Which is the correct term for a stream branching away from the main river in the Ganga delta?

Correct answer: Distributary

The direct answer is D: a stream that branches away from the main river in a delta is called a distributary. Near the mouth of a river, the slope becomes gentle and the flow slows. Sediment is deposited, and the river may divide into several channels. A channel that carries water away from the main channel toward the sea is a distributary. Option D is correct because this is the precise geographical term for such a delta branch. Option A, tributary, is the opposite relationship: a tributary is a smaller stream that joins a main river and adds water to it. Option B, glacier, is a moving mass of ice formed from accumulated snow in cold conditions, not a river channel. Option C, water divide, is a highland or boundary that separates the drainage basins of two rivers; it is not a stream. Therefore the direction of connection is important: tributaries join the main river, while distributaries leave it. Memory cue: tributary comes toward and joins; distributary departs and divides, especially in a delta.