Which of the following pairs of landforms are of desert origin

Analyze the question: We need the pair in which both landforms are produced by desert processes (wind erosion, wind deposition, or weathering in arid conditions).

Explain the concepts:

• Yardangs: streamlined ridges carved by wind abrasion in deserts (desert).
• Batholiths: huge masses of intrusive igneous rock formed deep underground (not desert-specific).
• Sandbars: ridges of sand built by waves and currents in coastal or river settings (not desert).
• Tombolos: sand or shingle bars linking an island to the mainland, formed by coastal deposition (not desert).
• Zeugens: tabular rock masses with a resistant cap rock over softer layers, formed by wind abrasion and differential weathering in deserts (desert).
• Inselbergs: isolated residual hills (e.g. Bornu inselbergs) left standing after surrounding land is worn down, typical of arid and semi-arid landscapes (desert).
• Barchans: crescent-shaped sand dunes formed by wind deposition (desert).

Solution, option by option:

• A: yardangs (desert) and batholiths (igneous), so not both desert.
• B: sandbars and tombolos are both coastal, so no.
• C: zeugens and inselbergs are both desert landforms, so yes.
• D: barchans (desert) and tombolos (coastal), so no.

Option D is tempting because barchans are definitely desert features, but tombolos spoil it. Option A has the same problem with batholiths.

Answer: C.

Tip: Group landforms by the agent that made them:

• Wind: yardangs, zeugens, barchans, deflation hollows
• Waves: sandbars, tombolos, spits
• Underground igneous activity: batholiths

If one item in a pair belongs to a different group, eliminate the option.