Landforms — Important Questions

Fault

Step 1: Recall the key terms related to earth movements. Step 2: When rocks are subjected to horizontal tensional forces (pulling apart), instead of folding, they crack or fracture. Step 3: This fracture or crack in the rock strata is called a Fault. Step 4: A fold is formed when rocks bend due to compression (not tension). Step 5: An Anticline is the arched/upward part of a fold, and a Syncline is the downward part of a fold. Both anticline and syncline are related to folding, not faulting. Therefore, 'Fault' is the correct answer.

Horst

Step 1: Recall the German terminology used in geography for landforms formed by faulting. Step 2: When two faults occur side by side, the block between them can either rise or the land on either side can sink. Step 3: If the block between the faults is uplifted (or remains while the surrounding area sinks), it is called a Horst or Block Mountain. Step 4: 'Graben' is the German term for a rift valley — it is the opposite of a Horst (the depressed block, not the uplifted one). Step 5: Anticlines and Synclines are terms for folding, not faulting. Therefore, Horst is the correct answer for block m

Vindhya and Satpura

Step 1: Recall the geography of Central India and the Narmada river. Step 2: The Narmada river flows through a rift valley — meaning it occupies a depressed region between two fault zones. Step 3: The Vindhya Range lies to the north of the Narmada river, and the Satpura Range lies to the south. Step 4: This rift valley is similar to the Rhine rift valley in Europe, which lies between the Vosges (France) and the Black Forest (Germany). Step 5: The Himalaya-Karakoram, Aravalli-Western Ghats, and Eastern Ghats options are all incorrect geographic combinations for the Narmada valley.

Tibetan Plateau

Step 1: Recall the famous nickname given to the world's highest plateau. Step 2: The Tibetan Plateau is the highest plateau in the world, located in Asia between the Himalayas and the Kunlun mountains. Step 3: Because of its extraordinary height, it is called the 'Roof of the World'. Step 4: The Deccan Plateau is in India and is a volcanic plateau — not the world's highest. Step 5: The East African Plateau is in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Patagonian Plateau is in Argentina. Neither of these is the highest plateau. Therefore, Tibetan Plateau is the correct answer.