

McqMate
These multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are designed to enhance your knowledge and understanding in the following areas: General Knowledge (GK) , Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) .
101. |
The main source of usable water on the Earth is – |
A. | Oceans |
B. | Rivers |
C. | Underground water |
D. | Precipitation |
Answer» C. Underground water | |
Explanation: Even though most of the Earth's surface is water, only 1% of it is fresh usable water. Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is saltwater, which contains too many minerals for humans to use untreated. Two percent of our water is "locked up" in ice caps and glaciers, leaving only one percent as usable fresh water. Groundwater compiises 0.62 per cent of water, followed by Freshwater Lakes: 0.009 per cent; and rivers: 0.0001 per cent. |
102. |
Which of the following rivers lies in a rift valley? |
A. | Luni |
B. | Chambal |
C. | Sone |
D. | Tapti |
Answer» D. Tapti | |
Explanation: There are three Peninsular rivers which flow in a rift valley. Narmada flows westward between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges. The Tapti River and Mahi River also flow through rift valleys, but between, different ranges. |
103. |
'Flash floods' are associated with – |
A. | Thunderstorms |
B. | Cyclonic storms |
C. | Tsunami |
D. | Tornado |
Answer» B. Cyclonic storms | |
Explanation: A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm or cyclone, or melt- water from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields. |
104. |
Tundras are – |
A. | Deciduous forests |
B. | Tropical rain forests |
C. | Cold deserts |
D. | Hot deserts |
Answer» C. Cold deserts | |
Explanation: In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine tundra, and Antarctic tundra where the subsoil is permafrost, or permanently frozen soil. Rainfall and snowfall are generally slight due to the low vapor pressure of water in the chilly atmosphere, but as a rule potential evapotranspiration is extremely low, allowing soggy terrain of swamps and bogs even in places that get precipitation typical of deserts of lower and middle latitudes. |
105. |
Hydraulic Action is a type of erosion caused by – |
A. | Running water |
B. | Wind |
C. | Glacier |
D. | None of these |
Answer» A. Running water | |
Explanation: Hydraulic action is one of the main forms of river erosion (example, of erosion due to running water) in which the force of the river against the banks can cause air to be trapped in cracks and crevices. The pressure weakens the banks and gradually wears it away. |
106. |
Which of the following is the newest geological era? |
A. | Permian |
B. | Triassic |
C. | Cretaceous |
D. | Jurassic |
Answer» C. Cretaceous | |
Explanation: The correct chronological order of the geological eras (in million years before the present) are as follows:- Cretaceous: 72.1-145; Jurassic: 152.1-201.3; Triassic: 208.5-201.3; Permian: 254.2-298.9. |
107. |
The largest forest which covers 25 percent of the world's forest land is : |
A. | The Tropical Rain forest |
B. | Taiga forest of Siberia |
C. | Monsoon forest |
D. | Temperate forests of Europe |
Answer» B. Taiga forest of Siberia | |
Explanation: Taiga is the world's largest land biome. It makes up 29% of the world's forest cover. Also known as boreal forest or snow forest, it is characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces and larches. The largest areas of Taiga are located in Russia and Canada. |
108. |
Which of the following is called the twin of the earth? |
A. | Neptune |
B. | Venus |
C. | Mars |
D. | Saturn |
Answer» B. Venus | |
Explanation: Venus is the second planet from the sun and a close neighbor to the earth. It was named after the Roman Goddess of Beauty. Venus is usually one the brightest objects in the sky, which might be the reason it got its name. It is quite similar to the planet earth mainly in its size and a few other characteristics which is why it is often considered the Earth's twin. However, surface conditions are not nearly the same making it a quite inhospitable environment. |
109. |
Which amidst the following planets has its orbit closest to Sun? |
A. | Venus |
B. | Mars |
C. | Jupiter |
D. | Uranus |
Answer» A. Venus | |
Explanation: Venus is the brightest planet in our sky and can sometimes be seen with the naked eye if we know where to look. It is the solar system's brightest planet — yellow clouds of sulfuric acid reflect the sun's light brightly and has its orbit closest to sun but only next to mercury. |
110. |
The outermost layer of the Sun is called |
A. | Chromosphere |
B. | Photosphere |
C. | Corona |
D. | Lithosphere |
Answer» C. Corona | |
Explanation: The outermost layer of the sun is the corona. Only visible during eclipses, it is a low density cloud of plasma with higher transparency than the inner layers. The white corona is a million times less bright than the inner layers of the sun, but is many times larger. A corona is a type of plasma "atmosphere" of the Sun or other celestial body, extending millions of kilometers into space, most easily seen duringa total solar eclipse, but also observable in a coronagraph. |
111. |
Which planet is called evening star? |
A. | Mars |
B. | Mercury |
C. | Venus |
D. | Jupiter |
Answer» C. Venus | |
Explanation: Venus "overtakes" the Earth every 584 days as it orbits the Sun. As it does so, it changes from the "Evening Star", visible after sunset, to the "Morning Star", visible before sunrise. |
112. |
Light from the Sun reaches us in nearly |
A. | 8 min |
B. | 2 min |
C. | 6 min |
D. | 4 min |
Answer» A. 8 min | |
Explanation: The sun's light takes about 8 minutes to reach the Earth after it has been emitted from the sun's surface. The time it takes for light to reach planets in our Solar System varies from about 3 minutes for Mercury, to about 5.3 hours for Pluto. |
113. |
The disconnected lines drawn on a map for showing slope- |
A. | Bench marks |
B. | Contours |
C. | Form lines |
D. | Hachure |
Answer» D. Hachure | |
Explanation: Hachures are short disconnected lines drawn on the map to depict the slope of the ground surface. They are drawn in rows; each row being disconnected from the other. They are short and closely spaced for steep slopes and relatively long and widely spaced for gentler slopes. Hachures are not drawn for leveled areas, such as flat valley or a plateau top. |
114. |
If a star is bigger than Sun, but not more than twice as big, it will turn into a |
A. | Pulsar |
B. | Maxima |
C. | Avenger |
D. | Discover |
Answer» A. Pulsar | |
Explanation: If the star is about the mass of the Sun or less than that, it will turn into White Dwarfs. If the star is bigger than the Sun but not more than twice as big, it will turn into a Neutron Star or Pulsar. If the star is many times bigger than the Sun, it will turn into what is called a Black Hole. |
115. |
When Granite rocks get metamorphosed, they form – |
A. | Quartzite |
B. | Gneiss |
C. | Marble |
D. | Slate |
Answer» B. Gneiss | |
Explanation: Gneiss is a high grade metamorphic rock formed by the metamorphosis of granite which is a sedimentary rock. Gneiss is typically associated with major mountain building episodes. It is often foliated (composed of layers of sheet-like planar structures), characterized by alternating darker and lighter colored bands, called "gneissic banding". |
116. |
Which planet in our solar system is nearly as big as the earth? |
A. | Mercury |
B. | Mars |
C. | Venus |
D. | Pluto |
Answer» C. Venus | |
Explanation: Venus is often referred to as our sister planet because of similarities in size, mass, density and volume. It is believed that both planets share a common origin forming at the same time out of a condensing nebulosity around 4.5 billion years ago. |
117. |
To which natural vegetation belt do Sal and Teak trees belong? |
A. | Temperate forests |
B. | Equatorial forests |
C. | Tropical deciduous forests |
D. | Mixed forests |
Answer» C. Tropical deciduous forests | |
Explanation: The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest biome, also known as tropical dry forest, is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Deciduous trees predominate in most of these forests, and during the drought a leafless period occurs, which varies with species type. Teak and Sal, along with mango, bamboo, and rosewood, belong to the moist deciduous forests which shed their leaves in the dry season. |
118. |
Which of the following types of soil is best suited for cotton cultivation? |
A. | Black |
B. | Red |
C. | Laterite |
D. | Mountain |
Answer» A. Black | |
Explanation: Cotton needs a soil with a excellent water holding capacity and aeration and good drainage as it cannot withstand excessive moisture and water logging. The major groups of soils for cotton cultivation are the alluvial soils, black soils, and red sand loam. Black cotton soils are inorganic clays of medium to high compressibility and form a major soil group in India. They are characterized by high shrinkage and swelling properties. This Black cotton soils occurs mostly in the central and western parts and covers approximately 20% of the total area of India. |
119. |
The soil which originate under tall- grass prairie vegetation is called– |
A. | Black soils |
B. | Chestnut soils |
C. | Chernozem soils |
D. | Terra rosa soils |
Answer» C. Chernozem soils | |
Explanation: Chernozem or black earth variety of soil is rich in organic matter in the form of humus. It is generally a modified type of loess. True chernozem is black in color, but there are various grades, shading off into gray and chestnut-brown soils. It forms in areas that have cold winters, hot summers, and rapid evaporation of precipitation; generally only tall grass is found native on chernozem. |
120. |
Which of the following oceans has the shape of the English alphabet S? |
A. | Arctic Ocean |
B. | Indian Ocean |
C. | Atlantic Ocean |
D. | Pacific Ocean |
Answer» C. Atlantic Ocean | |
Explanation: Atlantic Ocean has the shape of an English alphabet S. Indian Ocean has 'M' Shape. The Arctic Ocean has 'U' shape, while the Pacific Ocean is triangular in shape. |
121. |
Which from the following, is a landlocked sea? |
A. | Timor Sea |
B. | Arafura Sea |
C. | Greeland Sea |
D. | Aral Sea |
Answer» D. Aral Sea | |
Explanation: Aral sea is a land locked sea. The Aral Sea has been steadily shrinking since the 1960s after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet Union irrigation projects. It lies between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south. Its area is of 68,000 square kilometers. The landlocked seas are Aral Sea, Caspian Sea, Dead Sea, Great Salt Lake, Salton Sea and Sea of Galilee. Landlocked seas may are also considered lakes as the definition of a lake is "a large body of freshwater surrounded by land". |
122. |
The deepest ocean is – |
A. | Arctic |
B. | Pacific |
C. | Atlantic |
D. | Indian |
Answer» B. Pacific | |
Explanation: The Mariana Trench or Marianas Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans. It is located in the western Pacific Ocean, to the east of the Mariana Islands. It reaches a maximum-known depth of 10.911 km at the Challenger Deep. |
123. |
Two seas or water-bodies connected by a narrow stretch of water is known as a – |
A. | Bay |
B. | Strait |
C. | Peninsula |
D. | Isthmus |
Answer» B. Strait | |
Explanation: A strait is a narrow, typically navigable channel of water that connects two larger, navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not navigable, for example because it is too shallow, or because it contains an un-navigable reef or archipelago. |
124. |
The rapidly growing mass of phytoplankton coveting the surface water of a lake or pond is known as – |
A. | Eutrophication |
B. | Water bloom |
C. | Water pollution |
D. | Water hyacinth |
Answer» A. Eutrophication | |
Explanation: Eutrophication is the ecosystem response to the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system. One example is the 'bloom" or great increase of phytoplankton in a water body as a response to increased levels of nutrients. |
125. |
Which one of the following is a warm ocean current? |
A. | Kurile |
B. | Canary |
C. | Labrador |
D. | Gulf Stream |
Answer» D. Gulf Stream | |
Explanation: The Gulf Stream is a warm current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and moves north toward Europe. Since it is full of warm water, the sea surface temperatures are warm, which keeps places like Europe warmer than other areas at similar latitudes. |
126. |
What happens to atmospheric pressure with increase in altitude? |
A. | It remains constant |
B. | It decreases |
C. | It increases |
D. | It constantly fluctuates |
Answer» B. It decreases | |
Explanation: In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the mass of air above the measurement point. Low-pressure areas have less atmospheric mass above their location, whereas high-pressure areas have more atmospheric mass above their location. Likewise, as elevation increases, there is less overlying atmospheric mass, so that pressure decreases with increasing elevation. |
127. |
Mediterranean type of climate is characterized by – |
A. | dry summer and wet winter |
B. | wet summer and dry winter |
C. | dry summer and dry winter |
D. | wet summer and wet winter |
Answer» A. dry summer and wet winter | |
Explanation: The climate is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. Mediterranean climate zones are associated with the five large subtropical high pressure cells of the oceans: the Azores High, South Atlantic High, North Pacific High, South Pacific High, and Indian Ocean High. These high pressure cells shift towards the poles in the summer and towards the equator in the winter, playing a major role in the formation of the world's tropical deserts and the Mediterranean Basin's climate. |
128. |
The zone of Earth's atmosphere immediately above its surface up to a height of about 16 kms above equator and 8 kms over the poles is known as : |
A. | Mesosphere |
B. | Thermosphere |
C. | Troposphere |
D. | Stratosphere |
Answer» C. Troposphere | |
Explanation: The zone of Earth's atmosphere immediately above its surface up to a height of about 16 kms above equator and 8 kms over the poles is known as troposphere. |
129. |
The main advantage of Rain? Water Harvesting (RWH) is – |
A. | Recharge ground water |
B. | Avoid floods |
C. | Reduce the loss of water |
D. | Avoid soil erosion |
Answer» A. Recharge ground water | |
Explanation: Rainwater harvesting is the simple collection or storing of water through scientific techniques from the areas where the rain falls. It is a technique of increasing the recharge of groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater by constructing structures such as dug wells, percolating pit, check dams. |
130. |
Subtropical high pressure belts are otherwise called – |
A. | Furious fifties |
B. | Screeching sixties |
C. | Horse latitudes |
D. | Roaring forties |
Answer» C. Horse latitudes | |
Explanation: The areas of sub-tropical high pressure are located between latitudes 250 and 350 N and S. These highpressure zones are called the horse-latitudes. It is an area which receives little precipitation and has variable winds mixed with calm |
131. |
Shale is metamorphosed into which of the following rocks? |
A. | Graphite |
B. | Gneiss |
C. | Marble |
D. | Slate |
Answer» D. Slate | |
Explanation: From depth of burial by continual sediment deposition from above, or from compressional stress from tectonic plate collisions, shale is metamorphosed into slate over periods of millions of years. During this compression, the clay minerals making up the shale decompose as they become unstable in the high pressure environment, and their chemical components are gradually transformed into minerals that are more stable in the newly forming higher pressure environment. |
132. |
Earthquake is caused by – |
A. | disturbance of earth surface |
B. | adjustment of layers of earth's crust |
C. | breakage of rock system |
D. | upliftment of rocks |
Answer» A. disturbance of earth surface | |
Explanation: Most earthquakes are minor tremors. Larger earthquakes usually begin with slight tremors but rapidly take the form of one or more violent shocks, and end in vibrations of gradually diminishing force called aftershocks. The subterranean point of origin of an earthquake is called its focus; the point on the surface directly above the focus is the epicenter. |
133. |
A group of inter-connected Islands is known as - |
A. | Strait |
B. | Peninsula |
C. | Archipelago |
D. | Lagoon |
Answer» C. Archipelago | |
Explanation: An archipelago, sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster or collection of islands. Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, the Maldives, the Bahamas, Greece, Hawaii, and the Azores are examples of well-known- archipelagos. |
134. |
The layer of atmosphere close to the earth's surface is called – |
A. | Exosphere |
B. | Troposphere |
C. | Stratosphere |
D. | Ionosphere |
Answer» B. Troposphere | |
Explanation: The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere and site of all weather on Earth. It is bonded on the top by a layer of air called the Tropopause, which separates the troposphere from the stratosphere and on bottom by the surface of the Earth. |
135. |
The largest current, because of its dark waters is known as the 'black current' and that is : |
A. | Gulf Stream |
B. | Kuroshio Current |
C. | California Current |
D. | Antarctic Current |
Answer» B. Kuroshio Current | |
Explanation: The word 'Kuroshio' means 'Black Current' in Japanese. Also known as Japan Current, it is a warm ocean current which flows up the East coast of Asia and under the influence of the westerly winds towards North America. It is the counterpart of the Gulf Stream. However, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the largest oceanic current on Earth. |
136. |
Which one the following soils is used for the production of bricks? |
A. | Peaty and organic |
B. | Saline |
C. | Laterite |
D. | Red and yellow |
Answer» D. Red and yellow | |
Explanation: Red Soil is also known as yellow soil. Red soils are formed as a result of the draining down of old crystalline rock, less clayey and sandier in nature. Red clay soil are used for the production of bricks. |
137. |
Plantation of trees on a large scale to check soil erosion are called: |
A. | Shelter belts |
B. | Contour ploughing |
C. | Strip cropping |
D. | Afforestation |
Answer» D. Afforestation | |
Explanation: Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no forest. As plant roots hold the soil. Afforestation prevents soil erosion and enables better retention of water. |
138. |
Which one of the following is the indirect use of forests? |
A. | Medicinal plants |
B. | Checking soil erosion |
C. | Building material |
D. | Grazing |
Answer» B. Checking soil erosion | |
Explanation: Some of the indirect uses of forests include: prevention and control of soil erosion, flood control, checks on spread of deserts, increase of soil fertility, and effect onclimate. Forests play a significant role in the prevention and control of soil erosion by water and wind. The destruction of forest cover leads to increased runoff of rain water and its diminished seepage in soil. |
139. |
"Tidal forest- is otherwise called : |
A. | Evergreen forest |
B. | Monsoon forest |
C. | Mangrove forest |
D. | Coniferous forest |
Answer» C. Mangrove forest | |
Explanation: Tidal forest is also called Mangrove forest. |
140. |
Vergreen type Forests are found in – |
A. | Mediterranean region |
B. | Monsoon climatic area |
C. | Desert region |
D. | Equatorial region |
Answer» D. Equatorial region | |
Explanation: An evergreen forest is a forest consisting entirely or mainly of evergreen trees that retain green foliage all year round. Such forests reign in the equatorial region, between the tropics primarily as broadleaf evergreens, and in temperate and boreal latitudes primarily as coniferous evergreens. |
141. |
The maximum biodiversity is found in– |
A. | Tropical rain forests |
B. | Temperate forests |
C. | Coniferous forests |
D. | Arctic forest |
Answer» A. Tropical rain forests | |
Explanation: Most of the terrestrial diversity is found in tropical rainforests. As per an estimation, these forests account for around 40% to 75% of all biotic species and are home to half of all the living animal and plant species on the planet. A single hectare of rainforest may contain 42,000 different species of insect, up to 807 trees of 313 species and 1,500 species of higher plants. |
142. |
In forests, trees shed their leaves in a particular season. |
A. | evergreen |
B. | mangrove |
C. | deciduous |
D. | thorny |
Answer» C. deciduous | |
Explanation: Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or “tending to fall off'. It is typically used in order to refer to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally most commonly during autumn and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe. Common examples of deciduous trees include oak, maple, and hickory trees. |
143. |
All the ecosystems taken together in a geographical area form a bigger unit called: |
A. | biosphere |
B. | territory |
C. | biome |
D. | community |
Answer» C. biome | |
Explanation: Biome is a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna adapted to the particular conditions in which they occur. For example, Tundra region. |
144. |
Soil formed by leaching and oxidation is – |
A. | Black soil |
B. | Laterite soil |
C. | Red soil |
D. | Montane soil |
Answer» B. Laterite soil | |
Explanation: Laterisation is a form of chemical weathering that • involves oxidation, carbonation and leaching. This natural process results in the formation of Laterite soils. |
145. |
Soil which is prone to intensive leaching due to rain is called- |
A. | Laterite |
B. | Black |
C. | Alluvial |
D. | Red |
Answer» A. Laterite | |
Explanation: Leaching refers to the loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil, due to rain and irrigation. Laterite soils are formed soils under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. They are leached and are, thus, less fertile. |
146. |
The smallest ocean is : |
A. | Atlantic |
B. | Pacific |
C. | Indian |
D. | Arctic |
Answer» D. Arctic | |
Explanation: The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five ocean basins. With an area of about 5.4 million square miles, the Arctic Ocean is about 1.5 times as big as the United States. It is bordered by Greenland, Canada, Norway, Alaska, and Russia. It is almost completely covered with ice for the majority of the year. |
147. |
All vital atmospheric processes leading to various climatic and weather conditions take place in the : |
A. | Stratosphere |
B. | Troposphere |
C. | Ionosphere |
D. | Exosphere |
Answer» B. Troposphere | |
Explanation: Troposphere, that extends up to a height of 12 km on an average from the surface of the earth, is the locale of all the vital atmospheric processes which create the climatic and weather conditions on the earth's surface. About half of the mass of air comprising the entire atmosphere is concentrated in this zone. This is the lowermost layer of the atmosphere. |
148. |
The term "Doab" means – |
A. | a land between two mountains |
B. | a land between two lakes |
C. | a land between two rivers |
D. | a land between two seas |
Answer» C. a land between two rivers | |
Explanation: Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for the "tongue," or tract of land lying between two converging, or confluent, rivers. It is similar to an interfluve. In the Oxford Hindi- English Dictionary, R. S. McGregor defines it as "a region lying between and reaching to the confluence of two rivers (esp. that between the Ganges and Jumna). |
149. |
A spinning neutron star is known as – |
A. | White dwarf |
B. | Black hole |
C. | Pulsar |
D. | Quasar |
Answer» C. Pulsar | |
Explanation: Pulsars are spinning neutron stars that have jets of particles moving almost at the speed of light streaming out above their magnetic poles. These jets produce very powerful beams of light. |
150. |
When the moon completely covers the sun, it is known as – |
A. | the Antumbra |
B. | the Umbra |
C. | the Penumbra |
D. | None of these |
Answer» B. the Umbra | |
Explanation: A solar eclipse occurs when the moon crosses the path between the sun and the earth. The darkest shadow (where the sun is completely covered) is called the umbra. The umbra is narrow at the distance of the Earth, and a total eclipse is observable only within the narrow strip of land or sea over which the umbra passes. The partial shadow is called the penumbra. |
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