Geography GK

A continental shelf is the submerged edge of a continent that gradually slopes from the shoreline to a drop-off point (usually around 200 meters deep), after which the sea floor slopes steeply down to the abyssal plain. It is NOT a mountain range, raised land, or plateau - those are terrestrial features. Option C accurately describes the gentle slope followed by steep descent characteristic of continental shelves.

The Toda people are a tribal group primarily found in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. They are traditionally pastoralists known for their unique customs and dairy-based economy. Option C correctly identifies their geographic location.

The Green Revolution in India was characterized by the introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, increased use of chemical fertilizers, and improved irrigation infrastructure.

The cheetah is the only animal listed that has become extinct in India in recent times. The Asiatic cheetah is now extinct in India, though it survives in Iran. Golden eat appears to be a typo, wooly wolf is not extinct in India, and the rhinoceros is still present.

The Himalayan mountain range extends from the Nanga Parbat in the west to the Namcha Barwa in the east.

Earthquakes are primarily caused by the movement and collision of tectonic plates, which release energy stored in the Earth's crust.

Tornadoes are known for having the highest wind velocities of any atmospheric phenomenon, often exceeding 300 mph in extreme cases.

The Aravalli range is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world, but it is now classified as a residual mountain range due to extensive erosion over millions of years.

Evergreen rain forests require high levels of moisture to thrive, typically needing an annual rainfall of more than 200 cm.

Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds formed at very high altitudes, typically above 20,000 feet.

An anemometer is the standard instrument used to measure wind speed.

Jammu and Kashmir is located in the northernmost part of India, encompassing the Western Himalayas and the Karakoram range.

Aksai Chin is a disputed territory located in the north-eastern corner of the Ladakh region, which was part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Wheat is a temperate crop that grows best in cool, moist growing seasons followed by a warm, dry ripening season, requiring moderate temperatures and moderate rainfall.

Among the options provided, a tornado is capable of producing the highest wind speeds, often significantly higher than those found in hurricanes or typhoons.

The Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours. Therefore, 360/24 = 15 degrees per hour.

A jet stream is a narrow, variable band of very strong westerly air currents encircling the globe several miles above the Earth.

The Atlantic Ocean basin is roughly S-shaped, stretching between the Americas to the west and Europe and Africa to the east.

The Jawahar Tunnel is located in the Banihal pass of the Pir Panjal mountain range in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Maharashtra is the leading producer of onions in India, accounting for a significant portion of the country's total production.

Trade winds are primarily driven by convection currents, where warm air rises at the equator and cooler air moves in to replace it, creating a circulation pattern.

Capillary water is held in the soil pores against gravity and is the primary source of water available for plant root absorption. Gravitational water drains away, while hygroscopic and combined water are held too tightly by soil particles for plants to extract.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are stable compounds that reach the stratosphere, where they release chlorine atoms upon exposure to UV radiation. These chlorine atoms catalyze the destruction of ozone molecules, leading to the depletion of the ozone layer.