Landforms and Their Evolution is one of the most important chapters in Physical Geography as it explains how geomorphic agents continuously modify the Earth’s surface. The chapter discusses landform development through running water, groundwater, glaciers, waves and winds, along with their associated erosional and depositional features. This question bank contains MCQs, one-word questions, assertion and reason questions and descriptive questions for complete NCERT-based revision.
These questions are useful for CBSE Board Exams, CUET, UPSC, SSC, PSC, Railways and other competitive examinations. Major concepts including valleys, canyons, deltas, floodplains, karst topography, glaciers, moraines, coastal landforms and desert landforms have been covered comprehensively from the NCERT chapter.
These MCQs from Landforms and Their Evolution are designed for quick objective revision and exam preparation. The questions cover geomorphic processes, running water, groundwater, glaciers, coastal landforms and desert landforms discussed throughout the chapter.
1. Small to medium tracts of the earth’s surface are called:
A. Landscapes
B. Landforms
C. Plateaus
D. Plains
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 47
2. Several related landforms together form:
A. Valley
B. Basin
C. Landscape
D. Plateau
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 47
3. Which geomorphic agent is most important in humid regions?
A. Wind
B. Glacier
C. Running Water
D. Waves
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 47
4. Overland flow causes:
A. Deposition
B. Sheet erosion
C. Volcanism
D. Folding
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 48
5. A nearly plain surface formed by stream erosion is called:
A. Pediplain
B. Delta plain
C. Peneplain
D. Floodplain
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 48
6. Which stage of river development is dominated by downward cutting?
A. Old stage
B. Mature stage
C. Youth stage
D. Final stage
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 48
7. Waterfalls and rapids are common in:
A. Old stage
B. Youth stage
C. Mature stage
D. Delta stage
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 48
8. V-shaped valleys are characteristic of:
A. Old stage
B. Youth stage
C. Delta stage
D. Coastal stage
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 48
9. A deep valley with very steep sides is called:
A. Delta
B. Gorge
C. Pediment
D. Doline
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 48
10. A canyon is characterized by:
A. Rounded sides
B. Gentle slopes
C. Step-like steep slopes
D. Flat bottom
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 48
11. Potholes are formed mainly due to:
A. Wind erosion
B. Glacier erosion
C. Stream abrasion
D. Marine deposition
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 48-49
12. Large potholes at the base of waterfalls are called:
A. Sinkholes
B. Plunge pools
C. Deltas
D. Moraines
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 49
13. Deep meanders cut into hard rocks are called:
A. Free meanders
B. River loops
C. Incised meanders
D. Delta channels
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 49
14. River terraces indicate:
A. Future river levels
B. Former river bed levels
C. Ocean levels
D. Glacier levels
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 49
15. Alluvial fans develop where streams:
A. Enter oceans
B. Enter deserts
C. Move from steep slopes to gentle slopes
D. Freeze
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 49
16. Deltas are formed where rivers:
A. Enter mountains
B. Enter lakes
C. Deposit load into the sea
D. Cross plateaus
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 50
17. Floodplains are major landforms of:
A. Wind deposition
B. River deposition
C. Glacier deposition
D. Marine erosion
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 50
18. Natural levees are:
A. Deep depressions
B. Coastal ridges
C. Raised deposits along river banks
D. Glacial ridges
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 51
19. Point bars are also called:
A. Delta bars
B. Meander bars
C. Sand bars
D. Beach bars
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 51
20. Oxbow lakes are associated with:
A. Deltas
B. Floodplains
C. Meanders
D. Glaciers
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 51
21. Karst topography develops mainly in:
A. Granite rocks
B. Basalt rocks
C. Limestone rocks
D. Sandstone rocks
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 52
22. Sinkholes are common in:
A. Desert regions
B. Karst regions
C. Coastal plains
D. Glacial regions
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 52
23. Long trenches formed by joining sinkholes are called:
A. Canyons
B. Uvalas
C. Deltas
D. Fjords
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 53
24. Limestone caves develop mainly through:
A. Abrasion
B. Solution
C. Deposition
D. Folding
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 53
25. Stalactites hang from:
A. Cave floor
B. River banks
C. Cave roof
D. Valley walls
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 53
26. Stalagmites rise from:
A. Cave floor
B. Cave roof
C. River bed
D. Glacier floor
Correct Answer: A
Page Reference: 53
27. Fusion of stalactites and stalagmites forms:
A. Sinkholes
B. Pillars
C. Deltas
D. Fjords
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 54
28. Glaciers move mainly due to:
A. Wind
B. Gravity
C. Ocean currents
D. Rainfall
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 54
29. Cirques are found at:
A. Glacier mouths
B. Glacier heads
C. River mouths
D. Coastal regions
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 54
30. Lakes formed in cirques are called:
A. Oxbow lakes
B. Tarn lakes
C. Playa lakes
D. Lagoon lakes
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 54
31. Sharp peaks formed by headward erosion of cirques are called:
A. Eskers
B. Horns
C. Drumlins
D. Moraines
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 54
32. Glacial valleys are:
A. V-shaped
B. U-shaped
C. Circular
D. Funnel-shaped
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 55
33. Deep glacial troughs filled with seawater are:
A. Fjords
B. Deltas
C. Lagoons
D. Terraces
Correct Answer: A
Page Reference: 55
34. Unsorted glacial deposits are called:
A. Alluvium
B. Till
C. Deltaic deposits
D. Loess
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 55
35. Long ridges of glacial till are:
A. Eskers
B. Moraines
D. Levees
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 55
36. Sinuous ridges deposited by subglacial streams are:
A. Drumlins
B. Eskers
C. Horns
D. Cirques
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 56
37. Oval-shaped ridges of glacial till are:
A. Eskers
B. Moraines
C. Drumlins
D. Fjords
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 56
38. Which coastal form develops due to wave erosion?
A. Delta
B. Sea cliff
C. Sand dune
D. Spit
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 58
39. A spit is:
A. Offshore valley
B. River terrace
C. Barrier connected to land
D. Cave opening
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 58
40. Lagoons form when:
A. Rivers flood
B. Bays are blocked by bars or spits
C. Glaciers melt
D. Volcanoes erupt
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 58-59
41. The west coast of India is predominantly:
A. Low sedimentary coast
B. Delta coast
C. High rocky coast
D. Coral coast
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 58
42. The east coast of India is predominantly:
A. High rocky coast
B. Low sedimentary coast
C. Fjord coast
D. Cliff coast
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 58
43. Pediments are:
A. Coastal plains
B. Rocky floors at mountain foot slopes
C. River terraces
D. Glacial plains
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 59
44. Residual hills left after pediment development are:
A. Fjords
B. Inselbergs
C. Horns
D. Uvalas
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 60
45. Shallow temporary lakes in deserts are:
A. Lagoons
B. Tarns
C. Playas
D. Oxbows
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 60
46. Deflation hollows are formed by:
A. Running water
B. Wind erosion
C. Waves
D. Glaciers
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 60
47. Mushroom rocks are created mainly by:
A. River erosion
B. Wind abrasion
C. Marine erosion
D. Glacier erosion
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 60
48. Crescent-shaped dunes are:
A. Seif dunes
B. Transverse dunes
C. Barchans
D. Longitudinal dunes
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 61
49. Longitudinal dunes form when:
A. Sand supply is poor
B. Water supply is high
C. Glaciers melt
D. Tides are strong
Correct Answer: A
Page Reference: 61
50. Transverse dunes form:
A. Parallel to wind direction
B. Perpendicular to wind direction
C. Randomly
D. Along rivers
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 61
1. What is a small to medium tract of Earth’s surface called?
Answer: Landform (Page Reference: 47)
2. What is a large tract made up of related landforms called?
Answer: Landscape (Page Reference: 47)
3. Name the almost plain surface formed by stream erosion.
Answer: Peneplain (Page Reference: 48)
4. What is a deep valley with steep sides called?
Answer: Gorge (Page Reference: 48)
5. What is a canyon?
Answer: A deep valley with step-like steep slopes (Page Reference: 48)
6. What are large potholes at waterfall bases called?
Answer: Plunge Pools (Page Reference: 49)
7. What are deeply cut meanders in hard rocks called?
Answer: Incised Meanders (Page Reference: 49)
8. Name the cone-shaped deposits formed at mountain foothills.
Answer: Alluvial Fans (Page Reference: 49)
9. What are river deposits at the river mouth called?
Answer: Delta (Page Reference: 50)
10. What are raised ridges along river banks called?
Answer: Natural Levees (Page Reference: 51)
11. What is another name for point bars?
Answer: Meander Bars (Page Reference: 51)
12. What type of topography develops in limestone regions?
Answer: Karst Topography (Page Reference: 52)
13. What are circular openings in limestone regions called?
Answer: Sinkholes (Page Reference: 52)
14. What are long trenches formed by joined sinkholes called?
Answer: Uvalas (Page Reference: 53)
15. What are cave roof deposits called?
Answer: Stalactites (Page Reference: 53)
16. What are cave floor deposits called?
Answer: Stalagmites (Page Reference: 53)
17. What is a glacial basin called?
Answer: Cirque (Page Reference: 54)
18. What are sharp glacial peaks called?
Answer: Horns (Page Reference: 54)
19. What are deep sea-filled glacial valleys called?
Answer: Fjords (Page Reference: 55)
20. What is unsorted glacial debris called?
Answer: Till (Page Reference: 55)
21. What are glacial ridges called?
Answer: Moraines (Page Reference: 55)
22. What are winding ridges formed by glacial streams?
Answer: Eskers (Page Reference: 56)
23. What are oval-shaped glacial deposits called?
Answer: Drumlins (Page Reference: 56)
24. What is a residual hill in deserts called?
Answer: Inselberg (Page Reference: 60)
25. What is a temporary desert lake called?
Answer: Playa (Page Reference: 60)
26. What are crescent-shaped dunes called?
Answer: Barchans (Page Reference: 61)
Question 1
Assertion (A): Running water is the dominant geomorphic agent in humid regions.
Reason (R): Heavy rainfall promotes erosion and deposition.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 47
Question 2
Assertion (A): Youthful rivers form V-shaped valleys.
Reason (R): Downward erosion dominates in the youthful stage.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 48
Question 3
Assertion (A): Waterfalls are common in old-age river stages.
Reason (R): Vertical erosion dominates in old-age stages.
Correct Option: D
Page Reference: 48
Question 4
Assertion (A): Canyons are wider at the top than at the bottom.
Reason (R): They generally form in horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks.
Correct Option: B
Page Reference: 48
Question 5
Assertion (A): Alluvial fans form where stream velocity decreases.
Reason (R): Streams lose carrying capacity on gentle slopes.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 49
Question 6
Assertion (A): Deltas form at river mouths.
Reason (R): River load is deposited into seas.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 50
Question 7
Assertion (A): Karst topography develops in limestone regions.
Reason (R): Limestone dissolves easily in carbonated water.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 52
Question 8
Assertion (A): Sinkholes are common in limestone areas.
Reason (R): Solution processes dominate in limestone regions.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 52
Question 9
Assertion (A): Stalactites hang from cave roofs.
Reason (R): Calcium carbonate is deposited by dripping water.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 53
Question 10
Assertion (A): Glaciers move due to gravity.
Reason (R): Ice masses flow downslope under their own weight.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 54
Question 11
Assertion (A): Glacial valleys are U-shaped.
Reason (R): Glaciers erode valley floors and sides extensively.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 55
Question 12
Assertion (A): Moraines are depositional landforms.
Reason (R): They are formed from glacial till deposits.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 55
Question 13
Assertion (A): The west coast of India is a high rocky coast.
Reason (R): Erosional landforms dominate there.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 58
Question 14
Assertion (A): Playas are permanent freshwater lakes.
Reason (R): Water remains throughout the year.
Correct Option: D
Page Reference: 60
Question 15
Assertion (A): Barchans are crescent-shaped dunes.
Reason (R): They form where wind direction remains fairly constant.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 61