The correct option is (b).
Explanation
The geomorphic work of a river is characterized by three interrelated processes: erosion, transportation, and deposition. The dominance of a specific process depends on the river's stage (youth, maturity, or old age), velocity, and the gradient of the terrain.Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. Rivers are powerful agents of erosion, especially in their upper course (mountainous regions). Due to steep gradients and high velocity, rivers perform intense vertical erosion (down-cutting), creating landforms such as V-shaped valleys, gorges, and canyons.
- Statement 2 is Correct. As a river enters a plain or valley, the gradient of the slope decreases, leading to a reduction in velocity. This loss of energy reduces the river's carrying capacity, causing it to deposit the load of sediments (stones, sand, and silt) it transported from the upper reaches.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect. Plains are polygenetic landforms, meaning they are formed by various agents, not solely by wind. While wind action creates loess plains, rivers create alluvial plains (e.g., the Indo-Gangetic Plain), glaciers create outwash plains, and tectonic processes create structural plains.
Key Takeaway: Rivers are dynamic agents that erode in high-gradient areas and deposit in low-gradient areas. Plains are diverse landforms resulting from the depositional work of rivers, wind, glaciers, or tectonic activity.