Daily Quiz – 05th Apr 2024

The correct locational sequence from north to south of the given hills is - Pir Panjal Range (Jammu and Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh) followed by Kaimur Hills followed by Satmala Hills (Maharashtra).

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Alps The Alps are a significant mountain range in Europe, stretching across several countries, including France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and others.

They are primarily an example of fold mountains. The formation of the Alps is associated with the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, resulting in the folding and uplift of rock layers.

Andes: The Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world, running along the western edge of South America, passing through countries like Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and others.

The Andes are primarily a result of the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate.

While the Andes do involve volcanic activity due to this subduction, they are considered to be an example of fold mountains because of the extensive folding and uplifting of rock layers caused by the plate tectonics.

The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range located in the western United States, primarily in California and Nevada.

The Sierra Nevada is not classified as fold mountains. Instead, it is an example of fault-block mountains. The range was formed by the movement along fault lines, resulting in blocks of the Earth's crust being uplifted and tilted.

The Appalachian Mountains, often referred to as the Appalachians, are indeed old fold mountains.

They are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and are located in eastern North America, stretching from the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador in the north to the U.S. state of Alabama in the south.

Important Mountain Ranges of the World

1. Andes: Pass through several South American countries, including Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia.
2. Rocky Mountains: Pass through the United States and Canada.
3. Ural Mountains: Pass through Russia and Kazakhstan.
4. Atlas Mountains: Located in North Africa, passing through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
5. Caucasus Mountains: Pass through Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
6. Great Dividing Range -Australia

Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Lightning is mainly associated with convective clouds. Monsoon clouds are mainly stratiform. Therefore, lightning generally does not occur during the active phase of the monsoon season. However, the

convective activity during the break spell of the monsoon may lead to the formation of convective clouds and hence the lightening.

Stratiform clouds have extensive horizontal development, as opposed to the more vertical development characteristic of convection. Stratiform clouds cover large areas but show relatively little vertical development. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA):

1. On the sidelines of the annual G-20 summit in New Delhi, an India-led grouping came together to give impetus to the production and use of biofuels, an alternative to fossil fuels like petroleum and diesel.
2. The grouping, called the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) would attempt to bring countries together to co-develop, accelerate technological advances in production processes, and advocate for the use of biofuels particularly in the transport sector.

Members of Alliance:

1. A total of 19 countries and 12 international organizations have so far agreed to join the alliance, including both G20 members and non-member countries. India, Brazil and the US are the founding members of the alliance. Hence option (b) is the correct answer.
2. Apart from India, Brazil and the US, the other G20 member countries supporting the initiative are Argentina, Canada, Italy, and South Africa. Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, and the UAE are the G20 invitee countries.
3. The non-G20 interested in joining the alliance are Iceland, Kenya, Guyana, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Uganda and Finland.
4. Further, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Economic Forum, World LPG Organization, UN Energy for All, UNIDO, Biofutures Platform, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Energy Agency, International Energy Forum, International Renewable Energy Agency, World Biogas Association are the interested international and multilateral organizations.
5. The three founding members of alliance, the US, India and Brazil contribute about 85% of the global production and the 81% of consumption of ethanol.
6. China and oil producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia have however decided not to be part of the alliance.

River Cauvery

It is known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil and is one of the largest rivers in southern India.

It is a sacred river of southern India. It rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in southwestern Karnataka state, flows in a southeasterly direction, and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls and empties into the Bay of Bengal near Tiruchirapalli. Hence statement 1 is correct.

The Cauvery basin is spread over 81,155 square kilometres (sq km) in the states of Karnataka (34,273 sq km), Tamil Nadu (43,856 sq km) and Kerala (2,866 sq km) and the Union Territory of Puducherry (160 sq km). Hence statement 2 is correct.

It thrice forks into two streams and reunites a few miles farther on, thus forming the islands of Srirangappattanam, Sivasamudram, and Srirangam. Hence statement 3 is correct.