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510+ Physical Geography Solved MCQs

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) .

151.

The planet revolving east to west is –

A. Venus
B. Uranus
C. Neptune
D. Pluto
Answer» A. Venus
Explanation: Like the other planets in our solar system, Venus rotates about its axis. However, Venus is the only planet that rotates from east to west instead of west to east. This means, that if we lived on Venus, the Sun would appear to rise in the west in the morning, and set in the east in the evening. Venus rotates in what is called retrograde motion.
152.

The planet emitting green light is –

A. Jupiter
B. Venus
C. Uranus
D. Neptune
Answer» C. Uranus
Explanation: The atmosphere of Uranus is composed of 83% hydrogen, 15% helium, 2% methane and small amounts of acetylene and other hydrocarbons. Methane in the upper atmosphere absorbs red light, giving Uranus its blue-green colour.
153.

The light from the Sun reaches the Earth in about—

A. 8 seconds
B. 8 minutes
C. 10 seconds
D. 10 minutes
Answer» B. 8 minutes
Explanation: Light travels at 186,000 miles a second at the Earth is 93 million miles to Sun on average. This works out as 8.33 minutes for light from the Sun to reach Earth. On average, it takes energy between 10,000 and 170,000 years to leave the sun's interior and then be emitted from the surface as light. Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun, particularly infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.
154.

Trees are leafless for a shorter or longer season of the year in:

A. Evergreen forest
B. Mangrove forest
C. Scrub jungle forest
D. Deciduous forest
Answer» D. Deciduous forest
Explanation: Deciduous means “falling of at maturity" or "tending to fall off”, and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe. In a more general sense, deciduous means the dropping of a part that is nolonger needed, or falling away after its purpose is finished.
155.

The area reserved for the welfare of wild life Is called –

A. Sanctuary
B. Forest
C. National Park
D. Botanical garden
Answer» C. National Park
Explanation: A National Park is an area which is strictly reserved for the welfare of wildlife and where activities such as forestry, grazing or cultivation are not allowed. Private ownership, rights and habitat, manipulation arc not permitted in a national park. There are 103 national parks in India covering an area of 40,500 km2, which is 1.23% of the geographical area of the country.
156.

There is a need to keep larger area under forests for –

A. absorption of carbon dioxide
B. protecting wildlife
C. raising precipitation
D. geological balance
Answer» A. absorption of carbon dioxide
Explanation: Forests are considered as sinks of carbon dioxide. A carbon sink is anything that absorbs more carbon that it releases, whilst a carbon source is anything that releases more carbon than is absorb. It is for this reason that they are indispensable in the present global scenario marked by increasing global warming and climate change.
157.

Which one of the following methods of soil conservation is most effective in arid areas?

A. Mulching
B. Shelter belt
C. Gully plugging
D. Terracing
Answer» B. Shelter belt
Explanation: In arid zones, the harsh conditions of climate and the shortage of water are intensified by the strong winds. Living conditions and agricultural production can often be improved by planting trees and shrubs in protective windbreaks and s-helterbelts which reduce wind velocity and provide shade. Windbreaks and shelterbelts, which are considered synonymous in this manual, are barriers of trees or shrubs that are planted to reduce wind velocities and, as a result, reduce evapo-transpiration and prevent wind erosion; they frequently provide direct benefits to agricultural crops, resulting in higher yields, and provide shelter to livestock, grazing lands, and farms.
158.

Which one of the following does not cause soil erosion?

A. Deflation
B. Deforestation
C. Weathering
D. Overcropping
Answer» A. Deflation
Explanation: Deflation is a decline in general price-levels, often caused by a reduction in the supply of money or credit. Deflation can also be brought about by direct contractions in spending, either in the form of a reduction in government spending, personal spending or investment spending. Deflation has often had the side effect of increasing unemployment in an economy, since the process often leads to a lower level of demand in the economy.
159.

The deepest surface depression on the earth is –

A. Kurile Trench
B. Mariana Trench
C. Tonga-Kermadec Trench
D. Bentley Subglacial
Answer» B. Mariana Trench
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. The trench is about2,550 kilometres long but has an average width of only 69 kilometres. It reaches a maximum- known depth of 10.994 km at the Challenger Deep.
160.

The coastal part of water bodies of the oceans which is structurally part of the mainland of the continents is called the-

A. Isthmus
B. Oceanic ridge
C. Continental shelf
D. Continental slope
Answer» C. Continental shelf
Explanation: The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. The shelf usually ends at a point of increasing slope (called the shelf break). The sea floor below the break is the continental slope. Below the slope is the continental rise, which finally merges into the deep ocean floor the abyssal plain.
161.

Which one of the following is not a cold ocean current?

A. California
B. Oyashio
C. Kuroshio
D. Ganaries
Answer» C. Kuroshio
Explanation: The Kuroshio is a north-flowing warm ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, transporting warm, tropical water northward towards the polar region and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre.
162.

Atmospheric pressure exerted on earth is due to :

A. rotation of earth
B. revolution of earth
C. gravitational pull
D. uneven heating of earth
Answer» C. gravitational pull
Explanation: The atmosphere is made up of gasses. Gasses are physical substances, and allphysical substance has weight. The atmosphere is 25 miles thick, and that 25 miles thick layer of gasses presses down on earth with a weight of 15 lbs. per square inch because of the gravitational pull. That's how atmosphere exerts pressure on the earth.
163.

Which one of the following has the highest wind velocity?

A. Typhoon
B. Hurricane
C. Cyclone
D. Tornado
Answer» D. Tornado
Explanation: A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as twisters or cyclones, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology, in a wider sense, to name any closed low pressure circulation. Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes, but they are typically in the form of a visible condensation funnel, whose narrow end touches the earth and is often encircled by a cloud of debris and dust. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than 110 miles per hour (177 km/h), are about 250 feet (76 m) across, and travel a few miles (several kilometers) before dissipating.
164.

Hailstorms are caused due to –

A. condensation
B. convection
C. sublimation
D. freezing
Answer» D. freezing
Explanation: In a hailstorm, small ice particles that form above the freezing level (which occurs in all thunderstorms) collect either rain water or cloud water on them, forming a water shell that freezes. The tilted updraft and downdraft structure of the storm is important in order for hailstones to grow because they can be `recycled' several times, until they either become too largefor the updraft to carry them, or they get caught in a downdraft, and they finally reach the ground.
165.

Blizzards are characteristic features of—

A. equatorial region
B. tropical region
C. Antarctic region
D. temperate region
Answer» C. Antarctic region
Explanation: Blizzards are characterized by low temperatures (usually below 20 degrees Fahrenheit) and accompanied by winds that are at least 35 mph or greater. Blizzards also have sufficient falling and/or blowing snow that reduces visibility to 1/4 mile or less at least three hours and is main feature of Antarctic region.
166.

Density of the earth's atmosphere is highest in the –

A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Mesosphere
D. Ionosphere
Answer» A. Troposphere
Explanation: Over 99% of the mass of the earth's atmosphere is contained in two layers: the troposphere and the stratosphere. Most of the earth's atmosphere (80 to 90%) is found in the troposphere, the atmospheric layer where we live. This layer, where the earth's weather occurs, is within about 12 km of the earth's surface.
167.

Which of the following asborbs part of the insolation and preserves earth's radiated heat?

A. Oxygen
B. Nitrogen
C. Water vapour
D. Carbon-dioxide
Answer» C. Water vapour
Explanation: The amount of solar energy reaching the Earth is 70 percent. The surface of the Earth absorbs 51 percent of the insolation.Water vapor and dust account for 16 percent of the energy absorbed. Most of the terrestrial radiation is absorbed by the water vapor in the atmosphere and some by other gases (about 8 percent is radiated directly to outer space). This radiant energy is re-radiated in the atmosphere horizontally and vertically.
168.

The humidity of air depends on –

A. Temperature
B. Location
C. Weather
D. All of the above
Answer» D. All of the above
Explanation: Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. Humidity depends on water vaporization, and condensation, which, in turn, mainly depends on temperature. Temperature, in turn, is affected by weather and location.
169.

The temperature increases rapidly above –

A. Ionosphere
B. Exosphere
C. Stratosphere
D. Troposphere
Answer» B. Exosphere
Explanation: Above Troposphere, temperature increases rapidly with height in the Stratosphere layer as it houses the ozone layer which absorbs ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Again, temperature increases rapidly with height in Thermosphere which comprises Ionosphere (lower part) and Exosphere (upper part). Temperature in Exosphere which is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere reaches up to more than 4500° Celsius.
170.

Marble is the metamorphosed form of

A. Shale
B. Basalt
C. Sandstone
D. Limestone
Answer» D. Limestone
Explanation: Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock composed of re-crystallizedcarbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone. Marble is a rock resulting from metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rocks, most commonly limestone or dolomite rock. Metamorphism causes variable re-crystallization of the original carbonate mineral grains. The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals. Primary sedimentary textures and structures of the original carbonate rock (protolith) have typically been modified or destroyed.
171.

The highest mountain peak of the Himalayas is situated in—

A. India
B. Tibet
C. Nepal
D. China
Answer» C. Nepal
Explanation: Overall, the Himalayan mountain system is the world's highest, and is home to the world's highest peaks, the Eight-thousanders. The Mount Everest is the highest peak having elevation of 8848 m and is situated in East of Kathmandu on Sagarmatha Zone Nepal. Mount Everest is the Earth's highest mountain, with a peak at 8,848 metres above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international border between China and Nepal runs across the precise summit point.
172.

The term 'epicentre' is associated with

A. Earthquakes
B. Volcanoes
C. Cyclones
D. Landslides
Answer» A. Earthquakes
Explanation: Epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates. Epicentral distance is used in calculating seismic magnitudes developed by Richter and Gutenberg.
173.

Vocanoes are scattered –

A. all over the world
B. only along the coasts
C. on the islands
D. mainly along young fold mountains
Answer» C. on the islands
Explanation: Composite volcanoes are most commonly found in island arcs. Most of them are found scattered on the islands adjoining the Pacific Ring of Fire where about 75% of Earth's volcanoes are found. It is a region of high volcanic and seismic activity that surrounds the majority of the Pacific Ocean Basin.
174.

Which of the following minerals are required for smelting iron ore?

A. Limestone and gypsum
B. Manganese and limestone
C. Limestone and coal
D. Gypsum and coal
Answer» B. Manganese and limestone
Explanation: Composite volcanoes are most commonly found in island arcs. Most of them are found scattered on the islands adjoining the Pacific Ring of Fire where about 75% of Earth's volcanoes are found. It is a region of high volcanic and seismic activity that surrounds the majority of the Pacific Ocean Basin.
175.

Earthquakes are generally associated with :

A. Joints
B. Faults
C. Folds
D. Schistosity
Answer» B. Faults
Explanation: Earthquake is a sudden and violent movement, or fracture, within the earth followed by the series of shocks resulting from this fracture. Earthquake is more likely to be of Tectonic origin and probably because of existence of a Fault.
176.

The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through –

A. Myanmar
B. Nepal
C. Bangladesh
D. China
Answer» B. Nepal
Explanation: The Tropic of Cancer passes through Algeria, Niger, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Bangaladesh, Myanmar, China, Mexico, Bahamas, Mauritinia, Mali etc.
177.

The mountain formed on the earth crust due to tension is called –

A. Young folded mountain
B. Old folded mountain
C. Laccolith mountain
D. Block mountain
Answer» D. Block mountain
Explanation: The Block Mountains were formed on the crust due to tension. Faults are formed due to tensional forces. A part of the land block is depressed so that the remaining block stands conspicuously above the surroundings. Mountains formed in this way are called Block Mountains and the depressed portion is known as Rift Valley.
178.

Spot the odd item of the following :

A. Shale
B. Marble
C. Limestone
D. Sandstone
Answer» B. Marble
Explanation: Shale, sandstone and limestone are classic examples of sedimentary rocks; Marble is a type of metamorphic rock. It is a non-foliated metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.
179.

The earth completes one rotation on its axis in :

A. 23 hrs. 56 min. 4.9 sec
B. 23 hrs. 10 min. 2 sec
C. 23 hrs. 30 min.
D. 24 hrs.
Answer» A. 23 hrs. 56 min. 4.9 sec
Explanation: The Earth rotates around its axis once in about 24 hours with respect to the sun and once every 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds with respect to the stars. The Earth rotates from the west towards east. Seasons are caused by Earth's rotation around its axis.
180.

Which one of the following planets has no moon?

A. Mars
B. Neptune
C. Mercury
D. Pluto
Answer» C. Mercury
Explanation: Mercury and Venus are the only two recognized planets in our solar system without moons. However, there are many, many planets in the universe and a significant portion of these, if our solar system is assumed representative of at least a significant portion of the universe's planetary systems likely have no moons.
181.

Which one of the following is called a red planet?

A. Venus
B. Mercury
C. Mars
D. Jupiter
Answer» C. Mars
Explanation: Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System. Named after the Roman god of war, it is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth.
182.

The number of zodiacs is –

A. 10
B. 12
C. 13
D. 11
Answer» B. 12
Explanation: In both astrology and historical astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude that are centered upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. Historically, these twelve divisions are called signs.
183.

Which of the following is known as the Morning Star?

A. Saturn
B. Jupiter
C. Mars
D. Venus
Answer» D. Venus
Explanation: One of the nicknames of Venus is "the Morning Star". It is also known as the Evening Star. Venus is called so because it appears brightest shortly before sunrise and shortly after sunset.
184.

The darkest portion of the shadow cast during an eclipse is–

A. Corona
B. Umbra
C. Penumbra
D. Black hole
Answer» B. Umbra
Explanation: The umbra (Latin for "shadow") is the innermost and darkest part of a shadow, where the light source is completely blocked by the occluding body. An observer in the umbra experiences a total eclipse.
185.

The total number of planets revolving around the sun is –

A. Five
B. Eight
C. Seven
D. Six
Answer» B. Eight
Explanation: There are 8 planets of the solar system that revolve around the sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto was stripped of its planetary status and categorized as a 'dwarf planet' by the International Astronomical Union in 2005.
186.

Isolines joining places of equal rainfall are called –

A. Isohyets
B. Isotherms
C. Isobars
D. Contours
Answer» A. Isohyets
Explanation: Isohyet is a line drawn on a map connecting points that receive equal amounts of rainfall in a given period. A map with isohyets is called an isohyetal map.
187.

Which of the following is not an Igneous Rock?

A. Dolomite
B. Granite
C. Basalt
D. Gabbro
Answer» A. Dolomite
Explanation: Dolomite is a common sedimentary rock-forming mineralcomposed of calcium magnesium carbonate, ideally CaMg(CO3)2. It is the primary component of the sedimentary rock known as dolostone and the metamorphic rock known as dolomitic marble. Limestone that contains some dolomite is known as dolomitic limestone
188.

Which is the warmest layer of the atmosphere?

A. Thermosphere
B. Troposphere
C. Stratosphere
D. Mesosphere
Answer» A. Thermosphere
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.
189.

Most of the ozone in the earth's atmosphere is found in the:

A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Mesophere
D. Thermosphere
Answer» B. Stratosphere
Explanation: Most ozone (about 90%) resides in a layer that begins between 10 and 17 kilometers above the Earth's surface and extends up to about 50 kilometers. This region of the atmosphere is called the stratosphere. The ozone layer absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
190.

How much of world's surface is covered by water?

A. 55%
B. 70%
C. 80%
D. 25%
Answer» B. 70%
Explanation: Water makes up 70.8% of the Earth's surface, while the other 29% consists of continents and Islands. To break the numbers down, 96.5% of all the Earth's water is contained within the oceans as salt water, while the remaining 3.5% is freshwater lakes and frozen water locked up in glaciers and the polar ice caps.
191.

The largest reservoir of fresh water is :

A. Glaciers
B. Ground Water
C. Ponds
D. Lakes
Answer» A. Glaciers
Explanation: The largest water reservoir is the ocean, containing 97.3% of all water on Earth. Only 2.8 % of all the water on Planet Earth is fresh water. Three-quarters of all fresh water on Earth is frozen in glacier ice. So glacier ice is the second largest reservoir of water on Earth and the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth!
192.

Soil factors are otherwise known as :

A. Edaphic factors
B. Biotic factors
C. Physiographic factors
D. Climatic factors
Answer» A. Edaphic factors
Explanation: Edaphic is a nature related to soil. Edaphic qualities may characterize the soil itself, including drain-age, texture, or chemical properties such as pH. Edaphic may also characterize organisms, such as plant communities, where it specifies their relation- ships with soil.
193.

Highly specialized form of agriculture in which crops like coffee, tea and rubber are cultivated refer to –

A. multiple cropping
B. plantation agriculture
C. terrace farming
D. extensive farming
Answer» B. plantation agriculture
Explanation: Plantation agriculture is a form of commercial farming where crops are grown for profit. Usually, only one type of crop is grown in a plantation. Common examples include rubber, coffee, tea, bananas, sugar cane, oil palm, cocoa and tobacco.
194.

Which of the following metals contribute to to biomagnifications problem in the ecosystem?

A. Mercury
B. Chromium
C. (4) Copper
D. (4) Lead
Answer» A. Mercury
Explanation: Mercury causes biomagnification problem in the ecosystem.
195.

What is the percentage coverage of Tropical Forest on earth's landmass?

A. 7
B. 12
C. 17
D. 25
Answer» A. 7
Explanation: Although tropical forests cover less than 7% of the earth's surface they are home to approximately 50% of all living things on earth.
196.

Which of the following phenomena is supposedly associated with global warming?

A. El Nino
B. La Nina
C. El Nino Modoki
D. Southern Oscillation
Answer» A. El Nino
Explanation: El Nino is an irregularly periodical variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. Scientists have found association with El Nino and global warming since El Nino events cause short-term spikes in global average surface temperature. For example, an increase in the frequency and magnitude of El Nino events have triggered warmer than usual temperatures over the Indian Ocean.
197.

What is the alternate name for contour lines?

A. Isopotential
B. Istherm
C. Isohypse
D. Isohyet
Answer» C. Isohypse
Explanation: Isohypse is a line on a map that joins points of equal elevation. It is also known as contour line.
198.

The fur of the animals living in colder regions –

A. protects them from water
B. traps the air and keeps them warm
C. protects them from enemies
D. makes them appear beautiful
Answer» B. traps the air and keeps them warm
Explanation: The fur of the animals living in colder regions traps the air and keeps them warm.
199.

The largest ocean is –

A. Atlantic Ocean
B. Indian Ocean
C. Arctic Ocean
D. Pacific Ocean
Answer» D. Pacific Ocean
Explanation: The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east. This largest division of the World Ocean - and, in turn, the hydrosphere - covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area, making it larger than all of the Earth's land area combined.
200.

Which from the following can cause a tsunami?

A. Volcano
B. Avalanche
C. Tornado
D. Earthquake
Answer» D. Earthquake
Explanation: Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes generated in a subduction zone, an area where an oceanic plate is being forced down into the mantle by plate tectonic forces. The friction between the subducting plate and the overriding plate is enormous.

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