20 extra multiple-choice questions for Sustainable Development (12th Standard Geography, Samacheer Kalvi), beyond the ones printed in the textbook — each with the correct option highlighted and a clear, worked explanation. Free to read in English and Tamil.
Q1
Which of the following is NOT one of the four pillars that support sustainability?
- A. Cultural vitality
- B. Economic health
- C. Rapid urbanizationCorrect
- D. Social equity
Explanation. The lesson says sustainability is supported by four pillars: cultural vitality, economic health, environmental responsibility and social equity. Rapid urbanization is named as a cause of rising demand for resources.
Q2
Sustainability was first featured in the principles adopted by which conference?
- A. United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 1972Correct
- B. Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, 1992
- C. Earth Summit, Johannesburg, 2002
- D. Rio+20, Rio de Janeiro, 2012
Explanation. Sustainability was first featured in the principles adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm on 16 June 1972.
Q3
What was the title of the report the Brundtland Commission submitted to the UN in 1987?
- A. Silent Spring
- B. Agenda 21
- C. Our Common FutureCorrect
- D. Earth Charter
Explanation. The Brundtland Commission submitted its report, entitled Our Common Future, to the UN in 1987. Silent Spring was Rachel Carson's 1962 book.
Q4
The three fundamental components of sustainable development highlighted by the Brundtland Report - the environment, the economy and society - later became known as
- A. the triple bottom lineCorrect
- B. the four pillars
- C. the Earth Charter
- D. the global goals
Explanation. The Brundtland Report highlighted three fundamental components of sustainable development, the environment, the economy and society, which later became known as the triple bottom line.
Q5
Consider the following statements about the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD).
1. It is also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20 or Earth Summit 2012.
2. It was hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 22 June 2012.
3. It was the first international conference on sustainable development.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation. UNCSD, also called Rio 2012, Rio+20 or Earth Summit 2012, was hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 22 June 2012. The lesson calls it the third, not the first, such conference.
Q6
Arrange the following events in the history of sustainable development in chronological order.
1. Kyoto Protocol
2. Stockholm UN Conference on Human Environment
3. Rio+20
4. Brundtland Commission report Our Common Future
- A. 2, 4, 1, 3Correct
- B. 4, 2, 1, 3
- C. 2, 1, 4, 3
- D. 1, 2, 4, 3
Explanation. The lesson's timeline gives Stockholm 1972, the Brundtland Commission report 1987, the Kyoto Protocol 1997 and Rio+20 in 2012.
Q7
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are to be implemented and achieved in every country during which period?
- A. 2000 to 2015
- B. 2012 to 2022
- C. 2016 to 2030Correct
- D. 2015 to 2050
Explanation. In September 2015 the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda with 17 SDGs, to be implemented and achieved in every country from 2016 to 2030.
Q8
Under Goal 15, the lesson states that forests cover what share of the Earth's surface?
- A. 10 per cent
- B. 20 per cent
- C. 30 per centCorrect
- D. 40 per cent
Explanation. Forests cover 30 per cent of the Earth's surface. The lesson adds that 13 million hectares of forests are lost every year and 3.6 billion hectares of dry land have turned to desert.
Q9
The Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 on 12 December 2015 entered into force on
- A. 1 January 2016
- B. 4 November 2016Correct
- C. 17 May 2017
- D. 16 June 2016
Explanation. The Fact File says the Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in Paris on 12 December 2015 and entered into force shortly thereafter, on 4 November 2016.
Q10
Assertion (A): A longer frost-free season caused by climate change could harm the crops we grow.
Reason (R): Warmer weather helps pests survive longer, and pests can destroy crops.
- A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of ACorrect
- 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
Explanation. The lesson says a lengthening frost-free (growing) season could have detrimental effects on crops because warmer weather helps pests survive longer, and they can destroy crops.
Q11
Which response to climate change addresses its root causes by reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
- A. Adaptation
- B. MitigationCorrect
- C. Screening
- D. Scoping
Explanation. The lesson names two responses to climate change. Mitigation addresses the root causes by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; adaptation seeks to lower the risks posed by the consequences.
Q12
According to the lesson, the cleanest and most efficient remover of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere is
- A. the ocean
- B. green plants and treesCorrect
- C. CFL bulbs
- D. electricity powered cars
Explanation. Under re-forestation, the lesson says the cleanest and most efficient remover of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is nothing but green plants and trees.
Q13
Consider the following statements about organic farming as a mitigation measure.
1. Soils are an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide.
2. Deforestation for conventional agriculture is increasingly depleting this sink.
3. Organic farming depends on chemical fertilizers to maintain crop yields.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation. Soils are an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, and deforestation for conventional agriculture is depleting it. Organic farming uses natural fertilizers, not chemical ones, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q14
A geographical area drained by a stream, in which water from all over the area flows under gravity to a common drainage channel, is called a
- A. coastal zone
- B. gully
- C. watershedCorrect
- D. recharge pit
Explanation. A watershed is a geographical area drained by a stream or a system of connecting streams, in which water from all over the area flows under gravity to a common drainage channel.
Q15
Match the watershed development programmes of India with their full forms.
A. DPAP - 1. Desert Development Program
B. DDP - 2. Integrated Wasteland Development Program
C. IWDP - 3. Drought Prone Area Program
- A. A-3, B-1, C-2Correct
- B. A-1, B-3, C-2
- C. A-2, B-1, C-3
- D. A-3, B-2, C-1
Explanation. The lesson lists the Drought Prone Area Program (DPAP), Desert Development Program (DDP) and Integrated Wasteland Development Program (IWDP) among watershed programmes run by the Government of India since the early 1970s.
Q16
Which of the following is a traditional structure used to store rain water on the surface?
- A. Recharge pits filled with boulders
- B. Check damsCorrect
- C. Trenches
- D. Recharge wells
Explanation. Storing rain water on the surface is a traditional technique using underground tanks, ponds, check dams and weirs. Recharge pits, wells and trenches belong to the newer concept of ground water recharge.
Q17
Which is the first stage of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, deciding whether a proposed project needs an EIA at all?
- A. Scoping
- B. ScreeningCorrect
- C. Reporting
- D. Post monitoring
Explanation. Screening is the first of the eight EIA steps. It determines whether the proposed project requires an EIA and, if it does, the level of assessment required.
Q18
EIA is now mandatory in India for how many categories of projects?
- A. 12
- B. 17
- C. 30Correct
- D. 169
Explanation. The lesson says EIA is now mandatory for 30 categories of projects, which get Environmental Clearance only after EIA requirements are met. The 1994 notification has had 12 amendments.
Q19
On the global index that assesses countries' performance towards the Sustainable Development Goals, India ranks
- A. 42nd out of 157 nations
- B. 71st out of 157 nations
- C. 116th out of 157 nationsCorrect
- D. 157th out of 157 nations
Explanation. The lesson states that India ranks 116 out of 157 nations on the global index of performance towards the SDGs, a list led by Sweden.
Q20
In the glossary of the lesson, a ravine formed by the action of water is called a
- A. GullyCorrect
- B. Watershed
- C. Coastal zone
- D. Biomass
Explanation. The glossary defines a gully as a ravine formed by the action of water. Watersheds deliver water through rills, gullies and streams to a larger body of water.
