Question:
Consider the following statements:
(1) Atacama is a coastal desert.
(2) Rub-el-Khali is a cold desert.
(3) Sahara desert annually receives more than 50 cm of rainfall.
(4) Cold deserts generally have 2-25°C annual temperature.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
(A) (2) and (4) only
(B) (1) and (4) only
(C) (1) and (3) only
(D) (2) and (3) only
Answer :
(B) (1) and (4) only
Analysis of the Statements
- (1) Atacama is a coastal desert.
- Correct 👍. The Atacama Desert is a classic example of a coastal desert. It’s a long strip of land along the Pacific coast of Chile in South America. Its extreme dryness is caused by the cold, offshore Humboldt Current, which prevents moisture from reaching the land.
- (2) Rub-el-Khali is a cold desert.
- Incorrect. The Rub’ al Khali (the “Empty Quarter”) on the Arabian Peninsula is one of the largest and hottest sand deserts in the world. It is a subtropical hot desert, not a cold one.
- (3) Sahara desert annually receives more than 50 cm of rainfall.
- Incorrect. This is far too high. A key characteristic of a desert is receiving very little rainfall, typically defined as less than 25 cm (250 mm) per year. Most of the Sahara receives less than 10 cm annually.
- (4) Cold deserts generally have 2-25°C annual temperature.
- Correct 👍. This statement describes the typical temperature range found in cold deserts like the Gobi Desert. These deserts have very cold winters (often below freezing) and warm to hot summers. The figure 2-25°C reflects the range of mean monthly temperatures throughout the year, from cold winters to warm summers.