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India: Physical Environment

Class 11 · Geography

Ch 4 · Climate

Real UPSC Prelims questions from 2016–2026, linked to this book. Try each one first, then open the answer. 2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Prelims 2023 · Q64

Consider the following statements:

Statement–I:

The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.

Statement–II:

The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. (a)Both Statement–I and Statement–II are correct and Statement–II is the correct explanation for Statement–I
  2. (b)Both Statement–I and Statement–II are correct and Statement–II is not the correct explanation for Statement–I
  3. (c)Statement–I is correct but Statement–II is incorrect
  4. (d)Statement–I is incorrect but Statement–II is correct
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 8 (Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature); Class 11 India: Physical Environment, Ch 4 (Climate).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, ch 8: isotherms bend most in January, so the land–ocean contrast is greatest in the northern winter and statement I is false. Class 11 India: Physical Environment, ch 4: water heats up and cools down more slowly than land, which is what a higher specific heat means, so II is true. Answer (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2023), question 64 ↗

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