Statement 1 is incorrect. In the equatorial climate, the mean monthly temperatures are always around 80°F or 26°C.

Statement 2 is correct. Great uniformity of temperature throughout the year is the most outstanding feature of the equatorial climate.

Statement 3 is incorrect. In the equatorial climate, there is no winter. Cloudiness and heavy precipitation help to moderate the daily temperature, so that even at the equator itself, the climate is not unbearable.  

Source) GC Leong; Chapter 15; page number 116

The Monsoon climate is characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons associated with seasonal reversal of winds. Monsoons are land and sea breezes on a much larger scale.

The Tropical Monsoon Climate occurs within 5° to 30° N and S of the equator. On-shore [sea to land] tropical monsoons occur in the summer and off-shore [land to sea] dry monsoons in the winter. They are best developed in the Indian sub-continent, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, parts of Vietnam and south China and northern Australia.

Source)  GC Leong; chapter 16; page number 122

Statement 1 is incorrect. Thorny scrubland or savannas are present in Tropical Monsoon Forest. With a decrease in rainfall in summer, the forests thin out into thorny scrubland or savanna with scattered trees and tall grass. In parts of the Indian sub-continent, rainfall is so deficient that semi-desertt conditions are found. Monsoonal vegetation is thus most varied, ranging from forests to thickets and from savanna to scrubland.

Statement 2 is correct. The natural vegetation of tropical monsoon lands depends on the amount of the summer rainfall. The trees are normally deciduous because of the marked dry period, during which they shed their leaves to withstand the drought.

Statement 3 is correct. The tropical monsoon climate experiences abundant rainfall like that of the tropical rain forest climate, but it is concentrated in the summer season. Most of the forests yield valuable timber. Of the tropical deciduous trees, teak is the most sought after. It is valuable on account of its great durability, strength, immunity to shrinkage, fungus attack and insects. Myanmar is the leading producer of teak.

Source) GC Leong; Chapter 16; page number 122

Statement 1 is correct. In Savanna landscape, the trees are deciduous, shedding their leaves in the cool, dry season to prevent excessive loss of water through transpiration, e.g. Acacias.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The savanna landscape is characterized with tall and luxuriant grass. In true savanna lands, the grass is coarse, growing 6 to 12 feet high. The elephant grass may attain a height of even 15 feet.

Statement 3 is correct. The trees in savanna landscape are short in height. Many trees are umbrella-shaped, exposing only a narrow edge to the strong winds. 

Statement 4 is correct. Some trees found in the Savanna landscape have broad trunks, with water-storing devices to survive through the prolonged drought such as baobabs and bottle trees. These are mostly hard, gnarled and thorny and may exude gum like gum Arabic.

Source) GC Leong; Chapter 17; page number 129

Statement 1 is incorrect. The reasons for the high temperatures during the day time are - a clear, cloudless sky, intense insolation, dry air and a rapid rate of evaporation. The night-time temperatures can drop to freezing or below due to the exceptional radiation loss under the skies. The average diurnal range varies from 14 to 25° Celsius.

Statement 2 is correct. The hot deserts are situated in the subtropical high pressure belts where there is unbroken sunshine for the whole year. Such areas include the Sahara, Saudi Arabia, large parts of Iran and Iraq, northwest India, California, South Africa and much of Australia. Here, maximum temperatures of 40 to 45'C are common, although during colder periods of the year, night-time temperatures can drop to freezing or below due to the exceptional radiation loss under the skies.

Source) GC Leong; Chapter 18; page number 135

In the hot, wet equatorial climate, there are two periods of maximum rainfall, in April and October which occur shortly after the equinoxes. Least rain falls at the June and December solstices. The double rainfall peaks coinciding with the equinoxes are a characteristic feature of equatorial climates not found in any other type of climate. 

Source) GC Leong; chapter 15; page number 117

The Masai are a nomadic tribe confined to Kenya and Tanzania.

The Hausa are a tribe of settled cultivators who inhabit the Savanna lands.

The Bushmen peoples of South Africa and neighboring Botswana and Namibia, who live in the Kalahari Desert. They are not native to Savanna lands.

Source) GC Leong; Chapter number 18; page number 137 and 132

Factors affecting the development of equatorial regions:

1. Equatorial climate and health: Due to excessive heat and high humidity, man is this region is subject to serious physical and mental handicaps. People perspire profusely and loses vigour and energy in such an enervating environment. People expose themselves to such dangers as sun-stroke and to such diseases as malaria and yellow-fever. This, greatly reduce their capacity for active work.

2. Prevalence of bacteria and insect pests: The hot, wet climate which stimulates rapid plant growth also encourages the spread of insects and pests. As germs and bacteria are more easily transmitted through moist air, equatorial conditions are ideal for the survival of such organisms. Insects and pests not only spread diseases but are injurious ro crops.

3. Jungle hinders development and maintenance:

The forests are so luxuriant that it is quite a problem to clear a small patch of it and even more difficult to maintain it.

Source) GC Leong; Chapter 15; page number 120

• Statement 1 is Correct: Savana climate is also known as Sudan climate. It characterised by an alternate hot, rainy season and cool, dry season. It is a transitional type of climate which can be found in the region between equatorial rainforests and hot deserts of the subtropics. It is situated within the tropical latitudes on either side of the equator. It is well developed in Sudan, and hence the name, where there are distinct wet and dry seasons. In the northern hemisphere, this climate is found in Africa (African Sudan, East Africa), and South America (Llanos grasslands of Orinoco river basin). In the southern hemisphere, this climate is spread through South America (Campos grasslands of the Brazilian Highlands), and Australia (in Northern Australia - south of its monsoon strip).
• Statement 2 is Incorrect: Monthly temperatures in this region can range between 70⁰F and 90⁰F for lowlands, but the range increases as one move away from the equator. The annual average temperature is around 20⁰F.

• Option A is the Correct Answer: Deserts are regions where evaporation exceeds precipitation. There are mainly two types – hot like the hot deserts of the Saharan type and temperate as are the mid-latitude deserts like the Gobi. The aridity of the hot deserts is mainly due to the effects of off-shore Trade Winds, hence they are also called Trade Wind Deserts. The major hot deserts of the world are located on the western coasts of continents between latitudes 15° and 30°N. and S. They include the biggest Sahara Desert (3.5 million square miles), Great Australian Desert, Arabian Desert, Iranian Desert, Thar Desert, Kalahari and Namib Deserts. 
  • Deserts, whether hot or mid-latitude has an annual precipitation of less than 25 cm.
  • There is no cold season in the hot deserts and the average summer temperature is high around 30°C.
  • The predominant vegetation of both hot and mid-latitude deserts is xerophytic or drought-resistant. This includes the cacti, thorny bushes, long-rooted wiry grasses and scattered dwarf acacias.

• Statement 1 is Incorrect and Statement 2 is Correct: This type of climate is experienced along the eastern coasts of tropical lands, receiving steady rainfall from trade winds all the time. These areas experience between 120 cm to 200 cm of rainfall annually & include –

• Central America
• West Indies
• N-E Australia
• Philippines
• Parts of East Africa
• Madagascar
• The Guinea Coast
• Eastern Brazil

• Statement 3 is Correct: Due to the steady influence of the trades, the tropical marine climate is more favourable for habitation but is more prone to severe tropical cyclones, hurricanes or typhoons.

• All of the given primitive tribes are residing in the Hot deserts and the Mid Latitude Desert Climate:

• Both statement 1 and 2 are Correct: The savanna landscape is typified by tall grass and short trees. The grasslands are also called as ‘bush-veld’. The trees are deciduous, shedding their leaves in the cool, dry season to prevent excessive loss of water through transpiration, e.g. acacias. Trees usually have broad trunks, hard, gnarled and thorny with water-storing devices to survive through the prolonged drought. Many trees are umbrella-shaped, exposing only a narrow edge to the strong winds.

• All of the statements given above are correct: 
• Equatorial climate and health
  • Excessive heat (sun-stroke) and high humidity create serious physical and mental handicaps. High humidity feeds many tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Communicable diseases are rampant as germs and bacteria are transmitted through moist air. Insects and pests not only spread diseases but are injurious to crops.
• Jungle hinders development
  • The construction of roads and railways is a risky business as workers are exposed to wild animals, poisonous snakes, insects and most important tropical diseases. Once completed, they have to be maintained at a high cost.
• The rapid deterioration of tropical soil
  • The fertility of topsoil in rainforest regions is very poor. Torrential downpours wash out most of the topsoil nutrients [leaching == percolation and draining way of nutrients due to rainwater action].
  • The soil deteriorates rapidly with subsequent soil erosion and soil impoverishment.
  • It takes decades to replenish the soil of lost nutrients.
  • So a seed doesn’t usually germinate and even if it does, its development is hindered due to little availability of sunlight.

• Option C is the Correct Answer: Monsoon Climate is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation. The term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally changing pattern.