World and Physical Geography

161. Which one among the following countries does NOT have common boundary

Which one among the following countries does NOT have common boundary with South Africa ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Zambia” option2=”Zimbabwe” option3=”Botswana” option4=”Namibia” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is (A) Zambia.
South Africa shares land borders with the following countries:
1. Namibia (to the northwest)
2. Botswana (to the north)
3. Zimbabwe (to the northeast)
4. Mozambique (to the east)
5. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) (to the east)
It also completely surrounds the landlocked country of Lesotho. Zambia is located to the north of Zimbabwe and Botswana, separated from South Africa by these countries.
Zambia shares borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. It does not share a direct border with South Africa. Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia are direct neighbors of South Africa.

162. Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Mahogany is a timber species of Tropical Rainforest” option2=”Chaparral vegetation is found in Taiga climate” option3=”Lichens are predominantly found in Tundra region” option4=”Sal is a representative species of Moist Deciduous Forest” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is (B) Chaparral vegetation is found in Taiga climate.
Statement A is correct: Mahogany is a valuable hardwood species typically found in tropical rainforests, especially in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Statement B is incorrect: Chaparral vegetation is a shrubland biome found in regions with a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Examples include coastal California, the Mediterranean Basin, central Chile, the Cape Province of South Africa, and southwestern Australia. Taiga (also known as Boreal Forest) is found in subarctic regions with long, cold winters and short, mild summers.
Statement C is correct: Lichens are composite organisms that are pioneers in colonizing barren ground and are well-adapted to harsh, cold environments. They are abundant in Tundra regions, where they form a significant part of the ground cover.
Statement D is correct: Sal (Shorea robusta) is a dominant tree species of the Moist Deciduous Forests in India, found widely across the sub-Himalayan region, central India, and the Eastern Ghats.
The Taiga climate primarily supports coniferous forests (like pine, spruce, fir) and some deciduous trees like birch, not chaparral vegetation. Chaparral is adapted to fire-prone environments and drought-tolerant conditions typical of Mediterranean climates.

163. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I
(Name of Shifting
Cultivation)		List II
(Country)
A. Milpa1. Zaire
B. Ladang2. Brazil
C. Rocca3. Malaysia
D. Masole4. Mexico

Code :

[amp_mcq option1=”4 3 2 1″ option2=”4 2 3 1″ option3=”1 2 3 4″ option4=”1 3 2 4″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is A.
The question asks to match different local names of shifting cultivation with the countries where they are practiced.
A. Milpa is a term for shifting cultivation used in Mexico and other parts of Central America. So, A matches 4.
B. Ladang is a term used for shifting cultivation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia (Southeast Asia). So, B matches 3.
C. Rocca is the term for shifting cultivation in Brazil (South America). So, C matches 2.
D. Masole is a term used for shifting cultivation in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and other parts of Central Africa. So, D matches 1.
Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture, is a form of agriculture in which a plot of land is cleared and cultivated for a short period of time, then abandoned and allowed to revert to its natural vegetation while the cultivator moves to a new plot. It is practiced in tropical regions around the world and has various local names.

164. Singapore is known as Port of Call because

Singapore is known as Port of Call because

[amp_mcq option1=”it deals in the processing and shipping of oil” option2=”it is a deep water port built away from the actual port” option3=”it is on main sea route where ships use to anchor for refueling, water-ing and taking food items” option4=”it serves the parent ports by receiving the ships which are unable to approach due to their large size” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is C. Singapore is known as a Port of Call because of its strategic location on main sea routes where ships regularly stop for various services like refueling, watering, taking food items, and other supplies.
– A Port of Call is a port where ships make scheduled stops for various purposes during their voyage, such as taking on provisions, fuel, or repairs, or for transferring cargo and passengers.
– Singapore’s location at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, controlling the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, makes it a crucial refueling and service point for international maritime traffic.
– While Singapore is also a major transshipment hub and involved in oil processing (A), the term “Port of Call” specifically highlights its role as a regular stopping point for ships en route.
– Option B describes a characteristic that might be present but isn’t the definition of a Port of Call.
– Option D describes a feeder port or a port handling ships too large for other facilities, which isn’t the primary meaning of Port of Call.
Ports of Call are vital nodes in global shipping networks, facilitating the smooth and efficient operation of maritime transport by providing necessary services to vessels traversing major routes. Singapore’s efficiency, infrastructure, and location make it one of the most prominent Ports of Call globally.

165. Which one of the following karst landforms is the largest in size ?

Which one of the following karst landforms is the largest in size ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Polje” option2=”Uvala” option3=”Swallow Hole” option4=”Sink Hole” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is A. Among the given options, a Polje is typically the largest karst landform.
– Karst landforms are features created by the dissolution of soluble rocks, primarily limestone.
– A Swallow Hole (Ponor) is a point where surface water disappears underground, typically small in size.
– A Sink Hole (Doline) is a closed depression in the ground surface caused by dissolution or collapse, larger than a swallow hole but generally smaller than uvalas and poljes.
– An Uvala is a compound sinkhole formed by the merging of several dolines, thus larger than a single sinkhole.
– A Polje is a large, flat-floored depression in a karst region, often elongated and bounded by steep walls. They can be several kilometers long and wide and are the largest karst depressions.
Karst topography is characterized by features like sinkholes, caves, disappearing streams, and underground drainage systems. The size of karst landforms varies significantly depending on the scale and intensity of the dissolution processes.

166. Which one of the following is NOT a Mediterranean country?

Which one of the following is NOT a Mediterranean country?

[amp_mcq option1=”Tunisia” option2=”Libya” option3=”North Sudan” option4=”Egypt” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is C. North Sudan is not a Mediterranean country.
– The Mediterranean Sea is bordered by countries in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.
– Tunisia (A), Libya (B), and Egypt (D) are all located on the North African coast and border the Mediterranean Sea.
– Sudan (specifically North Sudan after the division) is located south of Egypt and has a coastline on the Red Sea, not the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean countries include countries like Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Malta, and Cyprus, among others. Being located on the Red Sea, Sudan is geographically distinct from the Mediterranean basin.

167. The distance between two successive crests or troughs of sea waves is

The distance between two successive crests or troughs of sea waves is called as

[amp_mcq option1=”Wavelength” option2=”Wave height” option3=”Wave frequency” option4=”Fetch” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is A. The distance between two successive crests or troughs of a wave is defined as its wavelength.
– Wavelength is the horizontal distance between corresponding points on consecutive waves, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough.
– Wave height is the vertical distance between the crest (highest point) and the trough (lowest point) of a wave.
– Wave frequency is the number of complete wave cycles (or crests/troughs) that pass a fixed point in a given unit of time.
– Fetch is the distance over water that the wind has blown in a consistent direction and speed, influencing the size of the waves generated.
These terms are fundamental properties used to describe waves, including ocean waves. Understanding these characteristics is important in oceanography, coastal engineering, and navigation.

168. A long narrow stretch of sand and/or shingle with one end attached to

A long narrow stretch of sand and/or shingle with one end attached to the mainland is called

[amp_mcq option1=”Sand spit” option2=”Sand bar” option3=”Sand dune” option4=”Tombolo” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
A long narrow stretch of sand and/or shingle with one end attached to the mainland is called a sand spit.
A spit is a depositional landform found along coasts, formed by the deposition of sediment carried by longshore drift. It extends from the land into the sea, often with a curved or hooked end.
A sand bar is a submerged or partially submerged ridge of sand. A sand dune is a hill of sand formed by wind. A tombolo is a spit or bar connecting an island to the mainland or to another island.

169. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I
(Landform)		List II
(Agent)
A. Loess1. Wind deposited
B. Tombolo2. Glacier deposited
C. Point bars3. River deposited
D. Moraines4. Sea deposited

Code :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 4 3 2″ option2=”1 3 4 2″ option3=”2 3 4 1″ option4=”2 4 3 1″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2019
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct matching of landforms with the agents responsible for their deposition is as follows:
A. Loess is a fine, unconsolidated deposit of wind-blown silt, hence it is wind deposited. (Matches with 1)
B. A Tombolo is a spit or bar that connects an island to the mainland or to another island, typically formed by wave action and deposition in the sea. (Matches with 4)
C. Point bars are crescent-shaped accumulations of sand and gravel deposited on the inside bend of a meandering river. They are formed by river deposition. (Matches with 3)
D. Moraines are accumulations of glacial debris (till) deposited by a glacier, typically forming ridges, mounds, or plains. They are glacier deposited. (Matches with 2)
Thus, the correct code is A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2.
– Loess is an aeolian (wind-driven) deposit.
– Tombolos are coastal features formed by marine deposition.
– Point bars are fluvial features formed by river deposition.
– Moraines are glacial features formed by glacial deposition.
Landforms are natural features of the solid surface of the Earth. Geomorphic agents like wind, water (rivers, seas), and ice (glaciers) are responsible for the erosion, transportation, and deposition of material, leading to the formation of various landforms.

170. Which one of the following represents the inner planets ?

Which one of the following represents the inner planets ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Planets between the sun and the earth” option2=”Planets between the sun and the belt of asteroids” option3=”Planets near the earth” option4=”Planets around the sun” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2019
Download PDFAttempt Online
The solar system is broadly divided into inner and outer planets, separated by the asteroid belt. The inner planets are the four planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These are also known as terrestrial planets due to their rocky composition. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, which are gas giants. Therefore, the inner planets are located between the Sun and the belt of asteroids.
– Inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
– The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter.
– Inner planets are located closer to the Sun than the asteroid belt.
The inner planets are smaller, denser, and have solid surfaces compared to the outer gas giants. The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter, that is occupied by a great many irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets.
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5