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. In which among the following states of United States, “Death Valley” is located?
[A] Miami
[B] Pennsylvania
[C] texas
[D] California
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [California]
Notes:
California is known as Death Valley. This is because Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert.
2. Which among the following is formed by the process of Lithification?
[A] Granite
[B] Basalt
[C] Marble
[D] Feldspar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Feldspar]
Notes:
Lithification gives rise to sedimentary rocks. Out of the above, only Feldspar is a sedimentary rock.
3. What does the study of Edaphology primarily concern with?
[A] The impact of human development on soil
[B] The effect of soils on human development
[C] The impact of soils on living organisms
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The impact of soils on living organisms]
Notes:
Edaphology evaluates the influence of soils on living organisms, particularly plants. It is one of the two main branches of soil science, the rival branch being pedology. The study of Edaphology comprises the analysis of how soil influences the utilization of land by humankind, particularly for agricultural purposes.
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 Heat Zone is being described based on the following characteristics:
- The Sun is never directly overhead.
- Climate is mild, typically ranging from warm to cool.
- Four distinct annual seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—occur in this region.
Select the correct answer from the options given below:
[A] Torrid Zone
[B] Torrid as well as Frigid Zone
[C] Frigid Zone
[D] Temperate Zone
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Temperate Zone]
Notes:
The Temperate Zone is recognized by four well-defined seasons, a mild climate with temperature variations, and the Sun never being directly overhead. Unlike the Torrid Zone, which is hot, and the Frigid Zone, which is very cold with little seasonal variation, the Temperate Zone offers moderate weather patterns, making option 4 the correct answer.
6. Which of the following is the source of energy of the sun? (UPSC Prelims 1982)
[A] Nuclear fission reactions
[B] Nuclear fusion reactions
[C] Oxidation of helium
[D] Fission of noble metals
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nuclear fusion reactions]
Notes:
Nuclear fusion is the source of Sun’s energy. At the core where temperature and pressure are very high hydrogen atoms fuse into helium atom and release energy in the form of Gama rays.
7. The largest reserve of ‘Sal’ forests is found in which of the following regions? (UPSC Prelims 1989)
[A] Nilgiri hills
[B] Dehradun valley
[C] The Aravallis
[D] Eastern Peninsula
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Eastern Peninsula]
Notes:
The largest reserve of sal forests is found in eastern peninsula. The right answer is none of these as Eastern Peninsula covers the highest range of Sal forests over Nilgiri hills, Dehradun valley and the Aravallis.
8. Which of the following is the reason behind the seasons on the Earth? (UPSC Prelims 1991)
[A] The elliptical orbit of the Earth
[B] Alteration/change in the speed of revolution of the Earth
[C] Inclination of the Earth on its axis of rotation
[D] Differences in the amount of energy received from the Sun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Inclination of the Earth on its axis of rotation]
Notes:
The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis away or toward the sun as it travels through its year-long path around the sun. The Earth has a tilt of 23.5 degrees relative to the “ecliptic plane”.
9. Loire River flows in which country?
[A] Russia
[B] United States
[C] Canada
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [France]
Notes:
The Loire River is the longest river in France, Europe. It is about 1,012 km long. It drains an area of 117,054 square km, which is more than a fifth of the land area of France.
10. Which spacecraft was launched to study of outer planets in the solar system?
[A] BepiColombo
[B] InSight
[C] Voyager
[D] Messenger
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Voyager]
Notes:
The Voyager space probe was launched by NASA in 1977 to study the outer planets of the solar system.
