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Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Class 11 · Geography

Ch 11 · World Climate and Climate Change

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 2018 · Q65

Which of the following statements best describes "carbon fertilization"?

(a)Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
(b)Increased temperature of Earth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
(c)Increased acidity of oceans as a result of increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
(d)Adaptation of all living beings on Earth to the climate change brought about by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

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UPSC's answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 11 (World Climate and Climate Change); Class 9 Exploration, Ch 13 (Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, ch 11: forests use CO2 in their growth. Warming (b) is the greenhouse effect, and more acidic sea water (c) is a separate effect, named in Class 9 Exploration, ch 13. 'Fertilization' means growth. Answer (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2018), question 65 ↗

Prelims 2019 · Q25

In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?

(a)Creating the artificial rains in some regions
(b)Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones
(c)Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth
(d)Reducing the global warming

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UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 11 (World Climate and Climate Change).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, ch 11: aerosols from volcanoes stay in the air, cut the sunlight reaching the ground, and lowered the Earth's average temperature for some years. Putting aerosols up on purpose is meant to cool the Earth. Answer (d).

Beyond NCERT: the IPCC calls such ideas 'solar radiation modification' — deliberately changing how much sunlight the Earth absorbs, to reduce warming. Injecting aerosols into the stratosphere is its main example. Source: IPCC Special Report on 1.5 °C, Glossary, ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/glossary

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 25 ↗

Prelims 2021 · Q60

"Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, the vegetation is largely composed of plant forms that reach up into the canopy vicariously, by climbing the trees or growing as epiphytes, rooted on the upper branches of trees." This is the most likely description of

(a)coniferous forest
(b)dry deciduous forest
(c)mangrove forest
(d)tropical rain forest

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UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 11 (World Climate and Climate Change); Class 11 India: Physical Environment, Ch 5 (Natural Vegetation).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, ch 11: tropical rain forests have a dense canopy. Class 11 India: Physical Environment, ch 5: climbers are typical of evergreen forests. A description built on canopy, climbers and plants growing on tree branches fits only the rain forest. Answer (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2021), question 60 ↗

Prelims 2024 · Q13

Consider the following description:

1.Annual and daily range of temperatures is low.
2.Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
3.Precipitation varies between 50 cm – 250 cm.

What is this type of climate?

(a)Equatorial climate
(b)China type climate
(c)Humid subtropical climate
(d)Marine West coast climate

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UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 11 (World Climate and Climate Change).

Fundamentals of Physical Geography (ch 11) describes the Marine West Coast climate exactly: small annual and daily ranges of temperature, rain throughout the year, and 50–250 cm of precipitation. So (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2024), question 13 ↗

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