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. The asteroid belt is a region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of which among the following planets?
[A] Earth & Mars
[B] Mars & Jupiter
[C] Jupiter and Saturn
[D] Saturn and Pluto
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mars & Jupiter]
Notes:
There is a large gap in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This gap is occupied by a large number of small objects that revolve around the Sun. These are called asteroids.
2. Which among the following is the major cause of nutation in Earth’s axis?
[A] Earth’s Oblate spheroid shape
[B] The difference between Land and Sea hemispheres
[C] Oceanic Currents
[D] Tidal Forces
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tidal Forces]
Notes:
In the case of the Earth, the principal sources of tidal force are the Sun and Moon, which continuously change location relative to each other and thus cause nutation in Earth’s axis.
3. If earth stops rotating, the impact on weight of a body will be minimum on which among the following places?
[A] Equator
[B] North Pole
[C] Tropic of Cancer
[D] Tropic of Capricorn
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [North Pole]
Notes:
The question is related to the centrifugal forces, which represent the effects of inertia that arise in connection with rotation and which are experienced as an outward force away from the center of rotation. The impact of this force is maximum at Equator and minimum at Pole.
4. “The weather hardly changes from one day to the next. Morning is clear. Then, the Sun starts heating up the ground and warm, humid air starts to rise. In the afternoon clouds get blacker and there are convectional rains for an hour or two before it starts to clear up again. This patterns remains for most parts of the year”.
The above quotation is taken from a traveller’s diary, who wrote this most probably at __?
[A] Singapore
[B] Geneva
[C] Shanghai
[D] Mumbai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Singapore]
Notes:
Afternoon rains are a feature of equatorial environment. Out of the given options, Singapore is characterized by a hot and humid climate. Located just 1 degree north of the equator, it quite naturally enjoys a tropical/equatorial climate. The island does not have clear-cut seasons like summer, spring, autumn and winter. The weather is warm and humid all year round. Rainfall is almost an everyday phenomenon, even during the non-monsoon period. These brief showers are usually quite refreshing, as they provide respite from the sun.
5. Which of the following correctly describes the so called “harvest moon”?
[A] full moon closest to the autumnal equinox
[B] new moon closest to the vernal equinox
[C] full moon closest to vernal equinox
[D] new moon closest to autumnal equinox
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [full moon closest to the autumnal equinox]
Notes:
The “harvest moon” is a traditional term for the full moon occurring during autumn, in the northern hemisphere usually on September 22 or 23.
6. Which one of the following port cities in Venezuela has been developed as an oil port? (UPSC Prelims 1999)
[A] Caracas
[B] Maracaibo
[C] Maracay
[D] Carupano
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maracaibo]
Notes:
Puerto Miranda is an oil port situated on the east side of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela opposite the city of Maracaibo and is operated by the Venezuelan State Oil Company (PDVSA PETROLEO, S.A.) It is the largest crude oil export port in South America.
7. Which among the following is the horizon from which the minerals of aluminium and iron and other minerals are removed because of percolation of water downwards?
[A] Parent rock horizon
[B] Eluviated horizon
[C] Iluviated horizon
[D] Sub stratum
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Eluviated horizon]
Notes:
The process of removal of minerals from soil horizon is called Eluviation. Eluviated layer (E) in the soil profile exists below the A layer and the minerals are eluviated because of percolation of water downwards which forms Iluviated layer (B) below the E layer. E layer is comparatively lighter in colour compared to A and B layers.
8. Which among the following is the largest gulf in India?
[A] Gulf of Khambhat
[B] Gulf of Mannar
[C] Gulf of Kutch
[D] Gulf of Aden
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gulf of Mannar]
Notes:
Gulf of Mannar is the largest Gulf of India. It is an inlet of the Indian Ocean and a large shallow bay forming the part of the Laccadive Sea. It is located between the west coast of Sri Lanka and the southeastern tip of India.
9. Which among the following Isthmus is also known as the Isthmus of Darien?
[A] Isthmus of Suez
[B] Isthmus of Mansheya
[C] Isthmus of Panama
[D] Isthmus of Rivas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Isthmus of Panama]
Notes:
The Isthmus of Panama is also known as the Isthmus of Darien. It is a narrow strip of land separating the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and linking North America with South America.
10. The Great Bahama Canyon is found in which ocean?
[A] Arctic Ocean
[B] Pacific Ocean
[C] Atlantic Ocean
[D] Indian Ocean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Atlantic Ocean]
Notes:
The Great Bahama Canyon is found in the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the deepest submarine canyon systems. It is located in the Bahamas that cuts between the Abaco Islands and Eleuthera Island.
