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NDA 1 2024 GAT, question 75

Topic: Geography

Q75

Consider the following statements regarding soils :

  1. Soils having a very high content of sodium and calcium and pHpH of more than 7.07.0 are alkaline soils.

  2. Black cotton soil had developed on the Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions.

  3. Laterite soils are characterised by a deep weathered layer from which silica has been leached.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a) 1 only
  2. (b) 1 and 2 only
  3. (c) 2 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3Correct answer

Solution.

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

  1. Statement 1 is correct: soils rich in sodium and calcium with pH above 7 are alkaline.
  2. Statement 2 is correct: black cotton soil formed from Deccan basalt lava, as NCERT describes.
  3. Statement 3 is correct: laterite soils have a deep weathered layer from which silica has been washed out.

Trap: "Hot and humid" in statement 2 describes the conditions when the soil formed, not today's drier climate in black-soil regions.