Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📍 The Question

Consider the following information:

Region	Name of the mountain range	Type of mountain
1. Central Asia	Vosges	Fold mountain
2. Europe	Alps	Block mountain
3. North America	Appalachians	Fold mountain
4. South America	Andes	Fold mountain

In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Correct Answer: (b) Only two

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🎯 Theme of the Question

World Geography | Geomorphology | Mountain Types | Fold vs Block Mountains

This is a classification-based physical geography question, testing clarity on origin and type of major mountain systems.

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🧠 Classroom Explanation

Let us verify each row carefully.

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🔹 Row 1: Central Asia – Vosges – Fold mountain ❌

• Vosges Mountains are located in Europe (France), not Central Asia
• They are classic Block Mountains, formed due to faulting
• They lie opposite the Black Forest across the Rhine Rift Valley

❌ Region incorrect
❌ Type incorrect

✘ Row 1 is incorrectly matched

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🔹 Row 2: Europe – Alps – Block mountain ❌

• Alps are located in Europe ✔️
• However:
  • Alps are young fold mountains
  • Formed due to collision of African and Eurasian plates
• They are not block mountains

✔️ Region correct
❌ Type incorrect

✘ Row 2 is incorrectly matched

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🔹 Row 3: North America – Appalachians – Fold mountain ✅

• Appalachians are located in North America
• They are old fold mountains
• Formed during ancient orogenic movements

✔️ Region correct
✔️ Type correct

✅ Row 3 is correctly matched

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🔹 Row 4: South America – Andes – Fold mountain ✅

• Andes are located along the western margin of South America
• They are young fold mountains
• Formed due to subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate

✔️ Region correct
✔️ Type correct

✅ Row 4 is correctly matched

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📊 Final Assessment

Row	Correctly Matched?
Central Asia – Vosges – Fold	❌
Europe – Alps – Block	❌
North America – Appalachians – Fold	✅
South America – Andes – Fold	✅

👉 Only two rows are correctly matched

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❌ UPSC Elimination Logic

• UPSC exploits:
  • Block vs Fold mountain confusion
  • European mountain misplacement
• Vosges & Alps are often used as trap pairs

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🧩 Memory Hook

“Vosges break, Alps fold; Appalachians old, Andes bold.”

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🧠 Prelims Strategy Insight

For mountain-type questions:

• Block mountains → Vosges, Black Forest
• Old fold mountains → Appalachians, Urals
• Young fold mountains → Alps, Andes, Himalayas

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🧭 IAS Monk Whisper

Mountains remember how they were born — classifications reveal their story.