1. The water in an oasis is obtained from which source?
a) Rain
b) Erosion from other place
c) Water table
d) Water released from adsorption
Explanation: Sometimes due to deflation, huge depressions are created in the deserts to such an extent that the depression becomes so deep that it intersects with the groundwater table. And it gets partially filled up with water and this is called an oasis.
2. The type of erosion which involves rubbing, grinding is _____________
a) Deflation
b) Attrition
c) Deflection
d) Wind abrasion
Explanation: The type of erosion involving rubbing, grinding, abrading and polishing the rock surfaces by any natural agent (wind, water or ice) with the help of its lead while passing over the rocks is termed as abrasion.
3. Which among the following is called “Mushroom rocks”?
a) Pedestal rocks
b) Yardangs
c) Ventifacts
d) Desert pavements
Explanation: Pedestal rocks are also often called mushroom rocks because of their likeness to mushrooms popping up closely in a level land.
4. The rock which is well polished by wind abrasion is called _____________
a) Yardangs
b) Pedestal rock
c) Ventifacts
d) Desert pavements
Explanation: Ventifacts are small sized rock fragments showing one, two or three or even more typically wind-polished surfaces called faces. The polishing of different sides of originally rough fragments is caused by prolonged wind abrasion.
5. The factor which does not affect the attrition by wind is _____________
a) Nature of the region
b) Velocity of wind
c) Duration
d) Sunlight
Explanation: Factors that affect attrition by wind are nature of the region, velocity of wind and duration. It is not affected by sunlight.
6. Which of the following about saltation is not true?
a) In this process the heavier and coarse sediments are lifted up
b) They are lifted up periodically and for short distances
c) In this process the light-density particles are carried away
d) It is the process of sediment transport by series of jump
Explanation: The heavier and coarse sediments such as sand grains, pebbles and gravels etc. are lifted up periodically during high velocity times and only for short distances and that too for smaller heights above the ground. The uplifting of lighter particles is called suspension.
7. Which among the following has S-shaped outline?
a) Crescentic dune
b) Barchans
c) Transverse dunes
d) Sigmoidal dunes
Explanation: A typical sigmoidal dune is characterized with the absence of horns or cusps and a curved outline. In its simplest form, a sigmoidal dune is a steep sided ridge that extends in a sinuous or S-shaped outline.
8. The type of dune which is short lived is _____________
a) Barchans
b) Sigmoidal
c) Transverse dunes
d) Fixed dune
Explanation: Most of the dunes are migratory in nature and among all, Barchans are especially known to move ahead at the rate of 25 to 250 meters a month. Hence barchans are said to be short-lived relative to other dunes.
9. The particle size in a Loess is around _________
a) 2-3 mm in diameter
b) 1-2 mm in diameter
c) 0.01-0.05 mm in diameter
d) 0.1-1 mm in diameter
Explanation: A typical Loess is unconsolidated, unstratified, and porous accumulation of particles of the size range 0.01-0.05 mm in diameter. This size fraction makes almost 40 percent of a particular loess deposit rest being made up of still finer clay grade material.
10. What is the term used for wind blown deposits of silt and clay grade particles?
a) Dunes
b) Loess
c) Hills
d) Ventifacts
Explanation: The term loess is used for wind blown deposits of silt and clay grade particles. Dune is used to refer to sand particles. Ventifacts and hills are usually rocks.