Answer Key – APSC Prelims 2013 Geography Paper
Following is the Solved Geography paper of APSC 2013 prelims. Assams.info has prepared the answer key of APSC Combined Competitive (Prelims) Exam 2013 Geography paper. Just like the 2014 Geography paper, this question paper was also provided by our user ‘N‘. We thank ‘N’ for her good gesture towards the community. We tried to give short explanations against each answer. We are not publishing the whole question paper, just because of one reason – to prevent thieves get benefit from our hard work. Anyway, we hope candidates and aspirants of APSC Assam civil services exam will find our effort useful.
Solved APSC Prelims 2013 Geography Paper
1. Shape of the Earth’s orbit around the sun is
Answer: d) Elliptical
2. Sun shines vertically on the equator
Answer: b) twice a year. Sun shines vertically on the equator on equinox (March 21st and September 23rd).
3. Which one of the following occurs when water vapour condenses around a particle of smoke?
Answer: d) Smog
4. Which of the following agents of gradation is/are responsible for the formation of barkhans?
Answer: d) Winds. The spectacular sand dunes are formed due to action of wind.
5. The distance between the earth and the sun is maximum when the earth is in
Answer: b) Aphelion. The aphelion is the point in the orbit, when Earth is farthest from the Sun. Peihelio is the opposite, ie closest to Sun.
6. Exfoliation of rocks takes place due to
Answer: d) thermal expansion and contraction. Exfoliation is the process where rocks peel off in layers due to fluctuation in temperature.
7. Which of the following types of rocks are gneiss and schist?
Answer: b) Metamorphic rocks. Structural classification of metamorphic rocks include Schist, Gneiss, Slate, Granofels, Phyllite etc.
8. Sink-holes and uvalas are associated with
Answer: b) Karst landscape. The karst landscape is formed due to dissolution of limestone and other similar soluble rocks. The characteristic feature of such landscape is sinkholes and uvalas.
9. Earliest human fossil was discovered in
Answer: a) Central Java. Human fossil was found in Java (Indonesia) in 1891.
10. Denudation is
Answer: c) a combination process of weathering plus erosion aided by transportation and deposition
11. Alfalfa is
Answer: c) a kind of grass. Alfalfa is a forage crop, extensively grown in Western countries.
12. Which one of the following countries in Europe is the major producer of perfumes, toilette and fashion goods?
Answer: c) French. French is famous for it’s expensive perfumes, eau de toilettee and it’s fashion world.
13. Which of the following regions of China produces about 90 percent of coal of the country?
Answer: Not sure. In China Major coal reserves are in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia
14. The largest fish-exporting region of the world is
Answer: a) North-East Atlantic coastal region
15. Which of the following is the principal reason for very high density of population in North-West Europe and North-East America?
Answer: a) Growth of manufacturing industries
16. Which of the following approximately is the percentage of the world population concentrated in Asia?
Answer: d) 59%. Asia is home to more than 4.4 billion people. It is nearly 60% of current world population of 7.1 billion.
17. Which one of the following climatic characteristic is associated with tropical deserts?
Answer: c) Very high daily range of temperature. In tropical deserts are found in areas with high pressure. No or little rainfall occurs there. Temperature can change from 38 degree in day to 5 degree at night. That means daily temperature range is high.
18. Pastoral activities mean
Answer: c) rearing of animals for meat, milk, wool and skin.
19. The area of our globe that lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn is called
Answer: d) Torrid zone
20. Africa is rich in resources but the countries within the continent are very poor. This is because
Answer: a) it is impossible to develop their resources. This is not a easy question. Various theories suggest different things. As other options sound odd, we picked a).
21. Which of the following is one of the major forest regions, called taiga?
Answer: a) Northern China including Manchuria. Taiga is a cold, coniferous forest of northern hemisphere.
22. Which of the following makes Gujarat the largest producer of salt in India?
Answer: c) Gujarat has large area of shallow sea. Climate of Gujarat is sunny and dry. On top of that it has 1600 km long coastline and large areas of shallow sea.
23. Which of the following parts of the equatorial region has well-developed rubber plantation?
Answer: b) Malaysia. Malaysia is the largest grower of Rubber in world.
24. The Ruhr basin, rich in coalfields is in
Answer: c) Germany.
NOT OFFICIAL – Answer Key Prepared by Assams.info
25. Which of the following countries leads in the production of copper?
Answer: b) Chile. Top five Copper producing countries include Chile, USA, Peru, China and Australia.
26. Most of the raw cotton, produced in India, is cultivated on a soil, called
Answer: d) Regur soil. Cotton is grown in regur or black cotton soil found in Central and Western India.
27. Which one of the following continents has the largest area under plain?
Answer: a) Asia
28. Which of the following groups of states forms the leading steel manufacturing and steel fabricating region of India?
Answer: c) Jharkhand and Chattishgarh
29. Which of the following is a rift valley?
Answer: b) Narmada valley
30. Which one of the following states of India has the highest groundwater utilization (in percentage) of it’s total groundwater potential?
Answer: a) Tamilnadu (80%)
31. The earliest iron and steel company established in India was
Answer: a) IISCO. The Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO) was setup in 1918 at Burnpur in Asansol, West Bengal.
32. The inhabitant of meadows who practise tranhumance are
Answer: d) Kirghiz. Transhumance is an integral part of Kirghiz culture.
33. Aadhi is the pre-monsoon wind that devastates and brings about natural calamities in
Answer: c) Punjab. Andhi is a pre-monsoon dust storm that occurs in North-West India.
34. Line joining the places of same earthquake intensity is called
Answer: c) Isoseismal line. An isoseismal line is a line on a map connected by points of equal intensity for a particular earthquake.
35. Laterite soil develops as a result of
Answer: c) leaching. Laterite soil develop as a result of leaching of parent rocks due to heavy rain.
36. The tornado which ravaged recently the Coromandel Coast including the Marina Beach has been termed as
Answer: d) Neelam
37. The heavier silicates named as SIMA or silica+magnesium are most abundant in the
Answer: d) Ocean floor. The silicon and magnesium-rich rocks of the earth’s oceanic crust are called SIMA.
38. The deep valley characterized by step-like slope, develops generally by running water, is called
Answer: c) Canyon. A Canyon is a deep valley with steep step-like slope, which is formed due to action of running water such as a river.
39. Which of the following is a tropical grassland?
Answer: a) Savannah.
40. Badlands are
Answer: c) c) highly dissected land surface with deep gullies due to rapid rain erosion. Badlands are dry areas exposed to extensive weathering by wind and water. Canyons, gullies and other interesting geological forms are common features of badlands.
41. Popuans are the native of
Answer: c) New Guinea. Papuans are native tribes of New Guinea.
42. The selvas are
Answer: d) equatorial rainforest of Brazil
43. Iron and steel industry of which of the following countries is almost fully dependent on imported raw materials?
Answer: d) Japan
44. Which one of the following is a nonmetallic mineral?
Answer: c) Gypsum is a nonmetallic mineral.
45. Viticulture is the main economic activity of which of the following countries?
Answer: c) France
46. Moorlands are
Answer: c) areas where twisted shrubs and grasses grow. Moorlands are found in upland areas, which are usually characterised by vegetation of lower height.
47. Lake Priyadarshini is located at
Answer: d) Antarctica. Lake Priyadarshini is a freshwater lake, which provides water to India’s Maitri station in Antarctica
48. Which one of the following sources of energy contributes the largest share of energy production in India?
Answer: a) Thermal power. In India, Thermal sector’s share is nearly 70%.
49. Multipurpose projects Indira Sagar and Sardar Sarovar of Gujarat have been executed on
Answer: d) Narmada river.
50. In which of the following states Kori creek is located?
Answer: a) Gujarat. Kori Creek is a tidal creek in the Rann of Kachchh region.
51. Which one of the following states of North-East India produces the largest amount of world’s hottest chilli variety as appeared in the Guiness Book of World Records?
Answer: d) Assam
52. Which one of the following is not a tributary of Brahmaputra?
Answer: a) Champawati
53. Famous Golden Bridge of North-East India on Kodarak drainage connects
Answer: No information available.
54. India’s rank in terms of Human Development index as on 31st March, 2013, among the countries of the world is
Answer: No correct option Current HDI rank of India is 136.
55. Which one of the following is not an inland drainage?
Answer: c) Mahi. Mahi falls into Gulf of Khambhat. Luni gets lost in marshy lands of Kuchh. Saraswati is lost in Thar desert. Betwa merges into Yamuna.
56. Mothonguri is located on the proximity of which of the following drainage?
Answer: d) Manas. Mothonguri or Mathanguri is within the range of Manas National Park, near which Manas river forms it’s tributary Beki.
57. Besides Nilachal Kamakhya, there is another Kamakhya in Assam nearby which there lies the burial ground of Mir Jumlah. The temple is located
Answer: c) That Kamakhya temple is located near Mankachar in Dhubri.
58. The Khandong Dam is located on the upstream of
Answer:b b) Kapili. Khandong dam is located on the upstream of river Kapili. Khandong Hydro-electric Generating Station is a part of Kapili Hydro-electric power project.
59. Which of the following refineries does not procure crude oil from Upper Brahmaputra valley?
Answer: c) Mathura. The Mathura refinery processes crude from Bombay High and imported crude from Nigeria & Middle East.
60. Koliabhumura bridge connects
Answer: d) Silghat with Bhomoraguri
61. Dibru Saikhowa Sanctuary is famous for
Answer: d) All of the above. Dibru Saikhow is known for Wild horse and elephant. But winged wood duck, and various aquatic avifauna are also found in the national park.
62. Which of the following India cities produces maximum cotton fabrics?
Answer: c) Surat
63. McMohan line stretches between
Answer: d) Nathu la and Tawang la
64. The settlement that has developed along the foothills of Assam and Meghalaya is called
Answer: d) Amorphous settlement pattern is seen in West Bengal and Lower Brahmaputra valley
65. What is common there in Sualkuchi, Palasbari and Chayygaon?
Answer: d) Eri Silk industry.
66. Which one of the following industries is associated with the Moria community?
Answer: b) Brass metal. Brass metal works is a traditional occupation of Moria community of Assam
67. With which one of the following tribes the festival Chomangkon is associated?
Answer: d) Chomangkon is a death ceremony of Karbi tribe.
68. The earliest settlers of Assam are
Answer: a) The Mon-Khmers.
69. Largest ginger producing area of Assam is
Answer: a) Simhasan hill area near Diphu is the major ginger producing area in Assam.
70. Which one of the following districts of Assam is famous for natural resins?
Answer: d) Karbi Anglong.
71. Recent landsat imagery has revealed that the forest covered in Assam as as whole is only
Answer: Confusion because different govt sites provide different data.
72. The gross irrigated area in Assam of the state’s gross cropped area is about
Answer: Don’t know which date they’re referring to. Current percentage is 30% of net cropped area. Gross percentage will be much higher.
73. Yield rate of which one of the following categories of rice is the highest in Assam?
Answer: c) Summer rice gives highest production in Assam.
74. Tikak and Namdang are famous for
Answer: c) Tikak and Namdang are collieries.
75. The vast forest resources of Assam with their natural pastures provide habitats for mostly
Answer: a) Mammals
76. Zaid cropping season in Assam generally occurs between the months of
Answer: b) March and June
77. Which one of the following groups of towns is correctly stated in respect of descending order of population size?
Answer: b) Guwahati – Silchar – Dibrugarh – Jorhat. Population data – Guwahati (9.68 lakh), Silchar (2.28 lakh), Dibrugarh (1.54 lakh), Jorhat (1.53 lakh), Nagaon (1.47 lakh), Tinsukia (1.25 lakh), Tezpur (1.00 lakh) and Diphu (63 thousand)
78. Which one of the following places of Assam is located at the highest altitude?
Answer: c) Simhasan
79. Which of the following statements is correct?
Answer: a) Ai river falls into Manas river.
Answers are provided by Assams.info, not official.
80. Proved coal reserve of Assam stands at
Answer: Data provided not matching actual data. Official data is just 259 or 240 million tonnes.
81. In which of the following places super phosphate fertilizer plant is located?
Answer: a) Namrup
82. In which of the following tea estates organic tea has been recently produced?
Answer: b) Hatikhuli tea estate
83. The LGB International Airport at present operates to
Answer: d) None of the above
84. Deopani and Koilajan are famous for
Answer: a) Limestone
85. Which of the following thermal power projects is based only on natural gas?
Answer: b) Namrup – Kathalguri – Amguri. Gas-based : Kathalguri, Namrup, Amguri. Coal-based: Chandrapur, Bongaigaon. Hydro-electric: Umrangsu, Khandong
86. The part of Brahmaputra between Pasighat and Parasuram Kund (Sadiya) is known as
Answer: a) Brahmaputra is called Dihang after it enters Pasighat.
87. The plain area of Assam is bounded by the contour of
Answer: No data available with us.
88. The alternative method of cultivation for better environmental conservation is
Answer: b) Terracing. Terracing is done to prevent loss of soil due to runoff erosion and conserve water in sloped areas.
89. River island Majuli at present covers an area of
Answer: d) Area of Majuli is 1250 square km.
90. Which of the following places is not touched by NH 52?
Answer: d) Rangia.
91. Which of the following fertilizers is used by the farmers of Assam after sowing the seeds?
Answer: This question is not clear, as no mention of which crop. But normally Nitrogen fertilizers are applied after sowing.
92. Average gradient of Brahmaputra within Assam is
Answer: b) 16 cm/km is the average gradient of river Brahmaputra in Assam.
93. Which one of the following drainages separates the Precambrian rocks series from the Tertiary rocks series?
Answer: a) Kapili (Not Sure)
94. The Kapla Beel (wetland) is located in
Answer: a) Kapla beel is located at Sarukshetri mouza in Barpeta district of Assam.
95. Which of the following pairs is wrongly matched?
Answer: d) Noapara and Bonda – Fish seed farm is wrong. Noapara – Spinning mills, Charduara – Cotton mill, Bongaigaon – Aluminum products, Tulisbari – synthetic fibre, Chandrapur – spinning unit.
96. The geological beds from which oil is extracted in Upper Brahmaputra valley of Assam belong broadly to
Answer: d) Barail series
97. The Doldoli Reserve Forest is located in
Answer: b) Karbi Anglong
98. Which one of the following drainages does not originate in Meghalaya?
Answer: d) Kakadonga. Dudhnoi, Kulsi, Singra river originates from Meghalaya. Kakadonga from Nagaland.
99. Which one of the following is the smallest in area?
Answer: c) Karbi Plateau. Karbi Plateau ( 32,821 sq km), Barak Plain (6962 sq km), Tripura Piedmont Plain (4500 sq. km), Manipur Plain (1843 sq km)
100. The average altitude (BM) of Guwahati from mean sea level as per GPS record is
Answer: c) 55 meters above mean sea level.
We request our readers to go through the answers and point out mistakes or corrections (if any). And don’t forget to check the solved Geography paper of APSC 2014.
Thanks for answers.. it will help us to make one step ahead…
GEOGRAPHY corrections in official APSC key 2014
Q11) Playas are formed in
Right Answer: B) low lying areas in the desert
Explanation:Playas are the low lying areas in desert receiving the drainage of the surrounding areas and they act like seasonal lakes, becoming dry after the rainy season.
Source: 1)Geography by Surender Singh
Tata McGraw-Hill Education
2)Physical Geography by Savindra Singh (Pg 306)
Q17) Albedo is defined as
Right Answer: Both A) and B) heat radiation reflected to space from the earth’s surface
Explanation: The reflected of radiation from earth’s surface is called the albedo of the earth.
Source: 1) Fundamentals of Physical Geography(textbook for class 11) , NCERT; Page81
Q21) Active coal growth is seen along
Right Answer: B) West Australian Coast
Explanation: The majority of reserves are located off the coasts of the states of Western Australia. The Collie Basin is located in Western Australia.
Source: http://data.daff.gov.au/data/warehouse/pe_aera_d9aae_002/aeraCh_05.pdf
Q26) Lignite coal has carbon content in the order of
Right Answer: C) 35%
Explanation: Lignite is brownish-black in color and has a carbon content of around 25-35%,
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignite
Q27) Match the following and choose the correct answer from the given Options:
Right Answer: B)
Malaysia>Rubber , Brazil> Sugar, Cuba>Coffee, Egypt>Cotton
Explanation: Brazil is the largest producer of Sugar and not Cuba.
Source: http://www.statista.com/statistics/273437/exported-amount-of-sugar-in-leading-countries
Q30) The Largest exporter of tea in the world is
Right Answer: A) China
Explanation: Although India is largest consumer of tea but is the largest exporter of tea after China
Source: 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_tea_culture
2)http://www.assocham.org/prels/shownews archive.php?id=3238&month=12&year=2011
Q31) Transhumance is associated with
Right Answer: D) Seasonal migration of nomadic people
Explanation: Transhumance is not mere Pastoralism but is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures of nomadic people for eg: Gujjars, Bakarwals , Bhotiyas in India.
Source: 1) Fundamentals of Human Geography(textbook for class 12) , NCERT; Page33
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumance
Q34) Approximately 1/3rd of the world’s fish catch is obtained from
Right Answer: B) North East Atlantic Ocean
Explanation: North East Atlantic Ocean is the largest fishing ground in the world. Also, same question in General Studies paper(Q 23, Series D) has answer as North East Atlantic Ocean.
Source : Geography of minerals of the oceans By Atar Singh Yadav
Q44) When adjoining towns grow and merge together it is known as
Right Answer: C) Conurbation
Explanation: The term conurbation was coined by Patrick Geddes in 1915 when adjoining towns grow and merge together.
Source : 1) Fundamentals of Human Geography(textbook for class 12) , NCERT; Pg 98
nice. good work guys.
Thanks for the answers. It was really helpful.