24 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in every exam-style shape used in the paper. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markAccording to the chapter, a mineral is a natural substance of organic or inorganic origin with:
(A) Only economic value to industry(B) A fixed market price(C) No physical structure(D) Definite chemical and physical properties - 1 markWhat distinguishes a ferrous metallic mineral from a non-ferrous one?
(A) A ferrous mineral is always a fossil fuel(B) A ferrous mineral contains iron content, a non-ferrous mineral does not(C) A non-ferrous mineral is always radioactive(D) There is no chemical difference, only a difference in price - 1 markPetroleum reserves in India lie mainly in the sedimentary basins of Assam, Gujarat and:
(A) Mumbai High(B) The Chotanagpur plateau(C) The Aravali range(D) The Deccan trap - 1 markIndia’s iron ore (mainly haematite and magnetite) has great demand in the international market mainly because of its:
(A) Superior quality(B) Low mining cost(C) Radioactive content(D) Location close to ports - 1 markCopper is indispensable in the electrical industry for making wires, motors, transformers and generators mainly because it is:
(A) A fossil fuel(B) Radioactive(C) Found only in Rajasthan(D) Alloyable, malleable and ductile - 1 markAccording to the chapter’s own text, which of the following are together described as the conventional sources of energy?
(A) Coal, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear energy minerals(B) Only solar and wind energy(C) Only nuclear energy(D) Coal, solar power and geothermal energy - 1 markA box in the chapter reports that in September 2023, India crossed how much solar installed capacity, becoming one of only five countries in the world to reach this milestone?
(A) 50,000 MW(B) 1,00,000 MW(C) 70,000 MW(D) 40,000 MW - 1 markA chapter box citing the energy think tank Ember says India’s solar generation grew by what percentage in the first half of 2023, outpacing the global average?
(A) 16 per cent(B) 12 per cent(C) 5.5 per cent(D) 26 per cent
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): Petroleum is referred to as “liquid gold”.
Reason (R): Petroleum is scarce and has diversified uses, from fuelling engines to supplying petrochemical industries.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A(C) A is true, but R is false(D) A is false, but R is true - 1 markAssertion (A): Minerals do not need to be conserved, because any mineral used up today is quickly replenished by nature.
Reason (R): Minerals take long geological periods to form and, once used, cannot be replenished quickly. They have no “second crop”.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A(C) A is true, but R is false(D) A is false, but R is true - 1 markAssertion (A): Solar thermal technology is cost-competitive, environment-friendly and easy to construct.
Reason (R): Wind energy is absolutely pollution-free and an inexhaustible source of energy.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A(C) A is true, but R is false(D) A is false, but R is true
3 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch List-I (Mineral belt) with List-II (Key feature named in the chapter):
(i) North-Eastern Plateau belt (ii) South-Western Plateau belt (iii) North-Western belt (iv) Himalayan belt
1) Copper, lead, zinc, cobalt and tungsten on both sides of the mountains
2) Iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite and mica together
3) Rich in ferrous metals, bauxite and high-grade iron ore; lacks coal except Neyveli lignite
4) Copper and zinc, associated with Dharwar rocks, along the Aravalis
(A) (i)-2, (ii)-3, (iii)-4, (iv)-1(B) (i)-1, (ii)-4, (iii)-3, (iv)-2(C) (i)-3, (ii)-2, (iii)-1, (iv)-4(D) (i)-4, (ii)-1, (iii)-2, (iv)-3 - 1 markMatch List-I (Nuclear power project) with List-II (State):
(i) Tarapur (ii) Kalpakkam (iii) Narora (iv) Kaiga
1) Karnataka 2) Maharashtra 3) Uttar Pradesh 4) Tamil Nadu
(A) (i)-1, (ii)-2, (iii)-4, (iv)-3(B) (i)-4, (ii)-3, (iii)-1, (iv)-2(C) (i)-3, (ii)-1, (iii)-2, (iv)-4(D) (i)-2, (ii)-4, (iii)-3, (iv)-1
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markConsider the following statements:
Statement I: Coal in India occurs in rock sequences of two geological ages, Gondwana and tertiary.
Statement II: Jharia is India’s largest coalfield, followed by Raniganj.
(A) Only Statement I is correct(B) Both statements are correct(C) Only Statement II is correct(D) Both statements are incorrect - 1 markConsider the following statements:
Statement I: The Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) was set up in 1948.
Statement II: Before the ONGC was set up, Digboi in Assam was the only oil-producing region in the country.
(A) Only Statement I is correct(B) Both statements are correct(C) Only Statement II is correct(D) Both statements are incorrect - 1 markConsider the following statements:
Statement I: Wind energy is one of the major sources of environmental pollution in India.
Statement II: Tidal and wave energy along India’s coasts have already been fully harnessed and utilised.
(A) Only Statement I is correct(B) Both statements are correct(C) Only Statement II is correct(D) Both statements are incorrect
5 Arrange in the Correct Order
Arrange in the Correct Order
- 1 markArrange the following CBSE map-work mines from north to south:
(i) Bailadila (ii) Khetri (iii) Shivamogga (iv) Katni
(A) (ii), (iv), (i), (iii)(B) (iv), (ii), (iii), (i)(C) (ii), (i), (iv), (iii)(D) (i), (iv), (ii), (iii) - 1 markArrange the following distances/lengths named in the chapter in decreasing order:
(i) Width of the Jharkhand mica belt in the lower Hazaribagh plateau
(ii) Length of the Rajasthan mica belt (Jaipur to Bhilwara and around Udaipur)
(iii) Length of the Jharkhand mica belt in the lower Hazaribagh plateau
(iv) Distance of Mumbai High from Mumbai
(A) Mumbai High distance → Rajasthan belt length → Jharkhand belt width → Jharkhand belt length(B) Jharkhand belt length → Jharkhand belt width → Rajasthan belt length → Mumbai High distance(C) Rajasthan belt length → Mumbai High distance → Jharkhand belt length → Jharkhand belt width(D) Jharkhand belt width → Rajasthan belt length → Mumbai High distance → Jharkhand belt length
6 Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the Blanks
- 1 markAbout ________ of the coal deposits in India are of the bituminous type and non-coking grade.
(A) 70 per cent(B) 80 per cent(C) 90 per cent(D) 97 per cent - 1 markIron ore mines occur close to coalfields in the ________ plateau region, which adds to their advantage.
(A) south-western(B) north-western(C) central(D) north-eastern
7 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
Passage
Crude petroleum occurs in sedimentary rocks of the tertiary period. Oil exploration and production was systematically taken up after the Oil and Natural Gas Commission was set up in 1956. Till then, Digboi in Assam was the only oil producing region, but the scenario changed after 1956. In recent years, new oil deposits have been found at the extreme western and eastern parts of the country. In Assam, Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran are important oil producing areas. The major oilfields of Gujarat are Ankaleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Nawagam, Kosamba and Lunej. Mumbai High, which lies 160 km off Mumbai, was discovered in 1973 and production commenced in 1976.
- 1 mark(Based on the passage) How far off Mumbai does Mumbai High lie, and in which year did production there commence?
(A) 160 km off Mumbai; production commenced in 1976(B) 160 km off Mumbai; production commenced in 1973(C) 60 km off Mumbai; production commenced in 1976(D) 160 km off Mumbai; production commenced in 1956
Passage
When the magma from the interior of earth comes out on the surface, tremendous heat is released. This heat energy can successfully be tapped and converted to electrical energy. Apart from this, the hot water that gushes out through the geyser wells is also used in the generation of thermal energy. It is popularly known as Geothermal energy. The hot springs and geysers are being used since medieval period. In India, a geothermal energy plant has been commissioned at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh.
- 1 mark(Based on the passage) Where has India commissioned a geothermal energy plant?
(A) Boise, Idaho(B) Trombay, Maharashtra(C) Okhla, Delhi(D) Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh
8 True / False
True / False
- 1 markChoose the correct combination of statements:
(i) A mineral has definite chemical and physical properties.
(ii) Minerals are evenly distributed over space.
(iii) There is an inverse relationship between the quality and quantity of minerals.
(A) Only (i) and (ii)(B) Only (ii) and (iii)(C) Only (i) and (iii)(D) All are correct - 1 markChoose the correct combination of statements:
(i) Bio-energy can be converted into electrical energy, heat energy or cooking gas.
(ii) The chapter names Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh as India’s commissioned geothermal energy plant.
(iii) Boise, Idaho (U.S.A.) was the site of the first successful (1890) attempt to tap underground heat.
(A) Only (i) and (ii)(B) Only (ii) and (iii)(C) Only (i) and (iii)(D) All are correct
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions
- (D) The chapter defines a mineral as a natural substance of organic or inorganic origin with definite chemical and physical properties.
- (B) Metallic minerals which contain iron content are called ferrous, such as iron ore itself; those with no iron content, such as copper and bauxite, are non-ferrous.
- (A) The chapter locates petroleum reserves in the sedimentary basins of Assam, Gujarat and Mumbai High (offshore, Arabian Sea), with new reserves in the Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basins.
- (A) The chapter names haematite and magnetite as the two main types of iron ore in India and says it has great demand in the international market due to its superior quality.
- (D) The chapter describes copper as alloyable, malleable and ductile, which is why it is indispensable to the electrical industry and is also mixed with gold to give jewellery strength.
- (A) The chapter’s text states: mineral fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas (fossil fuels), and nuclear energy minerals, are the conventional sources of energy, and these are exhaustible resources.
- (C) The chapter’s “India’s next agriculture revolution can happen under solar panels” box states that in September 2023, India crossed 70,000 MW of solar installed capacity, making it one of the five countries in the world to reach this milestone.
- (D) The chapter’s “India’s soaring solar growth proves renewables are the future” box reports that India’s solar growth was 26 per cent in the first half of 2023 (adding 12 terawatt-hours), outpacing the global average of 16 per cent.
Assertion-Reason
- (A) The chapter itself gives R as the exact reason for the nickname: petroleum is called liquid gold because of its scarcity and diversified uses.
- (D) A is false: minerals are exhaustible and are exactly what R says they are, slow to form and impossible to replenish quickly. R is the chapter’s own true fact and is precisely why A is false, not why it is true.
- (B) Both A (about solar thermal technology) and R (about wind energy) are true facts from the chapter, but they describe two different energy sources, so R cannot explain why A is true.
Match the Following
- (A) North-Eastern Plateau = iron ore/coal/manganese/bauxite/mica; South-Western Plateau = ferrous metals/bauxite/high-grade iron ore, no coal except Neyveli; North-Western = copper and zinc on Dharwar rocks along the Aravalis; Himalayan = copper, lead, zinc, cobalt and tungsten on both sides.
- (D) Tarapur is in Maharashtra, Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, Narora in Uttar Pradesh and Kaiga in Karnataka, all named as important nuclear power projects in the chapter.
Statement-Based Questions
- (B) Both statements are the chapter’s own facts: coal occurs in Gondwana and tertiary age rock sequences, and Jharia is the largest coalfield, followed by Raniganj.
- (C) Statement I is false: the ONGC was set up in 1956, not 1948 (1948 is the year the Atomic Energy Commission was established). Statement II is the chapter’s own true fact.
- (D) Statement I is false: the chapter calls wind energy absolutely pollution-free. Statement II is false: the chapter says India has great potential for tidal energy and that wave energy exists along the coasts but has not yet been utilised. Neither is described as already fully harnessed.
Arrange in the Correct Order
- (A) Khetri (copper, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan) lies farthest north, then Katni (bauxite, Madhya Pradesh), then Bailadila (iron ore, southern Chhattisgarh), and Shivamogga (manganese, Karnataka) farthest south.
- (C) 320 km (Rajasthan mica belt length, ii) > 160 km (Mumbai High’s offshore distance, iv) > 150 km (Jharkhand mica belt length, iii) > 22 km (Jharkhand mica belt width, i).
Fill in the Blanks
- (B) The chapter states that about 80 per cent of India’s coal deposits are of the bituminous type and are of non-coking grade.
- (D) The chapter notes that iron ore mines occur close to coalfields in the north-eastern plateau region, which adds to their advantage.
Passage-Based Questions
- (A) The passage says Mumbai High, which lies 160 km off Mumbai, was discovered in 1973 and production commenced in 1976.
- (D) The passage states that in India, a geothermal energy plant has been commissioned at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh.
True / False
- (C) (i) and (iii) are the chapter’s own facts about minerals. (ii) is incorrect: the chapter says minerals are UNevenly distributed over space, not evenly.
- (D) All three statements are the chapter’s own facts about bio-energy and geothermal energy.
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