World and Physical Geography

191. Which one of the following is located at the southernmost latitude ?

Which one of the following is located at the southernmost latitude ?

[amp_mcq option1=”South Africa” option2=”Australia” option3=”Chile” option4=”Polynesia” correct=”option3″]

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The correct answer is C) Chile.
To determine which is located at the southernmost latitude, we need to compare the southernmost extent of each option:
– South Africa: The southernmost point of mainland Africa is Cape Agulhas, located at approximately 34°50′ South latitude.
– Australia: The southernmost point of mainland Australia is South Point, Victoria, at approximately 39°08′ South latitude. Tasmania extends further south, with its southernmost point, South East Cape, at approximately 43°38′ South latitude.
– Chile: Chile is a very long country stretching along the Andes. Its southernmost point on the mainland is Águila Islet in the Diego Ramírez Islands, part of the Cape Horn region, at approximately 56°32′ South latitude. Chile also claims territory in Antarctica, extending its reach even further south.
– Polynesia: A large geographic region of Oceania comprising various islands. The main islands of New Zealand, often considered part of Polynesia, extend south to approximately 47° South latitude. Some remote islands might be further south, but none within the core Polynesian triangle reaches the extreme southern latitudes of Chile.
Comparing the southernmost latitudes of the main territories/countries listed, Chile extends significantly further south than South Africa, Australia (including Tasmania), or the main parts of Polynesia (like New Zealand).
Chile’s unique shape, extending for thousands of kilometers north-south along the Pacific coast of South America, gives it access to very high southern latitudes, including islands near Antarctica.

192. Consider the following statements about ‘Ring of Fire’: It is also k

Consider the following statements about ‘Ring of Fire’:

  • It is also known as circum-Pacific belt of volcanoes
  • It is an active seismic zone
  • It is a zone of divergent plate margin

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

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The correct answer is B) 1 and 2 only.
Statement 1 is correct: The ‘Ring of Fire’ is indeed known as the circum-Pacific belt, which is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
Statement 2 is correct: It is an extremely active seismic zone due to the convergence and movement of tectonic plates, leading to frequent earthquakes.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Ring of Fire is primarily characterized by *convergent* plate margins, specifically subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another. While there are also areas of divergent and transform boundaries within or near the Pacific Basin, the dominant process driving the volcanism and seismicity of the Ring of Fire is subduction along convergent margins, not divergent boundaries (like mid-ocean ridges).
The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone that extends about 40,000 km (25,000 miles) and is associated with a continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, volcanic belts, and plate movements. It is home to about 75% of the world’s active volcanoes and 90% of the world’s earthquakes. Divergent plate margins, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, are areas where plates move apart, often leading to the formation of new crust and volcanism, but they are not the defining characteristic of the Ring of Fire.

193. Consider the following statements: Areas where rainfall exceeds 250

Consider the following statements:

  • Areas where rainfall exceeds 250 cm
  • Annual temperature 25°C – 27°C
  • Average humidity exceeds 75%
  • Trees do not shed the leaves

To which one of the following types of vegetation does the above represent ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Tropical wet evergreen” option2=”Tropical semi evergreen” option3=”Tropical moist deciduous” option4=”Tropical dry evergreen” correct=”option1″]

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The correct option is A.
The given characteristics are:
– Rainfall exceeds 250 cm (very high)
– Annual temperature 25°C – 27°C (high)
– Average humidity exceeds 75% (very high)
– Trees do not shed the leaves (evergreen)
These conditions describe a climate that is hot, wet, and humid throughout the year with no significant dry season. This climate supports dense forests where trees remain green all year round. This perfectly matches the description of Tropical wet evergreen forests.
Tropical semi-evergreen forests are transitional zones receiving slightly less rainfall. Tropical moist deciduous forests occur in areas with distinct wet and dry seasons, where trees shed leaves in the dry period. Tropical dry evergreen forests are found in regions with moderate rainfall but a long dry season, with evergreen trees adapted to conserve water. None of these other options fit the description of very high rainfall, temperature, and humidity combined with evergreen vegetation.

194. Which one of the following is NOT a favourable condition for occurrenc

Which one of the following is NOT a favourable condition for occurrence of a thunderstorm ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Conditional and convective instability” option2=”Adequate supply of moisture in the lower atmosphere” option3=”Advection of cold dry air in the lower troposphere and warm moist air in the upper troposphere” option4=”A synoptic situation of low level convergence and upper level divergence” correct=”option3″]

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Thunderstorms require unstable atmospheric conditions, a source of moisture, and a lifting mechanism. Statement A describes conditional and convective instability, which is essential for strong vertical air movement. Statement B highlights the need for adequate moisture, which provides latent heat when it condenses, fueling the storm, and also provides the source for precipitation. Statement D describes a synoptic situation that leads to lifting (low-level convergence forces air up) and aids thunderstorm development (upper-level divergence helps remove rising air, maintaining ascent). Statement C describes a stable atmospheric condition where cold, dense air is below warm, less dense air. This stratification inhibits vertical air movement and is unfavourable for thunderstorm development.
Thunderstorms form in unstable atmospheric conditions where warm, moist air rises. A stable atmosphere with cold air below warm air inhibits this process.
The key ingredients for a thunderstorm are moisture, instability, and a lifting mechanism (like fronts, convergence lines, orographic lift, or simple heating). Instability is often provided by a steep vertical temperature lapse rate, where temperature decreases rapidly with height. Advecting cold dry air below warm moist air would create an inversion or stable layer, suppressing convection.

195. Which one of the following statements about the Himalayas is NOT corre

Which one of the following statements about the Himalayas is NOT correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”They are young fold mountains” option2=”They have geosynclinal rocks” option3=”Himalayan frontal faults (HFF) separates Himalaya from Tibet” option4=”Indus and Sutlej rivers form antecedent drainage in Himalaya” correct=”option3″]

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Statement A is correct: The Himalayas are formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making them young fold mountains. Statement B is correct: The rocks that form the Himalayas were deposited in the Tethys Sea, which was a large geosyncline before the mountain building began. Statement D is correct: The Indus and Sutlej rivers originated before the uplift of the Himalayas and maintained their courses by cutting down through the rising mountains, thus forming antecedent drainage patterns. Statement C is incorrect: The Himalayan Frontal Fault (HFF), also known as the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT), is the southernmost major fault zone in the Himalayas, separating the Lesser Himalayas and the Siwalik Hills from the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The boundary between the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau is the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ).
The Himalayan Frontal Fault separates the Himalayas from the Indo-Gangetic Plain, not from Tibet.
The Himalayas are structured by several major fault zones running roughly parallel to the mountain range. From south to north, these include the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT or HFF), Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), Main Central Thrust (MCT), and the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ). The ITSZ marks the collision boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates and separates the Trans-Himalaya (part of Tibet) from the Great Himalayas.

196. Which of the following statements about the Equatorial region are corr

Which of the following statements about the Equatorial region are correct ?

  • 1. It is a megathermal region
  • 2. It is a sclerophyll region
  • 3. It is a region of high development
  • 4. It is a region of aerial streamlets

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

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UPSC CAPF – 2017
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Statement 1 is correct: Equatorial regions are characterized by consistently high temperatures throughout the year, fitting the definition of a megathermal climate (often represented as Af in Köppen climate classification). Statement 2 is incorrect: Sclerophyll vegetation (hard, leathery leaves adapted to dry summers) is typical of Mediterranean climates, not the humid equatorial climate. Statement 3 is generally incorrect: While there are areas of development, equatorial regions often face geographical challenges (dense forests, climate-related diseases) which historically made widespread high development difficult compared to other regions, though this is a generalization. Statement 4 is likely interpreted as a region with abundant surface drainage or small streams due to very high rainfall, which is characteristic of equatorial rainforests. The term “aerial streamlets” is unusual but in context, refers to the extensive network of small watercourses resulting from high precipitation. Therefore, 1 and 4 are the correct statements.
Equatorial regions have megathermal climates (high temperature, high rainfall) and are characterized by dense drainage networks. They do not have sclerophyll vegetation, which is typical of Mediterranean climates.
Megathermal climates (Köppen Group A) have average temperatures of the coldest month above 18°C. Sclerophyll refers to vegetation with hard leaves, adapted to prevent water loss during prolonged dry periods, common in regions with dry summers. Equatorial regions are characterized by rainforests with dense vegetation and high biodiversity, supported by consistent high temperatures and rainfall. The term “aerial streamlets” is not a standard geographical term, but likely refers to the prevalence of small streams and drainage patterns easily visible, perhaps even from an aerial perspective, due to the high rainfall and terrain.

197. Which one of the following pairs of Island and Sea/Ocean is NOT correc

Which one of the following pairs of Island and Sea/Ocean is NOT correctly matched ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Cyprus : Mediterranean Sea” option2=”Falkland : Atlantic Ocean” option3=”Chagos : North Pacific Ocean” option4=”Islas Cocos : Indian Ocean” correct=”option3″]

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The pair ‘Chagos : North Pacific Ocean’ is NOT correctly matched. The Chagos Archipelago is located in the central Indian Ocean, approximately 500 km south of the Maldives archipelago.
Geographical location of major island groups and the seas/oceans they are situated in.
A) Cyprus is correctly located in the Mediterranean Sea.
B) The Falkland Islands are correctly located in the South Atlantic Ocean.
D) Islas Cocos can refer to multiple islands. If it refers to Cocos (Keeling) Islands, they are in the Indian Ocean. If it refers to Cocos Island off Costa Rica, it’s in the Pacific Ocean. However, given the clear incorrectness of option C (Chagos in North Pacific), C is the intended answer.

198. 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
(Vegetation)
A. Chaparrals
B. Maquis
C. Fynbos
D. Malle scrubs

List II
(Region)
1. North America
2. Southern Europe
3. South Africa
4. Australia

Code :

[amp_mcq option1=”A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4″ option2=”A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4″ option3=”A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1″ option4=”A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1″ correct=”option1″]

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The correct match for the vegetation types found in regions with Mediterranean climates is:
A. Chaparrals – 1. North America
B. Maquis – 2. Southern Europe
C. Fynbos – 3. South Africa
D. Malle scrubs – 4. Australia
– Chaparrals are shrubland plant communities found primarily in California, USA, which has a Mediterranean climate.
– Maquis is a dense growth of evergreen shrubs, characteristic of the Mediterranean region of southern Europe.
– Fynbos is a distinct type of shrubland vegetation found in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, an area with a Mediterranean climate.
– Mallee scrub is a native vegetation type in southern Australia, characterized by shrubby eucalyptus species, found in regions with a Mediterranean climate.
Mediterranean climate regions (characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters) are found in different parts of the world. Despite being geographically separated, these regions often develop similar vegetation types due to convergent evolution. The names like Chaparral, Maquis, Fynbos, and Mallee are local terms for these broadly similar vegetation structures.

199. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Plantation farming h

Consider the following statements:

  • Statement-I: Plantation farming has mostly been practiced in humid tropics
  • Statement-II: The soil of humid tropics is highly fertile

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements and the code?

[amp_mcq option1=”Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I” option2=”Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is NOT the correct explanation of Statement I” option3=”Statement I is true but Statement II is false” option4=”Statement I is false but Statement II is true” correct=”option3″]

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Statement I is true as plantation farming, requiring specific climate and soil conditions, is predominantly practiced in humid tropical regions where crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and sugarcane thrive. Statement II is false because the soils of humid tropics are often highly leached due to heavy rainfall and high temperatures, leading to low nutrient content and fertility. While biomass productivity is high, the soil itself is typically not inherently fertile; fertility is concentrated in the thin top layer of decomposing organic matter.
Plantation farming is common in humid tropics, but tropical soils are often infertile due to leaching.
Humid tropical soils like Oxisols or Ferralsols are characterized by intense weathering and leaching (desilication), resulting in a concentration of iron and aluminum oxides. Nutrients are rapidly cycled in the ecosystem, with minimal long-term storage in the soil matrix itself.

200. If a place is affected by Tide at 6:00 AM Monday, normally at what tim

If a place is affected by Tide at 6:00 AM Monday, normally at what time the same place will be affected by Ebb ?

[amp_mcq option1=”6:26 PM Monday” option2=”6:52 AM Tuesday” option3=”12:13 PM Monday” option4=”00:26 AM Tuesday” correct=”option3″]

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The correct option is C) 12:13 PM Monday.
Tides follow a predictable pattern. In most places, there are two high tides and two low tides approximately every 24 hours and 50 minutes. The time between a high tide and the subsequent low tide (Ebb) is roughly half the period between two consecutive high tides, which is about 6 hours and 12.5 minutes. Ebb tide is the phase when the sea level is falling.
Given that high tide occurs at 6:00 AM Monday.
The low tide following this high tide will occur approximately 6 hours and 12.5 minutes later.
6:00 AM + 6 hours 12.5 minutes = 12:12:30 PM Monday.
The ebb tide is the period from high tide to low tide. The question asks “at what time the same place will be affected by Ebb?”. This is slightly ambiguous, as ebb is a period. However, among the options, 12:13 PM is the closest time to the predicted low tide, which marks the *end* of the ebb phase and the start of the flood phase. The other options represent subsequent high tide times. Therefore, 12:13 PM Monday is the most plausible answer representing the transition point following the ebb phase.
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