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 was first to measure the circumference of Earth?
[A] Aristotle
[B] Anaximander
[C] Herodotus
[D] Eratosthenes
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Eratosthenes]
Notes:
Eratosthenes, a Greek mathematician and geographer, is credited with being the first person to accurately measure the circumference of the Earth. He did this by comparing the angle of the sun’s rays in two different locations and using simple geometry to calculate the circumference of the Earth.
2. Which among the following country is inside the European Union but Outside the Eurozone?
[A] Slovakia
[B] Slovania
[C] Denmark
[D] Spain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Denmark]
Notes:
Denmark is inside the European Union but Outside the Eurozone. Eight countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden) are EU members but do not use the euro.
3. During which of the following events is the distance between the Sun and Earth at its maximum?
[A] Aphelion
[B] Perihelion
[C] Summer Solstice
[D] Winter Solstice
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Aphelion]
Notes:
Aphelion is the point in the orbit of an object where it is farthest from its star. For Earth, aphelion occurs annually around July 4th in its orbit around the Sun. Perihelion, on the other hand, is when Earth is closest to the Sun (occurring around January 3rd). The solstices are those points at which the tilt of Earth’s axis is most inclined either toward or away from the Sun.
4. What does the study of Edaphology primarily concern with?
[A] The impact of human development on soil
[B] The effect of soils on human development
[C] The impact of soils on living organisms
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The impact of soils on living organisms]
Notes:
Edaphology evaluates the influence of soils on living organisms, particularly plants. It is one of the two main branches of soil science, the rival branch being pedology. The study of Edaphology comprises the analysis of how soil influences the utilization of land by humankind, particularly for agricultural purposes.
5. Which among the following is formed by recrystallization of Silica found in Sandstone?
[A] Quartzite
[B] Genesis
[C] Marble
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Quartzite]
Notes:
Quartzite is formed by the recrystallization of silica found in sandstone. Quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock that was originally sandstone. The transformation from sandstone to quartzite happens through recrystallization. The heating and pressure that causes the transformation is usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts.
Quartzite is composed almost entirely of quartz. The quartz grains from the original sandstone are enlarged and interlocked by recrystallization. Quartzite does not tend to be foliated because quartz crystals don’t align with the directional pressure.
6. Which among the following is the correct set of three largest river basins (by area), from largest to smallest ?
[A] Amazon, Congo, Ganga
[B] Amazon, Congo, Mississippi
[C] Amazon, Mississippi, Congo
[D] Amazon, Mississippi, Ganga
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Amazon, Congo, Mississippi]
Notes:
The Amazon is the largest river by basin size, followed by the Congo and then the Mississippi. The Amazon has a basin size of approximately 6.7 million square kilometers, while the Congo has a basin size of approximately 4 million square kilometers and the Mississippi has a basin size of approximately 3 million square kilometers.
7. Which oceanic ridge is known as the Galapagos hotspot?
[A] Carlsberg Ridge
[B] Juan de Fuca Ridge
[C] Cocos Ridge
[D] Gorda Ridge
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Cocos Ridge]
Notes:
The Cocos Ridge, also called the Galapagos hotspot, is an underwater volcanic ridge in the East Pacific Ocean. It is formed by the Galapagos hotspot, which created the Galapagos Islands and major ridges like Carnegie, Cocos, and Malpelo.
8. Which of the following clouds is responsible for “Solar halo”, an optical phenomenon which leads to formation of colored or white rings or arcs and spots in the sky?
[A] Cirrostratus
[B] Cirrocumulus
[C] Cumulonimbus
[D] Altostratus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cirrostratus]
Notes:
Cirrostratus is the only clouds which is responsible for the formation of haloes. A halo is an optical phenomena produced by light interacting with ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. It leads to formation of colored or white rings or arcs and spots in the sky.
9. Daily weather map showing isobars is an example of which of the following maps? (UPSC Prelims 1997)
[A] Choropleth map
[B] Isopleth map
[C] Chorochromatic map
[D] Choroschematic map
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Isopleth map]
Notes:
Daily weather map showing isobars is an example of isopleth map. Isopleth map is a map that uses lines or colors to indicate areas with similar regional aspects. Isopleth maps may use lines to show areas where elevation, temperature, rainfall, or some other quality is the same; values between lines can be interpolated.
10. Which is the longest river that runs entirely in Brazil?
[A] Sao Francisco River
[B] Rio Negro River
[C] Tocantins River
[D] Madeira River
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sao Francisco River]
Notes:
The Sao Francisco River is the longest river that flows entirely in the territory of Brazil. It is about 2,914 km long and is the fourth longest River in South America.
