Which one of the following is the natural vegetation of South-east China?
- (a)Subtropical broadleaf evergreen forest
- (b)Tropical broadleaf evergreen forest
- (c)Tropical deciduous forest
- (d)Temperate evergreen forest
Correct — A, subtropical broadleaf evergreen forest. South-east China lies in the humid subtropical 'China type' climate — hot, wet summers and mild winters — whose natural vegetation is subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest, dominated by broad-leaved trees such as evergreen oaks, laurels and camphor that keep their leaves through the year.
- (b)Tropical broadleaf evergreen forest — That is the equatorial/tropical rainforest of hotter, wetter low latitudes; south-east China is subtropical, not equatorial.
- (c)Tropical deciduous forest — Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest, which sheds leaves in a dry season, typifies much of India and mainland South-East Asia, not subtropical south-east China.
- (d)Temperate evergreen forest — Temperate evergreen forests belong to cooler mid-latitude or west-coast (Mediterranean or marine) settings, not the warm subtropical south-east of China.
The south-eastern margins of continents in the subtropics (about 25 to 40 degrees) have a 'China type' humid subtropical climate: rain in all seasons, hot summers and mild winters. Its natural cover is subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest. Similar climates and forests occur in the south-eastern USA and south-eastern South America.
Match the latitude and the climate. South-east China is subtropical (not tropical, not temperate) and moist all year, so its forest is subtropical evergreen broadleaf — distinguishing it from tropical rainforest, from monsoon deciduous forest, and from cool temperate forest.
- South-east China has a humid subtropical ('China type') climate.
- Its natural vegetation is subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest.
- Broadleaf evergreens here include evergreen oaks, laurel and camphor.
- Similar climate and vegetation occur in the south-east USA and south-east South America.
- Confusing 'subtropical' with 'tropical' — south-east China is subtropical.
- Assuming 'evergreen' means only coniferous — here it is broadleaf evergreen.
Asked by matching a region or climate to its natural vegetation, or the reverse.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The humid subtropical climate found in south-east China is also called the
- (a)Mediterranean type
- (b)China type
- (c)Siberian type
- (d)Equatorial type
Answer(b) China type — hot wet summers, mild winters, rain in all seasons.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The natural vegetation of the equatorial climate is
- (a)tropical evergreen rainforest
- (b)hot desert scrub
- (c)tundra
- (d)coniferous forest
Answer(a) tropical evergreen rainforest — dense, multi-layered and species-rich.