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RAS question

Consider the following statements about Tundra vegetation: 1. Tundra is characterised by very short, woody plants, mosses and lichens due to harsh cold conditions. 2. Trees are absent in the tundra because of permafrost, which prevents deep root growth. 3. Alpine tundra is found only in Arctic regions above 70° latitude. 4. 'Thermokarst' refers to the landscape formed when permafrost melts, leading to collapse of ground surface.

Correct answer: (A) 1, 2 and 4 only.

In tundra vegetation, statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct, while alpine tundra is not confined to Arctic regions above 70 degrees latitude.

  1. (A)

    1, 2 and 4 only

  2. (B)

    1, 2, 3 and 4

  3. (C)

    2, 3 and 4 only

  4. (D)

    1 and 2 only

Explanation

Tundra is a cold biome with vegetation adapted to a short growing season: lichens, mosses, grasses, sedges and shrubs dominate, while trees are almost absent. NASA notes that this near-absence of trees is linked to the short growing season and permafrost, the permanently frozen ground below the surface; in summer, only a shallow top layer thaws, so deep tree roots cannot establish. Statement 3 is incorrect because tundra occurs below Arctic ice caps and on the tops of very high mountains elsewhere in the world. Statement 4 is also right because the USGS describes thermokarst collapse as subsidence or loss of ground volume caused by melting ground ice.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) Option B includes statement 3, but alpine tundra is found on high mountain tops outside the Arctic as well, so it is not limited to regions above 70 degrees latitude.
  • (C) Option C wrongly rejects statement 1 even though tundra vegetation includes mosses, lichens, sedges and low shrubs, and it also wrongly accepts statement 3.
  • (D) Option D leaves out statement 4, although thermokarst is the collapse or subsidence associated with thawing ground ice in permafrost terrain.

Concept

This tests the World Geography concept of biome controls, especially how temperature, permafrost and altitude shape tundra vegetation. RAS often asks such statement-combination questions because they link physical geography terms with map-based distribution and geomorphic processes.

Source

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