Humidity, Rainfall and Clouds - Practice Test 2

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Which clouds are known as 'Thunderheads'?

   • A.Cumulonimbus✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Nimbostratus
   • C.Altostratus
   • D.Cirrocumulus

   Explanation: Cumulonimbus are huge vertical clouds causing thunderstorms and heavy rain.

2. Q2.Which cloud produces a 'Halo' around the Sun or Moon?

   • A.Cirrostratus✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Altostratus
   • C.Stratus
   • D.Cumulus

   Explanation: Ice crystals in high Cirrostratus clouds refract light creating a halo.

3. Q3.Continuous rain or snow is typically caused by which clouds?

   • A.Cumulus
   • B.Nimbostratus✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Cirrus
   • D.Altocumulus

   Explanation: Nimbostratus are thick, dark layers bringing continuous precipitation.

4. Q4.Which cloud is often described as 'Mackerel Sky'?

   • A.Cirrocumulus✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Altocumulus
   • C.Stratocumulus
   • D.Cumulus

   Explanation: Cirrocumulus clouds look like the scales of a mackerel fish.

5. Q5.The term 'Alto' in cloud names refers to which height?

   • A.High Altitude
   • B.Middle Altitude✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Low Altitude
   • D.Vertical

   Explanation: Alto refers to middle clouds (2,000-6,000m) e.g., Altostratus.

6. Q6.Precipitation in the form of water drops larger than 0.5 mm is called:

   • A.Drizzle
   • B.Rainfall✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Mist
   • D.Fog

   Explanation: Drops smaller than 0.5 mm are Drizzle; larger are Rain.

7. Q7.Frozen raindrops or refrozen melted snow is called:

   • A.Hail
   • B.Sleet✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Snow
   • D.Dew

   Explanation: Sleet is a mixture of rain and snow or frozen pellets.

8. Q8.Large lumps of ice falling during a thunderstorm are called:

   • A.Sleet
   • B.Hailstones✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Snowflakes
   • D.Frost

   Explanation: Hailstones are formed in strong updrafts of Cumulonimbus clouds.

9. Q9.Convectional Rainfall occurs mainly in:

   • A.Polar Regions
   • B.Equatorial Regions✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Temperate Regions
   • D.Deserts

   Explanation: Intense heating in equatorial regions causes air to rise, cool, and rain daily.

10. Q10.Convectional rain is often accompanied by:

    • A.Thunder and Lightning✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Snow
    • C.Fog
    • D.Strong winds only

    Explanation: It is usually torrential with thunder and lightning (4 O'clock rain).

11. Q11.Orographic Rainfall is also known as:

    • A.Cyclonic Rainfall
    • B.Relief Rainfall✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Convectional Rainfall
    • D.Frontal Rainfall

    Explanation: It is caused by relief barriers (mountains) forcing moist air to rise.

12. Q12.The side of the mountain that receives heavy rainfall is called:

    • A.Leeward side
    • B.Windward side✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Rain shadow area
    • D.Valley

    Explanation: The Windward side faces the wind and gets rain; the Leeward side is dry.

13. Q13.The Leeward side of the mountain which remains dry is called:

    • A.Rain Shadow Area✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Wet Zone
    • C.Flood Plain
    • D.Delta

    Explanation: Descending air warms up and holds moisture, causing little rain.

14. Q14.Cyclonic or Frontal Rainfall is most common in:

    • A.Tropical Regions
    • B.Temperate Regions✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Polar Regions
    • D.Equatorial Regions

    Explanation: It occurs where warm and cold air masses meet (Fronts), common in temperate zones.

15. Q15.Precipitation in the form of ice crystals is:

    • A.Rain
    • B.Snow✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Hail
    • D.Sleet

    Explanation: When temperature is below freezing, water vapor turns directly to snowflakes.

16. Q16.Isohyets are lines on a map connecting places of equal:

    • A.Pressure
    • B.Temperature
    • C.Rainfall✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Sunshine

    Explanation: Isohyets indicate areas with the same amount of rainfall.

17. Q17.Which instrument measures the amount of rainfall?

    • A.Rain Gauge✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Anemometer
    • C.Barometer
    • D.Thermometer

    Explanation: A Rain Gauge collects and measures precipitation in millimeters.

18. Q18.What is the unit of measurement for rainfall?

    • A.Degrees
    • B.Millibars
    • C.Centimeters / Millimeters✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Knots

    Explanation: Rainfall depth is measured in mm or cm.

19. Q19.The highest average annual rainfall in the world is recorded at:

    • A.Cherrapunji
    • B.Mawsynram✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Amazon Basin
    • D.Mount Waialeale

    Explanation: Mawsynram (Meghalaya, India) holds the record for highest rainfall.

20. Q20.Cloud cover is measured in units called:

    • A.Degrees
    • B.Oktas✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Percentage
    • D.Bars

    Explanation: Cloud cover is estimated in eights, called Oktas (0 = clear, 8 = overcast).