Q80. Western disturbances originate from the ______.
[SSC CHSL Tier I (5 July 2024, Shift 4)]
(A) East China Sea
(B) Mediterranean Sea
(C) Arabian Sea
(D) Red Sea
Answer: (B) Mediterranean Sea
Explanation: Western disturbances are extratropical weather systems linked to the Mediterranean region. Westerly airflow transports them toward the Indian subcontinent, where they bring winter rainfall to northwest India and snowfall to the western Himalayas, benefiting winter crops.
Q79. Which is the first state to receive rain from the southwest monsoon on mainland India?
[SSC CHSL Tier I (4 July 2024, Shift 3)]
(A) Karnataka
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) Goa
(D) Kerala
Answer: (D) Kerala
Explanation: The southwest monsoon conventionally reaches the Kerala coast around early June before progressing through the subcontinent. Its Arabian Sea branch is intercepted by the Western Ghats. Coastal Karnataka and Goa experience monsoon onset shortly afterwards.
Q78. Which statement about India’s climate is incorrect?
[SSC CHSL Tier I (3 July 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Monsoon climate is common in south and southeast Asia
(B) Indian climate has tropical and subtropical traits
(C) Coasts have less temperature contrast than interiors
(D) India has stronger winters than central Asia
Answer: (D) India has stronger winters than central Asia
Explanation: Central Asia experiences far more severe continental winters than most of India. The Himalayas limit invasion of cold northern air, while the surrounding seas moderate coastal temperatures. India nevertheless displays tropical, subtropical and mountain climatic conditions.
Q77. Which types of crops are usually sown after the monsoon season ends?
[SSC CHSL Tier I (2 July 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Zaid crops
(B) Vital crops
(C) Rabi crops
(D) Kharif crops
Answer: (C) Rabi crops
Explanation: Rabi crops are sown after summer monsoon withdrawal, generally October–December, and harvested in spring. Wheat, barley and mustard are typical examples. Stored soil moisture, irrigation and occasional winter showers help sustain their growth.
Q76. Which of the following cities normally faces monsoon rain first?
[SSC CHSL 2023 Tier II (10 January 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Bhubaneswar
(B) Kolkata
(C) Thiruvananthapuram
(D) Chennai
Answer: (C) Thiruvananthapuram
Explanation: Thiruvananthapuram lies on the southwest coast of Kerala, close to the earliest mainland onset of the southwest monsoon. The eastward and northward progress of rain-bearing winds brings the season to other listed cities later under normal conditions.
Q75. Which statement about the climate of Madhya Pradesh is NOT correct?
[MPPSC State Services Prelims GS Paper I (17 December 2023)]
(A) Madhya Pradesh has a tropical climate
(B) The state experiences monsoon climate
(C) Temperate climate occurs in its southern part
(D) Tropic of Cancer passes through central Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (C) Temperate climate occurs in its southern part
Explanation: Southern Madhya Pradesh is not generally classified as temperate; it has warmer tropical to subtropical conditions with seasonal monsoon rainfall. The Tropic of Cancer crosses the state, and its rainfall is dominated by southwest monsoon circulation.
Q74. Which weather phenomenon has caused especially destructive rainfall events on the Ladakh plateau?
[WBCS Executive Preliminary (16 December 2023)]
(A) Frontal rainfall
(B) Hailstorms
(C) Cloudbursts
(D) Convectional rain
Answer: (C) Cloudbursts
Explanation: Cloudbursts involve exceptionally heavy rain falling over a small area in a short time. Steep terrain and fragile drainage systems in Ladakh can magnify destructive flash floods. The severe Leh event of August 2010 illustrates this particular hazard.
Q73. Mawsynram, one of the world’s highest-rainfall locations, lies in which state?
[Bihar Teacher TRE 2.0 Social Science (9 December 2023)]
(A) Assam
(B) Meghalaya
(C) Kerala
(D) More than one
(E) None
Answer: (B) Meghalaya
Explanation: Mawsynram is in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district. Moisture-laden monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal encounter its southern hill slopes and rise, generating intense rainfall. Its geographical setting explains its exceptional annual precipitation.
Q72. Mawsynram receives very high rainfall because Bay of Bengal monsoon winds strike which hills?
[SSC CHSL 2023 Tier II (2 November 2023, Shift 1)]
(A) Chota Nagpur Plateau
(B) Khasi
(C) Western Ghats
(D) Aravalli
Answer: (B) Khasi
Explanation: The Khasi Hills form a barrier to moist winds from the Bay of Bengal. As the air rises it cools, condenses and produces heavy orographic rain at Mawsynram. This mechanism explains Meghalaya’s remarkable precipitation concentration.
Q71. What chiefly produces the largest share of India’s annual precipitation?
[SSC MTS (14 September 2023, Shift 3)]
(A) West Garo Hills
(B) Southwest monsoon
(C) Northeast monsoon
(D) East Khasi Hills
Answer: (B) Southwest monsoon
Explanation: The southwest monsoon provides most of India’s yearly rainfall, particularly between June and September. Its moisture-laden Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches are uplifted by mountains and intensified by low-pressure systems, producing widespread seasonal precipitation.
