World & Physical Geography MCQs
World Geography Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) Quiz for State and UPSC Civil Services Examinations. Objective Questions on Physical Geography and World Geography for competitive examinations.
1. After the sun, what is the nearest star to the earth?
[A] Alpha Centauri
[B] Orion
[C] Ursa Major
[D] Sirius
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Alpha Centauri]
Notes:
Following the sun, Alpha Centauri is the closest star to Earth, located approximately 4.367 light years away. It’s a star system consisting of three stars: Alpha Centauri A, Alpha Centauri B, and Proxima Centauri.
2. Which country has highest air pollution among all European Union (EU) countries?
[A] Poland
[B] Bosnia and Herzegovina
[C] Greece
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bosnia and Herzegovina]
Notes:
Eastern European and Balkan countries experience the highest rates of air pollution in the European Union. Particularly, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Albania, and Ukraine have the most significant mortality rates attributed to air pollution in the region. These countries also record the highest average annual levels of city air pollution, with Bosnia and Herzegovina being the most affected.
3. Which planet is known as “Bright Wandering Star”?
[A] Mars
[B] Venus
[C] Saturn
[D] Jupiter
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Jupiter]
Notes:
The word ‘planet’ comes from the ancient Greek ἀστήρ πλανήτης (astēr planētēs), meaning “wandering star”. The large number of stars observed in the heavens were classified into fixed stars and wandering stars. Fixed stars were those with respect to which the movement of the celestial bodies were measured. Wandering stars were those whose relative distances with respect to the fixed stars keep changing. Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn belonged to the latter category. Among these, Jupiter was known as Bright Wandering Star.
4. Which elements are found mostly in Lithosphere?
[A] Aluminium & Silicon
[B] Aluminium & Iron
[C] Magnesium and Silicon
[D] Silicon & Iron
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Aluminium & Silicon]
Notes:
Oxygen, aluminum, calcium, iron, and silicon are the most abundant elements in Earth’s lithosphere.
5. What is the current name of the nation that was previously recognized as Abyssinia?
[A] Ethiopia
[B] Egypt
[C] Lebanon
[D] Surinam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ethiopia]
Notes:
Ethiopia was in the past known as Abyssinia. The switch to the name Ethiopia happened around the 4th century during the reign of King Ezana, who adopted the name as part of his conversion efforts to Christianity. Historical records suggest that the term ‘Ethiopia’ was derived from the Greek term ‘Aithiops’, meaning ‘burnt face’ or ‘burnt complexion’ – a clear reference to the physical appearance of the country’s inhabitants.
6. Which among the following country is the world’s leading producer of synthetic industrial diamond?
[A] United states
[B] Congo
[C] China
[D] South Africa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
China is the world’s leading producer of synthetic industrial diamonds. Industrial diamonds can be used in cutting, drilling, grinding, and polishing.
7. In many countries with cold climates, the municipalities often sprinkle salt on icy roads in winter.
Which among the following is the correct reason for this?
[A] The Salt inhibits the formation of Ice Crystals
[B] The Salt lowers the Freezing Point of water
[C] The Salt raises the freezing Point of water
[D] The salt provides necessary friction to the tires of the vehicles
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [The Salt lowers the Freezing Point of water ]
Notes:
The correct reason for sprinkling salt on icy roads is that “the salt lowers the freezing point of water.” This process is known as freezing point depression. When salt (sodium chloride) is added to ice, it disrupts the formation of ice crystals, causing the ice to melt at lower temperatures. This is why salt is commonly used in winter road maintenance. it helps to keep roads safer by preventing ice formation. In fact, salt can lower the freezing point of water to about -9.5°C (15°F) when used in sufficient quantities.
8. “Pemba” and “Zanzibar” Islands of Africa are famous for the cultivation and export of:
[A] Cloves
[B] Sugarcane
[C] Tobacco
[D] Coffee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cloves]
Notes:
Pemba Island is famous for the cultivation of cloves. The island is part of the Zanzibar Archipelago in Tanzania, which is located in the Indian Ocean. Pemba is known as the “clove island” because it is the world’s main exporter of cloves. The island has 3.5 million clove trees, which is the largest concentration of clove trees in Zanzibar. Pemba’s growing conditions are better than those on Unguja island. Zanzibar’s main industries are spices, raffia, and tourism. The islands produce cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. The Zanzibar Archipelago, along with Tanzania’s Mafia Island, are sometimes called the “Spice Islands”.
9. The term “Ranching” is most closely associated with __:
[A] Shifting cultivation
[B] Livestock grazing
[C] Forest farming
[D] Fishing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Livestock grazing]
Notes:
Ranching is the practice of raising livestock on large tracts of land. Ranchers typically raise grazing animals such as cattle and sheep, but some also raise bison, elk, emus, ostriches, and alpacas. Ranches are usually found in parts of the grasslands where rainfall is low and food crops do not grow very well. Ranching is the dominant land use in much of the American West. Ranching can be highly profitable. The ranching and livestock industry is growing faster than any other agricultural sector in the world. In Africa, most ranches are wildlife ranches. Wildlife ranches, also known as game ranches, maintain healthy populations of species such as rhinoceros, elephant, leopard, and antelope. People pay a fee to hunt these animals on the ranch. Wildlife ranches also appeal to ecotourists.
10. Gulf of Thailand is the part of which sea?
[A] Red Sea
[B] South China Sea
[C] Mediterranean Sea
[D] Caspian Sea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [South China Sea]
Notes:
Gulf of Thailand is the part of the South China Sea. It is also known as the Gulf of Siam. It is a marginal water body in the western Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by Cambodia and Vietnam in the northeast, and by Thailand in the rest part.