Biogeography

1. Xerophytes are (a) plants that grow in areas of high rainfall. (b) plants which can withstand high degree of salinity. (c) plants which grow in areas of moderate moisture supply. (d) plants which can withstand extreme aridity. 2. What is not true of the temperate deciduous forests? (i) These are hardwood type. (ii) There is a mixed species distribution. (iii) Their wood is strong and durable. (iv) Their wood is heavier and difcult to work upon. (a) (ii), (iii) and (iv) (b) (iv) only (c) (ii) and (iv) (d) (ii) only 3. Match the following. A. Swamps 1. Wetlands with trees, B. Marshes 2. Waterlogged areas saturated by groundwater or rainwater. C. Bogs and Fens 3. Wetlands without trees. Codes: A B C (a) 3 2 1 (b) 1 2 3 (c) 3 1 2 (d) 1 3 2 4. Thorns in cacti are. (a) modied stems (b) stems (c) modied leaves (d) None of the above 5. Mark the most correct statement. (a) Vegetation is determined by climate. (b) Climate and vegetation have a two-way relation. (c) Soil of an area is determined by only the climate. (d) Climate, soil and vegetation all are interrelated. Which of the following best represents a biochore? (a) An area of vegetation having uniformity of life form. (b) An area of vegetation having same type of climate. (c) An area of vegetation having large trees. (d) An area of vegetation having grasslands. The savanna is a (a) forest vegetation of tropical regions. (b) tropical mixed vegetation dominated by grasses. (c) temperate type of grassland having only grasses. (d) type of vegetation adapted to arid climate. Which among the following is a characteristic of evergreen forest? (a) The trees never shed their leaves. (b) All the trees do not shed their leaves simultaneously. (c) When the trees are leaess, grasses remain green. (d) The name has nothing to do with greenery as such. Evergreen forests indicate a climate with _____. (a) copious rainfall (b) high temperature (c) moderate rainfall (d) year-round adequate rainfall Where are the broad leaf trees most common?

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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Geography Workbook 1

(a) Hot and humid areas (b) Cool and humid areas (c) Hot and dry areas (d) Mountainous areas 11. Match the following. Mediterranean Region Vegetation A. Chaparral 1. South Africa B. Maquis 2. Chile C. Mattoral 3. Southern Europe D. Fynbos 4. California Codes: A B C D (a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 4 3 2 1 (c) 4 2 3 1 (d) 2 1 4 3 12. In which biochore the structure of vegetation is significantly determined and maintained by periodic fires? (a) Forest (b) Savanna (c) Desert (d) Tundra 13. A large unit of vegetation having uniformity of not only the life form but also of adaptation of environment is called. (a) A biochore (b) A biome (c) A forest (d) An ecological niche 14. What is the smallest unit of vegetation having internal homogeneity and adaptation to its environment? (a) A formation class (b) A biome (c) A biochore (d) An ecological niche 15. The term Ecology was first used by (a) G. Taylor (b) Tansley (c) Ernst Haeckel (d) Jean Brunhes 16. What is the term applied to evolution of vegetation so that it becomes increasingly adapted to its environment? (a) Organic evolution (b) Plant succession (c) Climatic climax (d) Adaptation

17. What is a complex of vegetation called when it undergoes no further change unless the climate changes perceptibly? (a) An ecosystem (b) Climatic climax community (c) End of succession (d) Edaphic climax community 18. What is the term applied to the process of successive replacement of existing plant communities as the vegetationenvironment interaction modifies the environment making it more suitable for new communities? (a) Adaptation (b) Succession (c) Evolution (d) Serial change 19. In a chain of communities in a succession each community is a _____. (a) link (b) step (c) sere (d) climax 20. The first community to establish itself in an area having no vegetation is formed by the _____. (a) pioneers (b) xerosere (c) beginners (d) climatic climax 21. A succession taking place in an area where there had been no vegetation earlier is called a _____ succession. (a) pioneer (b) primary (c) secondary (d) fresh 22. A/An _____ is a species or group of species whose impact on its community is much more influential than would be expected from mere abundance. (a) dominant species (b) foundation species (c) incidental species (d) keystone species 23. The succession may begin in an area where some natural disaster has caused removal of existing vegetation. Such a succession is called _____. (a) primary (b) secondary (c) allogenic (d) autogenic

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

47

24. When the succession starts under conditions highly unfavourable to plant growth and plants themselves have to create a suitable physical environment for themselves, it is _____. (a) a primary succession (b) an autogenic succession (c) a pioneer succession (d) an allogenic succession 25. Which one of the following is not a soil forming process? (a) Hydration (b) Addition (c) Translocation (d) Transformation 26. The substance of the soil exists in _____ state(s). (a) solid (b) solid and liquid (c) solid and gaseous (d) solid, liquid and gaseous 27. The functioning of an ecosystem involves (a) ow of energy and circulation of nutrients. (b) an increasing simplicity of relations. (c) increasing animal populations. (d) increasing number of trees and bushes etc. 28. All components and individuals in an ecosystem are _____. (a) individualistic (b) independent (c) interdependent (d) dispensable 29. The biotic component of an ecosystem can be divided into functional categories on the basis of food or energy source. Each such group of organisms forms a _____. (a) trophic community (b) food chain (c) food web (d) species or organisms 30. The food web is (a) a very long straight linked food chain. (b) a moderate sized food chain having many trophic levels. (c) a series of food chains having frequent inter-links. (d) a circular food chain.

31. The organisms who can synthesize their food by interacting with their environment are called. (a) heterotrophs (b) autotrophs (c) self dependent (d) consumers 32. The amount of energy as it passes on from one trophic level to other in an ecosystem. (a) Increases (b) Decreases (c) Remains constant (d) There is no denite relation 33. If the amount of energy or biomass or the population of organisms at successive trophic levels is plotted as horizontal bars one above the other, it produces a _____. (a) square shape (b) rectangular shape (c) pyramidal shape (d) highly irregular shape 34. The ecological pyramid of numbers or biomass has a lesson for us that we should have _____ food habits. (a) non-vegetarian (b) vegetarian (c) high consumption (d) intensive 35. What term denotes the organisms getting their food from others? (a) Heterotrophs (b) Autotrophs (c) Producers (d) Synthesizers 36. A balanced ecosystem is one in which the (a) number of organisms at all levels is equals. (b) amount of energy synthesized and utilized is equal. (c) amount of biomass at all trophic levels is equal. (d) organisms are interdependent on each other. 37. Which one is supposed to be the most stable environment? (a) Tropical rainforest (b) Temperate grasslands (c) Hilly regions (d) Deep sea regions

48

Geography Workbook 1

38. The nature of vegetation in the world changes according to the_____. (a) latitude (b) climate (c) nature of soil (d) All the above 39. Going from poles to the equator the variety of plants_____. (a) increases (b) decreases (c) remains the same (d) may increase or decrease 40. The term deciduous implies (a) trees shedding leaves during summer. (b) plants shedding leaves at different times. (c) plants shedding leaves during rainy season. (d) plants shedding leaves during dry season. 41. Identify the correct (decreasing) order of ecosystems in terms of their net primary productivity. (a) Swamps and marshes, coniferous forest, hot desert, temperate grassland. (b) Hot desert, grassland, swamps and marshes, coniferous forest. (c) Swamps and marshes, coniferous forest, temperate grassland, hot desert. (d) Coniferous forest, swamps and marshes, temperate grassland, hot desert. 42. Which regions are known for having pure strands of single species of trees? (a) Equatorial forests (b) Monsoon forests (c) Temperate forests (d) Savannas 43. Match the following. Tribe Region A. Semang 1. Sumatra B. Kubus 2. Arabian Desert C. Bedouins 3. Malaysia D. Llaneros 4. Venezuela 5. Kalahari

44.

45.

46.

47.

Codes: A B C D (a) 1 3 2 4 (b) 3 1 2 5 (c) 3 1 2 4 (d) 1 3 2 5 The typical structure of a tropical forest is _____. (a) single tie (b) two tier (c) three tier (d) four tier Before the climatic climax vegetation evolves, there are some stages of short term equilibrium between the plants and the environment. Such a short term climax is called _____. (a) an edaphic climax (b) a short term climax (c) a temporary climax (d) an eco-climax Assertion (A): Podzols are rich in humus. Reason (R): The low temperature prohibits bacterial action, leading to accumulation of humus. (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. Assertion (A): Laterite soils are porus in structure. Reason (R): High amount of rainfall results in leaching of soluble minerals and silica. (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true.

48. Assertion (A): Crop rotation helps in pest control. Reason (R): Crop rotation helps maintaining soil fertility.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

49

(a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 49. Assertion (A): Soils of tropical regions are rich in insoluble iron and aluminium compounds. Reason (R): High temperature and humidity are favourable to bacterial activity and the soils thus lack humus. (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 50. Assertion (A): Peaty soils are very fertile. Reason (R): They have large accumulation of organic matter. (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 51. Plant succession in which vegetation change is brought about by some external environmental factor, such as disease, is called _____. (a) Pathogenic succession (b) Exogenic succession (c) Allogenic succession (d) Autogenic succession 52. Which of the following types of vegetation is not found in Selva vegetation? (a) Epiphyte (b) Xerophyte (c) Parasite (d) Hydrophyte 53. What type of vegetation occurs where the following conditions prevail? (1) Podzol soils (2) Annual temperature Range 38C

(3) Annual Precipitation About 300 mm which is fairly uniform distributed throughout the year. Codes: (a) Thorn Scrub (b) Coniferous Forest (c) Temperate (d) Monsoon Grassland Forest 54. A specific type of natural vegetation is known by all of the following names except _____. (a) veldt (b) steppe (c) campos (d) downs 55. Which one of the following statements is not true with reference to soils? (a) A laterite can form from any type of rock. (b) Hardpan is a layer of hard deposits, which occurs in the lower layers of some soils. (c) Peat soils develop best under hot and dry climatic conditions. (d) Terra Rossa soils form under semi-arid conditions. 56. In which country did wind erosion remove the top soil from a very large area, thereby creating the Dust Bowl? (a) USA (b) Mexico (c) Brazil (d) Australia 57. In cold wet regions leaching helps to produce grey soils which are called _____. (a) Laterites (b) Chernozems (c) Podzols (d) Regur 58. The moister parts of the American Praries are now mainly under _____. (a) wheat crop (b) fruits crop (c) rubber crop (d) horticulture 59. Which of the following is true? (a) The grasses of tropical grasslands are shorter and less nutritious than these of temperate grasslands. (b) The grasses of temperate grasslands are shorter but more nutritious than those of tropical grasslands.

50

Geography Workbook 1

(c) The grasses of tropical grasslands are taller and more nutritious than those of temperate grasslands. (d) The grasses of temperate grasslands are taller and less nutritious than those of tropical grasslands. 60. Which of the following factors is considered as a passive soil former? (a) Climate (b) Time (c) Biota (d) Parent material 61. Soil that owes its colour to oxides of iron is _____. (a) regur (b) bangar (c) laterite (d) alkaline 62. In the hot and humid regions of the tropics, the characteristic soils are _____. (a) laterites (b) pedocals (c) pedalfers (d) alluvial 63. The open, sunlit water surface layer in a lake, which is away from the shore and that extends to the depth penetrated by sunlight is referred to as _____. (a) littoral (b) benthic (c) profundal (d) limnetic 64. Who of the following identified the four basic pedogenic processes? (a) Simonson (b) Marbnt (c) Dokuchaieve (d) Glinka 65. Which of the following soil is formed in the regions of ample rainfall and is characterized by abundance of aluminium and iron? (a) Pedocal (b) Pedalfer (c) Peat (d) Histosols 66. Which of the following soils is parent-material controlled soil order? (a) Entisols (b) Vertisols (c) Andisols (d) Histosols 67. Which order of the C.S.C.S. is supposed to be the most fertile soil in natural conditions? (a) Alsol (b) Mollisol (c) Andisol (d) Vertisol

68. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists. List-I List-II A. Podsols 1. Temperate grasslands B. Terra rossa 2. Hot desert C. Chernozems 3. Cool temperate D. Sierozems 4. Mediterranean Codes: A B C D (a) 2 3 1 4 (b) 3 4 1 2 (c) 3 4 1 2 (d) 4 1 3 2 69. Which of the following gases is directly involved in chemical reactions affecting clay minerals and carbonate minerals in the soil? (b) N2 (a) O2 (c) CO2 (d) H2 70. Which of the soil orders when established, it was intended, literally, as the order that would not fit into any of the other orders? (a) Andisol (b) Inceptisol (c) Miscisol (d) Entisol 71. When the soils are related to the topography of a hill side, what represents a sequence of soil types down a slope? (a) Pedon (b) Polypedon (c) Catena (d) Clod 72. Which of the soils is the product of intense alkalization and is characterized by the presence of sodium carbonate? (a) Solonetz (b) Solodic (c) Solonchak (d) Halomorphic 73. The most suitable measure for soil conservation is _____. (a) afforestation (b) irrigation (c) crop rotation (d) contour farming 74. The zonal soil type of peninsular India belongs to

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

51

(a) red soils (b) yellow soils (c) black soils (d) older alluvium 75. Which one of the following pair is correctly matched? (a) Latosols : Scrubs (b) Chernozem : Savannas (c) Sierozem : Selvas (d) Podsol : Conifers 76. Laterite soils are formed due to (a) removal of silicates, lime and organic matter. (b) decayed organic matter. (c) disintegration of volcanic matter. (d) deposition of limestone. 77. Which of the following is an azonal soil? (a) Sierozem (b) Podzol (c) Lithosol (d) Solanchak 78. The ratios of energy flowing between various trophic levels are called _____ efficiency. (a) productive (b) ecological (c) trophic (d) natural 79. The alluvial soils of the Gangetic valley are described as _____. (a) intrazonal (b) azonal (c) zonal (d) None of these 80. Which one of the following grasslands is not an important area of wheat cultivation? (a) Praries (b) Downs (c) Steppes (d) Savannas 81. Terra Rossa typically develops in terrains composed of (a) limestone (b) basalt (c) granite (d) red sandstone 82. How much percentage of Earths land surface, approximately covered with loess? (a) 10% (b) 12% (c) 14% (d) 16% 83. The major amount of wheat, in Ukraine is produced in area of (a) acidic soil (b) podzol soil (c) black earth (soil) (d) red soil

84. The enormous volume of dust swept across the steppe lands of Asia and deposited in the north-western part of China is known as _____. (a) reg (b) loess (c) terra rossa (d) kankar 85. The term texture implies. (a) particle size (b) arrangement of peds (c) horizons arrangement (d) structure 86. Assertion (A): Alpine meadow soil contains mostly undecomposed plants. Reason (R): The temperature there is too low for quick decomposition (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 87. Which of the following terms refers to the particular assemblage of low growing leathery bushes and stunted trees that concentrate in the waterlogged soil bogs and lake filled depressions in the Northern Coniferous Forest Biome? (a) Chaparral (b) Muskeg (c) Fynbos (d) Mull 88. Soils which have undergone gleying and are associated with marshes, swamps or poorly drained upland are called _____. (a) Calcimorphic soil (b) Hydromorphic soil (c) Halomorphic soil (d) Sierozems 89. Which of the following is the highest level in the C.S.C.S.? (a) Families (b) Orders (c) Great groups (d) Series 90. Identify the odd one out. (a) Llanos (b) Savanna (c) Campos (d) Veldt

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Geography Workbook 1

91. Who amongst the following is considered as a pioneer in the study of soil genesis and soil classification? (a) G. N. Coffey (b) C. F. Marbut (c) K. D. Glinka (d) V. V. Dokuchaiev 92. Who amongst the following proposed the first scientific classification of soils in 1886 and classified soils into normal (upland), transitional (meadow, calcareous, alkali), and abnormal (organic, alluvial, aeolian). The normal class was further divided into 7 zones based upon climate and soil types based upon soil color? (a) V. V. Dokuchaiev (b) G. N. Coffey (c) K. D. Glinka (d) C. F. Marbut 93. Who of the following translated Glinkas work into English, borrowed and modified the Russian pedologic views and finally prepared a comprehensive system of soil classification for the United States? (a) E. W. Hilgard (b) A. N. Strahler (c) G. N. Coffey (d) C. F. Marbut 94. The smallest distinctive division of the soil of a given area to which a unique single set of properties apply is called as _____. (a) ped (b) polypedon (c) soil prole (d) horizon 95. Which one of the following ecosystems represents natural subsidized solar powered ecosystem? (a) Tidal Estuary (b) Upland Forest (c) Open Ocean (d) Urban Centre 96. Assertion (A): Seldom the boundaries between any two adjacent or neighbouring biomes are discrete or distinct instead they blend with the neighbouring biomes through a transition zone called ecotone. Reason (R): The transition zone between two biomes generally has high species diversity and density as compared to any of the neighbouring biomes.

(a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 97. The capacity of a soil to hold water against the pull of gravity is called as. (a) Storage capacity (b) Wilting capacity (c) Wilting point (d) Hygroscopic capacity 98. What is described in terms of the shape, size and durability of peds? (a) Soil Horizon (b) Soil Texture (c) Soil Consistence (d) Soil Structure 99. Assertion (A): The C-horizon is affected by physical and chemical processes. Reason (R): Podzol soils are very suitable for grain crops because these soils contain good amount of bases. (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 100. Chestnut soil and Chernozems are the equivalent of _____ in the C.S.C.S. (a) Spodosols (b) Alsols (c) Histosols (d) Mollisols 101. A sandy soil with an ash-grey A-horizon that develops beneath Coniferous Forests in cool climates is called _____. (a) podzol (b) chernozem (c) aridisol (d) chestnut soil 102. In wet regions, soil water often washes clay particles down through root channels and worm tunnels. The clay particles are then deposited in the subsoil. This process is called _____. (a) eluviation (b) cheluviation (c) lessivation (d) leaching

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

53

103. Nuciform soil structure refers to _____ ped. (a) Platy (b) Blocky (c) Crumbly (d) Prismatic 104. Most plants grow only in soil with a pH between 4 and _____. (a) 10 (b) 14 (c) 7 (d) 6 105. As organic matter decomposes, it releases nutrients and organic acids. These acids known as _____ attack clays and rock, releasing iron and aluminium. (a) Humication agents (b) Chelating agents (c) Leaching agents (d) Reducers 106. Which of the following soils has the maximum percentage of worlds land area occupied? (a) Inceptisols (b) Aridisols (c) Entisols (d) Histosols 107. An iron-pan is a common feature of the _____ type of soil. Iron-pan is a thin layer of mineral grains cemented together by a high concentration of redeposited iron and humus which is located in the lower horizons of a soil. (a) Podsol (b) Saline (c) Gley (d) Laterite 108. _____ are essentially the products of laterization and have evolved in warm, moist climates, although some are now found in drier regions, an indication of climate change since the soils developed. (a) Spodosols (b) Vertisols (c) Alsols (d) Oxisols 109. Assertion (A): If organic fertilizers are not used in crop farming, the continual use of artificial fertilizers can lead to widespread soil erosion. Reason (R): Artificial fertilizers do not contain humus. (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A.

(b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 110. Assertion (A): The value of a forest is often higher when it is left standing than it could be worth when it is harvested. Reason (R): There is an increasing worldwide trend for Ecotourism. (a) Both A and R are correct and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are correct but R does not explain A. (c) A is correct but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true. 111. Which particular year has been referred to as the year without summer (when glaciers became most active after Pleistocene ice age due to extreme cold winter and cool summer mainly in North America)? (a) 1876 (b) 1976 (c) 1776 (d) 1576 112. Commensalism involves _____. (a) a mutually benecial relationship between the two organisms. (b) two dissimilar organisms living together with no injury to either. (c) one organism living on or in another, obtaining nourishment from the host. (d) None of these. 113. Role that organism takes in ecosystem is called as _____. (a) ecological niche (b) specialist (c) primary Productivity (d) ecological efciency 114. Guano forms a significant player of _____. (a) phosphate cycle (b) nitrogen cycle (c) sulfur cycle (d) asphalt cycle

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Geography Workbook 1

115. Clements Climatic-Climax idea of succession is a _____ approach. (a) possibilist (b) neo determinist (c) determinist (d) radicalist 116. Poly Climax concept was propounded by _____. (a) Tansley (b) Clement (c) Whittaker (d) Haeckel 117. The response of plants to rhythmic fluctuation in temperature is called _____. (a) vernalization (b) thermoperiodism (c) transpiration (d) ephemering 118. Which are the Pedogenic regimes represented by 1 and 2? (a) Gleization, Salinization (b) Salinization, Gleization (c) Gleization, Podzolization (d) Podzolization, Laterization
INCREASING ANNUAL TEMP

119. Which of the following zones represent Loam soil and sandy Loam (in the order) in the given sketch? (a) 4 and 3 (b) 4 and 6 (c) 4 and 2 (d) 6 and 3
100 90
CL AY

10 20 30 CLAY 40
% T SIL

80 70 60

50 40 30 20 10
SAND

50 1 4 2 3 6 60 70 80

90 SILT 100 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 % SAND

120. Identify the desert marked X in the sketch. (a) Outback (b) Victoria (c) Sonoron (d) Simpson

ARIZONA

1 INCREASING ANNUAL PRECIPITATION

X MEXICO

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55

ANSWERS
1. 11. 21. 31. 41. 51. 61. 71. 81. 91. 101. 111. (d) (b) (b) (b) (c) (c) (c) (c) (a) (d) (a) (a) 2. 12. 22. 32. 42. 52. 62. 72. 82. 92. 102. 112. (b) (b) (d) (b) (c) (b) (a) (a) (a) (a) (c) (d) 3. 13. 23. 33. 43. 53. 63. 73. 83. 93. 103. 113. (d) (b) (b) (c) (c) (b) (d) (a) (c) (d) (d) (a) 4. 14. 24. 34. 44. 54. 64. 74. 84. 94. 104. 114. (c) (d) (b) (b) (c) (c) (a) (a) (b) (b) (a) (a) 5. 15. 25. 35. 45. 55. 65. 75. 85. 95. 105. 115. (d) (c) (a) (a) (a) (c) (b) (d) (a) (a) (b) (c) 6. 16. 26. 36. 46. 56. 66. 76. 86. 96. 106. 116. (a) (b) (d) (b) (c) (a) (c) (a) (a) (b) (b) (a) 7. 17. 27. 37. 47. 57. 67. 77. 87. 97. 107. 117. (b) (b) (a) (d) (a) (c) (a) (c) (b) (a) (a) (b) 8. 18. 28. 38. 48. 58. 68. 78. 88. 98. 108. 118. (b) (b) (c) (d) (b) (a) (c) (b) (b) (d) (d) (a) 9. 19. 29. 39. 49. 59. 69. 79. 89. 99. 109. 119. (d) (c) (a) (a) (b) (b) (c) (b) (b) (c) (a) (d) 10. 20. 30. 40. 50. 60. 70. 80. 90. 100. 110. 120. (a) (a) (c) (d) (d) (b) (b) (d) (d) (d) (a) (c)

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