World and Physical Geography

341. Which of the following statements concerning temperature is/are correc

Which of the following statements concerning temperature is/are correct ?

  • 1. In winter season isotherms in Northern Hemisphere are more or less circular on continents
  • 2. Isotherms are parallel to latitude in Southern Hemisphere in oceans
  • 3. Minimum temperature during winter is recorded in Northern Canada

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
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Statement 1: In winter season, continents in the Northern Hemisphere become significantly colder than the surrounding oceans due to differential heating and cooling rates. This thermal contrast leads to isobars bending equatorward over land and poleward over oceans. While not perfectly circular, the isotherms tend to form closed patterns reflecting cold centers over the large landmasses, deviating from the zonal pattern. Compared to the Southern Hemisphere, the influence of land is pronounced, making the continental isotherms less parallel to latitudes and somewhat ‘circular’ around cold pools. This statement is generally considered correct in depicting the characteristic pattern.
Statement 2: The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by oceans. Oceans have a more uniform temperature distribution and heat/cool more slowly than land. As a result, isotherms in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly over vast oceanic areas and away from significant landmasses like Antarctica or the southern tips of continents, tend to be more regular and run broadly parallel to the lines of latitude. This statement is correct.
Statement 3: While Northern Canada experiences extremely low temperatures in winter, the absolute minimum temperatures on Earth during winter are typically recorded in places like Siberia (Russia) or Antarctica (Vostok Station holds the world record). Northern Canada is among the coldest regions, but it doesn’t necessarily record *the* minimum temperature globally. This statement is incorrect.
Isotherms are lines connecting points of equal temperature. Their patterns are influenced by latitude, altitude, distribution of land and water, ocean currents, and winds. Landmasses cause greater temperature extremes (hot summers, cold winters) compared to oceans, leading to bending of isotherms. The Southern Hemisphere’s oceanic dominance results in more zonal (latitude-parallel) temperature distribution.
The bending of isotherms over landmasses in winter (equatorward bend) and summer (poleward bend) is a direct consequence of the continentality effect. The Southern Hemisphere’s temperature patterns are simpler due to the lack of large east-west oriented landmasses at middle and high latitudes.

342. 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
(Geomorphic Agent)		List II
(Feature)
A. Ground water1. Plunge pool
B. Running water2. Horns
C. Glacier3. Playas
D. Wind4. Lapies

Code :

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

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
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The correct answer is A) 4 1 2 3. This matches the features to their primary geomorphic agents:
– Ground water (A) is a significant agent in karst landscapes, forming features like sinkholes, caves, and Lapies (also known as Karren), which are solutional features on limestone or dolomite surfaces. So, A-4.
– Running water (B), particularly rivers, is responsible for erosional features like valleys, canyons, and waterfalls. Plunge pools are common erosional features found at the base of waterfalls, carved by the impact and turbulence of falling water. So, B-1.
– Glacier (C) is a powerful erosional and depositional agent in high latitudes and altitudes. Glacial erosion shapes mountains, creating features like cirques, arêtes, and sharp, pyramidal peaks called Horns (or pyramidal peaks) formed when several cirques meet. So, C-2.
– Wind (D) is a dominant geomorphic agent in arid and semi-arid regions. Wind can erode, transport, and deposit sediment, forming features like sand dunes, loess deposits, and erosional landforms. Playas are flat, dry lakebeds found in desert basins, which are depositional features associated with ephemeral lakes and wind processes (deflation and deposition). So, D-3.
– Groundwater creates dissolution features in soluble rocks (karst).
– Running water (rivers) creates features like valleys and erosional landforms at waterfalls (plunge pools).
– Glaciers carve distinctive landscapes in mountainous and polar regions (horns, cirques, U-shaped valleys).
– Wind shapes arid landscapes through erosion, transport, and deposition (playas, dunes).
– Lapies are small-scale solution features that can form on rock surfaces exposed to rainfall or covered by a thin soil layer, often part of larger karst systems shaped by groundwater.
– Horns are characteristic features of glaciated mountain ranges, resulting from the headward erosion of multiple cirques around a peak.
– Playas are temporary lakes; when they dry, the flat surface is often subject to wind deflation and deposition of fine sediments.

343. Which one of the following is the correct descending order of countrie

Which one of the following is the correct descending order of countries in terms of per capita availability of arable land ?

[amp_mcq option1=”India – China – Brazil” option2=”China – Brazil – India” option3=”Brazil – China – India” option4=”Brazil – India – China” correct=”option4″]

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The correct answer is D) Brazil – India – China. Per capita availability of arable land is calculated by dividing the total arable land area by the total population. Using approximate figures (as of recent years, trends were similar earlier):
– Brazil: Large land area, relatively smaller population compared to India and China. High per capita arable land.
– India: Significant arable land area, but very high population. Moderate per capita arable land.
– China: Significant arable land area, but also very high population (similar to India’s), and slightly less arable land area than India. Low per capita arable land compared to India and Brazil.

Therefore, the descending order of per capita availability of arable land is Brazil > India > China.

– Per capita arable land = Arable land area / Population.
– Brazil has a large land area and lower population density compared to India and China.
– India and China have very large populations, which significantly reduces their per capita figures despite having large absolute areas of arable land.
– Factors affecting arable land availability include total land area, climate, topography, soil quality, land use patterns, and population size.
– China’s arable land area has been under pressure due to urbanization, industrialization, and desertification.
– India faces challenges related to land degradation, fragmentation, and high population density.

344. Which of the following statements concerning Mediterranean climatic re

Which of the following statements concerning Mediterranean climatic region are correct ?

  • 1. It is found in the latitude range 30° to 45° northern and southern hemisphere
  • 2. Mediterranean climate experiences extreme temperature conditions
  • 3. In Mediterranean climate, rainfall occurs mainly during summer season
  • 4. In Mediterranean climate, rainfall is mainly due to Westerlies

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

This question was previously asked in
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Statements 1 and 4 are correct.
Mediterranean climate is typically found in the latitude range of 30° to 45° in both hemispheres. It is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The winter rainfall is primarily brought by the Westerlies (extratropical cyclones associated with the polar front) as the pressure belts shift poleward during the winter season in that hemisphere.
Statement 2 is incorrect because Mediterranean climates experience mild conditions in winter and hot conditions in summer, but not typically ‘extreme’ temperature ranges compared to continental climates. Statement 3 is incorrect because rainfall occurs mainly during the winter, not the summer season, which is characterized by drought.

345. 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
(River)		List II
(Mouth of the river)
A. Danube1. North sea
B. Rhine2. Black sea
C. Rhone3. Bay of Biscay
D. Loire4. Mediterranean sea

Code :

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

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
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Matching the rivers to their mouths:
– A. Danube: The Danube flows eastward across central and eastern Europe and empties into the Black Sea. (A-2)
– B. Rhine: The Rhine flows north-west through Western Europe and empties into the North Sea. (B-1)
– C. Rhone: The Rhone flows south through Switzerland and France and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. (C-4)
– D. Loire: The Loire flows west across France and empties into the Bay of Biscay (part of the Atlantic Ocean). (D-3)
The correct match is A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3.
– The Danube is Europe’s second-longest river.
– The Rhine is a major European river and a vital inland waterway.
– The Rhone is a significant river of Switzerland and France.
– The Loire is the longest river in France.
Understanding the major river systems and their destinations (seas, oceans, or other rivers) is important for world geography. River mouths are often characterized by deltas or estuaries, which are ecologically and economically significant.

346. In which one of the following countries, the Mediterranean type of Bio

In which one of the following countries, the Mediterranean type of Biome is found ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Chile” option2=”Kenya” option3=”Argentina” option4=”Bolivia” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
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The Mediterranean type of biome, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, is found in several regions around the world. Of the options provided, Chile has a significant area experiencing this climate type and supporting the corresponding biome, particularly in its central region.
– Mediterranean biomes are typically located on the western coasts of continents between approximately 30° and 45° latitude.
– Major regions where this biome is found include the Mediterranean Basin, central Chile, California (USA), the Cape Region of South Africa, and southwestern and southern Australia.
– Kenya is primarily located in tropical climate zones.
– Argentina and Bolivia have diverse climates, but the Mediterranean biome is not characteristic of their main regions.
Vegetation in the Mediterranean biome is adapted to drought and fire, and often consists of evergreen shrubs and trees, such as chaparral in California or maquis in the Mediterranean Basin.

347. ‘Sahel’ region of Sahara desert is asso ciated with

‘Sahel’ region of Sahara desert is asso ciated with

[amp_mcq option1=”core area of Sahara desert” option2=”southern moving edge of Sahara desert” option3=”northern fringe of Sahara desert bordering Mediterranean sea” option4=”another name of Sahara desert” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
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The ‘Sahel’ region of the Sahara desert is associated with the southern moving edge of the Sahara desert.
– The Sahel is a transitional zone in Africa located between the Sahara desert to the north and the Sudanian Savanna to the south.
– It stretches across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
– The name ‘Sahel’ comes from the Arabic word ساحل (sāḥil), meaning ‘coast’ or ‘shore’, referring to the region as the southern ‘shore’ or edge of the vast Sahara desert.
– The Sahel experiences a semi-arid climate and is ecologically fragile, facing challenges like desertification, which involves the southward expansion of the Sahara into the Sahel region, hence it can be described as the ‘southern moving edge’.

348. Statement I : The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperatur

Statement I : The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and high rainfall.
Statement II : Laterite soils are the result of intense leaching process.

[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=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
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Statement I: The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and high rainfall. (True)
Statement II: Laterite soils are the result of intense leaching process. (True)
Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.
– Laterite soils are characteristic of tropical and subtropical regions that experience high temperatures and heavy rainfall.
– Under these conditions, intense leaching (removal of soluble substances by percolating water) occurs. Soluble silica is removed, while oxides of iron and aluminum are left behind, leading to the formation of lateritic soils.
– Statement II explains the *process* (intense leaching) that takes place under the *conditions* described in Statement I (high temperature and high rainfall) to form laterite soils. High temperature accelerates the decomposition of organic matter and minerals, and high rainfall facilitates the downward movement and removal of soluble components.
– Laterite soils are often poor in nutrients due to intense leaching and can harden irreversibly when exposed to air.

349. The SAARC Secretariat is located at:

The SAARC Secretariat is located at:

[amp_mcq option1=”New Delhi” option2=”Colombo” option3=”Kathmandu” option4=”Karachi” correct=”option3″]

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The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. The permanent Secretariat of SAARC is located in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was established on 16 January 1987.
The SAARC Secretariat, which serves as the administrative and coordination center for the organization, is based in Kathmandu.
SAARC comprises eight member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Observer states include Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and the United States. The location of the Secretariat in Kathmandu underscores Nepal’s role in the organization.

350. According to the Geo-scientists, the shape of the earth is: 1. round 2

According to the Geo-scientists, the shape of the earth is:
1. round
2. spherical
3. close to that of a sphere
4. an oblate ellipsoid
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

This question was previously asked in
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The correct answer is D) 3 and 4 only. According to geoscientists, the Earth’s shape is most accurately described as an oblate ellipsoid (or oblate spheroid), meaning it is flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator due to its rotation. While it is also approximately spherical or close to that of a sphere, “oblate ellipsoid” is the precise geodetic term for its overall shape. “Close to that of a sphere” is also accurate as it acknowledges the deviation from a perfect sphere while still capturing the general shape. “Round” and “spherical” are less precise terms used in common language.
Geoscientists use precise terms like ‘oblate ellipsoid’ to describe the Earth’s shape, which deviates from a perfect sphere.
The Earth’s equatorial diameter is about 43 km larger than its polar diameter. This slight bulge makes ‘oblate ellipsoid’ the most accurate geometric model. Saying it’s “close to that of a sphere” is also factually correct, as the deviation is relatively small compared to the overall size. Therefore, options 3 and 4 represent the descriptions used by geoscientists, with 4 being the most specific geometrical model.
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