Physical Geography of the World
Q951–Q970 | Continents · Oceans · Rivers · Landforms · Climate
Q951EasyCGL+CHSL
Which is the largest ocean by area?
AAtlantic Ocean
BIndian Ocean
CArctic Ocean
DPacific Ocean
Show Answer
✔ D — Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean covers approximately 165 million km², more than the total land area of all continents combined. ❌ A(Atlantic 2nd), B(Indian 3rd), C(Arctic 5th).
Q952ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth, is located in the:
AAtlantic Ocean
BIndian Ocean
CPacific Ocean
DArctic Ocean
Show Answer
✔ C — Pacific Ocean
The Mariana Trench (Challenger Deep, ~11 km depth) is in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Mariana Islands. ❌ A,B,D: incorrect oceans.
Q953EasyCGL+CHSL
Which is the longest river in the world?
AAmazon
BNile
CYangtze
DMississippi
Show Answer
✔ B — Nile
The Nile (approximately 6,650 km) is generally accepted as the world's longest river, flowing through northeastern Africa. The Amazon is the largest by water volume/discharge. ❌ A,C,D: shorter or different records.
Q954ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Tropic of Capricorn passes through which of the following countries?
AIndia
BAustralia
CKenya
DTurkey
Show Answer
✔ B — Australia
The Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S) passes through Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, and Chile. ❌ A(India = Tropic of Cancer), C(Kenya = Equator passes), D(Turkey = well north of Capricorn).
Q955ModerateCGL+CHSL
What type of climate is characterised by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters?
ATropical monsoon
BPolar climate
CMediterranean climate
DContinental climate
Show Answer
✔ C — Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate (Cs type in Köppen) = hot dry summers, mild wet winters. Found around the Mediterranean basin, California, Chile, southern Australia, and South Africa's Cape region. ❌ A,B,D: different climate patterns.
Q956DifficultCGL only
Ocean salinity is usually expressed in parts per thousand (ppt or ‰). The average salinity of the world's oceans is approximately:
A15‰
B25‰
C35‰
D50‰
Show Answer
✔ C — 35‰
Average ocean salinity ≈ 35 ppt (3.5%), meaning 35 g of dissolved salts per kg of seawater. The Dead Sea and Red Sea are significantly saltier. ❌ A,B,D: incorrect values.
Q957ModerateCGL+CHSL
The "Ring of Fire" is associated with:
AVolcanic and seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean
BMajor oil fields in the Middle East
CCoral reef formations in the Indian Ocean
DDesert zones in the Sahara
Show Answer
✔ A — Volcanic and seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean
The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone of intense tectonic activity (volcanoes, earthquakes) surrounding the Pacific, where multiple tectonic plates converge or diverge. ❌ B,C,D: unrelated.
Q958EasyCGL+CHSL
Which is the largest desert in the world?
ASahara Desert
BGobi Desert
CAntarctic Desert
DArabian Desert
Show Answer
✔ C — Antarctic Desert
Antarctica is the largest desert (~14.2 million km²) — a cold desert with extremely low precipitation. The Sahara (~9.2 million km²) is the largest hot desert. ❌ A,B,D: smaller than Antarctica.
Q959ModerateCGL+CHSL
The International Date Line (IDL) roughly follows which meridian?
A0° (Prime Meridian)
B90°E
C180°
D90°W
Show Answer
✔ C — 180°
The IDL follows approximately the 180° meridian in the Pacific Ocean, with diversions around land masses and island groups. ❌ A(Prime Meridian = Greenwich), B,D: other meridians.
Q960DifficultCGL only
The Coriolis effect causes:
ADeflection of winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
BDeflection of winds to the left in the Northern Hemisphere
CNo deflection at the equator
DBoth A and C are correct
Show Answer
✔ D — Both A and C are correct
The Coriolis effect deflects moving air/water to the right in the NH and left in the SH due to Earth's rotation. At the equator, the Coriolis effect is zero. ❌ B: incorrect direction for NH.
Q961ModerateCGL+CHSL
Transpiration in plants primarily occurs through:
ARoots
BStomata in leaves
CStem bark
DLenticels in fruits
Show Answer
✔ B — Stomata in leaves
About 90–95% of transpiration occurs through leaf stomata. It regulates temperature and drives the ascent of water in the xylem. ❌ A,C,D: minor roles.
Q962EasyCGL+CHSL
Which is the highest mountain in the world?
AK2
BKangchenjunga
CMount Everest
DLhotse
Show Answer
✔ C — Mount Everest
Mount Everest (8,849 m as per the 2020 Nepal–China survey) is the highest point above mean sea level. ❌ A(K2 = 2nd), B(Kangchenjunga = 3rd), D(Lhotse = 4th).
Q963ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Amazon rainforest is primarily located in:
AColombia
BBrazil
CPeru
DVenezuela
Show Answer
✔ B — Brazil
About 60% of the Amazon rainforest lies in Brazil. The rest spans 8 other South American countries. ❌ A,C,D: smaller shares of the Amazon.
Q964DifficultCGL only
The phenomenon of "El Niño" refers to:
APeriodic warming of central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean surface water
BMonsoon reversal over the Indian subcontinent
CPeriodic cooling of Atlantic Ocean waters
DStrengthening of the polar vortex
Show Answer
✔ A — Periodic warming of central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean surface water
El Niño is an irregular periodic warming of Pacific equatorial waters that causes global weather disruptions — droughts in South Asia/Australia, floods in South America. ❌ B,C,D: unrelated phenomena.
Q965ModerateCGL+CHSL
The time zone known as IST (Indian Standard Time) is:
AUTC +4:30
BUTC +5:00
CUTC +5:30
DUTC +6:00
Show Answer
✔ C — UTC +5:30
IST = UTC +5:30. India does not observe Daylight Saving Time and has a single time zone for the entire country. ❌ A,B,D: not IST.
Q966EasyCGL+CHSL
Which continent is known as the "Dark Continent"?
AAsia
BSouth America
CAustralia
DAfrica
Show Answer
✔ D — Africa
Africa was historically called the "Dark Continent" by European explorers who had little knowledge of its interior. ❌ A,B,C: different names/associations.
Q967ModerateCGL+CHSL
The "Roaring Forties" refer to:
AStrong westerly winds between 40°–50° Southern Latitudes
BTropical cyclones in the 1940s
CJet stream over the tropics
DHigh-pressure belts near the poles
Show Answer
✔ A — Strong westerly winds between 40°–50° Southern Latitudes
The Roaring Forties are persistent strong westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere between 40°S–50°S, famously used by sailing ships on voyages to Australia and New Zealand. ❌ B,C,D: wrong definitions.
Q968DifficultCGL only
Which of the following is the correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from the Earth's surface upward?
ATroposphere → Stratosphere → Mesosphere → Thermosphere → Exosphere
BStratosphere → Troposphere → Mesosphere → Thermosphere → Exosphere
CTroposphere → Mesosphere → Stratosphere → Thermosphere → Exosphere
DTroposphere → Stratosphere → Thermosphere → Mesosphere → Exosphere
Show Answer
✔ A — Troposphere → Stratosphere → Mesosphere → Thermosphere → Exosphere
The standard sequence: Troposphere (0–12 km), Stratosphere (12–50 km, contains ozone layer), Mesosphere (50–80 km), Thermosphere (80–700 km, contains ionosphere), Exosphere (700 km+). ❌ B,C,D: wrong sequences.
Q969ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls, is located on the border between:
AKenya and Tanzania
BZimbabwe and Zambia
CCongo and Uganda
DSouth Africa and Mozambique
Show Answer
✔ B — Zimbabwe and Zambia
Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Named by David Livingstone after Queen Victoria. ❌ A,C,D: wrong locations.
Q970ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Sahara Desert is primarily located on which continent?
AAsia
BSouth America
CAfrica
DAustralia
Show Answer
✔ C — Africa
The Sahara Desert covers most of northern Africa, spanning about 9.2 million km² across 11 countries. ❌ A(Gobi = Asia), B(Atacama = South America), D(Great Victoria = Australia).
Geography of India
Q971–Q985 | Physical Features · Rivers · States · Resources
Q971EasyCGL+CHSL
Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar"?
ABrahmaputra
BKosi
CDamodar
DChambal
Show Answer
✔ B — Kosi
The Kosi River is called the "Sorrow of Bihar" due to its frequent flooding and shifting course that devastates the region. ❌ A,C,D: different rivers with different nicknames.
Q972ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Deccan Plateau is primarily made of which type of rock?
ASedimentary (limestone)
BIgneous (basalt/Deccan Traps)
CMetamorphic (quartzite)
DSedimentary (sandstone)
Show Answer
✔ B — Igneous (basalt/Deccan Traps)
The Deccan Plateau is underlain by Deccan Traps — vast basaltic lava flows from massive volcanic eruptions ~65 million years ago. This black soil (regur) is very fertile. ❌ A,C,D: not the primary rock of the Deccan Plateau.
Q973ModerateCGL+CHSL
Which is the largest lake in India?
ADal Lake
BChilika Lake
CWular Lake
DSambhar Lake
Show Answer
✔ C — Wular Lake
Wular Lake in Jammu & Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India (and one of the largest in Asia). Chilika (Odisha) is the largest brackish-water coastal lagoon. ❌ A,B,D: smaller lakes.
Q974EasyCGL+CHSL
The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states/UTs?
A6
B8
C10
D12
Show Answer
✔ B — 8
The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) passes through 8 Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. ❌ A,C,D: incorrect counts.
Q975ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Brahmaputra River is known by which name in Tibet?
AYarlung Tsangpo
BTsangpo-Brahmaputra
CDihang
DLhasa
Show Answer
✔ A — Yarlung Tsangpo
The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo, enters India as the Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, then flows through Assam as the Brahmaputra. ❌ B,C,D: not the Tibetan name (Dihang = Arunachal section).
Q976DifficultCGL only
Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
AKerala
BTamil Nadu
CAndhra Pradesh
DGujarat
Show Answer
✔ D — Gujarat
Gujarat has the longest coastline among Indian states (~1,600 km), due to its deeply indented peninsular geography (Kathiawar/Saurashtra Peninsula + Gulf of Kutch + Gulf of Khambhat). ❌ A,B,C: shorter coastlines.
Q977ModerateCGL+CHSL
The Palk Strait separates India from:
AMaldives
BSri Lanka
CIndonesia
DMyanmar
Show Answer
✔ B — Sri Lanka
The Palk Strait separates southeastern India (Tamil Nadu coast) from northern Sri Lanka, connecting the Bay of Bengal to the Gulf of Mannar. ❌ A,C,D: different water bodies.
Q978ModerateCGL+CHSL
Which state is the largest producer of mica in India?
ARajasthan
BJharkhand
CAndhra Pradesh
DOdisha
Show Answer
✔ B — Jharkhand
Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar) is the leading mica-producing state in India, along with Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. ❌ A,C,D: secondary producers.
Q979EasyCGL+CHSL
The Sundarbans mangrove forest is shared between India and:
AMyanmar
BSri Lanka
CBangladesh
DNepal
Show Answer
✔ C — Bangladesh
The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, straddles the India–Bangladesh border in the Ganges–Brahmaputra delta. It is home to the Bengal tiger. ❌ A,B,D: wrong countries.
Q980DifficultCGL only
India's eastern most point is located in:
AMizoram
BNagaland
CManipur
DArunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
✔ D — Arunachal Pradesh
Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh is India's easternmost point. ❌ A,B,C: not India's eastern extremity.
Q981ModerateCGL+CHSL
The "Golden Triangle" of tourism in India comprises:
AMumbai – Goa – Pune
BDelhi – Agra – Jaipur
CKolkata – Darjeeling – Puri
DChennai – Mysore – Kochi
Show Answer
✔ B — Delhi – Agra – Jaipur
The Golden Triangle is India's most popular tourist circuit: Delhi (Red Fort, Qutb Minar), Agra (Taj Mahal), and Jaipur (Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal). ❌ A,C,D: other tourism circuits but not the "Golden Triangle."
Q982EasyCGL+CHSL
Which is the longest river in India?
AYamuna
BGanga
CGodavari
DKrishna
Show Answer
✔ B — Ganga
The Ganga (approximately 2,525 km) is the longest river in India. The Godavari is the longest peninsular river. ❌ A,C,D: shorter rivers.
Q983ModerateCGL+CHSL
Which of these Indian states does NOT share a border with Bangladesh?
AAssam
BMizoram
CSikkim
DTripura
Show Answer
✔ C — Sikkim
Indian states bordering Bangladesh: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram. Sikkim borders Nepal, Bhutan, and China — NOT Bangladesh. ❌ A,B,D: all border Bangladesh.
Q984DifficultCGL only
The Siachen Glacier, a major strategic and geographical site, is located in the:
AShivalik Range
BKarakoram Range
CHimalayas (Kumaon)
DZanskar Range
Show Answer
✔ B — Karakoram Range
The Siachen Glacier (one of the world's longest non-polar glaciers) is in the Karakoram mountain range in Ladakh, at an altitude of about 5,400 m. ❌ A,C,D: different mountain systems.
Q985ModerateCGL+CHSL
Kaziranga National Park, famous for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, is located in:
AAssam
BWest Bengal
CUttarakhand
DOdisha
Show Answer
✔ A — Assam
Kaziranga National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Assam shelters approximately two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinoceros population. ❌ B(Jaldapara has rhinos in WB), C,D: wrong states.
Environment & Ecology
Q986–Q995 | Biodiversity · Pollution · Climate Change · Conservation
Q986ModerateCGL+CHSL
The term "biodiversity hotspot" was coined by:
ARachel Carson
BNorman Myers
CE.O. Wilson
DDavid Attenborough
Show Answer
✔ B — Norman Myers
British ecologist Norman Myers coined the term "biodiversity hotspot" in 1988, identifying regions with high species endemism threatened by habitat loss. ❌ A(Carson = Silent Spring), C(Wilson = coined "biodiversity"), D(documentary filmmaker).
Q987ModerateCGL+CHSL
India has how many biodiversity hotspots?
A2
B4
C6
D8
Show Answer
✔ B — 4
India's 4 biodiversity hotspots: (1) Western Ghats + Sri Lanka, (2) Himalaya, (3) Indo-Burma, (4) Sundaland (includes Nicobar Islands). ❌ A,C,D: incorrect counts.
Q988DifficultCGL only
The Kyoto Protocol (1997) required developed nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Which gas is NOT listed in the Kyoto Protocol's "basket" of six greenhouse gases?
ACO₂
BMethane (CH₄)
COzone (O₃)
DHFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)
Show Answer
✔ C — Ozone (O₃)
The Kyoto Protocol's 6 gases: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, HFCs, PFCs, SF₆. Tropospheric ozone is an indirect greenhouse gas but was NOT individually listed in Kyoto's basket. ❌ A,B,D: all in the Kyoto basket.
Q989AdvancedCGL only
The concept of "carrying capacity" in ecology refers to:
AThe weight a single species can sustain in a food chain
BThe maximum population size of a species that a given environment can sustain indefinitely
CThe total photosynthetic capacity of a forest ecosystem
DThe thermal tolerance range of a keystone species
Show Answer
✔ B — The maximum population size of a species that a given environment can sustain indefinitely
Carrying capacity (K) is the population limit set by resource availability (food, water, space). When a population exceeds K, resources become insufficient and the population declines. ❌ A,C,D: incorrect ecological concepts.
Q990EasyCGL+CHSL
Project Tiger was launched in India in:
A1965
B1970
C1973
D1980
Show Answer
✔ C — 1973
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 by Indira Gandhi's government to conserve the Bengal tiger. The first reserve was Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. ❌ A,B,D: incorrect years.
Q991ModerateCGL+CHSL
The "Montreal Protocol" (1987) was an international agreement to phase out:
ACarbon dioxide emissions from industry
BOzone-depleting substances (ODS), primarily CFCs
CMercury pollution in oceans
DRadioactive waste dumping
Show Answer
✔ B — Ozone-depleting substances (ODS), primarily CFCs
The Montreal Protocol successfully phased out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ODS that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. It is considered the most successful multilateral environmental agreement. ❌ A,C,D: different treaties.
Q992ModerateCGL+CHSL
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) is a measure of:
AAir pollution level from industrial emissions
BAmount of oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water
COxygen content of soil for plant growth
DAtmospheric oxygen depletion from greenhouse gases
Show Answer
✔ B — Amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water
High BOD = high organic pollution → low dissolved oxygen → aquatic life suffocates (eutrophication). BOD is a key water quality indicator. ❌ A,C,D: wrong contexts.
Q993ModerateCGL+CHSL
The "Paris Agreement" (2015) aims to limit global temperature rise to below:
A1°C above pre-industrial levels
B2°C, pursuing efforts to limit to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
C3°C above 2000 levels
D4°C above 1990 levels
Show Answer
✔ B — 2°C, pursuing efforts to limit to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
The Paris Agreement targets: hold increase below 2°C, pursue efforts for 1.5°C, relative to pre-industrial (late 19th century) levels. ❌ A,C,D: incorrect temperature targets.
Q994EasyCGL+CHSL
Which gas is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect on Earth?
ANitrogen (N₂)
BOxygen (O₂)
CCarbon dioxide (CO₂)
DArgon (Ar)
Show Answer
✔ C — Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
CO₂ is the most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Water vapour is the largest natural greenhouse gas, but CO₂ drives the enhanced greenhouse effect due to human activities. ❌ A,B,D: not primary greenhouse gases.
Q995ModerateCGL+CHSL
IUCN stands for:
AInternational Union for Conservation of Nature
BInternational Union for Climate and Nature
CIndian Union for Conservation of Nutrients
DInternational Union for Coastal and Natural zones
Show Answer
✔ A — International Union for Conservation of Nature
IUCN (founded 1948) publishes the Red List of threatened species and sets global conservation standards. ❌ B,C,D: incorrect expansions.
National Symbols & Polity Basics
Q996–Q1000 | India's National Symbols · Emblems · Institutions
Q996EasyCGL+CHSL
The National Animal of India is:
AAsiatic Lion
BBengal Tiger
CIndian Elephant
DSnow Leopard
Show Answer
✔ B — Bengal Tiger
The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) was declared India's National Animal in 1973, coinciding with the launch of Project Tiger. ❌ A(National Animal of Gujarat state), C,D: not national animal.
Q997AdvancedCGL only
India's State Emblem is adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. The motto "Satyameva Jayate" is inscribed in Devanagari script below. This phrase is taken from which Upanishad?
AChandogya Upanishad
BMundaka Upanishad
CKena Upanishad
DBrihadaranyaka Upanishad
Show Answer
✔ B — Mundaka Upanishad
"Satyameva Jayate" (Truth alone triumphs) comes from the Mundaka Upanishad (verse 3.1.6). It was adopted as India's national motto when the State Emblem was adopted on 26 January 1950. ❌ A,C,D: different Upanishads.
Q998ModerateCGL+CHSL
The National Flower of India is:
ARose
BMarigold
CLotus
DJasmine
Show Answer
✔ C — Lotus
The Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is India's National Flower. It symbolises purity, enlightenment, and long life in Indian culture. ❌ A,B,D: not the national flower.
Q999ModerateCGL+CHSL
India's National Aquatic Animal is:
AWhale Shark
BIrrawaddy Dolphin
CRiver Dolphin (Gangetic Dolphin)
DHilsa Fish
Show Answer
✔ C — River Dolphin (Gangetic Dolphin)
The Gangetic/South Asian River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was declared India's National Aquatic Animal in 2009 to boost conservation. ❌ A,B,D: not the national aquatic animal.
Q1000EasyCGL+CHSL
The National Bird of India is:
AFlamingo
BIndian Roller (Neelkanth)
CIndian Peacock
DSarus Crane
Show Answer
✔ C — Indian Peacock
The Indian Peacock (Pavo cristatus) is India's National Bird, declared in 1963. It is completely protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. ❌ A,B,D: not the national bird.