CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING THE WEATHER
1. What is weather?
A. The condition of the Earth’s interior
B. The state of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place
C. The movement of ocean floors
D. The shape of the Earth’s surface
Answer: B. The state of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place
2. What is the atmosphere?
A. The layer of rocks beneath the Earth
B. The layer of gases surrounding the Earth
C. The water present in oceans
D. The outer layer of soil
Answer: B. The layer of gases surrounding the Earth
3. Which atmospheric layer is closest to the Earth’s surface?
A. Stratosphere
B. Mesosphere
C. Troposphere
D. Thermosphere
Answer: C. Troposphere
4. Where do almost all weather phenomena take place?
A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Earth’s core
D. Mesosphere
Answer: A. Troposphere
5. Approximately how high does the troposphere extend from the ground?
A. 1 to 3 kilometres
B. 6 to 18 kilometres
C. 30 to 50 kilometres
D. 100 to 150 kilometres
Answer: B. 6 to 18 kilometres
6. Which of the following is NOT listed as an element of weather in the chapter?
A. Temperature
B. Humidity
C. Atmospheric pressure
D. Soil fertility
Answer: D. Soil fertility
7. What does temperature indicate?
A. How hot or cold the atmosphere is
B. The amount of water in rivers
C. The speed of ocean currents
D. The weight of the Earth’s crust
Answer: A. How hot or cold the atmosphere is
8. What is precipitation?
A. Water evaporating from the ground
B. Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet or hail, falling from the sky
C. The movement of air
D. The warming of the atmosphere
Answer: B. Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet or hail, falling from the sky
9. What is atmospheric pressure?
A. The amount of water vapour in the air
B. The speed of moving air
C. The pressure exerted by the weight of the air above and around us
D. The amount of rainfall received in a year
Answer: C. The pressure exerted by the weight of the air above and around us
10. What does wind refer to?
A. The movement of air
B. The falling of rain
C. The formation of clouds only
D. The amount of water vapour in the air
Answer: A. The movement of air
11. What does humidity measure?
A. The amount of dust in the air
B. The amount of water vapour in the air
C. The temperature of the soil
D. The speed of rainfall
Answer: B. The amount of water vapour in the air
12. Which natural sign is mentioned as an indication of expected heavy rain?
A. Ants shifting their eggs to higher ground
B. Fish climbing trees
C. Rocks changing colour every morning
D. Rivers flowing uphill
Answer: A. Ants shifting their eggs to higher ground
13. Which animal is mentioned as sometimes croaking in expectation of rain?
A. Camel
B. Frog
C. Elephant
D. Tiger
Answer: B. Frog
14. What can the opening and closing of pine cones indicate?
A. Changes in environmental humidity
B. The depth of the ocean
C. The direction of Earth’s rotation
D. The amount of underground coal
Answer: A. Changes in environmental humidity
15. What is meteorology?
A. The study of rocks and minerals
B. The systematic study of weather and its evolution
C. The study of plants only
D. The study of ocean animals
Answer: B. The systematic study of weather and its evolution
16. Who studies weather data to predict future weather conditions?
A. Archaeologists
B. Meteorologists
C. Botanists
D. Historians
Answer: B. Meteorologists
17. Which temperature scales are mentioned in the chapter?
A. Celsius and Fahrenheit
B. Metre and kilometre
C. Kilogram and gram
D. Litre and millilitre
Answer: A. Celsius and Fahrenheit
18. A temperature of 15°C is equal to which temperature on the Fahrenheit scale, according to the chapter?
A. 32°F
B. 45°F
C. 59°F
D. 75°F
Answer: C. 59°F
19. What is the range of temperature during a particular period?
A. Maximum temperature plus minimum temperature
B. Maximum temperature minus minimum temperature
C. Minimum temperature divided by maximum temperature
D. Maximum temperature multiplied by minimum temperature
Answer: B. Maximum temperature minus minimum temperature
20. How is mean daily temperature calculated in the chapter?
A. Maximum temperature minus minimum temperature
B. Maximum temperature divided by minimum temperature
C. Maximum temperature plus minimum temperature, divided by two
D. Minimum temperature multiplied by two
Answer: C. Maximum temperature plus minimum temperature, divided by two
21. In which year was the India Meteorological Department established?
A. 1857
B. 1875
C. 1905
D. 1947
Answer: B. 1875
22. Which instrument is used to measure rainfall?
A. Barometer
B. Thermometer
C. Rain gauge
D. Hygrometer
Answer: C. Rain gauge
23. What does a rainfall measurement of 5 mm mean in the example given in the chapter?
A. The collected rainwater has a depth of 5 mm
B. The air temperature is 5°C
C. The wind speed is 5 km/h
D. The atmospheric pressure is 5 mb
Answer: A. The collected rainwater has a depth of 5 mm
24. Which part of a rain gauge collects rainwater?
A. Rotating arm
B. Funnel
C. Metal cup
D. Pointer
Answer: B. Funnel
25. Where should a rain gauge be placed for proper measurement?
A. Under a roof
B. Inside a closed room
C. In an open area away from obstructions and on a flat surface
D. Directly beneath a large tree
Answer: C. In an open area away from obstructions and on a flat surface
26. How does atmospheric pressure generally change as we move higher into mountains?
A. It increases continuously
B. It decreases
C. It remains exactly the same
D. It becomes zero immediately
Answer: B. It decreases
27. Why can people feel breathless or tired at high altitudes?
A. There is more oxygen available in every breath
B. The air pressure is lower and less oxygen is available for the lungs to take in
C. The air contains no nitrogen
D. The temperature is always above 40°C
Answer: B. The air pressure is lower and less oxygen is available for the lungs to take in
28. What is a depression in weather terminology?
A. A high-pressure system
B. A low-pressure system
C. A mountain valley
D. A period without wind
Answer: B. A low-pressure system
29. Which instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
A. Rain gauge
B. Anemometer
C. Barometer
D. Hygrometer
Answer: C. Barometer
30. What is the approximate normal atmospheric pressure at sea level mentioned in the chapter?
A. 650 mb
B. 800 mb
C. 1,013 mb
D. 1,500 mb
Answer: C. 1,013 mb
31. According to the chapter, atmospheric pressure below which value indicates a depression?
A. 500 mb
B. 750 mb
C. 1,000 mb
D. 2,000 mb
Answer: C. 1,000 mb
32. What does the word “acclimatise” mean?
A. To adjust to a new climate or condition
B. To measure rainfall
C. To predict wind direction
D. To increase atmospheric pressure
Answer: A. To adjust to a new climate or condition
33. In which direction does wind move?
A. From low pressure to high pressure
B. From high pressure to low pressure
C. Only from north to south
D. Only from east to west
Answer: B. From high pressure to low pressure
34. Which two factors are important when describing wind?
A. Colour and smell
B. Speed and direction
C. Temperature and soil type
D. Rainfall and vegetation
Answer: B. Speed and direction
35. Which instrument indicates wind direction using a rotating arm, pointer and tail?
A. Wind vane
B. Thermometer
C. Rain gauge
D. Barometer
Answer: A. Wind vane
36. What is a windsock used for at an airport?
A. Measuring humidity
B. Indicating wind direction
C. Measuring rainfall
D. Measuring air temperature
Answer: B. Indicating wind direction
37. Which instrument measures wind speed?
A. Hygrometer
B. Anemometer
C. Barometer
D. Rain gauge
Answer: B. Anemometer
38. What happens to the cups of an anemometer when wind blows more strongly?
A. They stop rotating
B. They rotate faster
C. They melt
D. They become heavier and fall
Answer: B. They rotate faster
39. In which unit does the anemometer described in the chapter calculate wind speed?
A. Kilometres per hour
B. Millimetres
C. Degrees Celsius
D. Millibars
Answer: A. Kilometres per hour
40. Which instrument measures humidity?
A. Thermometer
B. Barometer
C. Hygrometer
D. Anemometer
Answer: C. Hygrometer
41. What happens to evaporation when the amount of water vapour in the air is already high?
A. Water evaporates more quickly
B. Water evaporates slowly
C. Evaporation becomes unrelated to humidity
D. All water instantly freezes
Answer: B. Water evaporates slowly
42. What is the relative humidity of air saturated with water vapour?
A. 0%
B. 20%
C. 50%
D. 100%
Answer: D. 100%
43. What relative humidity range is usually associated with dry weather in the chapter?
A. 0% to 10%
B. 20% to 40%
C. 60% to 80%
D. 90% to 100%
Answer: B. 20% to 40%
44. What relative humidity range is usually associated with humid weather in the chapter?
A. 10% to 20%
B. 20% to 30%
C. 60% to 80%
D. 0% to 5%
Answer: C. 60% to 80%
45. Why do museums monitor humidity?
A. To make exhibits heavier
B. To maintain a suitable dry environment for preserving exhibits
C. To increase rainfall indoors
D. To change the colour of objects
Answer: B. To maintain a suitable dry environment for preserving exhibits
46. What is a weather station?
A. A place where only rainfall is measured
B. A facility that brings together instruments for measuring and tracking weather
C. A building used only to store clothes
D. A location where wind is completely stopped
Answer: B. A facility that brings together instruments for measuring and tracking weather
47. What does an Automated Weather Station (AWS) use to measure and record weather data?
A. Only handwritten diaries
B. Various sensors
C. Only photographs of clouds
D. Underground tunnels
Answer: B. Various sensors
48. Which of the following is a use of automated weather stations?
A. Agriculture
B. Aviation
C. Environmental monitoring
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
49. How do accurate weather predictions help people and governments?
A. They eliminate every natural disaster.
B. They help people prepare and allow governments to mobilise resources.
C. They stop all changes in weather.
D. They make weather instruments unnecessary.
Answer: B. They help people prepare and allow governments to mobilise resources.
50. Which of the following is identified in the chapter as a strong, hot and dusty wind that blows in northern India during summer?
A. Loo
B. Monsoon
C. Sea breeze
D. Blizzard
Answer: A. Loo
