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GATE 2017 EC – Question 10

General Aptitude · Spatial Aptitude: Spatial Reasoning and Visualization · 2 marks · Multiple choice

A contour line joins locations having the same height above the mean sea level. The following is a contour plot of a geographical region. Contour lines are shown at 25 m intervals in this plot.

[Figure: A contour map with a hill labelled P on the left, a second hill labelled Q on the right with contour values up to 575 m, and a lower area marked 475 and 500 between them. A dashed path leads from P to Q.]

The path from P to Q is best described by

Diagram for GATE 2017 EC question 10
  1. Up-Down-Up-Down
  2. Down-Up-Down-Up
  3. Down-Up-Down
  4. Up-Down-Up

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (B) Down-Up-Down-Up

Explanation

P is on top of a hill, so the path must first go down. It then crosses a ridge between the hills, which is a rise, then drops into the low area marked about 475 to 500 m, and finally climbs the second hill to Q. That sequence is Down, Up, Down, Up.