Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
The cold weather season begins from midNovember in northern India and stays till February. December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India. The temperature decreases from south to the north. The average temperature of Chennai on the eastern coast, is between 24° C - 25° Celsius, while in the northern plains, it ranges between 10°C and 15° Celsius. Days are warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in the north and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall. During this season, the northeast trade winds prevail over the country. They blow from land to sea and hence, for most part of the country, it is a dry season. Some amount of rainfall occurs on the Tamil Nadu coast from these winds as, here they blow from sea to land. In the northern part of the country, a feeble highpressure region develops, with light winds moving outwards from this area. Influenced by the relief, these winds blow through the Ganga valley from the west and the northwest. The weather is normally marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity and feeble, variable winds. A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over the northern plains is the inflow of cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest. These low-pressure systems, originate over the Mediterranean Sea and western Asia and move into India, along with the westerly flow. They cause the much-needed winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains. Although the total amount of winter rainfall locally known as ‘mahawat’ is small, they are of immense importance for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option.
Question (i)
In cold weather season of winter, the temperature decreases from:
(a) South to the North
(b) East to the West
(c) South to the East
(d) North to the West
Answer:
From the Paragraph
December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India. The temperature decreases from south to the north. The temperature decreases from south to the north. The average temperature of Chennai on the eastern coast, is between 24° C - 25° Celsius, while in the northern plains, it ranges between 10°C and 15° Celsius.
So, the correct answer is (a):South to the North
Question (ii)
Which one of the following characterizes the cold weather season in India?
(a) Warm days and warm nights
(b) Warm days and cold nights
(c) Cold days and cold nights
(d) Cold days and warm nights
Answer:
From the Paragraph
The average temperature of Chennai on the eastern coast, is between 24° C - 25° Celsius, while in the northern plains, it ranges between 10°C and 15° Celsius. Days are warm and nights are cold . Frost is common in the north and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
So, the correct answer is (b): Warm days and cold nights
Question (iii)
Some amount of rainfall occurs on the ________ coast from these winds, as they blow sea to land.
(a) Coromandel
(b) Malabar
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu
Answer:
From the Paragraph
Northeast trade winds prevail over the country. They blow from land to sea and hence, for most part of the country, it is a dry seaso n. Some amount of rainfall occurs on the Tamil Nadu coast from these winds as, here they blow from sea to land. In the northern part of the country, a feeble highpressure region develops, with light winds moving outwards from this area.
So, the correct answer is (d): Tamil Nadu
Question (iv)
Winter rainfall called ____ is of immense importance for the cultivation of _____ crops.
(a) Monsoon Showers, Rabi Crops
(b) Mango Showers, Kharif Crops
(c) Mahawat, Rabi Crops
(d) Kal Baisakhi, Kharif Crops
Answer:
From the Paragraph
They cause the much-needed winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains. Although t he total amount of winter rainfall locally known as ‘mahawat’ is small, they are of immense importance for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.
So, the correct answer is (c): Mahawat, Rabi Crops
