Challenge Prelims V1.0 – Day 13 – GS Paper (Geography)

1. Consider the following statements regarding earthquakes:

1. All natural earthquakes take place in the lithosphere.
2. Deep-focus earthquakes are highly destructive because of high wave amplitude at the surface.
3. The Circum-pacific belt accounts for 65 percent of the total earthquakes in the world.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

2. With reference to the measurement of earthquakes, consider the following statements:

1. The Richter scale is a magnitude scale calculated by the logarithm of the amplitude of waves.
2. The Mercalli scale is an intensity scale used to quantify the effect of an earthquake on human life.
3. The Richter scale ranges from 0-12 and Mercalli scale ranges from 1-10.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

3. With reference to the seismic zones of India, consider the following pairs:

1. Koyna region of Maharashtra: Seismic Zone V
2. North-East of India: Seismic Zone IV
3. Konkan coast of India: Seismic Zone II

How many of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

4. Which of the following are the possible factors behind earthquakes?

1. Mining activity
2. Volcanoes
3. Tectonic movements
4. Reservoir-induced seismicity
5. Nuclear explosion

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

5. Consider the following statements regarding earthquakes:

1. Epicenter is the location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts.
2. Hypocentre is the location directly above the epicentre on the surface.
3. Earthquakes cannot be predicted in advance as there are no instruments invented for the same.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

6. Consider the following differences between P-waves and S-waves:

1. S-waves travel much faster than P-waves.
2. Unlike P-waves, the S-waves can travel through gaseous, liquid, and solid materials.
3. P waves (Primary) are considered to be the most damaging waves in an earthquake.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

7. In the context of an earthquake, consider the following statements regarding body waves and surface waves:

1. Body waves are generated at the focus and move in all directions.
2. Surface waves are more destructive than body waves.
3. The velocity of waves is higher in denser material.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

8. With reference to the propagation of seismic waves in the interior of the Earth, consider the following statements:

1. The direction of propagation of the waves changes across materials with different densities.
2. P-waves cannot travel through the core.
3. The shadow zone of S-waves is larger than that of P-waves.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

9. Consider the following passage:

These volcanoes are characterized by eruptions of cooler and more viscous lavas than basalt. These volcanoes often result in explosive eruptions. Along with lava, large quantities of pyroclastic material and ashes find their way to the ground. This material accumulates in the vicinity of the vent openings leading to formation of layers, and gives a distinct appearance.

Which of the following types of volcano is described in the above passage?

10. Consider the following passage:

“These are large dome-shaped intrusive bodies with a level base and connected by a pipe-like conduit from below. It resembles the surface volcanic domes of composite volcano, only these are located at deeper depths. It can be regarded as the localised source of lava that finds its way to the surface.”

Which of the following volcanic intrusive landform is being described in the passage given above?

11. With reference to the landforms associated with volcanic activities, consider the following pairs:

1. Sills – solidified horizontal lava layers inside the earth.
2. Dykes – vertical intrusions that develop into wall-like structure.
3. Batholiths – huge masses of igneous rocks formed due to the solidification of hot magma inside the earth.

How many of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

12. Consider the following pairs:

Igneous intrusion: Shape

1. Laccolith: Lens-shaped
2. Lopolith: Saucer-shaped
3. Phacolith: Dome-shaped

How many of the pairs given above is/are not correctly matched?

13. With reference to the lava erupting from a volcano, consider the following statements:

1. Basic lava is highly fluid and poor in iron and magnesium.
2. Acid lava is highly viscous with a high melting point.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

14. Consider the following statements:

1. Earthquake activity in the Alpine-Himalayan belt occurs at shallow levels, while it happens at greater depths in the regions of mid-oceanic ridges.
2. The Circum-Pacific Belt lacks hotspot activities because of the interaction between two oceanic plates.

Which of the statement given above is/are not correct?

15. Consider the following passage:

These are geothermal characteristics that rely on the interplay between volcanic gases released and the surrounding groundwater system. The magma’s heat transforms water into steam. As the steam ascends, it transports volcanic gases like hydrogen sulphide (H2S) to the surface. Locations with these characteristics are occasionally referred to as “dying volcanoes” because they appear towards the final stages of volcanic activity when the magma deep beneath the ground hardens and cools.

Which of the following is being described above?