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Which of the following is a benefit of maintaining forest cover in watershed areas?
- Increased soil erosion
- Regulation of water flow and prevention of floods
- Reduced groundwater recharge
- Higher sediment load in rivers
Answer: Regulation of water flow and prevention of floods
Forests intercept rainfall, reduce runoff velocity, enhance infiltration, and stabilize soil, thereby regulating stream flow and mitigating floods.
The 'Green India Mission' aims to increase forest/tree cover and improve ecosystem services.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Launched under NAPCC, the Green India Mission targets enhancing forest cover, biodiversity, and livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
Which of the following is a characteristic feature of mangrove forests?
- Trees with needle-like leaves
- Salt-tolerant trees with aerial roots (pneumatophores)
- Trees that shed leaves in winter
- Trees found only in high altitudes
Answer: Salt-tolerant trees with aerial roots (pneumatophores)
Mangroves have specialized adaptations like pneumatophores for oxygen uptake in waterlogged, saline coastal environments.
The 'Van Panchayat' system of forest management is traditionally practiced in the _____ region of India.
- Western Ghats
- Himalayan
- Thar Desert
- Sundarbans
Answer: Himalayan
Van Panchayats are community-managed forest councils in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, empowering locals to conserve and use forest resources sustainably.
Which of the following is a major cause of deforestation in India?
- Afforestation programs
- Agricultural expansion and infrastructure development
- Organic farming
- Eco-tourism
Answer: Agricultural expansion and infrastructure development
Clearing forests for agriculture, roads, dams, and urbanization are primary drivers of deforestation, leading to habitat loss and biodiversity decline.
The concept of 'Joint Forest Management' (JFM) in India involves local communities in forest protection and management.
- True
- False
Answer: True
JFM, initiated in 1990, partners forest departments with village communities for sustainable forest management and sharing of benefits.
Which of the following forest types in India is known for high biodiversity and endemic species?
- Thorn forests
- Tropical wet evergreen forests
- Montane temperate forests
- Dry deciduous forests
Answer: Tropical wet evergreen forests
Tropical wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats and Northeast India harbor exceptional biodiversity with numerous endemic flora and fauna.
The term 'agroforestry' refers to the integration of _____ with agricultural crops and/or livestock.
- Mining
- Trees and shrubs
- Urban infrastructure
- Industrial units
Answer: Trees and shrubs
Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry practices to enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and increase farm productivity sustainably.
Social forestry involves planting trees on community and private lands to meet local needs.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Social forestry promotes tree planting by communities for fuel, fodder, timber, and environmental benefits, reducing pressure on natural forests.
Which type of forest is characterized by trees that shed their leaves during the dry season?
- Evergreen forest
- Deciduous forest
- Coniferous forest
- Mangrove forest
Answer: Deciduous forest
Deciduous forests have trees that lose leaves seasonally to conserve water during dry periods, common in tropical and temperate regions.
Which of the following phenomena is associated with the 'Jet Stream'?
- Ocean tides
- Fast-flowing, narrow air currents in the upper troposphere
- Volcanic eruptions
- Earthquake patterns
Answer: Fast-flowing, narrow air currents in the upper troposphere
Jet streams are high-altitude, high-speed wind bands that influence weather patterns and aviation routes globally.
Greenhouse gases trap heat by absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4, and water vapor absorb outgoing infrared radiation from Earth's surface and re-emit it, warming the atmosphere.
Which of the following is a primary cause of the formation of trade winds?
- Ocean currents only
- Pressure gradient force and Coriolis effect
- Volcanic activity
- Solar flares
Answer: Pressure gradient force and Coriolis effect
Trade winds form due to air moving from high-pressure subtropical zones toward the equatorial low, deflected by the Coriolis effect.
The Coriolis effect, which influences wind direction, is caused by Earth's _____.
- Revolution around the Sun
- Rotation on its axis
- Magnetic field
- Gravitational pull
Answer: Rotation on its axis
Earth's rotation deflects moving air and water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere, affecting wind patterns.
Which instrument is used to measure atmospheric pressure?
- Thermometer
- Barometer
- Hygrometer
- Anemometer
Answer: Barometer
A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, which is essential for weather forecasting and understanding atmospheric dynamics.
Temperature increases with altitude in the stratosphere due to absorption of UV radiation by ozone.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Ozone molecules absorb ultraviolet radiation, converting it to heat, which causes temperature to rise with altitude in the stratosphere.
Which of the following gases is most abundant in Earth's atmosphere by volume?
- Oxygen
- Carbon dioxide
- Nitrogen
- Argon
Answer: Nitrogen
Nitrogen constitutes about 78% of Earth's atmosphere by volume, followed by oxygen at 21%, with other gases making up the remainder.
The boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere is called the _____.
- Stratopause
- Tropopause
- Mesopause
- Thermopause
Answer: Tropopause
The tropopause is the transition layer where temperature stops decreasing with height, marking the upper limit of weather activity.
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere where most weather phenomena occur.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The troposphere extends from Earth's surface to about 8-15 km and contains about 75% of the atmosphere's mass, where clouds, rain, and winds form.
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer that protects Earth from harmful UV radiation?
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
Answer: Stratosphere
The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere, approximately 15-35 km above Earth's surface, absorbing most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.