The Palghat Gap (or Palakkad Gap), a region about 30 km wide in the southern part of the Western Ghats in India, is lower than the hilly terrain to its north and south. The exact reasons for the formation of this gap are not clear. It results in the neighbouring regions of Kerala getting more rainfall from the South West monsoon and the regions in the neighbouring areas of Tamil Nadu getting less rainfall. The rain shadow to the east of the Palghat Gap has a significant impact on the agricultural and social development of this region.
What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The Palghat Gap is caused by high rainfall and heavy erodability.
B. The regions in Tamil Nadu and Kerala that are near the Palghat Gap are low-lying.
C. The low terrain of the Palghat Gap has a significant impact on rainfall distribution in the area.
D. Higher than average rainfall in the areas to the east of the Palghat Gap is a result of the rain shadow.
GATE 2014 · General Aptitude · Passage Reading · medium
Answer: C. The low terrain of the Palghat Gap has a significant impact on rainfall distribution in the area.
Establish what the passage explicitly states: The passage states: (1) the Gap is lower than surrounding terrain, (2) this results in Kerala neighbours getting more rainfall and Tamil Nadu neighbours getting less rainfall from the South West monsoon, and (3) the rain shadow to the east has a significant impact on agricultural and social development.
Evaluate each option: A — the passage says formation reasons are NOT clear, so we cannot infer high rainfall caused the Gap. B — the passage says the Gap is lower, not the neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Kerala regions. C — the passage directly links the low terrain of the Gap to differences in rainfall (more for Kerala, less for Tamil Nadu): this is a valid inference. D — a rain shadow means REDUCED rainfall to the east, not higher than average — option D is factually the opposite of what the passage says.