Previous Year Question
With reference to ‘Brazil’ which of the following statements is/are correct?
The equatorial rainforests of Brazil are called ‘Selvas’.
The dark black colour fertile land here is called ‘Terra Roxa’.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
Only 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Both 1 and 2
Only 1
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct, while Statement 2 is incorrect.
Statement 1 is correct. The equatorial Amazon rainforest of Brazil is conventionally referred to as the Selvas in world geography. These are extremely dense, evergreen and multilayered tropical rainforests characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Terra Roxa is a highly fertile soil of Brazil, but describing it as dark black soil is not accurate. Its colour generally ranges from dark red to reddish-purple. The Portuguese word “Roxa” denotes a purple/violet shade.
Terra Roxa developed mainly through the weathering of basic volcanic rocks such as basalt. It is clay-rich and comparatively nutrient-rich and has been particularly associated with the agricultural regions of São Paulo and Paraná and historical coffee cultivation.