World Geography Questions (MCQs) for UPSC, State PCS & SSC Examinations - Set 1

1)   What is the focal length of a concave lense with number -5D?

a. 5 cm
b. 10 cm
c. 15 cm
d. 20 cm
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 20 cm

Explanation:
The focal length is the distance from the center of the lens to the principal foci (or focal points) of the lens. For a while diverging lenses always have negative focal lengths. The focal length for 5D lens in 20cm.


2)   Establishment of which of the following was a result of negotiation carried out in “Uruguay Round”?

a. NATO
b. OECD
c. WTO
d. IMF
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: WTO

Explanation:
The WTO is an inter-governmental organization for governments to negotiate global trade agreements and progressively liberalizing trade. Currently, WTO has 164 members. The WTO operates a system of trade rules that apply to all its members.
It is located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was established on 1 January 1995 and its official languages are English, French and Spanish.


3)   In which city International Statistical Education Center is situated?

a. Mumbai
b. Kolkata
c. Chennai
d. Bangalore
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Kolkata

Explanation:
The International Statistical Education Centre (ISEC) was opened in 1950. It is operated by the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata.


4)   What is the number of emirates in UAE?

a. 5
b. 6
c. 7
d. 8
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 7

Explanation:
UAE is a federation of seven emirates, and was established on 2 December 1971.


5)   In which among the following cities, world’s highest efficiency solar thermal cooling system was recently installed?

a. Gurgaon
b. Noida
c. Ghaziabad
d. Faridabad
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Gurgaon

Explanation:
The world’s highest efficiency solar thermal cooling system was recently installed in Gurgaon. It is the World’s highest efficiency solar thermal cooling system.


6)   Which of the following is the largest of the seven member states of United Arab Emirates?

a. Dubaiu
b. Sharjah
c. Ras al-Khaimah
d. Abu Dhabi
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Abu Dhabi

Explanation:
Situated to the south of Dubai, Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven member states of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates


7)   Which among the following country is inside the European Union but Outside the Eurozone?

a. Slovakia
b. Slovania
c. Denmark
d. Spain
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Denmark

Explanation:
Denmark is inside the European Union but Outside the Eurozone. Eight countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden) are EU members but do not use the euro.


8)   What is the name of Earth’s first super continent?

a. Pangea
b. Vaalbara
c. Gondwana
d. Columbia
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Vaalbara

Explanation:
The earth is 4700 million years old and the earliest super continent Vaalbara started forming around 3600 million years ago.


9)   In which of the following climates pine trees grow?

a. Wet Deciduous
b. Coniferous
c. Tundra
d. Monsoon
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Coniferous

Explanation:
The pine trees grow in the coniferous forests. It is a cold climate which led to sharp leaves of the pine.


10)   Borneo Island is the part of which among the following countries?

a. Malaysia
b. Indonesia
c. Brunei
d. All the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All the above

Explanation:
Borneo is a giant and rugged island in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago. It is shared by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the tiny nation of Brunei.


11)   In 1970’s , NASA had launched two space programmes Viking 1 and Viking 2. These programmes were most expensive and ambitious mission ever (till that time) sent to ________?

a. Moon
b. Mars
c. Venus
d. Jupiter
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Mars

Explanation:
The Viking program consisted of a pair of American space probes sent to Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2. They were launched in 1975. Each spacecraft was composed of two main parts: an orbiter designed to photograph the surface of Mars from orbit, and a lander designed to study the planet from the surface.


12)   Which among the following is not correctly matched? (Location of some countries)

a. Benin – Western Africa
b. Botswana -Southern Africa
c. Uganda – Eastern Africa
d. Togo -Central Africa
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Togo -Central Africa

Explanation:
Togo is in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north


13)   Which among the following is a geology award given annually by Indian Geophysical Union?

a. Dr. B. C. Roy Award
b. Siva Prasad Barooah National Award
c. M. S. Krishanan Award
d. Karmaveer Puraskaar
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: M. S. Krishanan Award

Explanation:
The M.S. Krishnan Medal is an Indian geology award given annually by the Indian Geophysical Union. The award is named after M. S. Krishnan. He is a famous Indian Geologist and First Indian to serve Geological survey of India.


14)   world’s largest floating stage is located in which country?

a. China
b. Japan
c. Singapore
d. France
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Singapore

Explanation:
The Float at Marina Bay in Singapore was built in 2007. It is the largest floating stage in the world. It is also as football stadium.


15)   Which among the following is the correct statement about Black Ice?

a. It is the product of the freezing of water droplets in highly polluted air
b. It is the thin transparent layer of ice made up usually on roads and pavement
c. It is the solid Carbon Dioxide
d. It is the frozen water of a highly polluted river
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: It is the thin transparent layer of ice made up usually on roads and pavement

Explanation:
Black ice is ice that’s developed on the surface of a roads. It’s transparent, but takes on the color of the surface of road it’s on. When ice gets wet from outside temperatures warming up, it becomes dangerously slick. Tires can’t provide the proper traction needed to grip the road, and that’s when accidents happen.


16)   Consider the following Statements:
1: The 38th Parallel divides North Korea and South Korea.
2: The Johor Strait separates Malaysia from Singapore.
Which of the above Statement(s) is/are correct?


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:
The 38th Parallel divides North Korea and South Korea in the Korean peninsula. The Johor Strait is an international strait that separates Malaysia from Singapore.


17)   Consider the following statements:
1. Atmosphere of the Earth does not get heated by the solar radiation directly
2.Solar radiation is mostly shorter waves in comparison to Earth$apos;s radiation
Which among the above statements is / are correct?


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 & 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both 1 & 2

Explanation:
Atmosphere of the Earth does not get heated by the solar radiation directly. Earth gets heated by the trapping of the heat by the gases. Solar radiation is mostly shorter waves which earth receives.


18)   Consider the following statements:
1: Terracing is an effective method of soil conservation in desert areas
2: Mulching helps in both moisture conservation and weed control
Which among the above is / are correct statements?


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 & 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
Mulching means covering the soil surface by straw leaves or grasses. Mulches of various sorts check soil erosion, increase soil fertility and also minimize moisture evaporation from the top soil. It also helps in weed control.


19)   Consider the following countries:
1: Lesotho
2: Afghanistan
3: Hungary
Which of the above is/are landlocked countries?


a. 2 Only
b. 1 and 2 Only
c. 1,2 and 3
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1,2 and 3

Explanation:
All the above mentioned countries are land locked.


20)   Which of the following has the highest albedo?

a. Fresh snow
b. Tropical evergreen forest
c. Black soil
d. Calm water
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Fresh snow

Explanation:
Albedo is defined as the ratio of reflected solar radition to total received solar radation. Fresh snow has the largest reflection and hence highest albedo, whereas black soil has the lowest albedo since it absorbs maximum amount of solar radiation.