UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 19: Water on the Earth, Marine Resources and Coral Reefs (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 19: Water on the Earth, Marine Resources and Coral Reefs (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: Geography. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

In NCERT's table of water on the Earth's surface, the oceans account for about what share of the Earth's total water?

Correct Answer: A [97.25 per cent]

Explanation:

NCERT's table puts the oceans at 1,370 million km³, that is 97.25 per cent of all the water on the Earth.

2.  

Which of the following holds the most fresh water?

Correct Answer: D [Ice caps and glaciers]

Explanation:

Ice caps and glaciers hold about 2.05 per cent of all water, more than all the other fresh-water stores combined.

3.  

In the NCERT table, which store has the smallest volume?

Correct Answer: D [Biosphere]

Explanation:

The biosphere holds only about 0.0006 million km³ (0.00004 per cent), the smallest store in NCERT's table.

4.  

The movement of water from the land surface down into the soil and rocks is called:

Correct Answer: C [infiltration]

Explanation:

Infiltration is the soaking of water from the land surface into the soil and underlying rocks, where it recharges groundwater.

5.  

Polymetallic nodules are rich mainly in:

Correct Answer: D [manganese, nickel, copper and cobalt]

Explanation:

Polymetallic nodules on the deep ocean floor are valued for manganese, nickel, copper and cobalt, with manganese the chief metal.

6.  

Monazite, found in the beach sands of Keralam and Tamil Nadu, is important as a source of:

Correct Answer: A [thorium]

Explanation:

Monazite is a phosphate mineral containing thorium, the fuel base for the third stage of India's nuclear programme.

7.  

Under UNCLOS, the exclusive economic zone extends up to:

Correct Answer: C [200 nautical miles]

Explanation:

Article 57 of UNCLOS limits the exclusive economic zone to 200 nautical miles from the baselines.

8.  

The microscopic algae living in coral tissues are called:

Correct Answer: C [zooxanthellae]

Explanation:

Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic algae living inside coral tissues; they give corals their colour and much of their food.

9.  

A reef separated from the shore by a wide and deep lagoon is a:

Correct Answer: D [barrier reef]

Explanation:

A barrier reef lies parallel to the coast but is separated from it by a wide, deep lagoon, as in the Great Barrier Reef.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Corals need warm, clear and shallow water.
2. Corals grow poorly near the mouths of large rivers.
3. Corals are plants that make their own food.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are correct: corals need warm, clear, shallow water and grow poorly where silt and fresh water enter.

11.  

Assertion (A): Prolonged high sea temperatures cause coral bleaching.

Reason (R): Under heat stress corals expel the algae that give them colour and food.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true and linked: bleaching is the whitening that follows when heat-stressed corals expel their zooxanthellae.

12.  

Lakshadweep islands are mainly:

Correct Answer: B [coral atolls]

Explanation:

Lakshadweep's islands are coral atolls and reefs built on submarine banks in the Arabian Sea.

13.  

In the territorial sea, foreign ships enjoy the right of:

Correct Answer: A [innocent passage]

Explanation:

Under UNCLOS, foreign ships may pass through the territorial sea if the passage does not threaten the coastal State's peace, order or security.

14.  

Energy obtained from the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water is:

Correct Answer: B [ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)]

Explanation:

OTEC runs a heat engine on the temperature difference, about 20 °C or more, between warm surface water and cold deep water.

15.  

About what share of the Earth's surface is covered with water?

Correct Answer: C [71 per cent]

Explanation:

Water covers about 71 per cent of the Earth's surface, leaving about 29 per cent as land.

16.  

The deep sea bed beyond national jurisdiction is managed by the:

Correct Answer: B [International Seabed Authority]

Explanation:

UNCLOS set up the International Seabed Authority to organise and control mineral activities in the Area beyond national jurisdiction.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. India's Maritime Zones Act
2. Darwin's subsidence theory of coral reefs
3. India's Deep Ocean Mission
4. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-1-4-3]

Explanation:

1842, 1976, 1982, 2021.

18.  

The contiguous zone under UNCLOS extends up to:

Correct Answer: C [24 nautical miles]

Explanation:

Article 33 of UNCLOS allows a contiguous zone up to 24 nautical miles from the baselines for customs, fiscal, immigration and sanitary control.

19.  

The Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of:

Correct Answer: D [Australia]

Explanation:

The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, stretches along the Queensland coast of north-eastern Australia.

20.  

India's first marine biosphere reserve, with coral reefs around 21 islands, is:

Correct Answer: B [Gulf of Mannar]

Explanation:

The Gulf of Mannar, between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, became India's first marine biosphere reserve in 1989; it has 21 islands.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

ice caps and glaciers (about 2.05 per cent) exceed groundwater (about 0.68 per cent).

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2013

On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion

Correct Answer: C [exists as groundwater]

Explanation:

groundwater is the largest store after ice.

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