Consider the following statements :
Statement-I :
The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.
Statement-II :
The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Show answer
Answer: D. Statement-I is wrong as per the key: the land-sea temperature contrast is greater in winter, when large continents in high latitudes become extremely cold while oceans stay mild. Statement-II is correct: water has a higher specific heat than land, so it heats and cools more slowly. So I is incorrect, II is correct.
Watch for: Hot summer continents feel like the bigger contrast, but winter cold over Siberia or Canada creates a larger gap.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because Statement-I is not accepted as correct.
- B. Wrong because Statement-I is not accepted as correct.
- C. Wrong because Statement-II is true.
Source to check: NCERT Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 8 Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature (distribution of temperature, January and July isotherms)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.