Geography MCQs : UPSC / HCS
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Geography MCQs : UPSC / HCS
These are the objective type questions of geography. As we know that geography is one of the most important subjects for exams like UPSC / HCS, So go through the questions given below for a better understanding.
Q1. In which among the following states, the Jharia, Raniganj, Talcher, Korba coalfields are located respectively?
(a) Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal
(b) Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh
(c) West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh
(d) West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
Ans: (b) Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh
Explanation: Self-explanatory
Q2. Tuaregs are tribes are found in which region?
(a) Arabia region
(b) Sahara region
(c) Mediterranean region
(d) Savannah region
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Self-explanatory
Q3. _____ is a very cold and harmful dry wind with a high speed that is channeled through the Rhine valley.
(a) Helm
(b) Sirocco
(c) Mistral
(d) Bora
Ans: (c) Mistral
Explanation: Self-explanatory
Q4. The most abundant gas emitted from volcanoes:
(a) Water vapor
(b) Helium
(c) Sulphur dioxide
(d) Carbon dioxide
Ans: (a)
Explanation: The most abundant volcanic gas is water vapor. Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are two other important gases present in volcanic eruptions. A significant amount of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and helium gas is also found in it
Q5. International date line passes through: {}
(a) Africa
(b) Pacific ocean
(c) Asia
(d) the Atlantic Ocean
Ans: (b)
Explanation: The International Date Line (IDL) an imaginary line that passes through the Pacific Ocean. Along the International Date Line, the date changes by exactly one day when it is crossed
Q6. The burst of monsoons in the month of June brings rain to
(a) Kerala and Karnataka
(b) Kerala and Southern coast of Tamil Nadu
(c) Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Andhra Pradesh
(d) Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Self-explanatory
Q7. Georgetown is the capital of which country?
(a) Guyana
(b) Uruguay
(c) Aruba
(d) Bolivia
Ans: (a) Guyana
Explanation: Self-explanatory
Q8. The tale of the comet is directed away from the sun, because:
(a) As the comet rotates around the sun, the lighter mass of the comet is pushed away due to centrifugal force alone
(b) As the comet rotates, the lighter mass of the comet is attracted by some stars situated in the direction of its tail
(c) The radiation emitted by the sun exerts a radial pressure on the comet throwing its tail away from the sun
(d) The tale of the comet always exist in the same orientation
Ans: (c)
Explanation: In the outer solar system, comets remain frozen and are extremely difficult or impossible to detect from the earth due to their small size. As a comet approaches the inner solar system, solar radiation causes the volatile material within the comet to vaporize and stream out of the nucleus, carrying the dust away with it. The dust and gas thus released from the atmosphere around the comet called Coma and the force exerted on the coma by the radiation of the sun cause an enormous tail to form, which points away from the Sun.
Q9. Meteor is
(a) A fast-moving star
(b) A foreign matter which has entered the earth atmosphere from outer space
(c) Part of any stellar system
(d) Tail of a comet
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Meteor is a bright streak of light in the sky also called a shooting star or a falling star. But actually, it is not a star. It is just a piece of an object made of rocks and minerals. It starts growing because when it enters into the earth's atmosphere at a very high velocity it burns due to the heat caused by air fiction. Most of the meteors burn to ashes before reaching the surface of the earth.
Q10. Consider the following statements.
- A person traveling from Japan to Alaska across International Date Line will gain a day.
- It is inconvenient for a country of greater latitudinal extent but the smaller longitudinal extent to have multiple time zones.
Which of the following is true?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both
(d) Neither
Ans: (c) Both
Explanation: If the time and date in Japan are 12:00 AM 01/01/2019, then the date in Alaska (USA) will be 31/12/2018. Thus, a person traveling from Japan to Alaska across the International Date Line will gain a day (Japan is more than 18 hours ahead of Alaska). Standard Time is the time corresponding to a certain longitude or longitude as chosen by a country. More longitudes pass through a country with a more longitudinal extent. Hence it can have multiple time zones.
Q11. Consider the following Statements:
- On 21st June the southern hemisphere has longer days and shorter nights.
- During summer solstice the whole Arctic region falls within the ‘zone of illumination’ all day long.
Which of them is/are true.
(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) 1 & 2
(d) Neither
Ans: (b) 2 Only
Explanation: On 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. The longest day and the shortest night all across the northern hemisphere occur on 21st June. At this time in the southern hemisphere, all these conditions are reverse(d)During summer solstice the whole Arctic region falls within the ‘zone of illumination’ all day long.
Q12. Continents have drifted apart because of:
(a) Rotation and revolution of Earth
(b) Tectonic activities
(c) Folding and faulting of rocks
(d) All of the above
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Continents rest on massive slabs of rocks called tectonic plates. These plates are always moving and interacting in a process called plate tectonic activity. Through these tectonic activities, continents shift position on the earth's surface. By about one 75 million year ago the Pangaea landmarks began breaking up due to continental drift. Slowly it broke into pieces and assumed their positions as continents that we recognize today.
Q13. Why is the International Date Line not a straight line rather it has a zig-zag shape?
- It is part of an international convention.
- To avoid the complexity of having two dates in the same country or same island
Which of the following is true?
(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) Both
(d) Neither
Ans: (b) 2 Only
Explanation: If the dateline was straight, then two regions of the same Island country or Island group would fall under different date zones. Thus, to avoid any confusion of date, this line is drawn in a zigzag manner. The International Date Line curves from the normal 180° meridian at the Bering Strait, and at the island groups of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia
Q14. Which of the following is true about daylight saving in temperate regions?
- It’s a geographical phenomenon
- It is a practice of increasing the evening hours by sacrificing the morning hours.
(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) Both
(d) Neither
Ans: (b) 2 Only
Explanation: Daylight saving time (DST) or summer time is the practice of advancing clocks during summer months by one hour or more.
Normal days = Start office at 10 AM and close at 5 PM.
DST = Start office at 9 AM and Close at 4 PM
Typically, users with summer time adjust clocks forward one hour close to the start of spring and adjust them backward in the autumn to standard time. Advantages: benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours. Reduces evening use of incandescent lighting, which was formerly a primary use of electricity.
Q15. Consider the following statements.
- The Earth is closest to the Sun at its aphelion which occurs about two weeks after the June Solstice.
- The Earth is farthest from the Sun at its perihelion which occurs about two weeks after the December Solstice.
- The earth revolves around the sun in an elliptical orbit with the sun at one of the foci.
Which of the following is true:
(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) 3 Only
(d) 1,2,3
Ans: (c) 3 Only
Explanation: The Earth is closest to the Sun at its perihelion which occurs about two weeks after the December Solstice. At the perihelion position, the earth is about 147.1 million km away from the sun. It is farthest from the Sun at its aphelion which occurs about two weeks after the June Solstice. At aphelion position, the earth is about 152.1 million km away from the sun.
Q16. The Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries:
- Jordan
- Iraq
- Lebanon
- Syria
Select the correct answer:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1,3 and 4
Ans: (c) 3 & 4 Only.
Explanation: The countries surrounding the Mediterranean in clockwise order are Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco; Malta and Cyprus are island countries in the sea
Q17. Consider the following factors:
- Rotation of earth
- Air pressure and wind
- The density of ocean water
- Revolution of earth
Which of the above factors influence the ocean currents?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1,2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (b) 1,2 and 3
Explanation: Ocean current is the continuous, directed movement of seawater generated by forces such as rotation of the earth, wind, temperature, salinity, air pressure, seawater density difference, etc. Revolution of the earth does not influence the ocean currents. Hence option B is the correct answer
Q18. Consider the following statements about the earthquake:
- The intensity of an earthquake is measured on the Mercalli scale
- Earthquakes of magnitude are the measurement of energy released
- The magnitude of an earthquake depends directly upon the amplitude of earthquake waves
- Every integer on the Richter scale shows 100 times increase in energy released
Which of the statements are true:
(a) 1,2 and 3
(b) 2,3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 1 and 3
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Self Explanatory
Q19. What is Polje?
(a) Limestone caves
(b) Very large depression
(c) rectangular blocks
(d) limestone pavement
Ans: (b) Very large depression
Explanation: Polje is a large, flat-floored depression within karst limestone. Karst means a landscape underlain by limestone which has been eroded by dissolution, producing ridges, towers, fissures, sinkholes, and other characteristic landforms. The flat floor of a polje is characteristically covered with soil composed of the residues of limestone solution. These areas may constitute the only arable part of the rock wasteland in a karst region. Polje is formed by the coalescence of several sinkholes.
Q20. Which of the following statement is correct?
- When a number of swallow holes coalesce, a larger hollow is formed and is called a Doline.
- Stalagmites are sharp, slender, downward growing pinnacles that hang from the cave roofs.
- Karst regions are often barren & at best carry a thin layer of soil.
Select the correct answer:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) All
Ans: (b) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 1 and 3 are correct.
Statement 2 is incorrect as Stalactites are sharp, slender, downward growing pinnacles that hang from the cave roofs. When moisture drips from the roof, it trickles down the stalactites & drops to the floor, where calcium is deposited to form Stalagmites, Which are shorter, fatter & more round. Over a longer period, the stalactite hanging from the roof is eventually joined to stalagmite growing from the floor to form a pillar.
Q21. Consider the following statements:
- The main constituents of Granitic rocks are Silica and Magnesium.
- Oceanic floors are mainly made up of Basaltic rocks.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect - Granite rocks are made up of silica and alumina and it is collectively referred to as Sial. Statement 2 is correct - Ocean floors are made up of Basaltic rock, which comprises mainly silica and magnesium. Hence it is referred to as SiMa
Q22. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the composition of the Atmosphere?
- Oxygen is present only in the troposphere.
- Carbon dioxide is the most abundant gas after Nitrogen and Oxygen.
- Higher composition of dust particles is found in subtropical regions when compared to tropical regions.
Select the correct answer:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 3 only
Ans: (d) 3 only
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: Oxygen is present in small amounts till 120 Km height of the atmosphere. The troposphere is the lowermost layer of the atmosphere present up to an average height of 13 Km. Statement 2 is incorrect: Composition of Atmosphere is as follows:
Nitrogen-78.08 ,Oxygen-20.95, Argon-0.93, Carbon Dioxide-0.036
Neon-0.002
Hence it's the Argon and not Carbon dioxide which is abundant gas after Nitrogen and Oxygen. Statement 3 is correct: The higher concentration of dust particles is found in subtropical and temperate regions due to dry winds in comparison to equatorial and polar regions which have humidity in winds.
Q23. Death Valley situated in southern California in the USA is an example of which of the following: {}
(a) Anticlinal Valley
(b) None
(c) a and b both
(d) Rift Valley
Ans: (d) Rift Valley
Explanation: Rift Valley is formed on a divergent plate, deepened by the forces of erosion. A Rift Valley is a linear shape of low land between several highlands and mountain ranges created by the action of geographical fault. A fault is a fracture in the terrestrial surface in which the rock material on the upper side of the fault plane has been displaced downward relative to the rock below the fault. Death Valley in California USA is an example of such a rift Valley.
Q24. Other than India and China which one of the following group of countries border with Myanmar:
(a) Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam
(b) Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia
(c) Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia
(d Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh
Ans: (d) Thailand, Laos, and Bangladesh
Explanation: Self-Explanatory
Q25. With reference to fold mountains, consider the following statements:
- Fold Mountains are mainly found at constructive plate boundaries.
- In a folding, folds are called anticlines and downfolds are synclines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b) 2 only
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect - Fold mountains are mainly found at convergent plate boundaries which are destructive in nature. They occur along the plate margins of continent-continent, continent-ocean, or ocean-ocean. Statement 2 is correct - The unfolded waves in a folding are called anticlines and the troughs or downfolds are synclines.
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