Daily Static Quiz (Geography) November 13, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Geography) November 13, 2025

Question 1

Consider the following statement regarding the marginal seas bordering the Russian Federation:

From east to west along Russia’s Arctic and Pacific coastlines, which of the following represents the correct sequence of major seas?

(A) Barents Sea → Laptev Sea → East Siberian Sea → Bering Sea → Sea of Okhotsk

(B) East Siberian Sea → Laptev Sea → Barents Sea → Kara Sea → Bering Sea

(C) Bering Sea → Sea of Okhotsk → East Siberian Sea → Laptev Sea → Barents Sea

(D) Laptev Sea → Kara Sea → Barents Sea → Bering Sea → Sea of Okhotsk

Question 2

Which of the following countries do NOT directly border the Baltic Sea, despite being geographically proximate to the region?

(A) Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

(B) Poland, Germany, Denmark

(C) Sweden, Finland, Russia

(D) Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia

Question 3

Regarding the major islands of the Mediterranean Sea, consider the following:

The five largest Mediterranean islands by area arrange as:

(A) Sicily (Italy) > Sardinia (Italy) > Cyprus (Cyprus) > Corsica (France) > Crete (Greece)

(B) Sicily (Italy) > Cyprus (Cyprus) > Sardinia (Italy) > Corsica (France) > Crete (Greece)

(C) Sardinia (Italy) > Sicily (Italy) > Cyprus (Cyprus) > Crete (Greece) > Corsica (France)

(D) Cyprus (Cyprus) > Sicily (Italy) > Corsica (France) > Sardinia (Italy) > Crete (Greece)

Question 4

The Tropic of Capricorn passes through which of the following African countries in addition to Botswana and South Africa?

1. Namibia

2. Madagascar

3. Mozambique

4. Zambia

5. Zimbabwe

Select the correct combination:

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 1, 2, and 3 only

(C) 1, 3, and 5 only

(D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Question 5

The Andes Mountains, extending through seven South American countries, are primarily formed by:

(A) Collision between the North American Plate and the South American Plate

(B) Subduction of the Nazca Plate and Antarctic Plate beneath the South American Plate

(C) Transform fault boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Caribbean Plate

(D) Rifting and spreading of the South American Plate along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Question 6

Among the following lakes, which three are Great Lakes of North America, where only one lies entirely within the United States?

(A) Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan

(B) Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario

(C) Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario

(D) Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario

Question 7

Consider the following Southeast Asian river systems and their terminal destinations:

The correct matching of rivers to their seas/oceans is:

1. Irrawaddy River → Andaman Sea

2. Mekong River → South China Sea

3. Salween River → Gulf of Martaban

4. Chao Phraya River → Java Sea

Select the correct combination:

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 1, 2, and 3 only

(C) 2, 3, and 4 only

(D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Question 8

The Coral Sea Islands Territory represents an external territory of Australia. Which of the following statements regarding its geographical position and characteristics are accurate?

1. Located northeast of Queensland

2. Covers approximately 780,000 square kilometers of ocean area

3. Entirely surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef

4. Willis Island is the only permanently inhabited island

5. Forms part of the Coral Sea Plateau

Select the correct combination:

(A) 1, 2, and 4 only

(B) 1, 3, and 5 only

(C) 2, 3, and 4 only

(D) 1, 2, 4, and 5 only

Question 9

The Drake Passage connects which major ocean bodies and marks the boundary between which two distinct geographical regions?

(A) Connects the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean; marks the boundary between North and South America

(B) Connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean; marks the boundary between South America and Antarctica

(C) Connects the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean; marks the boundary between Africa and Antarctica

(D) Connects the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean; marks the boundary between Asia and North America

Question 10

The Aleutian Islands were formed primarily through which geological process, and which tectonic plates are involved in this ongoing activity?

(A) Divergent plate boundary involving separation of the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate, creating rift basins

(B) Convergent plate boundary involving subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate, with approximately 57 volcanoes forming the Ring of Fire

(C) Transform fault boundary involving lateral displacement of the Pacific Plate relative to the North American Plate

(D) Hotspot volcanism involving the Pacific Plate moving over a mantle plume, similar to the Hawaiian Islands formation

ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS

Question 1 – Answer: (C)

Correct Answer: (C) Bering Sea → Sea of Okhotsk → East Siberian Sea → Laptev Sea → Barents Sea

Explanation:

This sequence represents the correct west-to-east arrangement of Russia’s major seas from the Pacific side toward the Arctic. From east to west (reversing the sequence):

• Bering Sea: Located in the far eastern Pacific, between Russia and Alaska, representing Russia’s easternmost maritime boundary

• Sea of Okhotsk: Situated between the Kamchatka Peninsula and mainland Russia, in the northwestern Pacific

• East Siberian Sea: Part of the Arctic Ocean, lying between the Siberian mainland and the New Siberian Islands, named for its location in eastern Siberia

• Laptev Sea: Arctic Ocean portion, named after the Laptev brothers (Russian polar explorers), bordered by the Taymyr Peninsula and Severnaya Zemlya Islands

• Barents Sea: The westernmost Arctic sea, named after Willem Barentsz, bordered by Russia and Norway

Options (A), (B), and (D) incorrectly arrange these seas or include incorrect positioning. The spatial arrangement follows Russia’s geography from the Pacific through the Arctic to the Atlantic approaches.

Question 2 – Answer: (D)

Correct Answer: (D) Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia

Explanation:

The Baltic Sea is bordered by nine countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. The correct understanding of geographic proximity is crucial:

• Option (A) is incorrect: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are the three Baltic States and directly border the Baltic Sea on its eastern coast

• Option (B) is incorrect: Poland, Germany, and Denmark all have coastlines on the Baltic Sea

• Option (C) is incorrect: Sweden, Finland, and Russia all border the Baltic Sea (Sweden on the west, Finland on the north, and Russia in the Gulf of Finland region)

• Option (D) is CORRECT: Belarus, Ukraine, and Slovakia do NOT border the Baltic Sea. Belarus is to the east and south of the Baltic region, Ukraine is far to the southeast, and Slovakia is a landlocked Central European country with no maritime access to the Baltic

This question tests knowledge of precise geographic boundaries and requires understanding of which nations have actual maritime borders versus merely being geographically “near.”

Question 3 – Answer: (A)

Correct Answer: (A) Sicily (Italy) > Sardinia (Italy) > Cyprus (Cyprus) > Corsica (France) > Crete (Greece)

Explanation:

The five largest Mediterranean islands are ranked by area as follows:

1. Sicily – 25,711 km² (9,927 sq mi): Italy’s largest island, autonomous region, separated from mainland by the Strait of Messina

2. Sardinia – 24,100 km² (9,300 sq mi): Italy’s second-largest island, autonomous region in the Tyrrhenian Sea

3. Cyprus – 9,251 km² (3,572 sq mi): Independent island nation, third-largest in the Mediterranean, located in the eastern Mediterranean

4. Corsica – 8,722 km² (3,368 sq mi): France’s largest island, though politically disputed, known for retaining strong cultural identity

5. Crete – 8,336 km² (3,219 sq mi): Greece’s largest island, and the southernmost of the Greek islands

This ranking is based on verified geographical data and represents the cumulative area measurements including the islands and their associated islets. The question tests precise geographic knowledge of Mediterranean island geographies, which is frequently examined in UPSC geography sections regarding world geography features and natural resources.

Question 4 – Answer: (B)

Correct Answer: (B) 1, 2, and 3 only

Explanation:

The Tropic of Capricorn is the latitude at approximately 23.5°S and passes through exactly 10 countries across 3 continents and 3 water bodies.

African Countries through which it passes:

1. Namibia ✓

2. Botswana ✓ (mentioned in question)

3. South Africa ✓ (mentioned in question)

4. Mozambique ✓

5. Madagascar ✓

Countries it does NOT pass through in Africa:

• Zambia ✗: Located north of the Tropic of Capricorn, between approximately 8°S and 18°S latitude

• Zimbabwe ✗: Located north of the Tropic of Capricorn, between approximately 16°S and 23°S latitude, though it is relatively close

The complete list of countries through which the Tropic of Capricorn passes includes:

• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay

• Africa: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar

• Australia: Australia

The question tests precise knowledge of latitudinal boundaries and their intersection with political boundaries—a critical skill for geography prelim questions.

Question 5 – Answer: (B)

Correct Answer: (B) Subduction of the Nazca Plate and Antarctic Plate beneath the South American Plate

Explanation:

The Andes Mountains, the world’s longest continental mountain system extending approximately 8,900 kilometers through seven South American countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina), are formed through lithospheric plate subduction:

Formation Mechanism:

• The Nazca Plate (oceanic plate) subducts northeastward beneath the South American Plate (continental plate)

• The Antarctic Plate also subducts beneath the South American Plate in the southern regions

• This subduction creates a convergent plate boundary along the Pacific coast of South America

• The subducting oceanic plates generate intense heat and pressure, causing partial melting of the crust and mantle

• This magmatic activity and crustal deformation lead to mountain building (orogeny)

Why other options are incorrect:

• (A) The North American Plate does not interact with the South American Plate in the Andes region; they are separated by the Caribbean Plate

• (C) Transform faults do not produce mountain ranges of this magnitude; they create strike-slip motion

• (D) The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent boundary that creates ocean floor, not continental mountains

This represents Ring of Fire volcanism and mountain building, making the region tectonically very active with numerous earthquakes and active volcanoes.

Question 6 – Answer: (A)

Correct Answer: (A) Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan

Explanation:

The five Great Lakes of North America (in order of size by surface area) are:

1. Lake Superior – 82,000 km² (31,700 sq mi) – Shared between Canada and USA

2. Lake Huron – 60,000 km² (23,000 sq mi) – Shared between Canada and USA

3. Lake Michigan – 58,000 km² (22,300 sq mi) – ENTIRELY within the United States ✓

4. Lake Erie – 25,700 km² (9,910 sq mi) – Shared between Canada and USA

5. Lake Ontario – 19,000 km² (7,340 sq mi) – Shared between Canada and USA

Critical Geographic Fact: Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake entirely within United States territory. All other Great Lakes form part of the international boundary between the USA and Canada (specifically Ontario).

Hydrological Note: Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are hydrologically connected through the Straits of Mackinac and together form a single body of water, though they are administratively considered separate lakes.

The lakes contain approximately 84% of North America’s surface freshwater and drain through the Saint Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean.

Option (A) correctly identifies the three largest Great Lakes, with Michigan being the only one entirely within the USA.

Question 7 – Answer: (B)

Correct Answer: (B) 1, 2, and 3 only

Explanation:

This question assesses knowledge of Southeast Asian river geography and their terminal water bodies:

Correct Statements:

1. Irrawaddy River → Andaman Sea ✓

   • Originates in the Plateau of Tibet

   • Flows through Myanmar (Burma)

   • Discharges into the Andaman Sea via its delta (approximately 120 miles wide)

   • Largest river system in Myanmar by lowland area extent

2. Mekong River → South China Sea ✓

   • World’s 12th longest river and Asia’s 3rd longest

   • Originates in Tibet, flows through China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam

   • Discharges into the South China Sea through its extensive delta in southern Vietnam

   • Forms the Mekong Delta, one of the most productive agricultural regions in Asia

3. Salween River → Gulf of Martaban ✓

   • Approximately 3,289 km long

   • Originates in the Tibetan Plateau

   • Flows through China and Myanmar

   • Forms border between Myanmar and Thailand for approximately 120 km

   • Terminates in the Gulf of Martaban (Mottama Gulf) in the Andaman Sea region

   • Features the Thousand Islands (Kun Heng) formation at the confluence with Pang River

Incorrect Statement:

4. Chao Phraya River → Java Sea ✗

   • The Chao Phraya does NOT drain into the Java Sea

   • It drains into the Gulf of Thailand (also called the Gulf of Siam)

   • Located in Thailand, flows through Bangkok

   • Forms a major delta on the northern shores of the Gulf of Thailand

All five major Southeast Asian river systems mentioned in geography curricula originate in the Tibetan Plateau and flow generally southeastward toward the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Question 8 – Answer: (D)

Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2, 4, and 5 only

Explanation:

The Coral Sea Islands Territory is an external territory of Australia with specific geographic and administrative characteristics:

Accurate Statements:

1. Located northeast of Queensland ✓

   • Positioned in the Coral Sea, north-east of Queensland, Australia

   • Coordinates approximately 18°00’S, 152°00’E

2. Covers approximately 780,000 square kilometers of ocean area ✓

   • The territory encompasses 780,000 km² (301,160 sq mi) of marine space

   • This vast area includes the ocean surrounding the islands, not just the islands themselves

   • Actual land area of islands is only 3-4 km²

3. Willis Island is the only permanently inhabited island ✓

   • Willis Island (Willis Islet), part of the Willis Group, has the only permanent habitation

   • Manned weather station established in 1921 with staff of 3-4 people

   • All other islands and reefs are uninhabited

4. Forms part of the Coral Sea Plateau ✓

   • Many atolls of the Northwestern Group, except Osprey Reef and Shark Reef, are located on the Coral Sea Plateau

   • The Coral Sea Plateau, also called the Queensland Plateau, has depths less than 1,000 meters

   • Represents a distinct physiographic feature of the coral sea region

Incorrect Statement:

3. Entirely surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef ✗

   • The Coral Sea Islands are NOT entirely surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef

   • The territory extends east and south from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef

   • The outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef marks the boundary between Queensland and the Coral Sea Islands Territory

   • Islands include Osprey Reef, Willis Group, Heralds Beacon Island, and other reef/island groups beyond the Great Barrier Reef’s outer edge

The distinction between the Great Barrier Reef (managed by Queensland) and the Coral Sea Islands Territory (Australian external territory) is critical for understanding Australian maritime geography.

Question 9 – Answer: (B)

Correct Answer: (B) Connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean; marks the boundary between South America and Antarctica

Explanation:

The Drake Passage is one of the most strategically and geographically significant maritime features:

Geographic Location:

• Situated between Cape Horn (southernmost point of mainland South America, Chile)

• And the South Shetland Islands (located approximately 100 miles/160 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula)

• Approximately 800-1,000 km (500-600 miles) wide

Ocean Connectivity:

• Connects the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the southeastern Pacific Ocean

• Extends into the Southern Ocean

• Represents the only major maritime passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the Southern Hemisphere

Geographic Boundary:

• Marks the climatic and geographic transition zone between:

  • The cool, humid, subpolar conditions of Tierra del Fuego (South America)

  • The frigid, polar regions of Antarctica

• Defines a zone of the Antarctic Convergence at approximately 60°S latitude

Historical Significance:

• Named after Sir Francis Drake, English explorer and circumnavigator

• Actually first traversed in 1616 by Dutch explorer Willem Schouten

• Played crucial role in 19th and early 20th-century trade before the Panama Canal opened in 1914

• Renowned for extremely treacherous conditions—stormy seas, icy waters, and dangerous navigation

Oceanographic Importance:

• Average depth approximately 11,000 feet (3,400 meters)

• Maximum depths reach 15,600 feet (4,800 meters)

• Plays critical role in global oceanic circulation and water mixing between Antarctica and the Atlantic/Pacific systems

• Influences global climate through its role in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current

Question 10 – Answer: (B)

Correct Answer: (B) Convergent plate boundary involving subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate, with approximately 57 volcanoes forming the Ring of Fire

Explanation:

The Aleutian Islands represent one of Earth’s most active tectonic zones:

Geological Formation Process:

The archipelago was formed through the subduction of oceanic plates beneath the continental North American Plate:

1. Timing of Formation: The Aleutian island arc formed approximately 50-56 million years ago (Early Eocene epoch)

2. Initial Plate Involved: Originally formed by Kula Plate subduction beneath the North American Plate

3. Current Plate Configuration: Currently, the Pacific Plate is subducting northeastward beneath the North American Plate at a rate of approximately 7.5 cm per year

4. Subduction Mechanics: The subducting oceanic plate descends at a dip angle of nearly 45°

Magmatism and Volcanism:

• Dehydration of the subducting slab at depths of approximately 100 km releases water and volatiles

• This triggers partial melting of the overlying mantle

• Buoyant magma rises through the overlying crust and emerges at the surface

• Creates a line of 40 active volcanoes and approximately 57 total volcanic peaks (dormant and active)

• Major active volcanoes include Mount Cleveland, Mount Shishaldin, Mount Okmok, and Augustine Volcano

Ring of Fire Location:

• The Aleutian Islands form the northernmost section of the Pacific Ring of Fire

• This makes the region one of the most seismically active zones on Earth

• Frequent earthquakes (magnitude 7-8.5+) and tsunamis are characteristic

Topographic Features:

The subduction zone includes:

• The Aleutian Arc (volcanic islands and arc)

• The Aleutian Trench (deep oceanic trench reaching maximum depths of 7,822 meters/25,663 feet)

• Acts as a “marginal trench” in the east along the continental margin

Why other options are incorrect:

• (A) Divergent boundaries create ocean floor spreading and rift basins (like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge), not island arcs

• (C) Transform faults create lateral plate movement without mountain building (e.g., San Andreas Fault)

• (D) Hotspot volcanism (like Hawaii) occurs over mantle plumes, creating a chain of progressively older islands; Aleutian volcanoes are active throughout the arc and tied to subduction zones

The Aleutian Islands represent the textbook example of a convergent plate boundary with an island arc system, making this question a classic UPSC-level assessment of tectonic plate understanding.

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