Daily Static Quiz (Geography) November 27, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Geography) November 27, 2025

Q1. Which of the following volcanic eruptions is characterized by low gas content, low viscosity magma, and typically occurs at mid-oceanic ridges and hotspots?

(a) Strombolian eruptions
(b) Basaltic eruptions
(c) Plinian eruptions
(d) Pelean eruptions

Q2. The Deccan Traps in the Indian peninsular region were formed by which type of volcanic activity?

(a) Composite volcanism
(b) Cinder cone volcanism
(c) Flood basalt volcanism
(d) Caldera eruptions

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding African lakes from north to south:

1. Lake Chad is located in the Sahara Desert region and is characterized by inland drainage system

2. Lake Victoria is situated on a block mountain between two branches of the Great Rift Valley

3. Lake Tanganyika is the deepest and oldest freshwater lake in Africa

4. Lake Kariba, a man-made lake on the Zambezi River, is the largest producer of hydroelectricity in Africa

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q4. The Drakensberg Mountains in southern Africa are primarily composed of which type of rock formation?

(a) Folded metamorphic rocks
(b) Horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks
(c) Basaltic lava flows
(d) Granitic intrusive rocks

Q5. The Nazca Plate, positioned between the South American and Pacific plates, is responsible for the creation of which major geomorphological feature?

(a) The Caribbean Trench
(b) The Peru-Chile Trench and the Andes Mountains
(c) The Amazon Basin
(d) The Patagonian Plateau

Q6. Which of the following rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean drains the largest area and is primarily fed by spring snowmelt and summer rainfall in Siberia?

(a) Kolyma River
(b) Ob-Irtysh River
(c) Yenisei River
(d) Lena River

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding rock types and mineral composition:

1. Feldspar and quartz are the most abundant minerals found in the Earth’s crust

2. Igneous rocks formed by rapid cooling at the surface have fine-grained texture

3. Metamorphic rocks showing banded patterns with alternating light and dark layers are called banded or gneissic rocks

4. Sedimentary rocks are entirely composed of minerals derived from weathering of pre-existing rocks

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q8. The Vindhya Range, which extends from Gujarat to Bihar, is primarily notable for which of the following characteristics?

(a) Being composed of metamorphic rocks and forming the main watershed between Ganga and peninsular river systems
(b) Being composed of horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks and marking the border between northern and peninsular India
(c) Being a young fold mountain system with active volcanism
(d) Being composed of granite and other crystalline rocks with steep slopes

Q9. The Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone encircling the Pacific Ocean, contains approximately what percentage of Earth’s active volcanoes and major earthquakes respectively?

(a) 50% of volcanoes and 75% of earthquakes
(b) 75% of volcanoes and 90% of earthquakes
(c) 85% of volcanoes and 95% of earthquakes
(d) 90% of volcanoes and 80% of earthquakes

Q10. Consider the following climate characteristics:

1. Warm and dry summer; mild and wet winter

2. Evergreen vegetation adapted to periodic drought

3. Located between latitudes 30° and 45° on western margins of continents

4. Mean annual temperature ranges between 10°C and 20°C

The above features are characteristic of which climate type?

(a) Humid subtropical climate
(b) Mediterranean climate
(c) Tropical savanna climate
(d) Temperate oceanic climate

Answer Key with Explanations

Q1. Answer: (b) Basaltic eruptions

Explanation:

Basaltic eruptions are characterized by low gas content and low viscosity magma, making them non-explosive and highly fluid. These eruptions typically occur at mid-oceanic ridges (where new oceanic crust forms) and at hotspots (stationary zones of melting in the mantle). The magma flows quietly due to its low viscosity, sometimes beginning with fire fountains as dissolved gases escape. In contrast, Strombolian eruptions are moderately explosive, Plinian eruptions are extremely explosive with high viscosity magma, and Pelean eruptions produce extremely viscous magma and pyroclastic flows. The distinction between eruption types is crucial for understanding volcanic hazards and mountain formation in UPSC geography.

Q2. Answer: (c) Flood basalt volcanism

Explanation:

The Deccan Traps, a massive region of solidified lava in the Indian peninsula covering approximately 500,000 square kilometers, were formed by flood basalt volcanism during the Late Cretaceous period (approximately 66 million years ago). This type of volcanism is characterized by the eruption of large volumes of highly fluid basaltic magma that spread across vast areas, creating thick lava plateaus. The Deccan Traps represent one of Earth’s largest continental flood basalt provinces and are believed to have significantly impacted the climate and contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs. Unlike composite volcanism (which builds steep cone-shaped mountains) or caldera eruptions (which create large depression craters), flood basalt creates extensive lava plateaus with relatively gentle slopes.

Q3. Answer: (d) 1, 2, and 4 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 (CORRECT): Lake Chad is indeed located at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in a region of inland drainage. Water from surrounding hills flows into this lake rather than reaching the ocean. The lake has experienced significant fluctuations in water level historically.

Statement 2 (CORRECT): Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second-largest in the world. It is situated on a block mountain between the two branches of the Great Rift Valley, specifically between the Western and Eastern Rift Valleys. The Equator passes through it, and it is the source of the White Nile.

Statement 3 (INCORRECT): While Lake Tanganyika is one of Africa’s deepest and oldest freshwater lakes located in the Rift Valley, the statement fails to mention that Lake Nyasa (also called Lake Malawi) is also a major Rift Valley lake. However, this is not the primary reason statement 3 is incorrect in context—it is incomplete rather than wrong.

Statement 4 (CORRECT): Lake Kariba is a man-made reservoir on the Zambezi River situated in the southernmost part of Africa and is indeed one of Africa’s largest producers of hydroelectricity.

Q4. Answer: (c) Basaltic lava flows

Explanation:

The Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa are primarily composed of basaltic lava flows dating back to the Jurassic period. These mountains represent the escarpment of the Lesotho Plateau and are characterized by their distinctive flat-topped peaks and vertical cliff faces formed by resistant basalt layers overlying softer sedimentary rocks. The Drakensberg’s dramatic topography results from the differential erosion of these lava flows combined with the underlying sedimentary strata. This contrasts with other African mountain ranges such as the Abyssinian highlands (which have complex geology including both igneous and metamorphic rocks) and the Atlas Mountains (which are primarily folded sedimentary and metamorphic rocks). Understanding the geological composition of major African mountain systems is essential for UPSC geography.

Q5. Answer: (b) The Peru-Chile Trench and the Andes Mountains

Explanation:

The Nazca Plate, an oceanic tectonic plate, is positioned between the South American Plate (continental) and the Pacific Plate (oceanic). This configuration creates a convergent boundary where the Nazca Plate undergoes subduction beneath the South American Plate. This process is responsible for:

1. The Peru-Chile Trench: The deepest ocean depression along South America’s western coast, marking the subduction zone

2. The Andes Mountains: Formed through volcanism and folding above the subduction zone, representing a classic example of ocean-continent convergence creating a fold mountain system

The Andes represent a continental arc (a narrow chain of continental volcanic mountains) rather than an island arc, making this one of the most dramatic examples of plate tectonics shaping continental geography. The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath South America also creates intense seismic and volcanic activity, making the region part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Q6. Answer: (b) Ob-Irtysh River

Explanation:

The Ob-Irtysh River system is one of the three major Siberian rivers and drains the largest area among rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean. Originating in the Altai Mountains, the Ob-Irtysh system has a total length of approximately 5,410 kilometers and drains a vast basin across Russia and Kazakhstan. The main tributaries include the Irtysh River (which itself originates in the Altai Mountains near the Chinese border).

In comparison:

• Lena River: Approximately 4,268 km long, sourced from the Baikal Mountains

• Yenisei River: Approximately 3,487 km long, formed by the confluence of By-Khem and Ka-Khem rivers

• Kolyma River: Approximately 2,129 km long, one of the six largest rivers draining into the Arctic

The Ob-Irtysh basin encompasses significant portions of western and central Siberia, making it hydrologically the most substantial Arctic-draining river system.

Q7. Answer: (a) 1, 2, and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 (CORRECT): Feldspar and quartz are indeed the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust. Feldspar comprises approximately 60% of the continental crust, while quartz comprises approximately 12%. Together, they are present in most igneous, sedimentary, and some metamorphic rocks.

Statement 2 (CORRECT): Igneous rocks formed by rapid cooling at or near Earth’s surface produce fine-grained texture because the magma cools quickly, limiting the time for large mineral crystals to form. Examples include basalt and obsidian. Conversely, slow cooling at depth (in magma chambers) produces coarse-grained rocks like granite.

Statement 3 (CORRECT): Metamorphic rocks displaying alternating light and dark layers or bands are called banded rocks or gneissic rocks. This pattern results from the segregation of minerals during metamorphism, with light bands typically containing quartz and feldspar and dark bands containing minerals like biotite or amphibole. This is common in gneiss and migmatite.

Statement 4 (INCORRECT): This statement is too absolute. While sedimentary rocks are formed from fragments and weathering products of pre-existing rocks, they also include organically formed sedimentary rocks (like coal and chalk formed from organic matter) and chemically formed sedimentary rocks (like rock salt and chert formed through chemical precipitation). Not all sedimentary rock minerals are solely derived from weathering.

Q8. Answer: (b) Being composed of horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks and marking the border between northern and peninsular India

Explanation:

The Vindhya Range is a broken chain of hills extending approximately 1,086 kilometers from Gujarat in the west to Bihar in the east. Key characteristics include:

1. Geological Composition: Predominantly composed of horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks of ancient age, creating a distinctive flat-topped and plateau-like appearance, in contrast to folded metamorphic mountains.

2. Elevation: Generally ranges from 300 to 650 meters, with the highest peak being Sad-bhawna Shikhar (approximately 752 meters) near Singrampur in the Damoh district.

3. Hydrological Significance: Serves as a watershed between the Ganga River system (to the north) and peninsular river systems (to the south), giving rise to tributaries like the Chambal, Betwa, Ken, and Tons rivers.

4. Geographic Significance: Regarded as marking the border between northern and peninsular India, representing a major geological and physiographic divide.

The Vindhya’s eastward extensions include the Kaimur Range (running north of the Son River) and the Bharner hills, demonstrating its complex physiographic structure.

Q9. Answer: (b) 75% of volcanoes and 90% of earthquakes

Explanation:

The Pacific Ring of Fire (also called the Circum-Pacific Belt) is a horseshoe-shaped zone encircling the Pacific Ocean, characterized by intense volcanic and seismic activity:

Volcanic Activity:

• Contains approximately 75% of Earth’s active volcanoes

• Houses around 450-850 active volcanoes from the southernmost South America through North America’s Pacific coast, the Bering Strait, Japan, and into New Zealand

• Examples include Mount Fuji (Japan), Mount St. Helens (USA), Popocatépetl (Mexico), and Mount Tambora (Indonesia)

Seismic Activity:

• Experiences approximately 90% of the world’s major earthquakes

• Roughly 40,000 kilometers in length

Cause:
The intense activity results from plate tectonics, specifically the subduction of the Pacific Plate and associated oceanic plates (Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Nazca, Philippine) beneath surrounding continental plates. This subduction creates deep ocean trenches (Mariana, Peru-Chile, Tonga) and generates magma that feeds volcanic arcs. The Ring of Fire stores the world’s largest geothermal energy resources.

Q10. Answer: (b) Mediterranean climate

Explanation:

The climate described exhibits distinctive characteristics of the Mediterranean climate type:

Statement 1 (CORRECT): Mediterranean regions experience warm and dry summers and mild and wet winters, with precipitation concentrated in winter months. This pattern results from the seasonal shift of pressure systems and wind patterns.

Statement 2 (CORRECT): The evergreen vegetation (including evergreen oak, pine, and scrubland) is specifically adapted to endure periodic drought during the long, dry summer months through features like deep root systems, waxy leaves, and reduced transpiration.

Statement 3 (CORRECT): Mediterranean climates occur between approximately 30° and 45° latitudes on the western margins of continents where cool ocean currents and sinking air masses create arid conditions. Examples include:

• Mediterranean Basin (Southern Europe, North Africa)

• California Coast (USA)

• Central Chile

• South Africa (Cape region)

• Southern Australia

Statement 4 (CORRECT): Mean annual temperatures typically range between 10°C and 20°C, though individual months may vary significantly.

In contrast, humid subtropical climates have higher humidity year-round and summer precipitation, while tropical savanna climates have distinct wet and dry seasons with higher overall temperatures. Temperate oceanic climates have more uniform precipitation throughout the year.

Daily Static Quiz