justification: Certain parts of continents are recognized as subcontinents, especially the large peninsulas separated from the main continental landmass by geographical features. The most notable examples are the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula. The southern cone of South America and the Alaskan peninsula of North America are other examples. In many of these cases, the “subcontinents” concerned are on different tectonic plates from the rest of the continent, providing a geological justification for the terminology. Greenland, generally reckoned as the world’s largest island on the north-eastern periphery of the North
American Plate, is sometimes referred to as a subcontinent. This is a significant departure from the more
conventional view of the subcontinent as comprising a very large peninsula on the fringe of a continent.

Solution: C Justification: Option A: They are elevated land tops, and maintain a rugged high profile of the terrain.
Option B: Islands, although situated at sea level, can acquire higher elevation due to presence of features like
mountains, volcanoes, etc.
Option C: Deltas occur near the sea mouth, i.e. very close to Mean sea level, which can be the lowest
elevation possible.
Option D: Rivers flow further from plains to join the sea. So, plains are usually at a higher elevation than delta.