Daily Static Quiz (Geography) December 18, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Geography) December 18, 2025

1. Consider the following statements regarding global river systems and their drainage characteristics:

1. The Amazon Basin covers approximately 35% of South American landmass and has a discharge volume greater than the next seven largest rivers combined.

2. The Congo River is the world’s deepest river and drains the second-largest rainforest, flowing through a rift basin formation.

3. The Nile River’s flow is significantly influenced by seasonal monsoon patterns similar to Asian river systems, resulting in predictable flood cycles.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

2. The Lena River, flowing through Siberia to the Arctic Ocean, exhibits characteristics distinctly different from tropical river systems. Which of the following factors is MOST responsible for this difference?

a) Higher annual precipitation in Siberian regions compared to tropical zones
b) Permafrost conditions causing reduced infiltration and groundwater discharge patterns
c) Clockwise oceanic circulation systems affecting river flow in polar regions
d) Higher salinity levels in Arctic water bodies necessitating different erosion patterns

3. A major river in Southeast Asia flows through a complex deltaic system with multiple distributaries, creating an extensive network of islands and channels. This unique morphology is primarily a result of:

1. High sediment load from montane tributaries combined with tidal influences

2. Absence of strong monsoon influence during discharge periods

3. Divergent lithospheric plate boundaries creating multiple sub-basins

Which of the above explain the deltaic complexity?

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

4. Consider the following pairs regarding ocean circulation patterns and their causes:

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

5. Recent oceanographic studies have identified that certain ocean basins maintain higher salinity between 20°-40° latitudes despite receiving equivalent precipitation to equatorial regions. This phenomenon is primarily explained by:

a) The compensatory effect of river discharge systems unique to these latitudes
b) Higher evaporation rates relative to precipitation in subtropical high-pressure zones
c) Subduction of saltier water masses from deeper ocean layers
d) Reduced solar radiation affecting density stratification in these regions

6. The Himalayas and the Andes Mountains, despite originating from similar plate tectonic processes, exhibit different erosion patterns and morphologies. Which of the following statements best explains this variation?

1. The Andes experience higher precipitation on windward slopes due to trade wind persistence

2. The Himalayan region displays greater crustal uplift rates compensated by more active fluvial erosion

3. The Andes are older fold mountains showing reduced seismic activity compared to the Himalayas

Which statements are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

7. Young fold mountains like the Himalayas are characterized by certain distinctive features. When traveling through these mountains, which of the following would you observe as direct evidence of their youthfulness?

1. Syntaxial bending of mountain axes indicating recent lateral plate movements

2. Absence of parallel mountain ranges due to initial compression stages

3. Deep gorges with steep gradients causing frequent landslide occurrences

4. U-shaped valleys formed by glacial activity in high altitude regions

Which are correct evidences?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 3, and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

8. The African continent’s physiography is dominated by the Great Rift Valley system extending from the Red Sea through East Africa. Which of the following statements regarding this formation is INCORRECT?

a) The rifting process began approximately 40 million years ago in the Afar region due to mantle plume activity
b) The system represents a divergent plate boundary where the African Plate is actively separating into fragments
c) The rifting has resulted in the formation of linear seas such as the Red Sea representing stage 3 of rift evolution
d) The Eastern and Western Rift Valley branches in East Africa have been entirely separate since their formation with no interconnections

9. Consider the geographical implications of the Ring of Fire phenomenon on human settlements and economic activities:

1. The Ring of Fire contains approximately 75% of the world’s active volcanoes and is responsible for roughly 90% of global seismic energy release

2. Subduction zones within the Ring of Fire have created some of the world’s deepest oceanic trenches, significantly affecting ocean circulation patterns

3. The region’s high geothermal potential has been inadequately exploited, with less than 5% of potential geothermal resources developed globally

4. Transform plate boundaries within the Ring of Fire, such as the San Andreas Fault, represent areas of primarily constructive geological processes

Which statements are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2, and 3 only
c) 2, 3, and 4 only
d) 1, 3, and 4 only

10. The Sahara Desert, covering approximately 9 million square kilometers across North Africa, exhibits distinct micro-relief features resulting from differential erosion processes. Which of the following correctly describes the hierarchical sequence of these landforms from largest to smallest scale?

a) Erg (sand seas) → Regs (stone plains) → Hammadas (plateaus) → Oases (water pockets)
b) Hammadas (plateaus) → Regs (stone plains) → Erg (sand seas) → Oases (water pockets)
c) Regs (stone plains) → Erg (sand seas) → Hammadas (plateaus) → Oases (water pockets)
d) Oases (water pockets) → Hammadas (plateaus) → Regs (stone plains) → Erg (sand seas)

ANSWER KEY WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS

QUESTION 1

Correct Answer: a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 – CORRECT: The Amazon Basin covers approximately 35.5% of South American landmass and is the world’s largest river system by discharge volume. Its discharge exceeds 209,000 cubic meters per second, which is greater than the combined discharge of the next seven largest rivers worldwide. This exceptional discharge is due to the basin receiving enormous precipitation from trade winds and the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Statement 2 – CORRECT: The Congo River (also known as the Zaire River) is indeed the deepest river on Earth, with depths exceeding 220 meters in certain sections. It drains the Congo Basin, which contains the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon. The river flows through a rift basin, a geological formation resulting from ancient crustal extension, which explains its considerable depth and unique hydrological characteristics.

Statement 3 – INCORRECT: The Nile River’s flow is primarily influenced by seasonal convective rainfall in equatorial Africa (East African highlands) and does NOT follow monsoon patterns like Asian rivers. The Nile’s flow is highly irregular and unpredictable due to climatic factors in its source region. Additionally, much of the Nile traverses arid regions (Sahara Desert) where evapotranspiration is extremely high, making it distinct from monsoon-influenced river systems. The recent construction of the Aswan High Dam has entirely altered natural flood cycles.

QUESTION 2

Correct Answer: b) Permafrost conditions causing reduced infiltration and groundwater discharge patterns

Explanation:

The Lena River in Siberia flows through a permafrost-dominated landscape, which fundamentally alters its hydrological behavior compared to tropical river systems.

Why option b is correct:

Permafrost (permanently frozen ground) acts as an impermeable layer preventing infiltration of precipitation and groundwater recharge. This results in:

• Increased surface runoff and overland flow

• Minimal groundwater contribution to baseflow

• Highly seasonal discharge patterns (most flow concentrated during brief summer thaw)

• Formation of braided channels due to high sediment loads during melt season

• Reduced year-round flow compared to temperate or tropical rivers with active groundwater systems

Why other options are incorrect:

a) Precipitation patterns: Siberian regions receive LESS precipitation than tropical zones. The continental climate of Siberia receives approximately 400-600mm annually, while tropical regions receive 2000-3000mm+.

c) Oceanic circulation: Arctic Ocean currents are influenced by density gradients and wind patterns, not directly determining river morphology.

d) Salinity levels: Arctic rivers are freshwater systems; salinity differences occur only at their mouths where they meet marine environments.

QUESTION 3

Correct Answer: a) 1 only

Explanation:

This question refers to deltaic systems like the Mekong Delta in Southeast Asia, characterized by extensive distributary networks.

Why Statement 1 is CORRECT:

The complexity of Southeast Asian deltas results from the interaction of two key factors:

1. High sediment load: Rivers originating in montane regions (Himalayas, Shan Hills) transport enormous quantities of sediment eroded from steep slopes. This sediment is deposited in deltas, building and rebuilding distributary channels.

2. Tidal influences: Strong tidal currents in the Gulf of Thailand and surrounding waters interact with river discharge, creating dynamic sediment redistribution patterns. Tidal scour maintains deeper channels while tidal deposition widens others, resulting in the complex network of islands and waterways.

Why Statement 2 is INCORRECT:

Southeast Asian rivers are HIGHLY influenced by monsoon patterns. The Southwest Monsoon (May-October) brings intense rainfall, while the Northeast Monsoon (November-April) is drier. The predictability and intensity of monsoon discharge is a primary reason for the region’s high productivity and the formation of extensive deltaic plains.

Why Statement 3 is INCORRECT:

While the Indian plate’s collision with Eurasia involves tectonic activity, the specific deltaic morphology is NOT primarily a result of divergent plate boundaries. The Mekong Delta region is relatively tectonically stable compared to subduction zones. The morphology is driven by fluvial-marine interactions rather than plate tectonics.

QUESTION 4

Correct Answer: d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation:

Pair 1 – CORRECT: The Benguela Current is a cold-water current flowing northward along the southwest coast of Africa. It is generated by the Ekman spiral effect, where trade winds (predominantly South-East Trade Winds in the Southern Hemisphere) push surface water offshore, forcing cold, nutrient-rich deep water to upwell. This creates one of the world’s most productive fishing regions and causes coastal deserts (Namib and Atacama).

Pair 2 – CORRECT: The Equatorial Counter-Current (also called Equatorial Undercurrent in some regions) flows eastward in the equatorial Pacific and Atlantic. This occurs because:

• North and South Equatorial Currents converge near the equator

• This convergence creates a pressure gradient (water “piles up”)

• Water cannot flow directly downward (blocked by thermocline), so it flows eastward following the pressure gradient

• The Coriolis effect is minimal at the equator, allowing this eastward flow

Pair 3 – CORRECT: The Mediterranean Sea has high evaporation rates relative to freshwater input (through rivers like the Nile, Danube, and rainfall). This creates:

• Increased salinity in Mediterranean surface waters

• Water becomes denser and sinks

• Dense water flows out through the Strait of Gibraltar at depth, creating the Mediterranean Outflow Water

• This phenomenon is a classic example of thermohaline circulation driven by density differences

QUESTION 5

Correct Answer: b) Higher evaporation rates relative to precipitation in subtropical high-pressure zones

Explanation:

Correct Explanation (Option b):

Ocean salinity between 20°-40° latitudes remains high despite substantial precipitation due to the subtropical climate regime:

1. Subtropical High-Pressure Systems: Between 20°-40° latitudes exist semi-permanent high-pressure cells (anticyclones). These systems create:

   • Clear skies and intense solar radiation

   • Low humidity and high evaporation rates

   • Minimal cloud cover reducing precipitation

2. Evaporation > Precipitation: Although these regions receive adequate rainfall, evaporation exceeds precipitation by significant margins. In the Atlantic, salinity peaks between 20°-40° latitude at approximately 36 ppt (practical salinity units), which is higher than equatorial salinity (~34-35 ppt).

3. Continental Interior effect: Many subtropical oceans have less river discharge compared to equatorial regions, reducing freshwater influx that would lower salinity.

Why other options are incorrect:

a) River discharge: Rivers are minimal in most subtropical ocean centers; this is not compensatory because subtropical oceans are far from major continental rivers.

c) Subduction: Subduction zones don’t selectively occur at these latitudes; this is not the primary mechanism for salinity variations.

d) Solar radiation: Higher solar radiation at these latitudes INCREASES evaporation, not reduces it. Lower radiation would occur at higher latitudes, not 20°-40°.

QUESTION 6

Correct Answer: b) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

Both the Himalayas and Andes formed through convergent plate boundary processes (orogenic compression), yet display different characteristics due to regional variations.

Why Statement 1 is CORRECT:

The Andes extend from tropical (Colombia, Ecuador) to polar (Chile, Argentina) latitudes. In many sections, particularly the Andean passes, they intercept trade winds on their windward (eastern) slopes, creating areas with exceptionally high precipitation. Valleys on leeward (western) slopes are arid (Atacama Desert). This contrasts with Himalayan precipitation patterns, which are driven primarily by Southwest Monsoons with less influence from trade winds.

Why Statement 2 is CORRECT:

The Himalayan region exhibits:

• One of the world’s highest crustal uplift rates (10mm/year in some sections)

• This rapid uplift is compensated by intense fluvial erosion (rivers like Brahmaputra, Teesta cut through rising mountains)

• The high erosion rates prevent excessive elevation gain despite rapid uplift

• Andes show similar but somewhat lower net uplift rates due to different subduction geometries

Why Statement 3 is INCORRECT:

The Andes are NOT older than the Himalayas. The Andes formed during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic era with major uplift during the Neogene (last 23 million years). The Himalayas formed during the Cenozoic, with major uplift since the Oligocene (34 million years ago). Both are young fold mountains. Furthermore, the Andes remain highly seismic—the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate generates frequent, powerful earthquakes (e.g., 2010 Chile earthquake, magnitude 8.8). Both mountain systems are tectonically active.

QUESTION 7

Correct Answer: c) 1, 3, and 4 only

Explanation:

Young fold mountains like the Himalayas exhibit distinctive features reflecting recent and ongoing tectonic activity combined with active erosion.

Statement 1 – CORRECT: Syntaxial bending refers to the deflection of mountain axes caused by lateral plate movements. In the Himalayas, the boundary between the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate exhibits syntaxial bending patterns, particularly where the structural grain is deflected from east-west to north-south orientations. This is a direct reflection of the young, ongoing collision.

Statement 2 – INCORRECT: Young fold mountains FREQUENTLY display parallel mountain ranges, not their absence. The Himalayas show multiple parallel ranges (Greater Himalayas, Lesser Himalayas, Siwaliks) representing different stages of compression and folding. Parallel ranges are characteristic features of young mountains. Old fold mountains (Appalachians, Aravalli) show worn-down, irregular patterns without parallel structure.

Statement 3 – CORRECT: Deep gorges with steep gradients causing frequent mass movement are hallmarks of young mountains. Rivers like the Brahmaputra, Teesta, and Sutlej cut through the rising terrain, creating gorges with vertical drops exceeding 1000 meters. Steep gradients promote landslides, rockfall, and other mass movement phenomena as rocks haven’t yet been weathered into stable slopes.

Statement 4 – CORRECT: U-shaped glaciated valleys are visible in higher Himalayan elevations (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim regions). Glaciers moving through previously V-shaped fluvial valleys carved U-shaped profiles. The presence of active and relict glacial features demonstrates the mountain’s youthfulness and ongoing processes.

QUESTION 8

Correct Answer: d) Absence of parallel mountain ranges due to initial compression stages

Explanation:

The Great Rift Valley represents one of Earth’s most dramatic examples of continental rifting, with profound implications for African geology and geography.

Analyzing each statement:

Statement a – CORRECT: Geological evidence confirms that rifting in the Afar region of Ethiopia began approximately 30-40 million years ago. This was triggered by a massive mantle plume (thermal anomaly) rising beneath the lithosphere. The hot mantle material domed the overlying crust, weakening it and initiating extensional (divergent) tectonics. The Afar Triangle represents the meeting point of three spreading centers (Red Sea Rift, Gulf of Aden Ridge, and East African Rift).

Statement b – CORRECT: The Great Rift Valley is indeed a divergent plate boundary. In the East African region, the African Plate is actively splitting into:

• Nubian Plate (to the west)

• Somali Plate (to the east)

This separation is occurring at a rate of several millimeters per year, creating a classic continental rift that may eventually evolve into an ocean basin (following the four-stage model: doming → rifting → linear sea → ocean).

Statement c – CORRECT: The Red Sea represents Stage 3 of rift evolution—the “linear sea” stage. It formed where continental crust has been sufficiently stretched and thinned that oceanic crust began forming along the spreading center. The Red Sea is currently widening at approximately 2 cm/year due to seafloor spreading.

Statement d – INCORRECT: This statement is factually incorrect. The Eastern Rift Valley and Western Rift Valley (in East Africa) are NOT entirely separate since their formation. They:

• Converge and merge in southern Tanzania, specifically along the Tanzania-Zambia border

• Are connected through various fault systems

• Were not formed as independent features but as part of the same regional stress field

• Only appear as separate branches due to the complexity of stress distribution across thick continental crust

QUESTION 9

Correct Answer: b) 1, 2, and 3 only

Explanation:

The Ring of Fire (Circum-Pacific Belt) represents Earth’s most seismically and volcanically active region, with significant geophysical and economic implications.

Statement 1 – CORRECT: The Ring of Fire contains approximately 75% of the world’s active volcanoes (estimated 450+ active and dormant volcanoes). It is responsible for approximately 90% of the world’s seismic energy release. This extraordinary concentration of tectonic activity results from multiple convergent (subduction) and transform plate boundaries surrounding the Pacific Plate, making it uniquely hazardous.

Statement 2 – CORRECT: Subduction zones within the Ring of Fire have created the world’s deepest oceanic trenches:

• Mariana Trench (11,034 meters) – where Pacific Plate subducts under Philippine Plate

• Tonga Trench – beneath South Pacific

• Peru-Chile Trench – where Nazca Plate subducts under South American Plate

These deep trenches significantly affect ocean circulation patterns by creating unique pressure gradients, influencing cold-water upwelling, and affecting nutrient distribution in deep ocean layers.

Statement 3 – CORRECT: The Ring of Fire contains 40% of Earth’s geothermal resources. However, only approximately 10-15% of global geothermal energy is currently developed and utilized. New Zealand, Iceland, Philippines, and Indonesia lead in geothermal exploitation, but vast reserves in tectonically active zones of Japan, Peru, Chile, and Indonesia remain inadequately developed due to technological, economic, and infrastructural barriers.

Statement 4 – INCORRECT: Transform plate boundaries are NOT primarily constructive. They are primarily:

• Conservative/Transform boundaries where crust is neither created nor destroyed; plates slide horizontally past each other

• The San Andreas Fault (transforming Pacific Plate and North American Plate) is a classic example

• While some local crustal deformation occurs, these boundaries don’t produce new crust (unlike divergent boundaries) or destroy crust (unlike convergent boundaries)

QUESTION 10

Correct Answer: b) Hammadas (plateaus) → Regs (stone plains) → Erg (sand seas) → Oases (water pockets)

Explanation:

The Sahara Desert exhibits a hierarchical organization of micro-relief features resulting from differential erosion, wind action, and water availability patterns. Understanding this sequence is critical for UPSC geography.

Correct hierarchical sequence explained:

1. Hammadas (Plateaus) – LARGEST SCALE FEATURES (~kilometers to tens of kilometers)

   • Elevated, hard-rock plateau surfaces

   • Composed of resistant rock layers (limestone, sandstone)

   • Heights can exceed 3,300 meters (Ahaggar Mountains)

   • Represent the remnants of ancient mountain systems and erosional residuals

   • Example: Acacus Plateau, Tassili n’Ajjer Plateau

2. Regs (Stone Plains) – INTERMEDIATE SCALE FEATURES (~hundreds of meters to few kilometers)

   • Vast plains covered with gravel, pebbles, and stones

   • Formed where fine material has been deflated (removed by wind) while coarser stones remain

   • Cover approximately 75% of Sahara’s surface

   • Wind-polished stones (ventifacts) are characteristic

   • Examples: Reg of Erg Chech, Idehan Ubari

3. Ergs (Sand Seas) – VARIABLE SCALE FEATURES (~sand dunes and dune fields)

   • Major sand deposits with dune formations (barchan, linear, star dunes)

   • Occupy approximately 20-30% of Sahara

   • Composed of fine sand with variable thickness (up to 150 meters)

   • Formed by wind accumulation and sand transportation

   • Examples: Grand Erg Western, Erg Iguidi

4. Oases (Water Pockets) – SMALLEST SCALE FEATURES (~meters to few hundred meters)

   • Localized areas where groundwater reaches the surface

   • Support vegetation due to available water

   • May represent artesian wells or areas with shallow water tables

   • Examples: Siwa Oasis, Djanet Oasis, Araouane Oasis

Why this sequence represents hierarchical organization:

• Largest → Smallest: From broad structural features (hammadas) → intermediate erosional surfaces (regs) → depositional features (ergs) → localized groundwater phenomena (oases)

• Temporal evolution: Represents different stages of desert landscape development

• Process-based: Reflects wind erosion (deflation), deposition, and groundwater influence

Daily Static Quiz