Q70. Ebony and mahogany trees are found in which type of forest?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (11 Sep 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Mangrove forests
(B) Tropical deciduous forests
(C) Tropical evergreen forests
(D) Montane forests
Answer: (C) Tropical evergreen forests
Explanation: Ebony and mahogany are typical examples of hardwoods from tropical evergreen forests. Heavy rainfall and high humidity maintain a dense green canopy. These species contrast with deciduous forest trees that commonly shed leaves in summer.
Q69. Regarding India’s faunal resources, consider:
1. Biodiversity hotspots show high endemism.
2. Among biosphere reserves the Sundarbans necessarily contain the most species and Nokrek the fewest.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CAPF AC Paper-I (4 Aug 2024)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: Biodiversity hotspots, such as the Western Ghats, often contain species found nowhere else. A fixed ranking placing Sundarbans highest and Nokrek lowest in species richness is unsupported. Forest diversity depends on ecosystems, area and biological surveys.
Q68. Sundari trees are found in which type of Indian forest?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (13 Sep 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Mangrove forests
(B) Tropical deciduous forests
(C) Thorn forests and scrub
(D) Tropical evergreen forests
Answer: (A) Mangrove forests
Explanation: Sundari, or Heritiera fomes, is a characteristic hardwood tree of mangrove forests. The species is closely associated with the Sundarbans. Its habitat includes saline or brackish estuarine mud subject to regular tidal flooding.
Q67. In which biome is biodiversity generally highest?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard (30 Apr 2024, Shift 3)]
(A) Temperate rainforests
(B) Tropical rainforests
(C) Prairie grasslands
(D) Arid zones
Answer: (B) Tropical rainforests
Explanation: Tropical rainforests support exceptional species richness because warmth, high rainfall and biological productivity persist through much of the year. These layered forests provide many ecological niches. Wet tropical regions of India also display considerable biodiversity.
Q66. Consider the statements about tropical dry deciduous forests:
1. They occur in areas receiving only 25–75 cm rainfall.
2. They extend in an irregular broad belt from the Himalayan foothills.
Which is correct?
[UKPSC Upper PCS Prelims (14 Jul 2024)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: Dry deciduous forests generally receive more rainfall than the 25–75-centimetre range specified, which approaches thorn-forest conditions. Their broad distribution includes an irregular belt extending from the Himalayan foothills through central and peninsular India.
Q65. Magnolia and laurel are found mainly in which Indian forest type?
[SSC MTS (29 Oct 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Tropical thorn forests
(B) Montane forests
(C) Mangrove forests
(D) Tropical deciduous forests
Answer: (B) Montane forests
Explanation: Magnolia and laurel are common in parts of humid mountain forests. Cooler temperatures, altitude and adequate rainfall support these montane broadleaf species. Such vegetation differs from thorn scrub and salt-tolerant mangroves of lowland coastal regions.
Q64. Which is NOT a highly developed mangrove-forest area in India?
[DSSSB Jail Warder (14 Jun 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Mahanadi delta
(B) Sundarbans of West Bengal
(C) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(D) Narmada delta
Answer: (D) Narmada delta
Explanation: The Sundarbans, the Mahanadi delta and Andaman–Nicobar coastal creeks support important mangroves. The Narmada estuary has mangrove occurrences but is not typically listed among India’s most extensively developed mangrove regions.
Q63. Acacia, date palm, euphorbia and cactus are associated with which forests?
[DSSSB Assistant Superintendent (14 Jul 2024, Shift 3)]
(A) Dry deciduous forests
(B) Mountain forests
(C) Mangrove forests
(D) Thorn forests and bushes
Answer: (D) Thorn forests and bushes
Explanation: Acacia, euphorbia and cacti are typical drought-adapted plants of thorn and scrub vegetation. Their features help conserve water under low-rainfall conditions. Such species are associated with arid parts of northwestern India.
Q62. H. G. Champion classified India’s vegetation into how many types, according to this paper?
[WBPSC WBCS 2023 Mains, History Paper-III (18 Aug 2024)]
(A) 120 types
(B) 116 types
(C) 110 types
(D) 200 types
Answer: (B) 116 types
Explanation: H. G. Champion’s forest classification, later refined with S. K. Seth, was an important framework for describing India’s vegetation. The examined classification count here is 116; other forestry references distinguish major groups from detailed subtypes.
Q61. Which forest group covers the greatest area in India among these?
[UKPSC Upper PCS Prelims (14 Jul 2024)]
(A) Tropical wet evergreen
(B) Tropical dry deciduous
(C) Tropical moist deciduous
(D) Tropical semi-evergreen
Answer: (B) Tropical dry deciduous
Explanation: Tropical dry deciduous forests are especially extensive because large areas of India receive seasonal moderate rainfall. They are relatively open during drought as leaves are shed. Evergreen forests need wetter conditions and are less widespread.
