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. Who among the following proposed steady state theory with respect to universe?
[A] Einstein
[B] Laplace
[C] Newton
[D] Hoyle
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Hoyle]
Notes:
Hoyle’s concept of steady state is opposite to Big Bang theory. It considered the universe to be roughly the same at any point of time
2. 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.
3. What is the term for the time required by the Earth to rotate 360 degrees and make a star return to the same exact position?
[A] Solar Day
[B] Sidereal Day
[C] Actual Day
[D] Synodic Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sidereal Day]
Notes:
A Sidereal Day is the time required by the Earth to rotate 360 degrees and make a star return to the same exact position. This is approximately 23 hours 56 minutes, slightly less than the 24 hours of a Solar Day. The specifics of Earth’s rotation lead to the slightly different timestamps of solar and sidereal days.
4. The world’s largest geothermal power installation is “The Geysers” located in which among the following countries?
[A] United States
[B] Canada
[C] Switzerland
[D] Finland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United States]
Notes:
The Geysers Geothermal Complex is located in the United States, north of San Francisco in California. It is the world’s largest geothermal power plant, with a capacity of 1,517 megawatts. The Geysers is made up of 22 power plants spread over several kilometers.
The Geysers has been producing electricity since 1960. Geothermal power plants are a renewable source of energy that can provide clean and reliable electricity with a low environmental impact. They are also relatively inexpensive to operate and maintain.
Geothermal resources are most accessible in the western states, from Colorado and New Mexico up to Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Oregon.
5. What fraction of Earth’s total water content is in the form of oceans?
[A] 20%
[B] 30%
[C] 50%
[D] 97%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [97%]
Notes:
Approximately 97% of the Earth’s water is in the form of oceans. The remaining 3% is found in the form of fresh water, which is distributed among the Earth’s lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers.
6. Sandstone is which of the following type of rock?
[A] Sedimentary Rock
[B] Metamorphic Rock
[C] Igneous Rock
[D] Calcareous Rock
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sedimentary Rock]
Notes:
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar because they are the most resistant minerals to weathering processes at the Earth’s surface, as seen in Bowen’s reaction series.
7. To a person on the moon, the sky appears to be of which color? (UPSC Prelims 1987)
[A] White
[B] Black
[C] Blue
[D] Orange
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Black]
Notes:
Because of the lack of an atmosphere, sunlight isn’t scattered and so whether it’s daytime or night time on the Moon, the sky appears black.
8. Which of the following is Cold Ocean current? (UPSC Prelims 1989)
[A] Labrador
[B] Gulf Stream
[C] Kuro Shio
[D] None of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Labrador]
Notes:
The Labrador Current is a cold current in the North Atlantic Ocean which flows from the Arctic Ocean south along the coast of Labrador and passes around Newfoundland, continuing south along the east coast of Nova Scotia. It is a continuation of the West Greenland Current and the Baffin Island Current.
9. In which arm of the Milky Way Galaxy is our solar system located?
[A] Carina – Sagittarius arm
[B] Orion arm
[C] Perseus arm
[D] Scutum – Centaurs
Scutum – Centaurus arm
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Orion arm ]
Notes:
The Orion arm is the minor spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. Our solar system is located in the Orion arm.
10. Which among the following planets is also called as the ‘dusty planet’?
[A] Venus
[B] Mercury
[C] Jupiter
[D] Mars
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mars]
Notes:
Due to frequent dust storms, Mars is also called as “the Pigpen Planet” because it is the dustiest place in the solar system.