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. “Medicine line” is another name of which among the following circles of latitude?
[A] 17th Parallel North
[B] 39th Parallel North
[C] 49th Parallel North
[D] 59th Parallel North
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [49th Parallel North]
Notes:
49th parallel was nicknamed the Medicine Line because of its seemingly magical ability to prevent U.S. soldiers from crossing it during expeditions in 1800’s. The 49th parallel north crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Mars appears red because of presence of the following compounds on its surface?
[A] Copper Oxide
[B] Iron Oxide
[C] Copper Sulphide
[D] Magnesium Oxide
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Iron Oxide]
Notes:
Mars is known as the red planet because it looks red from Earth. The reddish color comes from the high concentration of iron oxide compounds—that is, rust—in the rocks of the Martian surface.
3. Which among the following is a correct Chronological Order of periods in the Geological Time Scale?
[A] Ordovician, Permian, Jurassic, Paleogene
[B] Jurassic, Paleogene, Ordovician, Permian,
[C] Permian, Ordovician, Jurassic, Paleogene
[D] Ordovician, Permian,Paleogene, Jurassic
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ordovician, Permian, Jurassic, Paleogene]
Notes:
- Ordovician: The Ordovician period occurred from approximately 485 million to 443 million years ago. It was a time when marine life, especially diverse marine invertebrates, flourished.
- Permian: The Permian period occurred from approximately 299 million to 251 million years ago. It was characterized by the dominance of reptiles and the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea.
- Jurassic: The Jurassic period occurred from approximately 201 million to 145 million years ago. It was known for the dominance of dinosaurs, including iconic ones like the Brachiosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex.
- Paleogene: The Paleogene period, often divided into the Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs, occurred from approximately 66 million to 23 million years ago. This period saw the diversification of mammals and the decline of dinosaurs.
4. In geographical context, a “nappe” is a:
[A] rock structure that has been abraded and polished by wind driven sand
[B] sheet of rock that has been displaced far away from its original position due to tectonic forces
[C] shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by barrier islands or reefs
[D] linear-shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [sheet of rock that has been displaced far away from its original position due to tectonic forces]
Notes:
A nappe is defined as thrust sheet or like body of rock that has been moved more than 2 km from its original position due to tectonic movements.
5. Which of the following terms is used for naturally occurring or artificially created landform which separates the floodplains from the river valley?
[A] Levee
[B] Loess
[C] Isthmus
[D] Strait
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Levee]
Notes:
Levee is a naturally occurring or artificially created landform which separates the floodplains from river valley. A strait is a naturally formed, narrow, typically navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of water. Isthmus a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land.
6. Adams, Leverrier, Galle and Lassell are some of the rings of which planet?
[A] Saturn
[B] Uranus
[C] Neptune
[D] Jupiter
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Neptune]
Notes:
Neptune has five rings: Galle, LeVerrier, Lassell, Arago, and Adams. Its rings were named after the astronomers who made an important discovery regarding the planet.
7. ‘Norwesters’ are thunder storms which are prominent in which of the following countries?
[A] India and Bangladesh
[B] Bangladesh and Myanmar
[C] Bhutan and Nepal
[D] India and Bhutan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India and Bangladesh]
Notes:
Norwesters or the Kalbaishakhi is a local rain fall and thunder storm which occurs in India and Bangladesh. Kalbaishakhi occurs, with increasing frequency, from March till monsoon establishes over North-East India.
8. Which of the following is the name given to the narrow strip of land, bordered on both sides by water, connecting to larger bodies of land?
[A] Dune
[B] Equinox
[C] Isthmus
[D] Strait
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Isthmus]
Notes:
An isthmus is a land bridge, a narrow strip of land that stretches across a body of water to connect two larger land masses. The Greek isthmos means “neck”.
One of the most famous examples of the isthmus landform is the Isthmus of Panama. The Panama isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects Costa Rica and Colombia. Essentially, the Isthmus of Panama connects North and South America. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
9. In which of the following years Hailey’s comet has to appear in the solar family? (UPSC Prelims 1985)
[A] 1986
[B] 1988
[C] 1989
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1986]
Notes:
Halley’s Comet is arguably the most famous comet. It is a “periodic” comet and returns to Earth’s vicinity about every 75 years, making it possible for a human to see it twice in his or her lifetime. The last time it was here was in 1986, and it is projected to return in 2061.
10. Through which one of the following groups of countries does the Equator pass? (UPSC Prelims 2006)
[A] Brazil, Zambia and Malaysia
[B] Columbia, Kenya and Indonesia
[C] Brazil, Sudan and Malaysia
[D] Venezuela, Ethiopia and Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Columbia, Kenya and Indonesia]
Notes:
The equator passes through 13 countries: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Sao Tome & Principe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia and Kiribati.
