Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Pampero
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to world physical geography and climatology and focuses on local winds, which are named winds with distinctive characteristics in particular regions. The Pampas of Argentina and neighbouring areas are known for a strong, cold, gusty wind that arrives from the direction of Uruguay and the south west. Competitive exams often ask about such named local winds, so recognising which name belongs to which region is important.
Given Data / Assumptions:
• The wind is described as a speedy cold wind.
• It blows from the Uruguay side over the Pampas region of Argentina.
• The options list several named winds: Levant, Pampero, Harmattan, and Karaburan.
• We assume standard textbook definitions of local winds.
Concept / Approach:
The Pampero is the well known cold wind that blows across the Pampas of Argentina, usually after the passage of a cold front, bringing a sharp drop in temperature and clear air. The Harmattan refers to a dry, dusty wind in West Africa, Levant is associated with the eastern Mediterranean, and Karaburan is a wind in Central Asia. Since the question explicitly mentions Pampas and Uruguay, the correct approach is to match this description with Pampero, the local name for that cold wind in southern South America.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the region mentioned is the Pampas of Argentina and nearby Uruguay.
Step 2: Recall that the famous cold, gusty wind after cold fronts in this region is called the Pampero.
Step 3: Compare names in the options and identify Pampero as the only one associated with South America.
Step 4: Recognise that Harmattan belongs to West Africa, Levant to the Mediterranean, and Karaburan to Central Asia, not the Pampas.
Step 5: Select Pampero as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Reviewing standard climatology tables of local winds shows Pampero clearly listed under South America, particularly the Argentine Pampas. The description in such references notes that the Pampero is a cold wind from the south or south west, often following a thunderstorm or cold front, affecting Uruguay and Argentina. None of the other named winds in the options share this description or region, confirming Pampero as the correct match.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Levant: This wind refers to an easterly wind in the western Mediterranean, especially near the Strait of Gibraltar, not to the Pampas region.
Harmattan: A dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara toward the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, unrelated to Argentina.
Karaburan: A local wind of Central Asia, not associated with the Pampas or Uruguay region.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may confuse one local wind with another simply because the names are unusual or foreign. Another pitfall is to rely only on approximate sound or memory and pick a name at random. To avoid these mistakes, it is helpful to memorise a short mapping of key local winds to their regions, such as Mistral with southern France, Chinook with the Rocky Mountains, and Pampero with the Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay.
Final Answer:
The correct choice is Pampero, the speedy cold wind that blows across the Pampas region from the Uruguay side.
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