VISION IAS

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ANSWERS & EXPLANATION

GENERAL STUDIES (P) TEST 2108 (2017)

Q 1.D

1 is correct as rice is the most characteristic crop of monsoonal land.

2 is correct as wide range of cash crops are cultivated in the lowland tropical region for export like
sugarcane, jute etc.
3 is correct as colonization gave rise to cultivation of certain plantation crops. Tropical upland forests
were cleared for tea and coffee plantation.

Q 2.C

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest Ocean in the world.

The coastline of Atlantic Ocean is highly indented. This irregular and indented coastline provides ideal
location for natural harbours and ports. From the point of view of commerce, it is the busiest Ocean.
Thriving Atlantic Rim economies is not related to the Natural harbours and ports.
Atlantic Ocean is 'S' shaped. It is flanked by the North and South Americas on the western side, and
Europe and Africa on the eastern side.

Q 3.C

Inland Ports are located away from the sea coast. They are linked to the sea through a river or a canal.
Memphis located on the river Mississippi, Mannheim and Duisburg on Rhine in Germany and Kolkata
located on the river Hoogli are some of the inland ports. Therefore, (c) is the correct answer.

Q 4.D

Cropping intensity includes increasing the total output per unit area of land from all crops grown over one
agricultural year by increasing land-use intensity. For a land scarce but labour abundant country like
India, a high cropping intensity is desirable not only for fuller utilisation of land resource, but also for
reducing unemployment in the rural economy. All statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

Q 5.B

Punjab - Sirhind Canal, Bhakra Canal

Uttar Pradesh - Sharda Canal, Upper and Lower Ganga Canal
Karnataka - Vishweshwarya Canal
Malprabha project canal
Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

Q 6.D

Kochchi Port, situated at the head of Vembanad Kayal, popularly known as the 'Queen of the Arabian
Sea', is also a natural harbour. This port has an advantageous location being close to the Suez-Colombo
route. It caters to the needs of Kerala, southern-Karnataka and south western Tamil Nadu.

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Q 7.B

The North-Eastern part of U.S.A., North-Western part of Europe, South, South-East and East Asia are the
densely populated parts of the world with more than 200 persons on every sq km.
Other areas like those near the North and South Poles, the hot and the cold deserts and high rainfall zones
near the Equator have very low density of population. These are the sparsely populated regions of the
world with less than 01 person per sq km.
In general, if climate of the areas is taken into consideration along with other factors like availability of
mineral and less oppressive weather, answer can be arrived at easily.
Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

Q 8.B

Demographic transition theory tells us that population of any region changes from high births and high
deaths to low births and low deaths as society progresses from rural agrarian and illiterate to urban
industrial and literate society.
The first stage has high birth rate and high death rate because people reproduce more to compensate for
the deaths due to epidemics and variable food supply.
Fertility remains high in the beginning of second stage but it declines with time. This is accompanied by
reduced mortality rate. Improvements in sanitation and health conditions lead to decline in mortality.
In the last stage, both fertility and mortality decline considerably. The population is either stable or grows
slowly.
Therefore, 2-1-3 is the correct sequence.

Q 9.C
Hugli Region and Bengaluru-Tamil Nadu Region are classified as Major Industrial Regions.

Q 10.A

Nomadic heding is a primitive form of subsistence activity. Here, cattles are used by herders for tools,
transport, food and clothing. Different tribes moves with cattles in search of pastures both horizontally
(across latitude) and vertically (across elevation) in search of pastures.
Moving of tribes up the mountain during summers for pastures and subsequently coming back to plains
during winters is called as Transhumance. Therefore, statement 1 incorrect.
In tundra region, tribes moves from South to north in summers and north to south in winters. Therefore,
statement 2 is correct.
In India Gaddis, Gujjars, Bakarwal and Bhotiyas in himalayan region are the nomadic herding tribes who
practice transhumance. Therefore, statement 3 is correct.

Q 11.C

Barauni refinery is located inland in the state of Bihar. Numaligarh refinery is located in Assam state.
Tatipaka refinery is located along the coast of Andhra pradesh in Godavari delta.

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Q 12.B

Option (b) is the correct answer. Chotanagpur Region-This region owes its development to the discovery
of coal in the Damodar Valley and metallic and non-metallic minerals in Jharkhand and northern Orissa.
Six large integrated iron and steel plants at Jamshedpur, Burnpur- Kulti, Durgapur, Bokaro and Rourkela
are located within this region.

Q 13.A

Linear pattern: In such settlements houses are located along a road, railway line, river, canal edge of a
valley or along a levee.
Rectangular pattern: Such patterns of rural settlements are found in plain areas or wide inter montane
valleys. The roads are rectangular and cut each other at right angles.
Circular pattern: Circular villages develop around lakes, tanks and sometimes the village is planned in
such a way that the central part remains open and is used for keeping the animals to protect them from
wild animals.
Therefore, pairs 1 and 2 are incorrectly matched.

Q 14.A

Among the four migration streams, the rural to rural migration is the most dominant one which majorly
consists of female migrants who migrate after marriage.

Q 15.B
All the given regions are associated with copper mining. Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

Q 16.D

On the basis of chemical and physical properties, minerals may be grouped under two main categories of
metallics and non-metallics.
Among the non-metallic minerals produced in India, mica is the important one. The other minerals
extracted for local consumption are limestone, dolomite and phosphate. Therefore, (d) is the correct
answer.

Q 17.B

Commercial Livestock Rearing is rearing of animals in large ranches organized on scientific basis. It is
highly capital intensive as it uses latest sophisticated technology for processing of meat ,hided wool etc.
Therefore, both the statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Commercial livestock ranching is essentially associated with western cultures and is practiced on
permanent ranches. New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay and United States of America are
important countries where commercial livestock rearing is practiced. Therefore, statement 3 is not correct.

Q 18.C

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) headquarter is in

Vienna, Austria.
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. EU (European Union) headquarter is located in Brussels, Belgium.
Pair 3 is correctly matched.

Q 19.B
Statement 1 is not correct. WTO was formed in 1995 with its headquarters located in Geneva,
Switzerland.
Statement 2 is correct. It is the only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade
between nations. It sets the rules for the global trading system and resolves disputes between its member
nations.
Statement 3 is not correct. WTO covers trade in services, such as telecommunication and banking, and
others issues such as intellectual rights.
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Q 20.A

Shifting agriculture is a form of agriculture, in which an area of ground is cleared of vegetation by

burning and cultivated for a few years and then abandoned for a new area until its fertility has been
naturally restored.
Statement 1 correct. The ashes after burning of vegetation increase the fertility of soil for temporary
period.
Statement 2 incorrect. It is a primitive form of agriculture in which primitive tools like sticks and hoes are
used.
Statement 3 incorrect. It is largely prevalent in tropical regions. Locally it is known by different names
such as: Jhuming in NE India, Jadang in Indonesia and Malaysia, Milpa in Central America and Mexico.

Q 21.C

Dryland Farming is largely confined to the regions having annual rainfall less than 75 cms. These regions
grow hardy and drought resistant crops such as ragi, bajra, moong, gram and guar (fodder crops) and
practice various measures of soil moisture conservation and rain water harvesting.

Q 22.C

There are two sets of factors that influence migration.

The Push factors make the place of origin seem less attractive for reasons like unemployment, poor living
conditions, political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics and socio-economic
backwardness.
The Pull factors make the place of destination seem more attractive than the place of origin for reasons
like better job opportunities and living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and property and
pleasant climate.
Therefore, (c) is the correct answer.

Q 23.D

Statement 1 is correct, with the advent of refrigerated ships in the 19th century ,it became easier for the
export of meat, butter, cheese etc thus giving push to the pastoral farming.
Statement 2 is correct, the original Tuft grass was replaced by alfa-alfa grass which is considered to be
more nutritious hence suitable for animal rearing and pastoral farming.
Statement 3 is correct, increasing emphasis being placed on the ranching of animals for meat production
led to establishment of large number of meat packing factories in coastal port cities helped in export.

Q 24.A

Statement 1 is correct. Natural Growth = Births - Deaths

Actual Growth of Population = {Births - Deaths} + {In Migration - Out Migration}
Net migration will determine whether natural growth is greater or actual growth is greater. Therefore it
cannot be said that actual growth of population is always greater than the natural growth of population.
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Q 25.B

Pair 1 is correctly matched. NW 1 (Allahabad-Haldia stretch (1,620 km))- It is one of the most important
waterways in India, which is navigable by mechanical boats up to Patna and by ordinary boats up to
Haridwar. It is divided into three parts for developmental purposes- (i) Haldia-Farakka (560 km), (ii)
Farakka- Patna (460 km), (iii) Patna- Allahabad (600 km).
Pair 2 is correctly matched. NW 2 (Sadiya-Dhubri stretch (891 km))- Brahmaputra is navigable by
steamers up to Dibrugarh (1,384 km) which is shared by India and Bangladesh.
Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. NW 3 (Kottapuram-Kollam stretch (205 km))- It includes 168 km of west
coast canal along with Champakara canal (23 km) and Udyogmandal canal (14 km).

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Q 26.D

In India, systematic surveying, prospecting and exploration for minerals is undertaken by the Geological
Survey of India (GSI), Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd.
(MECL), National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Bharat
Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML), Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO)
and the Departments of Mining and Geology in various states.

Q 27.B

The correct order is: Haldia (west bengal) - Paradip (odisha) - Marmagao (Goa) - Chennai (Tamil nadu)

Q 28.D

Statement 1 is correct. Many industries benefit from nearness to a leader industry and other industries.
Savings are derived from the linkages which exist between different industries.
Statement 2 is correct. Industries which use more power are located close to the source of the energy
supply such as the aluminium industry.
Statement 3 is correct. Governments adopt 'regional policies' to promote 'balanced' economic development
and hence set up industries in particular areas.
Statement 4 is correct. Speedy and efficient transport facilities to carry raw materials to the factory and to
move finished goods to the market are essential for the development of industries. The cost of transport
plays an important role in the location of industrial units.

Q 29.C

Sugarcane is a labour intensive crop. The crop is kept weed-free and irrigated frequently if there are no timely
rain. Most of the crop is planted just before the hot season, a little earlier in the southern and eastern parts.
Sugarcane is planted through following methods:

Sett Method: New canes are usually planted by taking cuttings from old plants. These cuttings, known as
setts, quickly become established and after a few days buds sprout to form new stalks. Four to five stalks
grow from cutting. The sugarcane takes anything from 8 months to a year to mature.
Ratooning: In this method, during the first harvest, the sugarcane is cut leaving a little bit of the stalk in
the soil with the roots. The stalk soon puts out new shoots or ratoons. The second or any other successive
crop obtained from the roots of the leftover crop is called Ratoon.

Q 30.C

In ancient times, riverways were the main highways of transportation in India. But they lost importance
because of competition from railways, lack of water due to diversion for irrigation and poor maintenance.
Inland waterways are cheaper when compared to other modes of transportation.

Q 31.B

Mumbai is a natural harbour and the biggest port of the country. The port is situated closer to the general
routes from the countries of Middle East, Mediterranean countries, North Africa, North America and
Europe where the major share of country's overseas trade is carried out.
Marmagao Port, situated at the entrance of the Zuari estuary, is a natural harbour in Goa. It gained
significance after its remodelling in 1961 to handle iron-ore exports to Japan.
Kochchi Port, situated at the head of Vembanad Kayal, popularly known as the "Queen of the Arabian
Sea", is also a natural harbour. This port has an advantageous location being close to the Suez-Colombo
route.
Chennai Port is one of the oldest ports on the eastern coast. It is an artificial harbour built in 1859. It is not
much suitable for large ships because of the shallow waters near the coast.

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Q 32.A

The Tata Iron and Steel plant - Water is obtained from the Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers.
The Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO) - Water is obtained from the Barakar River, a tributary of the
Damodar.
Visvesvaraiya Iron and Steel Works Ltd. (VISL) - Water is obtained from the Bhadravati river.
Rourkela Steel Plant - Water is obtained from the Koel and Sankh rivers.

Q 33.D

The proportion of forest and area under non agricultural use have increased while that of barren and waste
land category has decreased.

Q 34.A

Barren and Wastelands : The land which may be classified as a wasteland such as barren hilly terrains,
desert lands, ravines, etc. normally cannot be brought under cultivation with the available technology.
Culturable Waste-Land : Any land which is left fallow (uncultivated) for more than five years is included
in this category. It can be brought under cultivation after improving it through reclamation practices.
Therefore, statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2 is not correct. Land put to Non-agricultural Uses includes land under settlements (rural and
urban), infrastructure (roads, canals, etc.), industries, shops, etc.

Q 35.B

The correct order from west to east is: Bhadravati (karnataka) - Bhilai (Chattisgarh) - Durgapur (West
Bengal)

Q 36.D

Cotton is a tropical crop grown in kharif season in semi-arid areas of the country. Cotton requires clear
sky during flowering stage. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Statement 3 is correct. Per hectare output of cotton is high under irrigated conditions in north-western
region of the country. Its yield is very low in Maharashtra where it is grown under rainfed conditions.

Q 37.C

Savanna Climate support a wide range of tropical crops. The newly independent states of Kenya, Uganda,
Tanzania and Malawi have taken to large scale production of cotton. In West Africa, the commercial
cultivation of ground nut, oil palm and cocoa have been extended into the savanna lands.

Q 38.D

The woolen industry is not developed in India due to the following reasons:

India being a tropical county, woolen clothes are required only in northern India during the winter months,
hence there is not much demand.
Good quality of wool has to be imported due to the poor quality of indigenous wool.
Growing competition from synthetic fibres. They are gradually replacing the woolen industry.
Other reasons include - woolen mills are scattered all over the country. So the mill owners are unable to to
work jointly for its improvement.

Q 39.C

Option (c) is the correct answer. Cotton is a "pure" raw material which does not lose weight in the
manufacturing process.
In iron and steel industries, iron ore and coal both are weight-losing raw materials. In sugar industry,
Sugarcane is a weight-losing crop.
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Q 40.D

The characteristic features of Plantation agriculture are large estates or plantations, large capital
investment, managerial and technical support, scientific methods of cultivation, single crop
specialisation, cheap labour, and a good system of transportation which links the estates to the factories
and markets for the export of the products. Therefore, (d) is the correct answer.

Q 41.D

All the given pairs are correctly matched. Kota in Rajasthan has nuclear energy plant. Wind power plant
at Lamba in Gujarat in Kachchh is the largest in Asia. There is a geothermal energy plant at Manikaran in
Himachal Pradesh.

Q 42.D

Statement 1 is correct because intensive subsistence farming is found mostly in monsoon regions of Asia
which have dense population and fertile soil. Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation is best developed
in Eurasian steppes, the Canadian and American Prairies, the Pampas of Argentina, the Velds of South
Africa, the Australian Downs and the Canterbury Plains of New Zealand.
Statement 2 is correct because the land holdings in these regions are small and farmers dont have
much resources for mechanization. In Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation, the size of the farm is
very large, therefore entire operations of cultivation from ploughing to harvesting are mechanised.
Statement 3 is correct because in Intensive Subsistence Agriculture, the yield per unit area is high but
yield per person is low. In Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation, there is low yield per acre but high
yield per person.

Q 43.A

There are three distinct crop seasons in the northern and interior parts of country, namely kharif, rabi and
zaid. However, this type of distinction in the cropping season does not exist in southern parts of the
country. Here, the temperature is high enough to grow tropical crops during any period in the year
provided the soil moisture is available. Therefore, in this region same crops can be grown thrice in an
agricultural year provided there is sufficient soil moisture. Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.

Q 44.B

Statement 1 is correct. The large integrated steel industry is traditionally located close to the sources of
raw materials - iron ore, coal, manganese and limestone - or at places where these could be easily brought,
e.g. near ports.
Statement 2 is not correct. Appalachian region rich in iron-ore and coal is located in the U.S.A.

Q 45.A

Option (a) is the correct answer. The farming where farmers specialise in vegetables is know as truck
farming. The distance of truck farms from the market is governed by the distance that a truck can cover
overnight, hence the name truck farming.

Q 46.C

The development of inland waterways in any region is dependent on the navigability which in turn
depends on width and depth of the channel, continuity in the water flow and transport technology in use.
The degree of urbanisation has no effect on development of inland waterways. Infact during the ancient
period, the inland waterways were more developed in rural areas.

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Q 47.B

Population ageing is a process by which the population of older people becomes proportionally higher:

1 is not correct because population ageing is accompanied with low birth rate and low death rate
2 is correct because low birth rate leads to a condition where working population decreases and low death
rate ensures that population of dependent older people increases
3 is not correct as population ageing is not associated with Sex ratio.

Q 48.D

Option d is incorrect because government policy is the prime factor behind location of footloose
industries.

Q 49.C

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in Baghdad, Iraq, with the
signing of an agreement in September 1960 by five countries namely Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq,
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. They were to become the Founder Members of the Organization.
These countries were later joined by Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab
Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador (1973), Gabon (1975) and Angola (2007).
From December 1992 until October 2007, Ecuador suspended its membership. Indonesia suspended its
membership in January 2009, but this was reactivated in January 2016. Gabon terminated its membership
in January 1995. However, it rejoined the Organization in July 2016.

Q 50.D

Statement 1 is correct as dairy farming is both highly capital intensive as well as labour intensive. It
involves capital investments in farm machinery, buildings, milk processing equipment etc. Labour is
required to take proper care of animals.
Statement 2 is correct because the dairy products have a very short shelf life. So, nearby markets are an
important requirement for the dairy farms to gain profits.
Statement 3 is correct as there is no off season during the year as in the case of crop raising.

Q 51.C

Normally a cooler and more northerly latitude is preferred for growing of potato as it will be less prone to
the attack of 'blight', a virus disease, that is particularly infectious in warm and humid regions.

Q 52.C

The Human Development Index (HDI) by UNDP uses the following components:

Life expectancy at birth

Mean of years of schooling for adults aged 25 years
Expected years of schooling for children of school entering age
GNI per capita (PPP$)

Q 53.D

Statement 1 is correct as soils of tropical regions are latosolic, rapidly leached out and easily exhausted.
Statement 2 is correct as farmers use simple hoes and sticks for ploughing and seeding. Drought animals
are unknown and labour is exclusively manual.
Statement 3 is also correct because soil quality keeps declining. First crops gives good harvest but
subsequent harvest deteriorate.

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Q 54.A

Statement 1 is correct. Viticulture or grape cultivation is a specialty of the Mediterranean region. Best
quality wines in the world with distinctive flavours are produced from high quality grapes in various
countries of this region. The inferior grapes are dried into raisins and currants.
Statement 2 is not correct. Mediterranean agriculture is highly specialised commercial agriculture.
Statement 3 is not correct. Collective farming is based on social ownership of the means of production and
collective labour which is not a characteristic feature of Mediterranean region.

Q 55.D

Indira Gandhi Canal, previously known as the Rajasthan Canal, is one of the largest canal systems in
India. The canal originates at Harike barrage in Punjab and runs parallel to Pakistan border at an average
distance of 40 km in Thar Desert (Marusthali) of Rajasthan. Water of Banas river is not used for this
canal. Therefore, both the statements are not correct.

Q 56.C

Statement 1 is correct. Physiological density = total population / net cultivated area

Statement 2 is correct. Agricultural density = total agricultural population / net cultivable area.
Agricultural population includes cultivators, agricultural labourers and their family members.

Q 57.D

Statement 1 is correct as mixed farming is found in the developed countries of North Western Europe,
Eastern North America, parts of Eurasia and temperate latitudes of South America and Australia.
Statement 2 is correct because to maintain the soil fertility, farmers practice crop rotation and inter
cropping.
Statement 3 is correct because equal emphasis is laid on crop cultivation and animal husbandry. Animals
like cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry provide the main income along with crops.

Q 58.C

There are three varieties of coffee i.e. arabica, robusta and liberica. India mostly grows superior quality
coffee, arabica, which is in great demand in International market.

Q 59.B

The distribution of roads is not uniform in the country. Nature of terrain and the level of economic
development are the main determinants of density of roads. Therefore, both 1 and 2 are correct.
Predominance of agricultural activities is not the reason behind varying density or low density of roads.
Infact it should have led to more density of roads.

Q 60.C

Rice and Maize are grown as Kharif crops while Wheat and Mustard are Rabi crops.

Q 61.B

Activities under Services Sector-

Tertiary activities- Trader and commerce, Transport, Communication.

Quaternary activities- Information based, R&D based.
Quinary activities- specialists, decision makers, consultant, policy formulation.

Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

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Q 62.C

Statement 1 is correct. Tertiary activities involves both production and exchange. The production involves
'provision' of services that are 'consumed'. Tertiary activities, therefore, involve the commercial output of
services rather than production of tangible goods.
Statement 2 is correct. The main difference between secondary activities and tertiary activities is that the
expertise provided by services relies more heavily on specialised skills, experience and knowledge of the
workers rather than on the production techniques, machinery and factory processes.

Q 63.B

Statement 1 is not correct. Zaid is a short duration summer cropping season beginning after harvesting of
rabi crops.
Statement 2 is correct. The cultivation of watermelons, cucumbers, vegetables and fodder crops during
this season is done on irrigated lands.

Q 64.C

Both the statements are incorrect with reference to quaternary activities.

Like some of the tertiary functions, quaternary activities can also be outsourced. Because they are not tied
to resources, affected by the environment, or necessarily localised by market.

Q 65.D

Statement 1 is correct as countries with more youth population like India has more birth rate.
A population pyramid is used to show age-sex structure of population. Statement 2 is correct as triangular
shaped pyramid with a wide base and is typical of less developed countries. These have larger populations
in lower age.
Statement 3 is correct. When age-sex pyramid is bell shaped and tapers towards top then birth and death
rate is almost equal tending to constant population.

Q 66.D

Rural or Village roads account for over 58 per cent of the total length of roads in the country.
National Highways - 2 per cent
State Highways - 3.5 per cent

Q 67.D

Statement 1 is correct - a Laurentian type of climate is found only in two regions- One in North eastern
North America wherein warm Gulf Stream meets with cold Labrador currents and second in Eastern coast
of Asia where warm Kuroshio meets with cold Oyashio currents. The fusion of currents is most favorable
condition for fishes to grow.
Statement 2 is correct as continental shelves in these regions are gentle. Fish feeds like planktons grow in
shallow waters adjacent to land mass. Planktons are photosynthesizing microscopic organisms that inhabit
the upper sunlit layer. In shallow water, they can access sunlight easily.
Statement 3 is correct- as explained above planktons are an important feed of fish and shares a direct
relation with abundances of planktons.

Q 68.B

Statement 1 is not correct. In the 8th Five year Plan special area programmes were designed to develop
infrastructure in hill areas, north-eastern states, tribal areas and backward areas.
Statement 2 is correct. Some of the examples of programmes directed towards the development of target
areas are Command Area Development Programme, Drought Prone Area Development Programme,
Desert Development Programme, Hill Area Development Programme.

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Q 69.B

The major drawbacks of India coal are low calorific value and high ash content. Majority of coal reserves
are of Bituminous type not Lgnite types.

Q 70.B

Red Collar - Primary Activites

Gold Collar - Quinary
White Collar - Professionals in High Technology industry
Blue Collar - Workers in industries

Q 71.A

In primitive and developing economies , majority of population is engaged in agriculture, fisheries and
other primary activities. As the economy expands, employment begins to grow in labor intensive
secondary and tertiary sector.
Statement 1 is correct because only a developed economy with industries and infrastructure can
accommodate more workers in the secondary, tertiary and Quaternary sector.
Statement 2 is not correct because developing and underdeveloped economies will have most of their
population in primary sector. Quaternary sector which consist of research and developing ideas is not very
important in such countries.

Q 72.A

In recent decades there has been a tendency of the sugar industry's growth towards the South. This is because:

In South India the favourable maritime climate free from the effects of summer loo and winter frost is best
suited for growing superior varieties of cane. So there is longer production period. Therefore, statement 2
is not correct.
The yield per hectare is lower in North Indian Sugar Industry than Peninsular Indian Sugar Industry.
Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

Q 73.C

Tank refers to a small bund of earth or stones built across a stream to impound water which is then led
through narrow channels to the cultivated fields. Statement 1 is correct. It is mainly practiced Deccan
Plateau region.
Statement 2 is correct. It requires hard rock in the area which do not suck up water. This is the reason why
tank irrigation is not found in alluvial plains.

Q 74.A

Apart from wheat, which is primarily a crop of temperate zone, all the other - cotton, sugarcane and coffee
are tropical crops.

Q 75.B

Pygmies are from Congo basin and Masai are from Kenya. Amazon basin has Indian tribe.

Q 76.C

Rural settlements in India can broadly be put into four types:

Clustered Settlements is a compact or closely built up area of houses. In this type of village the
general living area is distinct and separated from the surrounding farms, barns and pastures. Such
settlements are generally found in fertile alluvial plains and in the northeastern states. Sometimes,
people live in compact village for security or defence reasons, such as in the Bundelkhand region of

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 central India and in Nagaland. In Rajasthan, scarcity of water has necessitated compact settlement for
maximum utilisation of available water resources.
Semi-clustered or fragmented settlements may result from tendency of clustering in a restricted area
of dispersed settlement. More often such a pattern may also result from segregation or fragmentation
of a large compact village. Such settlements are widespread in the Gujarat plain and some parts of
Rajasthan.
Hamleted Settlements is fragmented into several units physically separated from each other bearing a
common name. These units are locally called panna, para, palli, nagla, dhani, etc. in various parts of
the country. This segmentation of a large village is often motivated by social and ethnic factors. Such
villages are more frequently found in the middle and lower Ganga plain, Chhattisgarh and lower
valleys of the Himalayas.
Dispersed or isolated settlement pattern in India appears in the form of isolated huts or hamlets of few
huts in remote jungles, or on small hills with farms or pasture on the slopes. Extreme dispersion of
settlement is often caused by extremely fragmented nature of the terrain and land resource base of
habitable areas. Many areas of Meghalaya, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala have this type
of settlement.

Q 77.D

Globalisation means integrating the economy of the country with the world economy. In Indian context, this
implies:

opening of the economy to foreign direct investment by providing facilities to foreign companies to invest
in different fields of economies activity in India;
removing restrictions and obstacles to the entry of multinational companies in India;
allowing Indian companies to enter into foreign collaboration in India and also encouraging them to set up
joint ventures abroad;
carrying out massive import liberalisation programmes by switching over from quantitative restrictions to
tariffs in the first place, and then bringing down the level of import duties considerably;
instead of a set of export incentives, opting for exchange rate adjustments for promoting export.
Therefore, all the statements are correct.

Q 78.D

The correct order is: City - Conurbation - Megalopolis

A city may be regarded as a leading town, which has outstripped its local or regional rivals. Cities are
much larger than towns and have a greater number of economic functions.
The term conurbation was applied to a large area of urban development that resulted from the merging of
originally separate towns or cities. Greater London, Manchester, Chicago and Tokyo are examples of
Conurbation.
Megalopolis signifies 'super-metropolitan' region extending, as union of conurbations. The urban
landscape stretching from Boston in the north to south of Washington in U.S.A. is the best known
example of a megalopolis.

Q 79.B

Agriculture accounts for majority of both surface and ground water utilisation, it accounts for 89 per cent
of the surface water and 92 per cent of the groundwater utilisation. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct
and statement 2 is correct.
While the share of industrial sector is limited to 2 per cent of the surface water utilisation and 5 per cent of
the ground-water.

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Q 80.D

Land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves:

Statement 1 is correct. It includes all cultivable land which is not included under net area sown, but is put
to some agricultural use.
Statement 2 is correct as much of this land is privately owned.
Statement 3 is correct. The land under orchards and fruit trees are included in this category. It does not
include land under bamboo.

Odisha has the largest area in this category.

Q 81.D

The important nuclear power projects are:

Tarapur (Maharashtra)
Rawatbhata near Kota (Rajasthan)
Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu)
Narora (Uttar Pradesh)
Kaiga (Karnataka)
Kakarapara (Gujarat)

Q 82.A

Mulberry accounts for about 90 per cent of the total natural silk produced in India. Therefore, (a) is the
correct answer.

Q 83.B

Statement 1 is correct. In the first stage of demographic transition,the population goes through a low
growth because of high mortality leading to high death rate.
Statement 2 is not correct. Population is stable in the third stage and not the second stage. Fertility remains
high in the beginning of second stage but it declines with time. Improvements in sanitation and health
conditions lead to decline in mortality. Because of this gap the net addition to population is high.
Statement 3 is correct. In the last stage, both fertility and mortality decline considerably. The population is
either stable or grows slowly. The population becomes urbanised, literate and has high technical know
how and deliberately controls the family size.

Q 84.D

Pair 1 is correct. Nomadic pastoralism is a form of pastoralism when livestock are herded in order to find
fresh pastures to graze animals. The people of Central Asia and Eastern Europe were nomadic people of
Asian steppes.
Pair 2 is correct. The Prairies are the most important agricultural regions in Canada. Wheat cultivation is
extensive form of agriculture in the region.
Pair 3 is correct. The climatic conditions and physiography of Ethiopean highlands are most suitable for
cultivation of coffee.

Q 85.A

Road transport in modern sense was very limited in India before World War-II. The first serious attempt
was made in 1943 when 'Nagpur Plan' was drawn. This plan could not be implemented due to lack of
coordination among the princely states and British India. After Independence, twenty-year road plan
(1961) was introduced to improve the conditions of roads in India.

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Q 86.A

Statement 1 is correct. Trees of this region have small broad leaves and are widely spaced. Also they are
not very tall. Thus absence of shade is characteristic feature of Mediterranean region.
Statement 2 is correct. Mediterranean lands are also known as world's orchard lands. A wide range of
citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grape fruit are grown.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Overall conditions in mediterranean does not suit grass, even if they do survive
they are so wiry and bunchy that they are not suitable for animal farming. Cattle rearing is thus
unimportant in the mediterranean.

Q 87.D

Statement 1 is not correct as most equatorial countries are net importers of timber. Large number of tree
species are found in a small region which infact is a big hurdle in commercial exploitation of timber.
Statement 2 is not correct as lumbering is not a viable economic activity in these forests. The inaccessible
forests make it difficult for lumbering.
Statement 3 is not correct because rivers in these areas often cross marshy areas and also the hardwood
don't readily float. So haulage through rivers is not economical.

Q 88.A

In states like Assam, West Bengal and Odisha, three crops of paddy are grown in a year. These are Aus,
Aman and Boro.

Q 89.B

Statement 1 is not correct. Industries using weight-losing raw materials are located in the regions where
raw materials are located and not where markets are located.
Statement 2 is correct. Industries based on perishable raw materials are located close to raw material
sources.

Q 90.D

Hazira - Vijaaipur - Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline is 1,750 km long and connects Hazira in Gujarat to
Vijaipur in M.P. and Jagdishpur in U.P.

Q 91.B

While Quaternary activities involve the collection, production and dissemination of information, Quinary
activities focus on creation, re-arrangement and interpretation of new and existing ideas, data
interpretation and the use and evaluation of new technologies and are performed by the highest level of
decision makers or policy makers.

Q 92.C

The Rhine flows through Germany and the Netherlands. It is navigable for 700 km from Rotterdam, at its
mouth in the Netherlands to Basel in Switzerland.
The Volga is one of the most important river of Russia. It provides a navigable waterway of 11,200 km
and drains into the Caspian Sea.
The Mississippi-Ohio waterway connects the interior part of U.S.A. with the Gulf of Mexico in the south.

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Q 93.A

Approaches to Human Development:

Income Approach: This is one of the oldest approaches to human development. Human development is
seen as being linked to income. The idea is that the level of income reflects the level of freedom an
individual enjoys. Higher the level of income, the higher is the level of human development.
Welfare Approach: This approach looks at human beings as beneficiaries or targets of all development
activities. The approach argues for higher government expenditure on education, health, social secondary
and amenities. People are not participants in development but only passive recipients. The government is
responsible for increasing levels of human development by maximising expenditure on welfare.
Basic Needs Approach: This approach was initially proposed by the International Labour Organisation
(ILO). Six basic needs i.e.: health, education, food, water supply, sanitation, and housing were identified.
The question of human choices is ignored and the emphasis is on the provision of basic needs of defined
sections.
Capability Approach: This approach is associated with Prof. Amartya Sen. Building human capabilities
in the areas of health, education and access to resources is the key to increasing human development.

Q 94.D

The main problems being faced by the Jute industry are the following:

Inadequate supply of raw materials-After independence, 70 per cent of the jute producing areas went to
Bangladesh. Thus, the jute industry suffers from inadequate supply of raw jute.
Competition from substitutes-Paper, plastics, cloth and hemp have emerged as substitutes and are
available at cheaper rates in the world market.
Obsolete machinery-Many jute mills are uneconomical because of outdated machinery. Other reasons are-
labour problem and irregular supply of raw jute.

Q 95.A

1 is correct. Fertile soils are important for agricultural and allied activities. Therefore, areas which have
fertile loamy soils have more people living on them as these can support intensive agriculture.
2 and 3 are incorrect. Areas with a comfortable climate, where there is not much seasonal variation attract
more people. Therefore, areas with harsh climate and more seasonal variation are less populous.

Q 96.C

Statement 1 is correct. When the ore lies deep below the surface, underground mining method (shaft
method) has to be used. In this method, vertical shafts have to be sunk, from where underground galleries
radiate to reach the minerals. Minerals are extracted and transported to the surface through these passages.
Statement 2 and 3 are incorrect. It requires specially designed lifts, drills, haulage vehicles, ventilation
system for safety and efficient movement of people and material. This method is risky and as well as
expensive. Overhead costs such as safety precautions and equipment is relatively low in open-cast mining
method.

Q 97.A

Cotton textile industry has three sub-sectors i.e. handloom, powerloom and mill sectors.
Handloom sector is labour-intensive and provides employment to semi-skilled workers. It requires small
capital investment. The powerloom sector introduces machines and becomes less labour intensive.
Therefore, statement 2 is not correct.
Cotton textile mill sector is highly capital intensive and produces fine clothes in bulk. Therefore,
statement 1 is correct.

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Q 98.B

There is no Trans-African railways connecting two ends of African continent. It is still under proposal.
Trans Siberian railways connects St. Petersburg in the west to Vladivostok in the east.
Trans Canadian Railways runs from Halifax in the east to Vancouver in the pacific coast.

Q 99.D

Notice levels in oceans have increased by about 10-12 decibels than in 1964-66. The reasons could be due
to increase in the global shipping trade, increase in the number of ships plying the oceans and higher
speed of vessels. Therefore, all statements are correct.

Q 100.C

Entrepot Ports: These are collection centres where the goods are brought from different countries for
export. Singapore is an entrepot for Asia, Rotterdam for Europe, and Copenhagen for the Baltic region.
Packet Station: These are also known as ferry ports. These packet stations are exclusively concerned with
the transportation of passengers and mail across water bodies covering short distances. These stations
occur in pairs located in such a way that they face each other across the water body, e.g. Dover in England
and Calais in France across the English Channel.
Naval Ports: These are ports which have only strategic importance. These ports serve warships and have
repair workshops for them. Kochi and Karwar are examples of such ports in India.
Ports of Call: These are the ports which originally developed as calling points on main sea routes where
ships used to anchor for refuelling, watering and taking food items. Later on, they developed into
commercial ports. Aden, Honolulu and Singapore are examples of ports of call.

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