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PREFACE

With a growing emphasis on competency-based education globally, the educational landscape

in India has also steered towards high-quality learning experiences that allow learners to
incorporate critical thinking and problem-solving approaches. This approach goes beyond rote
memorisation and focuses on developing the skills and knowledge that students need to apply
in their real-world scenarios.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), as a national-level
progressive examination board, has taken several steps to infuse competency-based education
in CISCE schools through teacher capacity-building on item development for competency-
based assessments and the incorporation of competency-focused questions at the ICSE and ISC
levels from the examination year 2024.
To further facilitate the adoption of competency-based assessment practices in schools and to
support teachers and students towards the preparation for attempting higher-order thinking
questions in future board examinations, Item Banks of Competency-Focused Practice
Questions for selected subjects at the ICSE and ISC levels have been developed. This Item
Bank consists of a rich variety of questions, both objective and subjective in categories, aimed
at enhancing the subject-specific critical and analytical thinking skills of the students.
In this Item Bank, each question is accompanied by the topic and cognitive learning domain/s
that it intends to capture. The cognitive domains reflected in these questions include
understanding, analysis, application, evaluation and creativity, along with some questions of
the higher-order recall domain. The Answer Key at the end presents the possible answers to a
given question, but it is neither limiting nor exhaustive.
These practice questions are also meant to serve as teacher resources for classroom assignments
and as samplers to develop their own repository of competency-focused questions. Apart from
offering a good practice of higher-order thinking skills, engaging with these questions would
allow students to gauge their own subject competencies and use these assessments for learning
to develop individual learning pathways.
During the development of this Item Bank, a large pool of questions was prepared by a team
of experienced CISCE teachers. The questions that were finalised by the internal and external
reviewers as being higher-order competency-focused questions have been collated in this item
bank.
I acknowledge and appreciate all the ICSE and the ISC subject matter experts who have
contributed to the development and review of these high-quality competency-focused questions
for CISCE students.
We are hopeful that teachers and students will utilise these questions to support their
teaching-learning processes.

August 2024 Dr. Joseph Emmanuel

Chief Executive & Secretary
CISCE
Geography ISC-Class XII

Table of Contents

S.No. Types of Questions Page Nos.

I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 1-7

II. Assertion-Reason Questions 8-9

III. Very Short Answer Questions 10

IV. Fill in the Blanks/True or False 11

V. Short Answer Questions 12-17

VI. Long Answer Questions 18-24

VII. Very Long Answer Questions 25-27

Answer Key 28-36

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions

Geography ISC-Class XII

COMPETENCY-FOCUSED PRACTICE QUESTIONS

ISC-CLASS XII

Geography

I: Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)

S.No. Questions

1. [Demographic Attributes]
I am a construction worker, but I am employed for less than six months a year. So, the rest of the
year I look for other job opportunities to sustain my family.
Who am I?
(a) Main worker
(b) Marginal worker
(c) Agricultural labourer
(d) Worker in the household industry. (Application)

2. [Demographic Attributes]
In the present scenario in India, there is a significant proportion of population who retains basic
reading and writing skills.
Which demographic attribute is mentioned in the given situation?
(a) Literacy rate
(b) Sex ratio
(c) Age structure
(d) Occupation structure (Understanding)

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S.No. Questions

3. [Population]

Historically, known for their rich cultural diversity, breathtaking landscapes, and abundant natural
resources, the Northeast states in India, as shown on the sketch map, have recently witnessed a
unique demographic trend—negative population growth. The reasons for the negative growth rate
of the population are largely due to:
(i) Migration
(ii) Decline in Fertility
(iii) Decline in Mortality
(iv) Ageing Population
Which one of the options is MOST likely for the negative growth of the population?
(a) Both (i), & (ii)
(b) (i), (ii), & (iii)
(c) (i), (ii), & (iv)
(d) (ii), (iii), & (iv) (Application)

4. [Environmental Management and Land Use]

Which category of land, if brought under cultivation can be an important factor for augmenting a
country’s agricultural production?
(a) Area sown more than once.
(b) Culturable waste
(c) Fallow land
(d) Permanent pastures and other grazing lands.

(Understanding)

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S.No. Questions

5. [Agriculture]
An approach that explains the agricultural development and conservation of biodiversity is:
(a) green agriculture.
(b) precision farming.
(c) eco-agriculture.
(d) organic farming.
(Understanding)

6. [Industries]
Ashish’s wife Sushila was an excellent ceramic artist and had earned quite a name for herself in
the neighbourhood. This prompted the family to think of setting up a small pottery industry at
their home.
What category of industry is Sushila planning?
(a) Village Industry
(b) Basic Industry
(c) Agro-based Industry
(d) Cottage Industry
(Understanding)

7. [Climate]
Brahmaputra river causes frequent floods.
This is primarily due to:
A: tributaries bring large quantities of water and make the river channel shallow.
B: it being an antecedent river.
C: frequent earthquakes in the surrounding region.

Choose the correct option:

(a) Only option A is correct.

(b) Only option B is correct.
(c) Both A and C are correct.
(d) A, B, and C are all correct.
(Understanding)

8. [Physical Environment]
Imagine you are going for a mountain trek from Himachal Himalaya to Nepal Himalaya. Which
are the rivers you will be crossing during the trek?
(a) Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna and Kali.
(b) Satluj, Indus, Beas, and Ravi.
(c) Satluj, Ganga, Kali and Tista.
(d) Satluj, Yamuna, Kali and Brahmaputra.

(Understanding)

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S.No. Questions

9. [Physical Environment]
Which of the following features is NOT associated with Peninsular rivers?
(a) They form broad, graded, and shallow valleys.
(b) They have large catchment areas.
(c) They are in the matured stage.
(d) They are non-perennial rivers. (Understanding)

10. [Drainage]
Which tributary of the Indus River can be clearly seen from Shipki La Pass?
(a) Jhelum
(b) Ravi
(c) Beas
(d) Satluj (Understanding)

11. [Physical Environment]

The western coastal plain supports many ports. Which one of the following options is the
CORRECT explanation for the location of these ports?
(a) Broader Plain
(b) Drained by several short and swift streams.
(c) Indented coast
(d) Straight coast (Understanding)

12. [Regional Economic Development]

Tourism in Ladakh has a great potential for development and has seen a boost in recent years.
This is an example of:
(a) Macro region.
(b) Micro region.
(c) Meso region.
(d) State-level region. (Understanding)

13. [Tourism]
Swaroop visited Naneghat in the monsoons. After the beautiful trek, he and his friends were all
wet. However, they did not have any plastic bags into which they could put their wet clothes, as
this area is a plastic-free zone.
Naneghat is an example of a region that has:
(a) Medical tourism
(b) Eco-tourism
(c) Adventure tourism
(d) Cultural tourism (Application)

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S.No. Questions

14. [Minerals & Energy Resources]

Gita visited her relatives in Methan village in Gujarat which is located almost 200 km from the
nearest coast. She found that this village is sustainable and relies mainly on renewable energy.
Choose the energy on which the village relied upon.
(a) Tidal energy
(b) Wind energy
(c) Biogas
(d) Geothermal energy (Application)

15. [Physical Environment]

A person is travelling by train from Mumbai to Goa. Which coastal plain he/she will be crossing?
(a) Konkan
(b) Kanara
(c) Malabar
(d) Coromandel (Recall)

16. [Population]
Two statements are given below Statement (S1) and Statement (S2). Read the statements carefully
and choose the correct option.
S1 - Kerala recorded a minimum population growth rate.
S2 - Kerala has reached the highest level in the demographic transition in India.
(a) S1 is the cause of S2.
(b) S2 is the cause of S1.
(c) S1 is a contributing factor to S2.
(d) S1 and S2 are independent of each other.
(Application)

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S.No. Questions

17. [Industries]

‘A’ marks the location of an Iron and Steel plant that obtains water for cooling from the
Subarnarekha River.
Choose the correct option that represents the mark ‘A’.
(a) Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO)
(b) Tata Steel Limited
(c) Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP)
(d) Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) (Application)

18. [Physical Environment]

The highest peak of peninsular India is:
(a) Dodabetta.
(b) Mahendragiri.
(c) Anaimudi.
(d) Guru Shikhar. (Recall)

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S.No. Questions

19. [Physical Environment]

The largest brackish lake in India is:
(a) Chilika Lake.
(b) Pulicat Lake.
(c) Sambhar Lake.
(d) Didwana Lake. (Recall)

20. [Physical Environment]

This block mountain ranges between the troughs of two rivers. It is the:
(a) Aravali Range.
(b) Vindhya Range.
(c) Nilgiri Range.
(d) Satpura Range. (Recall)

21. [Physical Environment]

Refer to the map above and identify the mountain range marked A.
(a) Ladakh
(b) Pir Pinjal
(c) Kailash
(d) Karakoram (Application)

22. [Population]
The ratio of population of Tamil Nadu to the population of the entire country is ______________.

(a) Index of Concentration

(b) Density
(c) Growth Rate
(d) Natural Growth (Understanding)

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II. Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark Each)

The questions in this section have two statements marked Assertion and Reason. Read both the
statements carefully and choose the correct option.

S.No. Questions

23. [Migration]
Assertion (A): Urban-to-urban migration is primarily in the low-income group.
Reason (R): People mostly migrate from small towns to big cities following the pattern of
step migration.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true, and R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true. (Analysis )

24. [Physical Environment]

Assertion (A): The Himalayan ranges are orthoclinal in structure.
Reason (R): They have a gentle slope on the southern side and a steep slope on the northern
side.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
(Understanding)
25. [Regional Economic Development]
Assertion (A): Bengaluru is termed as the Electronic Capital of India.
Reason (R): Bengaluru is the largest centre of electronic goods production.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true. (Understanding)

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S.No. Questions

26. [Regional Economic Development]

Assertion (A): Silk is a fine, soft, lustrous fibre.
Reason (R): Cheap skilled labour is fundamental to the production of silk.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true. (Understanding)

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III: Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark Each)

S.No. Questions

27. [Transport and Communication]

“Himalayas have practically no railways”. Justify this statement. (Application)

28. [Transport and Communication]

Why is work suspended in the port of Chennai during the season of retreating Monsoons?
(Understanding)

29. [Industries]
“Although readymade garment is an important segment of textile industry, yet it is considered
as a ‘foot-loose’ industry.” Justify this statement. (Understanding)

30. [Agriculture]
The ticklish problem of fragmentation of land holdings can be dealt by one method. Which
method is referred to here and why? (Recall & Analysis)

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IV. Fill in the Blanks (1 Mark Each)

S.No. Questions

31. [Tourism]
_______________ tourism fosters a sense of unity among the people irrespective of the
diverse culture of our country. (Understanding & Application)

32. [Migration]
Seema after securing a gold medal in medicine from a reputed college in India now plans to
settle in the US for a lucrative package that is offered to her. This kind of migration for
economic benefit is ________________ for our country. (Analysis)

33. [Transport and Communication]

The harbour constructed on the East coast by dredging and erecting groynes in the sea is
____________ . (Recall)

34. [Agriculture]
______________ is one of the best methods of increasing agricultural productivity in India.

(Recall)
35. [Water Resources]
Farmers indulging in _________ causes soil salinity.
(Understanding)

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V. Short Answer Questions (2 Marks Each)

S.No. Questions
36. [Migration]
Study the image below and state any two possible causes for the woman who is shifting
elsewhere with her baby.

Source:https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/refugee-fleeing.html
(Application)

37. [Rural Settlements]

A settlement P develops over a vast geographical area with individual dwellings spaced
apart.
(a) What type of settlement is settlement P?
(b) State any two factors that would have resulted in the development of this settlement in
India. (Understanding & Application)

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S.No. Questions
38. [Climate]
Study the map of annual rainfall variability and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Why is the variability more in the westernmost part of the country?
(b) Explain the utility of this statistical measurement for the Indian economy.

(Application & Analysis)

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S.No. Questions
39. [Tourism]

The graph above shows the scenario in the tourism sector of two countries, namely Brazil
and India.
Surprisingly, it is noted that though India has a greater percentage of the population
engaged in tourism than Brazil has, yet its GDP contribution is much lower than that of
Brazil.
State two reasons contributing to the current challenges faced by Indian tourism.

(Understanding, Application & Analysis)

40. [Transport and Communication]

State two disadvantages of the mode of transport shown in the picture above.
(Analysis & Application)

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S.No. Questions
41. [Demographic Attributes]
“Himachal Pradesh has the highest rural population in India.”

State two implications of high rural population on the economy of Himachal Pradesh.
(Analysis)

42. [Demographic Attributes]

The female workforce participation rate is low in the states of Punjab and Haryana
compared to the rest of India. Justify this statement by giving two reasons.
(Analysis)

43. [Environmental Management and Land Use]

Knowledge of land use is essential to know the economic condition of a country. Based on
this statement, discuss the factors on which land utilisation depends.
(Understanding)

44. [Agriculture]
“Tea grown on hill slopes”. Justify this statement. (Analysis)

45. [Fishing]
Rati visited her friend, Yen, in Japan and was very impressed with the high standards of
the fishing industry there. She expressed her dissatisfaction regarding the Fishing industry
in India.

Explain two factors that contributed to the backward state of the fishing industry in India.
(Analysis)

46. [Mineral Resources]

Ramesh migrated from Kolkata to a town located in Assam.
This town is very important for the production of fossil fuels. It has the oldest refinery in
India. Name the town and the fossil fuel mined. State two significances of this mineral.
(Recall)

47. [Urban Settlements]

As per 2011 census, Delhi and Mumbai are termed as Urban agglomerations. How can one
distinguish urban agglomeration from other towns? (Understanding)

48. [Transport and Communication]

Mughalsarai and Tundla developed as important urban centres, but they were not located
near any major waterway. What factor led to the growth of these towns?
(Understanding)

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S.No. Questions
49. [Water Resources]
The picture shows a type of irrigation method that became very popular as a strategy of
the second Green Revolution.

Source: https://captainpolyplast.com/drip-irrigation-system.html

Which method of irrigation is shown here and mention why do you think it is a sustainable
method of irrigation? (Analysis)

50. [Natural Vegetation]

Refer to the extract below and state two reasons to justify this condition.

Source: https://www.katerinagimon.com/she-was-wilderness.html

(Analysis)

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S.No. Questions
51. [Mineral Resources]

The image below shows a valuable fuel and a digestive waste product. A greenhouse gas
is generated which contributes to global warming. Which gas is mentioned in the image
and which form of energy is generated? State two of its advantages.

Source: https://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/m/methane_production.asp

(Application)

52. [Physical Environment]

The Peninsular Plateau is primarily made of igneous rocks. How is this correlated with its
geological formation? (Analysis)

53. [Tourism]
Tourism can have long-lasting effects on local communities in and around tourist areas.
Justify this statement by discussing the pros and cons. (Understanding)

54. [Population]
Post-independence, there has been a phenomenal increase in India’s population. What are
the most likely reasons behind this? (Analysis)

55. [Migration]
There is a lot of in-migration of women to the city of Chandigarh. Please suggest one cause
each for primary and secondary in-migration.
(Analysis)

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VI. Long Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

S.No. Questions
56. [Transport and Communication]

Study the picture given and answer the following questions:

(a) Identify the form of transport shown in the picture.
(b) What is the greatest advantage of this Transport type?
(c) The other types of transport, however, dominate over this type. Give a suitable reason
to explain it. (Analysis)

57. [Demographic Attributes]

Literacy and education are important indicators of development. In light of this statement,
name a state/region in India, where this statement holds valid. Justify with suitable reasons.
(Application)

58. [Population]
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

A tranquil village called Serenity Grove in the midst of a forest was a place where people
lived in harmony. But there was an influx of villagers coming from distant lands to seek
refuge here as their homes were plagued by disasters like droughts. The streams that were
once crystal clear now ran murky with pollution and their banks were littered with debris.
Fields that were bountiful with harvests, now lay barren as forests were cleared to
accommodate housing facilities for the new settlers.
(a) What type of condition is mentioned here in the passage?
(b) Suggest two other problems that can affect Serenity Grove.
(Analysis)

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S.No. Questions
59. [Climate]
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Today, the entire world is battling with challenges like extreme climate changes,
unpredictable rainfall, and irregular weather patterns. El Niño, a climate pattern, is
considered to be the primary reason causing such disruptions.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com, June 6,2023
Is El Nino responsible for the climate change of India? Justify.
(Understanding)

60. [Transport and Communication]

(a) (b)
Identify the two means of communication shown in the pictures (a) & (b) and mention the
difference between these two types. (Understanding)

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S.No. Questions
61. [Industries]

This famous industrial house owns a large number of industries in India.

(a) Name the iron and steel industry.
(b) Mention the exact location.
(c) From where does this iron and steel industry procure coal?
(Recall & Understanding)

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S.No. Questions
62. [Natural Vegetation]

Mongabay Series, by Hirra Azmat on 24 November 2023 reported:

The Dachigam National Park is currently under significant threat, as the forest cover
decreased by 7 percent, and there was a notable reduction in natural habitat, indicating
habitat fragmentation.

Experts say the significant changes and infrastructure development in and around the park
have a huge influence on Dal Lake.

Explain three factors responsible for the habitat fragmentation in the Dachigam National
Park.
(Understanding)

63. [Physical Environment]

Look at the map given below and answer the questions that follow.

Identify the shaded region marked as 1. Mention two of its unique features.
(Application)

64. [Locational Setting of India]

“India’s locational position has immense implications with respect to trade as well as
social and cultural interaction.” Justify the statement. (Analysis)

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S.No. Questions
65. [Demographic Attributes]
Even after almost 77 years of India’s Independence, the country continues to be gender
centric. Sons are considered as bread earners of the family while daughters are financial
burdens of their parents.
(a) What aspect of demographic attribute is mentioned here?
(b) Do you think this attribute is high or low in India? Justify this statement.
(Application & Analysis)

66. [Population]
The air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) is one of the worst in the
world, as per a World Health Organisation (WHO) survey of 1,650 world cities. Air
pollution in India is the fifth largest killer and it is estimated to kill about 2 million people
every year. In Delhi, poor-quality air damages irreversibly the lungs of 2.2 million or 50
percent of all children.

Source(edited): https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/delhi-air-pollution hazard

Is there any relation between this environmental hazard and urbanization? Justify.
(Application)

67. [Urban Settlement]

Ten students of Bloomsvale school of Bergen came to a popular town Jaigarh in India to
study the growth of cities. They were surprised to see the massive development of this
town, and found difficulty in accessing one part of the town from another. New roads were
being constructed. Smaller adjoining villages were also becoming a part of this town.
(a) Name the process of urbanisation in Jaigarh?
(b) With this rapid increase of settlements what would be the final development of
settlement? Explain with another Indian example.
(Application & Analysis)

68. [Urban Settlement]

Hanle is a small historic village in Ladakh known for its scanty population and an
astronomical observatory where celestial objects can be seen with the naked eye most of
the time due to its clear skies.
Can Hanle develop into an urban conurbation? Justify. (Application)

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S.No. Questions
69. [Migration]
A new state called Har Rajya has been formed in India which has a population density of
over 500 persons per sq. km, with a sex ratio of 1002 and literacy rates of 95.75%.
The state has invested in different forms of renewable energy and most of its villages and
small towns are solar power enabled. The cities are progressing towards smart cities with
top-notch infrastructure.
How would the migration rates be affected in this new state? (Application)

70. [Urban Settlement]

The city of Gurugram has witnessed rapid urbanisation along with vertical expansion. The
profileration of the skyscrapers which includes sleek office spaces and luxury
condominiums have burgeoned across the landscape eating away all the farmlands around
its vicinity.
(a) What type of growth has taken place in Gurugram?
(b) What are the implications of this kind of growth? (Application & Analysis)

71. [Agriculture]
From the image given below, mention which agricultural revolution is depicted here that
brought about a massive transformation in the lives of the Indians post-independence.
Were there any obstacles faced in the path of this change? Elucidate the statement.

(Understanding)

72. [Industries]
The capacity for producing steel has grown concurrently and the rise has been largely
organic. As of April 2022, India was the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel.
Source: https://shorturl.at/RFJ3s
(a) Which type of ore is mined to get steel?
(b) Are there any use of this ore other than steel manufacturing? Explain.
(Understanding)

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S.No. Questions
73. [Regional Economic Development]
Bengaluru’s ICT sector has benefitted from the filtering down of business from the
developed world.
Why do you think these developed world companies are outsourcing Indian companies in
Bengaluru? (Application)

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VII: Very Long Answer Questions (7 Marks Each)

S.No. Questions

74. [Population]
(a) “There has been a complex interplay between mortality rates and population growth
between the years 1921 to 1951 in India that reflected shifts in societal and economic
aspects in the country”. Justify this statement.
(b) The increase in population has led to an increase in the number of migrant
populations which has put great pressure on existing resources of the nation. State any
three problems that were triggered by an increase in the migrant population in India?
(Analysis & Application)

75. [Physical Environment]

Study the image given below and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Name the four mountain ranges shown on the map. What are the striking contrasts
in these four mountain ranges?

(b) State any climatic contrasts that are found between the ranges 2,3 and 4 with
reference to the SW monsoons.
(Understanding & Application)

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S.No. Questions

76. [Drainage]
Study the map given below showing the peninsular rivers of India and answer the
questions that follow.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_South_India
(a) Why do you think that the rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal form deltas while
those draining into the Arabian Sea do not form deltas?
(b) “River Cauvery is unique.” How far do you agree with this statement? Justify.

(Analysis)

77. [Climate]
(a) “The rainfall regime of the Indian climate is unique.” Justify this statement.
(b) How is Chennai depicting a unique climate regime?
(Application & Analysis)

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S.No. Questions

78. [Transport and Communication]

The two pictures above show two important modes of transport.

Study the pictures carefully to answer the questions given below.
(a) Identify both modes of transport.
(b) State one advantage of each type that is typical to it.
(c) State one disadvantage of each of this type of transport.
(d) Which transport takes care of the major requirements of India? Justify.
(Application & Analysis)

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ANSWER KEY

Q.No. Expected Answers

1. (b) Marginal worker

2. (a) Literacy rate

3. (c) (i), (ii) & (iv)

4. (b) Culturable waste.

5. (c) eco-agriculture.

6. (d) Cottage Industry

7. (d) Both A, B, and C are all correct.

8. (a) Satluj, Ganga,Yamuna, and Kali.

9. (b) They have large catchment areas.

10. (d) Sutluj

11. (c) Indented coast

12. (b) Micro Region

13. (b) Eco-tourism

14. (c) Biogas energy

15. (a) Konkan

16. (a) S1 is the cause of S2.

17. (b) Tata Steel Limited

18. (c) Anaimudi

19. (a) Chilika Lake

20. (d) Satpura Range

21. (d) Karakoram

22. (a) Index of Concentration

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Q.No. Expected Answers

23. (d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

24. (c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.

25. (a) Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.

26. (b) Both A and R are correct, and R is not the correct explanation of A.

27. Rugged terrain/ hill topography/sparse population/backward economy. (Anyone point)

28. As the port of Chennai is frequently hit by cyclones in the months of October and
November.

29. As the readymade garment industry is not tied to any specific locational factor.

30. Consolidation of holdings or Cooperative farming.

31. Domestic

32. Brain drain

33. Chennai

34. Intensive agriculture

35. Overwatering

36. Outmigration
(1) Political unrest and interethnic conflict.
(2) Natural disasters like earthquakes.

37. (a) Dispersed or scattered settlement.

(b) Undulating terrain, forested, lack of agricultural development, lack of good transport
connectivity.
38. (a) The variability of rainfall means how much it varies from the average rainfall of the
country. If the variation is more, it confirms that the region receives less rainfall.
In the map, the region having more variability receives less rainfall, as in this region
Aravalli lies parallel to the southwest monsoon from the Arabian Sea branch, causing less
rainfall.
(b) Utility of this measurement is:
• Planning for Indian agriculture.
• Planning for Irrigation installations.
• To understand whether the areas are drought-prone or not.
• Crop combination.

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Geography ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

39. India’s inability to sell its rich tourist potential/ lack of integrated infrastructure like
highways, railways, ports, hotels, etc./ Political unrest or fear of violence/bandhs- strikes-
ethnic clashes/ epidemics. (Any two points)

40. Disadvantages
• It is not flexible.
• Can be used only for a few fixed points.
• Capacity cannot be increased.
• Difficult to make security arrangements.
• Cannot be easily repaired.
• Detection of leakage is difficult. (Any two points)

41. • The economy is greatly dependent on agriculture and forest-based activities.

• Traditional social order is intact.
• Underdeveloped state compared to the rest of the country.
• Net GDP contribution is less due to the lack of industrialization and urbanisation.
• Slow economic development. (Any two points)

42. Agricultural mechanization

Societal norms

43. Physical factors – Topography, soil, and climate.

Human Factors – density of population, duration of occupation of the area, land tenure,
technical levels of the people.

44. Stagnant water is harmful to the roots of the tea bush.

45. The problems of fish preservation due to tropical climate:

• Lack of indentations in the coast.
• Fishing is a seasonal phenomena and monsoons create havoc hindering the fishing
operation.
• Fishing equipments lack technological progress.
• Lack of freezing, canning, transport, and organised market. (Any two points)

46. Digboi – Petroleum.

Significance:
• Petroleum helps to generate electricity.
• Used as a raw material for several industries.

47. Urban Agglomeration must have a statutory town and with a continuous urban spread
which includes its outgrowths, two or more adjoining towns.

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Geography ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

48. Railway junctions helped in the development of these towns.

This was due to:
• Speed.
• Regular services to far-off distances.
• Better connectivity to other towns and cities.

49. Drip irrigation.

Water goes to the root zones of the plant so there is less wastage of water (leading to water
conservation and optimum utilisation of water as a resource).

50. Deforestation
• Rapid exploitation of forests due to the rise in population.
• Overgrazing
• Increasing demand for forest products.
• Extension of agriculture.
• Shifting cultivation.
• Developmental projects like mining.
• Disasters like forest fires. (Any two points)

51. Methane
Biogas plant
Advantages:
• Smokeless efficient fuel.
• Enriched fertilizer.
• Used for lighting and power generation.

52. It is one of the oldest formations in India. During the Pre-Cambrian era, a block of crystal
rocks came out of a depression and behaved like a rigid inflexible block throughout its
geological history and never got submerged again.

53. Pros:
• Better job opportunities for local communities.
• Demand for local handicrafts and culture.
• Better transport development.
Cons:
• Development of more infrastructure causing environmental hazards.
• Lack of space leading to a shortage of basic amenities.
(one each point)

54. Accelerated developmental activities like a sudden increase in agricultural production,

development of new industries, and boost in the transport sector.
Improved health conditions with better medical facilities reduce mortality rates.
Overall improvement in living conditions of people.

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Geography ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

55. Primary cause – marriage.

Secondary cause – Job and education.

56. (a) Water transport.

(b) Fuel efficient/Environmentally friendly.
(c) Slow speed.

57. Kerala.
It has the highest literacy rate in India.
This state has reached the highest level of demographic transition in India as it has low
fertility and mortality rates, high female literacy, the highest sex ratio, and easily
accessible family planning services.
Average life expectancy is above 70 years. They have invested in health infrastructure.

58. (a) The condition is Population increase which leads to the degradation of the
environment.
(b) The problems that may affect Serenity of the Orchard due to this –:
(i) Poverty – with more influx of people there will be unemployment that may lead to
poverty.
(ii) Lack of Space – Housing problems will arise.
(iii) Pollution – Other than water pollution mentioned here there will be air pollution and
noise pollution. (any two points)

59. El Nino is a warm ocean current that flows along the coast of Peru in the month of
December.
During that time, it increases the surface water temperature of the southern Pacific Ocean.
This warming of water affects the global patterns of pressure and wind system including
monsoon. Therefore, monsoon becomes weaker or arrive late, which ultimately creates
drought or water scarcity situation in many parts of India.

60. (a) Mass communication

(b) Personal communication

Difference:
• Involves communication with the masses.
• Involves communication between individuals.

61. (a) Tata Steel

(b) Jamshedpur
(c) Raniganj & Jharia.

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Geography ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

62. • Human activities such as agricultural activity, and infrastructure development.

• Thoughtless and rapid felling of trees.
• Overgrazing.
• The practice of Shifting agriculture.
• Construction of hotels due to tourism. (Any three points)

63. Chotanagpur plateau.

Features are:
• It is composed of Gondwana rocks with patches of granite and gneisses.
• Its general elevation is 1100 metres.
• It has an elevated lateritic plateau known as patlands.
• Plateau has numerous streams and rivers in different directions and presents. radial
drainage pattern.
• Virtually consists of a series of plateaus.
• Gondwana coal field is present here. (Any two points)

64. India stands at the head of the Indian Ocean at the centre of the eastern hemisphere. Its
vastness, diversity, and economic resources have made it a dominating country among the
littoral states. The Indian Ocean serves as a great linkage between countries lying along
the coast. As India has vast coastlines, therefore trading is highly profitable and accessible
with other south-east Asian countries of Indian Ocean. This strategic position of India has
broadened the trade as well as social and cultural interaction with other countries of the
world.

65. (a) Sex Ratio

(b)It is very low in India due to the following causes:
• Male child receives preferential treatment over female child
• Many women die at the time of giving birth.
• Steady rise in dowry deaths.
• With small family norms a couple would not want a second child if the first child is a
male.
• Large number of illegal sex determination tests and abortions. (Any two points)

66. Yes. The haphazard and unplanned growth of cities have led to unprecedented air
pollution.
Increased urbanisation and associated industrialisation post-Independence.
Metropolitan cities in India are injecting enormous amounts of pollutants in the air.
All major cities of India have polluted their air beyond the tolerance limit and the level of
SPM is much higher than the permissible limit.
Industry, transport, and domestic emissions are the main sources of pollution in Indian
cities.

67. (a) Infill Settlement.

(b) Jaigarh would keep continuously growing, and since the suburbs are coalescing to
form a continuous urban area known as a Conurbation like in Delhi, Mumbai, and
Kolkata.

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Geography ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

68. Hanle is at a very high altitude over 12000 ft above sea level with extremes of climate.
Clear skies are possible due to the lack of pollution there.
Not possible to develop into an urban conurbation due to its high altitude, extremes of
climatic conditions, lack of vegetation, and difficulty in constructing roads, farmlands or
industrial setups.

69. There will be more in-migration than outmigration due to:

• higher development index here. High literacy indicates well-developed education so
people will move here for better education facilities.
• a high sex ratio indicates gender equality and women getting better opportunities and
progressive policies in place.
• this state promotes environmental conservation and sustainable practices with more
use of renewable sources of energy and managing basic amenities.

70. (a) Urban sprawl.

The aerial expansion of the city took place by encroaching on its nearby agricultural areas.
This has reduced the growth of agricultural expansion.
(b)The main implication is the surge of population moving to this city thereby leading to
overcrowding of space, tremendous water shortage, lack of proper infrastructure in terms
of civic amenities, basic hygiene, sanitation, and drainage facilities, and accumulation of
more waste that remains untreated and properly managed.

71. Green Revolution or Grain Revolution.

Challenges faced:
• Inter-crop balances.
• Regional disparities.
• Increase in inter-personal inequalities.
• Unemployment.

72. (a) Iron ore.

(b) Yes, Iron is alloyed with other metals to form ferro alloys like ferro manganese,
ferro tungsten, and ferro vanadium. It includes the manufacture of engineering and
manufacture of armaments, cutlery, construction, shipbuilding, and automobiles.

73. Labour costs are considerably lower.

A number of developed countries have significant ICT shortages.
Bengaluru has a large and able English-speaking workforce.

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Geography ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

74. (a) Key points are:

• The population in India grew from 251 million to 361 million with a growth of 4.73%
- a steady growth period.
• The development of medical facilities reduced deaths from epidemics.
• Sanitation improved which reduced deaths.
• Developed means of transport reduced food shortage.
• The agricultural economy improved substantially.
• Crude death rate declined but the crude birth rate remained high - a period of mortality-
induced growth.

(b) Problems triggered due to the increase in the migrant population are mentioned below.
• Unemployment.
• The problem of law and order.
• Growth of slums and squatter settlements.
• Urban sprawl.
• Traffic congestion.
• Pollution.
• Lack of basic amenities. (Any three points)

75. (a) The mountain range marked 1 is the Trans-Himalayan range i.e. Karakoram Range.
The Trans-Himalayan ranges are mainly composed of granites and volcanic rocks. There
is no definite alignment and a lack of river gorges.
The range marked 2 is the Aravalli range. It is an old fold mountain. This is highly
denuded and forms a discontinuous range.
The range marked 3 is the Western Ghats. It stands like a continuous wall and can be
crossed through passes only. It has structural unity. This range is the source of many
rivers.
The range marked 4 is the Eastern Ghats. It is a residual range and does not depict the real
characteristics of the mountain except between Mahanadi and Godavari. It runs parallel
to the eastern coast. Structural unity is lacking in this range.
(b)
Range 2 – Aravali – The Arabian Sea branch of the SW monsoon winds run parallel to
these ranges thereby bringing no rain to the western part of this range i.e. Rajasthan. The
Bay of Bengal branch of the SW monsoon strikes the mountain almost perpendicular
direction and brings in some rain to the windward side or eastern side of this range while
the western side being the leeward side receives very little or practically no rain.

Range 3 – Western Ghats – The Arabian Sea branch of the SW monsoon strikes these
ranges and brings in very heavy rain to the coastal areas but by the time these winds reach
the eastern part (leeward side) the rainfall amount decreases and there is very little rain on
the eastern coast.
Range 4 – Eastern Ghats –The Bay of Bengal branch of the SW monsoon runs parallel to
the Eastern Ghats and so they hardly bring rain to the Eastern coastal plain.

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Geography ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

76. (a) The rivers which are flowing towards the eastern coast carry large quantities of water
as they have many tributaries, whereas the river that flows towards the west does not have
many tributaries.
• Active vertical and lateral erosion in the upper course of the river to provide extensive
sediments.
• The rivers of the eastern coastal side have long courses so that the speed of water is
sufficiently reduced before it enters the sea. The rivers of the western coastal side have
shorter courses.
• A vast plain situated along the course of the river facilitates the reduction of the speed
of the river water and helps in the deposition of sediment for delta formation.
(b) River Cauvery has water throughout the year. In summer, it receives water from the
southwest monsoons from the Arabian Sea, and in winter, it receives water from the winter
monsoon. Hence, it is called the perennial river of South India.

77. (a) The onset of monsoon in the month of June.

Monsoon enters the subcontinent through different routes. One is through the Arabian
Seaside and another one through the Bay of Bengal side. The Arabian Seaside has three
different currents. One current strikes Western Ghats and causes heavy rainfall whereas
another one blows parallel with Aravalli and causes very little rainfall.
The Bay of Bengal branch first struck Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia and caused very heavy
rainfall. Once it reaches the Himalayas, it blows parallel to the Himalayan ranges.
The eastern coast of India remains relatively dry during the southwest monsoon period.
1. During the rainy season few weeks in the month of September, it does not rain at
all in many places in India. This condition is called a break in monsoon due to
failure of tropical depressions or dislocation of the monsoon trough over north
India.
2. After the month of September, monsoon starts retreating from many places of
India. During retreating, monsoon picks up moisture from the Bay of Bengal. It
establishes itself over the Tamil Nadu coast in the month of December, and causes
rainfall there.
(b) Chennai lying on the Eastern Coastal plain hardly receives rain from the Bay of Bengal
branch of the SW monsoon in the summer months, as these winds run parallel to the coast.
Also, being on the leeward side of the Western Ghats, the rainfall amount is much less by
the time the Arabian Sea branch reaches Chennai.
On the other hand, in the winter months, the dry NE winds while crossing over the Bay
of Bengal pick up moisture and bring rain to Chennai in the winter months.

78. (a) Airways & Railways.

(b) Airways-fastest/connects remote areas.
Railways- carrying capacity is much more/cheaper.
(c) Airways – expensive and can get affected by weather conditions.
Railways – cannot be built everywhere, especially in difficult terrains.
(d) Road transport. It can reach difficult terrains and is built almost everywhere. It can do
door-to-door service.

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 36