Q61. The ‘Rub’ al Khali’, often known as the Empty Quarter, is a major feature of which of the following desert regions?
Physical Landforms: Mountains, Plateaus, Plains and Deserts: RAS Prelims MCQs
80 RAS Prelims MCQs on physical landforms test how mountains, plateaus, plains and deserts are formed and where the famous examples lie. Fold, block and residual mountains, rift valleys, intermontane plateaus, the Brazilian Plateau and the hot and cold deserts are asked as facts and statements, with the explanation tying each feature to its process.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 61–70 of 80 questions
Q62. Match List-I (Local Desert Feature) with List- II (Description) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Local Desert Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| A. Erg | i. Rocky desert plateau |
| B. Reg | ii. Sandy desert with dunes |
| C. Hamada | iii. Dry riverbed |
| D. Wadi | iv. Stony desert plain |
Explanation
Desert landscapes are classified by their surface characteristics. An erg is a vast area of shifting sand dunes. A reg is a stony plain covered with gravel and pebbles. A hamada is a high, rocky desert plateau where most sand has been removed by wind. A wadi is a dry riverbed that may fill with water during rare, heavy rain events.
Q63. Oases are vital features in desert environments. Which of the following processes predominantly leads to their formation?
Explanation
An oasis is a fertile area in a desert where water is available. They are primarily formed through the process of wind deflation. Constant wind erosion can hollow out a depression in the desert floor. When this depression becomes deep enough to reach the underground water table, water seeps to the surface. This allows vegetation to grow and supports human and animal life.
Q64. Consider the following statements regarding cold deserts:
I. They are typically found in temperate regions at higher latitudes.
II. Precipitation often falls as snow rather than rain.
III. The Gobi and Patagonian deserts are prominent examples.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. They are typically found in temperate regions at higher latitudes.
II. Precipitation often falls as snow rather than rain.
III. The Gobi and Patagonian deserts are prominent examples.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Cold deserts are typically situated in temperate regions at high latitudes or within high-altitude interior continental areas. Due to the low temperatures, precipitation in these regions often occurs as snowfall. Prominent global examples include the Gobi Desert in Asia and the Patagonian Desert in South America. These environments have unique ecosystems adapted to both extreme cold and severe moisture deficits.
Q65. The Thar Desert is predominantly located in which two countries?
Explanation
The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is predominantly located within the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana in India, and the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan. It forms a natural boundary between the two nations and is the world’s ninth-largest subtropical desert.
Q66. Which of the following is the most accurate statement describing the rainfall pattern in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Thar Desert in Rajasthan is characterized by a highly erratic and low rainfall pattern. The amount of annual precipitation generally decreases as one moves from the eastern edge near the Aravalli Range toward the western border with Pakistan. This gradient occurs because the moisture-laden monsoon winds lose most of their water content before reaching the deep interior of the desert region.
Q67. Which of the following is the only major seasonal river that flows through the arid plains of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Luni River is the only significant seasonal river that flows through the arid plains of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. It originates in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range and flows west-southwest through the desert. The river is ephemeral, carrying water only during the monsoon season, and eventually terminates in the saline marshes of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
Q68. Consider the following statements regarding the Thar Desert:
I. It is bounded by the Aravalli range to the east.
II. It is the most densely populated desert in the world.
III. The predominant soil type in this region is black cotton soil.
IV. Indira Gandhi Canal has significantly altered the agricultural landscape of its north-western part.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is bounded by the Aravalli range to the east.
II. It is the most densely populated desert in the world.
III. The predominant soil type in this region is black cotton soil.
IV. Indira Gandhi Canal has significantly altered the agricultural landscape of its north-western part.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Thar Desert is bounded by the Aravalli Range to its east and is notable for having the highest human population density of any desert. The Indira Gandhi Canal has transformed agriculture in its northwestern regions. However, the desert soil is primarily sandy rather than black cotton soil. These features highlight the unique ecological and demographic character of the Great Indian Desert.
Q69. Identify the odd one out among the following deserts, considering their geographical location within the continent of Asia.
Explanation
The Thar Desert, Gobi Desert, and Arabian Desert are all located on the continent of Asia, spanning regions from South Asia to the Far East and the Middle East. Conversely, the Mojave Desert is situated in the southwestern United States in North America. This geographic location makes the Mojave the exception among the listed deserts, which are otherwise all Asian landforms.
Q70. How does the orientation of the Aravalli Range primarily contribute to the aridity of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Aravalli Range plays a critical role in the aridity of the Thar Desert. Its orientation is almost parallel to the direction of the moisture-bearing South-West monsoon winds coming from the Arabian Sea. Because the mountains do not act as a barrier to these winds, the clouds pass over the region without being forced to rise and cool, resulting in negligible rainfall.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 61 | (c) Arabian Desert |
| 62 | (d) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 63 | (a) Wind deflation reaching the underground water table |
| 64 | (d) I, II, and III |
| 65 | (b) India and Pakistan |
| 66 | (a) Erratic rainfall decreasing from east to west |
| 67 | (c) Luni |
| 68 | (b) I, II, and IV only |
| 69 | (c) Mojave Desert |
| 70 | (b) Parallel orientation to the Arabian Sea monsoon |
Key facts from Physical Landforms: Mountains, Plateaus, Plains and Deserts
- Fold mountains are formed by crustal folding from compressive forces; block mountains by faulting, with a rift valley formed by crustal fracturing and subsidence from tensional forces.
- The Black Forest in Germany and the Sierra Nevada in the United States are block mountains.
- The Alps stretch across France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria.
- Residual mountains result from long-term denudation of an existing elevated area.
- A plateau enclosed by mountains is an intermontane plateau; the Brazilian Plateau is known for iron ore and manganese.
- Hot deserts lie between about 15 and 30 degrees latitude; cold deserts are found at higher latitudes or altitudes.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Physical Landforms: Mountains, Plateaus, Plains and Deserts?
This page has 80 practice MCQs on Physical Landforms: Mountains, Plateaus, Plains and Deserts (World Geography). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
How are block mountains formed?
By faulting, when large blocks of the crust are lifted or left standing between fractures caused by tensional forces. The Black Forest in Germany and the Sierra Nevada of the United States are examples, and a rift valley often lies beside them.
What is an intermontane plateau?
A plateau that is entirely or partly enclosed by mountain ranges, such as the Tibetan Plateau. Its position among the mountains gives it a dry climate and a high elevation.
Where are hot deserts located?
Between roughly 15 and 30 degrees of latitude on either side of the equator, where the subtropical high-pressure belt brings sinking, dry air. Cold deserts, like the Gobi, lie in higher latitudes or at high altitudes.