Mountains & Passes MCQ Questions with Answers

Zojila Pass lies in the Himalayan region and serves as the route between Leh in Ladakh and Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley (via Sonmarg). The correct option is D: Leh and Snnagar. This pass is a key link for accessing northern Ladakh from the Kashmir Valley and is often snowbound in winter.

The main difference is continuity. The Western Ghats form a near-continuous, high mountain barrier along the western coast of India, running in a nearly uninterrupted chain. The Eastern Ghats, on the other hand, are fragmented and discontinuous, broken into several sections with gaps. This contrast affects climate, rainfall patterns, and drainage basins on either side of the ranges. Height and vegetation vary locally but are not the defining distinction, and proximity to the coast is similar on both sides (both run close to the sea in places). Therefore, continuity of the mountain belt is the key differentiating feature.

The correct sequence from east to west is Naga, Mikir, Khasi, Garo. The Naga Hills lie in Nagaland (easternmost), followed by the Mikir Hills in the central NE region, then the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, and finally the Garo Hills in western Meghalaya. The other options mix up this geographic order, hence they are incorrect for the east–west arrangement.

The correct south-to-north sequence is Greater Himalayas (3), Zanskar Range (4), Ladakh Range (1), Karakoram (2). The Greater Himalaya runs furthest south in this group, followed by the Zanskar Range, then the Ladakh Range, and finally the Karakoram lies furthest north near the border regions. Other options mix the order, which would place the ranges in wrong relative positions to each other.

The Himalayas are traditionally divided into three main parallel ranges: the Siwalik (outermost), the Lesser Himalayas (middle belt), and the Greater Himalayas (inner high peaks). The Karakoram is not one of these three; it forms a separate mountainous region to the northwest of the Himalayas, often categorized as the Karakoram range or part of the greater Himalayan system in some classifications, but not one of the three traditional sub-ranges of the main Himalayas. Thus, option D correctly identifies the incorrect inclusion.

The correct answer is: Foothills of Himalayan ranges. Siwaliks form the outermost hill belt of the Himalayas, lying to the south of the main Himalayan ranges. They are composed mainly of sedimentary rocks deposited by rivers draining the higher Himalayas, making them lower and more eroded than the core ranges. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because: A places them north of the main range rather than to the south; C places them in Meghalaya far from the Himalayas; D refers to a plateau between Pamirs and Myanmar, which is not related to the Siwaliks. Understanding their position helps in mapping the Himalayan chain and its foreland.

Palghat (Palakkad) is located at the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats. The town lies near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu boundary, making it a junction point between the two states. Hence, the correct pairing is Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The other options show states that do not share a border at Palghat.

The correct sequence from east to west is Namcha Barwa → Kanchenjunga → Mt. Everest → Nanda Devi. Namcha Barwa lies farthest east in the Himalaya, followed by Kanchenjunga in the eastern Himalaya near Sikkim, then Mount Everest on the Nepal–China border, and finally Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand toward the western end of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. The other options mix peaks that are not in strict east-to-west order: for example, Makalu and Dhaulagiri lie further west than Kanchenjunga, and Kumaun is not a major peak representing a distinct eastern-to-western alignment in this context.

The Nilgiri Hills lie at the transition between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, marking the junction area where these two mountain ranges meet. This makes them the correct option among the listed hills. Javadi Hills and Shevaroy Hills are parts of the Eastern Ghats, while Anaimalai Hills are part of the Western Ghats. Understanding this geographical boundary helps in topics like biogeography and Indian physiography.

The northern mountains (Himalayas) are crucial for India because they shape climate patterns, act as a major water source for the plains through rivers and glaciers, and host rich vegetation and wildlife. Option A suggests they protect the country from invasion, which is not a direct or reliable reason for their importance in modern contexts. They do provide some defensive advantages historically, but the primary reasons we study are climate influence, water security, and biodiversity. Thus, A is not one of the main practical reasons.