UPSC IAS Prelims Base – Physical Geography

A meteor is :

Willy is :

Willy is :

Which one of the following layers of the atmosphere is responsible for the deflection of radio waves?

Assertion (A): Areas near the equator receive rainfall throughout the year.
Reason (R): High temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain in most afternoons near the equator.

Assertion (A): Mangroves are very specialised forest eco-systems of tropical and sub-tropical regions bordering certain sea coasts.
Reason (R) : They stabilise the shoreline and act as bulwark against encroachments by the sea.

Diamond ring is a phenomenon observed:

Which one of the following factors is responsible for the change in the regular direction of the ocean currents in the Indian Ocean?

The group of small pieces of rock revolving round the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter are called:

The group of small pieces of rock revolving round the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter are called:

In the earth’s direction of rotation is reversed, what should be the IST when it is noon at the International Date Line?

Which one of the following stars is nearest to the Earth?

Which one of the following conditions is most relevant for the presence of life on Mars?

Consider the following statements regarding asteroids

1. Asteroids are rocky debris of varying size orbiting the sun
2. Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large and 1000 km
3. The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn

Of these statements:

Consider the following statements regarding asteroids

1. Asteroids are rocky debris of varying size orbiting the sun
2. Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large and 1000 km
3. The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn

Of these statements:

The correct sequence of different layers of the  atmosphere from the surface of the Earth upwards is:

Estuaries possess distinct blooms of excessive growth of a pigmented dinoflagellates. These blooms are called

Among the following which planet takes maximum  time for one revolution around the Sun?

In which one of the following oceans Diamantine Trench is situated?

Which one of the following reflects back more sunlight as compared to other three?

Which one of the following types of coal contains a higher percentage of carbon than the rest?

Which one of the following scholars suggested the earth’s origin from gases and dust particles?

Which one of the following scholars suggested the earth’s origin from gases and dust particles?

A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus). What is/ are the implication/ implications of the creation of anti-matter?

1. It will make mineral prospecting and oil exploration easier and cheaper.
2. It will help probe the possibility of the existence of stars and galaxies made of anti-matter
3. It will help understand the evolution of the Universe

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following statements

1. The winds which blow between 30° N and 60° S latitudes throughout the year are known as
2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Along which one of the following meridians did India experience the first light of the sunrise of the new millennium?

Along which one of the following meridians did India experience the first light of the sunrise of the new millennium?

Consider the following statements:

1. Tides are of great help in navigation and fishing.
2. High tide enables big ships to enter or leave the harbour safely
3. Tide prevents siltation in the harbours
4. Kandla and Diamond Harbour are tidal ports 

Which of these statements are correct?

Consider the following statements about the ‘Roaring Forties’:

1. They blow uninterrupted in the northern and Southern Hemispheres
2. They blow with great strength and constancy
3. Their direction is generally from north-west to east in the Southern Hemisphere
4. Overcast skies, rain and raw weather are generally associated with them

Which of these statements are correct?

Which one of the following weather conditions is indicated by a sudden fall in barometer reading?

Who amongst the following was the first to state that the earth was spherical ?

If the stars are seen to rise perpendicular to the horizon by an observer, he is located on the:

Consider the following statements made about sedimentary rocks: 

1. Sedimentary rocks are formed at earth’s surface by the hydrological system
2. Formation of sedimentary rocks involves the weathering of preexisting rocks
3. Sedimentary rocks contain fossils
4. Sedimentary rocks typically occur in layers 

Which of these statements are correct?

Volcanic eruptions do not occur in :

Quartzite is metamorphosed from:

Identify the correct order of the process of soil-erosion from the following:

Assertion (A) :During the neap tides. The high tide is lower and the low tide is higher than usual.
Reason (R) : The neap tide, unlike the spring tide, occurs on the new moon instead of on the full moon.

Assertion (A) :During the neap tides. The high tide is lower and the low tide is higher than usual.
Reason (R) : The neap tide, unlike the spring tide, occurs on the new moon instead of on the full moon.

Sun’s halo is produced by the refraction of light in:

Consider the following statements:

1. Ocean currents are slow-surface movement of water in the ocean.
2. Ocean currents assist in maintaining the Earth’s heat balance
3. Ocean currents are set in motion primarily by prevailing winds
4. Ocean currents are affected by the configuration of the ocean

Which of these statements are correct?

Consider the following statements: 

1. In equatorial regions, the year is divided into four main seasons
2. In Mediterranean region, summer months receives more rain.
3. In China type climate; rainfall occurs throughout the year
4. Tropical highlands exhibit vertical zonation of different climates

Which of these statements are correct?

Consider the following ecosystems: 

1. Taiga
2. Tropical Evergreen
3. Tropical Deciduous 
4. Tundra

The correct sequence in decreasing order of the Albedo values of these ecosystems is :

Assertion (A) : 60° – 65° latitudes in both the hemispheres have a low pressure belt instead of high pressure.
Reason (R) : The low pressure areas are permanent over oceans rather than on land.

Assertion (A): The surface winds spiral inwards upon the centre of the cyclone.
Reason (R): Air descends in the centre of the cyclone.

Consider the following climatic and geographical phenomena:

1. Condensation
2. High temperature and humidity
3. Orography
4. Vertical wind

Thunder cloud development is due to which of these phenomena?

For short-term climatic predictions, which one of the following events, detected in the last decade, is  associated with occasional weak monsoon rains in the Indian sub-continent?

Which one of the following is not a lagoon?

Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to our solar system?

Assertion (A) : The amount of moisture in the atmosphere is related to latitude
Reason (R) :The capacity to hold moisture in the form of water vapour is related to temperature.

Assertion (A) : Unlike temperate forests, the tropical rain forests, if cleared, can yield productive farmland that can support intensive agriculture for several years even without chemical fertilizers.
Reason (R): The primary productivity of the tropical rain forest is very high when compared to that of temperate forests.

Assertion (A): Areas lying within five to eight degrees latitude on either side of the equator receive rainfall throughout the year.
Reason (R) : High temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain to fall mostly in the afternoons near the equator.

Which one among the following covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world?

Among the following which planet takes maximum time for one revolution around the Sun?

Assertion (A) : Thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator.
Reason (R) : High insolation and strong convection currents occur over the Equator.

Which one of the following statements is correct?

Where is the volcanic mountain, Mount St. Helens  located?

Assertion (A) : The same face of the moon is always presented to the earth.
Reason (R) : The moon rotates about its own axis in 23 and half days which is about the same time that is  takes to orbit the earth.

Assertion (A) : Existence of human life on Venus is highly improbable.
Reason (R): Venus has extremely high level of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.

Assertion (A) : Wind patterns are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Reason (R) : The directions of wind patterns in the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis effect.

Where are the Balearic Islands located?

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Consider the following statements

1. The Axis of the earth’s magnetic field is inclined at 23 and half to the geographic axis of the earth.
2. The earth’s magnetic pole in the Northern Hemisphere is located on a Peninsula in Northern
3. The earth’s magnetic equator passes through Thumba in South India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements :

1. Total land area of earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers
2. Ratio of land area to water area of earth is approximately 1 : 4
3. Maximum percentage of earth’s water is in the pacific Ocean

Which of the following given above is/are correct?

In which one of the following oceans Diamantine Trench is situated?      

Assertion (A): To orbit around the Sun the planet Mars takes lesser time than the time taken by the earth.
Reason (R) : The diameter of the planet Mars is less than that of earth.

What is the average distance (approximate) between the sun and the earth?

Consider the following statements: 

1. Either of the two belts over the oceans at about 30° to 35° N and S Latitudes is known as Horse
2. Horse latitudes are low pressure belts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: 

1. Annual range of temperature is greater in the Pacific Ocean than that in the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Annual range of temperature is greater in the Northern Hemisphere than that in the Southern

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Albedo of an object determines its visual brightness when viewed with reflected light.
2. Albedo of Mercury is much greater than the albedo of the Earth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

For India, China, UK and USA, which one of the following is the correct sequences of the median age of their population ?

In order of their distances from the Sun, which of the following planets lie between Mars and Uranus ?

Which one of the following planets has largest number of natural satellites or moons ?

In the structure of planet Earth, below the mantle, the core mainly made up of which one of the following ?

A new type of EI Nino called EI Nino Modoki appeared in the news. In the context, consider the following statements :

1. Normal EI Nino forms in the Central Pacific Ocean whereas EI Nino Modoki forms in Eastern Pacific Ocean
2. Normal EI Nino result in diminished hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean but EI Nino Modoki results in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency

Which of the statements is given above is/are correct ?

A new type of EI Nino called EI Nino Modoki appeared in the news. In the context, consider the following statements :

1. Normal EI Nino forms in the Central Pacific Ocean whereas EI Nino Modoki forms in Eastern Pacific Ocean
2. Normal EI Nino result in diminished hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean but EI Nino Modoki results in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency

Which of the statements is given above is/are correct ?

Consider the following statements :

1. Biodiversity hot spots are located only in tropical regions.
2. India has four biodiversity hot spots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Which of the statements given above Ware correct ?

With reference to soil conservation, consider the following practices

1. Crop rotation
2. Sand fences
3. Terracing
4. Wind breaks

Which of the above are considered appropriate methods for soil conservation in India?

Which one of the following reflects back more sunlight  as compared to other three?

With reference to, the river Luni, which one of the  following statements is correct?

A geographic region has the following distinct characteristics:

1. Warm and dry climate
2. Mild and wet winter
3. Evergreen Oak trees

The above features are distinct characteristics of which one of the following regions?

What causes wind to deflect toward left in the  Southern Hemisphere?

If a tropical rain forest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest. This is because

A layer in the Earth’s atmosphere called ionosphere facilities radio communication. Why?

1. The presence of ozone causes the reflection of radio waves to earth.
2. Radio waves have a very long wavelength.

 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino ?

1. La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
2. El Nino has adverse effect on south-west monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate.

WHich of the statements given above is/are correct ?

What is difference between asteroids and comets?

1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Westerlies in southern hemisphere are stronger and  persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why?

1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere.
2. Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisphere.

Which of the statements given above Ware correct ?

What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of African and Eurasian desert belt ?

1. It is located in the sub-tropical high pressurecells.
2. It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

The jet aircrafts fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate explanation?

1. There are no clouds or water vapour in the lower
2. There are no vertical winds in the lowerstratosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus). What is/are the implication/ implications of the creation of anti-matter?

1. It will make mineral prospecting and oil exploration easier and cheaper.
2. It will help probe the possibility of the existence of stars and galaxies made of anti-matter.
3. It will help understand the evolution of the universe.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as  evidence/evidences for the continued expansion of  universe?

1. Detection of microwaves in space
2. Observation of redshift phenomenon in space
3. Movement of asteroids in space
4. Occurrence of supernova explosions in space.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following factors:

1. Rotation of the Earth
2. Air pressure and wind
3. Density of ocean water
4. Revolution of the Earth

Which of the above factors influence the ocean currents?

Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth’ssurface, because

1. the atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth’s surface
2. there is more moisture in the upper atmosphere
3. the air is less dense in the upper atmosphere

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?

Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?

Variations in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to season are due to :

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

Consider the following pairs:

1. Electromagnetic radiation
2. Geothermal energy
3. Gravitational force
4. Plate movements
5. Rotation of the earth
6. Revolution of the earth

Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?

The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where

Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/ characteristics of equatorial forests?

1. Presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy
2. Coexistence of a large number of species
3.  Presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason/reasons?

1. Thermal difference between land and water
2. Variation in altitude between continents and oceans
3. Presence of strong winds in the interior
4. Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

‘Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders.’
The above statement best describes which of the following regions ?

Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms?

1. Continental drift
2. Glacial cycles

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following statements

1. The winds which blow between 30° N and 60° S latitudes throughout the year are known as
2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.

Which of the statements given above Ware correct?

Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following? 

1. Gravitational force of the Sun
2. Gravitational force of the Moon
3. Centrifugal force of the Earth

Select the correct answer using the code given below

“Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over.” Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?

In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?

What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current ?