UPSC World Geography – Chapter 21: The World on the Map – Straits, Islands and Places in the News (33 MCQs)

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UPSC World Geography – Chapter 21: The World on the Map – Straits, Islands and Places in the News (33 MCQs) – 32 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.  

Which one of the following African countries is crossed by the equator?

Correct Answer: C [Gabon]

Explanation:

The equator crosses northern Gabon, just south of Libreville; Gabon is one of the seven African equator countries.

2.  

The Strait of Otranto, between Italy and Albania, connects the Adriatic Sea with the:

Correct Answer: A [Ionian Sea]

Explanation:

the Strait of Otranto, at the south-eastern end of the Adriatic, links it with the Ionian Sea.

3.  

The Mozambique Channel separates Mozambique from:

Correct Answer: B [Madagascar]

Explanation:

The Mozambique Channel is the arm of the Indian Ocean between mainland Mozambique and the island of Madagascar.

4.  

Which one of the following countries has a coast on both the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea?

Correct Answer: C [Russia]

Explanation:

Russia is the only country bordering both seas: the Black Sea in the south-west and the Caspian at the Volga delta.

5.  

Mindanao is a region often in the news. It belongs to:

Correct Answer: B [the Philippines]

Explanation:

Mindanao is the large southern island of the Philippines and home of the Bangsamoro autonomous region.

6.  

The Tropic of Cancer does NOT pass through:

Correct Answer: D [Pakistan]

Explanation:

Pakistan lies wholly north of the Tropic of Cancer; it runs through Gujarat, south of the Pakistan border.

7.  

The Strait of Messina separates mainland Italy from:

Correct Answer: D [Sicily]

Explanation:

The Strait of Messina separates the island of Sicily from Calabria on mainland Italy.

8.  

The La Pérouse (Sōya) Strait, which separates the Sea of Japan from the Sea of Okhotsk, lies between:

Correct Answer: B [Hokkaido and Sakhalin]

Explanation:

the La Pérouse (Sōya) Strait runs between Japan's Hokkaido and Russia's Sakhalin, joining the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk.

9.  

Cabo Delgado, often in the news, is in:

Correct Answer: C [Mozambique]

Explanation:

Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique, on the Indian Ocean, near the Rovuma gas fields.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The Tropic of Capricorn passes through three continents.
2. The equator passes through Lake Victoria.
3. Malaysia is crossed by the equator.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

The Tropic of Capricorn crosses South America, Africa and Australia, and the equator crosses Lake Victoria; Malaysia lies north of it.

11.  

Assertion (A): Singapore is nearer the equator than Jakarta.

Reason (R): Singapore lies at about 1° N, while Jakarta lies at about 6° S.

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

Explanation:

Both are true, and R explains A: about 1° from the equator is closer than about 6° from it.

12.  

Which one of the following countries has a coast on the Adriatic Sea?

Correct Answer: D [Albania]

Explanation:

Albania has a western coast on the Adriatic, with the Strait of Otranto at its southern end.

13.  

The Davis Strait, which links Baffin Bay with the Labrador Sea, lies between Greenland and:

Correct Answer: B [Baffin Island (Canada)]

Explanation:

the Davis Strait lies between south-western Greenland and south-eastern Baffin Island in Canada.

14.  

Which country became independent in 2011?

Correct Answer: A [South Sudan]

Explanation:

South Sudan became independent from Sudan on 9 July 2011 and joined the UN as its 193rd member.

15.  

Tigray and Amhara, often in the news, are regions of:

Correct Answer: B [Ethiopia]

Explanation:

Tigray, Amhara and Oromia are regional states of Ethiopia, affected by conflict since 2020.

16.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Eritrea becomes independent
2. South Sudan becomes independent
3. Panama Canal opened
4. Suez Canal opened

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation:

1869, 1914, 1993, 2011.

17.  

Which one of the following lakes is crossed by the equator?

Correct Answer: D [Lake Victoria]

Explanation:

The equator crosses the northern part of Lake Victoria, shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

18.  

Rafah lies on the border between:

Correct Answer: D [Gaza and Egypt]

Explanation:

Rafah is the crossing point on the border between the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt's Sinai.

19.  

The Bosporus connects the Black Sea with the:

Correct Answer: C [Sea of Marmara]

Explanation:

The Bosporus joins the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, which the Dardanelles then join to the Aegean.

20.  
UPSC Prelims 2025

Consider the following water bodies:

I. Lake Tanganyika

II. Lake Tonle Sap

III. Patos Lagoon

Through how many of them does the equator pass?

Correct Answer: D [None]

Explanation:

Tanganyika and Patos lie south of it, Tonle Sap north of it.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

Consider the following pairs:

Region Often Mentioned in the News – Country

1. Anatolia – Turkey
2. Amhara – Ethiopia
3. Cabo Delgado – Spain
4. Catalonia – Italy

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: B [Only two pairs]

Explanation:

1 and 2; Cabo Delgado is in Mozambique and Catalonia in Spain.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2019

Consider the following pairs:

Sea : Bordering country

1. Adriatic Sea : Albania
2. Black Sea : Croatia
3. Caspian Sea : Kazakhstan
4. Mediterranean Sea : Morocco
5. Red Sea : Syria

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: B [1, 3 and 4 only]

Explanation:

Albania is on the Adriatic, Kazakhstan on the Caspian and Morocco on the Mediterranean; Croatia and Syria are mismatched.

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

Consider the following pairs:

Regions sometimes mentioned in news - Country

1. Catalonia - Spain
2. Crimea - Hungary
3. Mindanao - Philippines
4. Oromia - Nigeria

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: C [1 and 3 only]

Explanation:

Catalonia is in north-eastern Spain and Mindanao in the Philippines; Crimea is Ukrainian and Oromia Ethiopian.

24.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

Consider the following pairs:

Towns sometimes mentioned in news - Country

1. Aleppo - Syria
2. Kirkuk - Yemen
3. Mosul - Palestine
4. Mazar-i-sharif - Afghanistan

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 4]

Explanation:

Aleppo is in Syria and Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan; Kirkuk and Mosul are both in Iraq.

25.  
UPSC Prelims 2017

Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries?

1. Jordan
2. Iraq
3. Lebanon
4. Syria

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [3 and 4 only]

Explanation:

Lebanon and Syria have Mediterranean coasts; Jordan reaches only the Gulf of Aqaba and Iraq only the Persian Gulf.

26.  
UPSC Prelims 2009

Consider the following countries:

1. Australia
2. Namibia
3. Brazil
4. Chile

Through which of the above does the Tropic of Capricorn pass?

Correct Answer: D [1, 2, 3 and 4]

Explanation:

The Tropic of Capricorn crosses Australia, Namibia, Brazil and Chile, so all four are correct.

27.  
UPSC Prelims 2009

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

City : River

Correct Answer: A [Berlin : Rhine]

Explanation:

not matched; Berlin is on the Spree.

28.  
UPSC Prelims 2008

In which one of the following is Malta located?

Correct Answer: B [Mediterranean Sea]

Explanation:

south of Sicily.

29.  
UPSC Prelims 2008

Which of the following cities is nearest to the equator?

Correct Answer: D [Singapore]

Explanation:

about 1° N.

30.  
UPSC Prelims 2008

Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line?

Correct Answer: B [Bering Strait]

Explanation:

The Bering Strait lies at about 169° W, only about 11° from the 180° meridian followed by the Date Line.

31.  
UPSC Prelims 2006

Through which one of the following groups of countries does the Equator pass ?

Correct Answer: B [Colombia, Kenya and Indonesia]

Explanation:

The equator crosses Colombia's south, central Kenya and Indonesia's Sumatra, Borneo and Sulawesi.

32.  
UPSC Prelims 2003

Israel has common borders with :

Correct Answer: A [Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt]

Explanation:

Israel's land borders are with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, besides the Palestinian territories.

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