Geography Optional Paper 1:2014
SECTION A

Q1. Answer the following: 150 each: 10 x 5 50 marks

Define the term ‘meander’ and describe the basic characteristics of entrenched meander and ingrown meander.
Discuss the salient features of ‘sirocco’ and ‘mistral’.
Discuss an account of the nature of biosphere as an ecosystem.
State the uniqueness of the Eurasian Steppe Biome.
Illustrate the origin and nature of Sargasso Sea and Lagoon

Q2. Answer following (20 15 15 marks)

State the concept of plate tectonics. How does it help in explaining the formation of Himalayas and Appalachain Mountains.
Describe the origin and development of thunderstorms with examples.
Enumerate the major causes of increasing degradation of environment in hills and hillslopes, and state its down-valley impact.

Q3. Answer following (20 15 15 marks)

Discuss the nature and origin of Indian monsoon and recent techniques of its prediction.
State the concept of erosion surfaces and highlight the factors responsible for their development.
Give a critical account of reasons and consequences of marine pollution.

Q4. Answer following (20 15 15 marks)

Explain weathering and mass wasting, and describe their geomorphic significance.
Define zoogeographic region.Also describe he basic faunal makeup of the Neo-Arctic zoogeographic region.
Give an account of recent observation on coral bleaching with reference to Clive Wilkinson’s Report.

Geography Optional Paper SECTION B

Q5. Answer the following: 150 words each. 10 x 5 50 marks

Elaborate the concept of mental map.
Give an account of food security issues in developing countries.
Discuss the factors responsible for counter-urbanisation.
Explain the relevance of bottom-up and top-down approaches in the development of agrarian economy.
Critically analyse application of models in geography.

Q6. Answer following (20 15 15 marks)

Explain the necessary conditions of takeoff and subsequent stages of development of a nation as propounded by Rostow.
Discuss environmental and economic problems associated with coal production.
Discuss the contribution of geographers in the development of radical geography.

Q7. Answer following (20 15 15 marks)

Giving suitable examples, describe the importance of system analysis in geographical studies.
“Rural sustainability is necessary for urban sustainability.” Discuss the statement in the backdrop of integrated development approach.
“Indo-Gangetic hearth is considered to be one of the world’s richest cultural realms.” Examine.

Q8. Answer following (20 15 15 marks)

Explain the qualitative and quantitative methods of delineation of sphere of urban influence.
“World is passing through a global resource dilemma.” Comment
“Food productivity with purity of the ecosystem is the need of the hour.” Elaborate.