Daily Static Quiz (Geography) October 30, 2025
Daily Static Quiz (Geography) October 30, 2025
Question 1
Consider the following statements regarding the movement of tectonic plates:
Convection currents in the Earth’s mantle are primarily driven by radioactive decay of elements.
Divergent convection currents cause the crust to compress and form mountain ranges.
The theory of convection currents was proposed by Arthur Holmes in the 1930s.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 2
With reference to jet streams, consider the following statements:
Jet streams are formed due to the combination of atmospheric heating and the Coriolis effect.
The subtropical jet stream’s southern branch must disappear completely for the onset of the Indian monsoon.
Jet streams generally move from east to west in both hemispheres.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 3
Consider the following pairs of ocean currents:
Kuroshio Current – Warm current in Pacific Ocean
Benguela Current – Cold current in Atlantic Ocean
West Australian Current – Warm current in Indian Ocean
Labrador Current – Cold current in Arctic Ocean
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Question 4
With reference to the physical features of Africa, consider the following statements:
The Great Rift Valley extends from Jordan in southwestern Asia to Mozambique on the African coast.
The Ethiopian Highlands form the largest continuous high-altitude region in Africa.
Africa is the only continent traversed by both the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 5
Consider the following statements regarding the drainage systems of Australia:
The Murray-Darling Basin is the largest drainage basin in Australia.
The Lake Eyre Basin is an endorheic basin where rivers do not drain into the ocean.
Tasmania has the highest accessible surface storage capacity among all Australian drainage divisions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 6
Which of the following mountain passes connects India with Tibet/China?
Nathu La
Lipulekh Pass
Rohtang Pass
Shipki La
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Question 7
Which of the following rivers flow through rift valleys?
Narmada
Tapti
Damodar
Mahanadi
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(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
Consider the following statements regarding mineral distribution in India:
Chhattisgarh is the largest producer of coal in India.
Odisha accounts for nearly 50-60% of India’s total iron ore production.
Rajasthan is the leading producer of mica in India.
The Damodar Valley is one of India’s richest coal-bearing regions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Question 9
Match the following soil types with their characteristics:
List-I (Soil Type)
A. Laterite Soil
B. Black Soil
C. Red Soil
D. Alluvial Soil
List-II (Characteristics)
Rich in iron oxide and formed under high temperature and rainfall
Known as Regur soil, suitable for cotton cultivation
Formed by weathering of metamorphic rocks, red due to iron oxide
Most widespread, covering about 45% of India’s land area
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(c) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
(d) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
Question 10
Consider the following statements regarding the Peninsular river system of India:
Most Peninsular rivers flow from west to east and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
Peninsular rivers are generally older than Himalayan rivers and have reached their mature stage.
The Godavari is the largest peninsular river system and is known as the “Dakshin Ganga”.
Peninsular rivers are characterised by perennial water flow throughout the year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
ANSWER KEY WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
Answer 1: (a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Convection currents in the Earth’s mantle are driven by temperature gradients caused by radioactive decay of elements within the mantle, which acts as a continuous source of heat. This differential heating creates thermal variations that generate these currents.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Divergent convection currents arise when the mantle’s heat causes the crust to stretch and rupture, forming new crustal blocks that drift apart, creating ocean basins through horizontal flow of thermal energy. Convergent convection currents (not divergent) generate compressive forces that lead to formation of mountains and geosynclines when they move towards each other under continental masses.
Statement 3 is correct: Arthur Holmes proposed the theory of thermal convection currents in the 1920s-30s to explain the movement of tectonic plates. This was an attempt to address the question of force that led to the rejection of Continental Drift Theory by contemporary scientists, as Alfred Wegener was unable to explain the reason for plate movements.
Answer 2: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Jet streams are formed when warm air masses meet cold air masses in the atmosphere. The two crucial ingredients for jet stream formation are atmospheric heating (uneven solar heating between poles and tropics creating temperature gradients) and the Coriolis effect due to Earth’s rotation. The temperature difference between the equator and poles, combined with Earth’s rotation, produces strong upper-atmosphere winds.
Statement 2 is correct: The subtropical jet stream gets divided into northern and southern branches when it encounters the Himalayan physical barrier. As long as the southern branch of the subtropical jet stream exists, there will be no onset of monsoon regardless of moisture-bearing winds approaching the coastline, because the upper air obstruction prevents convection and cloud formation. The southern branch starts weakening with the onset of summer and eventually disappears completely, allowing for monsoon onset.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Jet streams generally move from west to east in both hemispheres, not east to west. They are westerly winds (blowing from west to east) flowing horizontally through the upper layers of the troposphere at altitudes of 20,000-50,000 feet.
Answer 3: (c) Only three pairs
Explanation:
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Kuroshio Current is a warm current flowing in the Pacific Ocean along the eastern coast of Japan. It is also known as the Japan Current and is one of the major warm currents in the North Pacific Ocean.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: Benguela Current is a cold current in the Atlantic Ocean flowing along the western coast of southern Africa. It brings cold water from the Antarctic region northward along the southwest coast of Africa.
Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: West Australian Current is a COLD current in the Indian Ocean, not a warm current. It flows along the western coast of Australia, bringing cold water from the southern ocean northward.
Pair 4 is correctly matched: Labrador Current is a cold current originating in the Arctic Ocean and flowing southward along the eastern coast of Canada. It is a major cold current in the North Atlantic region.
Therefore, three pairs are correctly matched.
Answer 4: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Great Rift Valley is part of the East African Rift System and runs for approximately 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) from Jordan in southwestern Asia to the coast of the Indian Ocean in central Mozambique. It crosses many countries including Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique. It was formed about 40 million years ago when tectonic plates split.
Statement 2 is correct: The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains forming the largest continuous area of its altitude (high-altitude plateau) in the whole African continent. The plateau includes Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile. Despite being close to the equator, it has a cooler climate due to its elevation.
Statement 3 is correct: Africa is the only continent which is traversed by the Equator, the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Tropic of Cancer. It is located between latitudes 37°N and 35°S, and between longitudes 50°E and 20°W. This unique positioning makes it the only continent where 0° latitude meets 0° longitude (Gulf of Guinea).
Answer 5: (b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Lake Eyre Basin is the largest drainage basin in Australia covering approximately 1,281,000 sq km (about one-sixth of Australia), not the Murray-Darling Basin. The Murray-Darling Basin covers 1,061,000 sq km and is the second largest drainage basin in Australia.
Statement 2 is correct: The Lake Eyre Basin is the largest endorheic (internal drainage) basin in Australia and one of the largest in the world. An endorheic basin is a closed drainage system that retains water and does not allow outflow to any other waters such as oceans. Rivers in this basin—Cooper Creek, Georgina River, and Diamantina River—flow towards Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, Australia’s lowest point at 16 meters below sea level. Most rain never reaches the lake as water is absorbed or evaporates.
Statement 3 is correct: According to Australian Water Resources Assessment 2012 data from the Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania has accessible surface storage capacity of 22,041 GL (gigalitres), which is the highest among all drainage divisions in Australia. Much of this storage capacity is used for hydroelectricity generation.
Answer 6: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
Explanation:
Option 1 (Nathu La) is correct: Nathu La is located in Sikkim at an elevation of 4,310 m and connects Sikkim (India) with the Tibet Autonomous Region (China). It is one of the three trading border posts between India and China and is also one of the five border personnel meeting points between the armies of both countries.
Option 2 (Lipulekh Pass) is correct: Lipulekh Pass is located in Uttarakhand at 5,334 m elevation (5,115 m according to some sources) and connects the Byans valley in Uttarakhand with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is located at the tri-junction of India, China, and Nepal and serves as an important trade route to Tibet.
Option 3 (Rohtang Pass) is incorrect: Rohtang Pass is located on the eastern side of the Pir Panjal range in Himachal Pradesh at 3,978 m elevation. It links the Kullu valley with the Lahaul and Spiti valleys within India itself, not with Tibet/China. It is an important internal pass connecting different regions of Himachal Pradesh.
Option 4 (Shipki La) is correct: Shipki La is located in Himachal Pradesh at 3,930 m (4,722 m according to some sources) and connects India (Kinnaur district) with China (Ngari Prefecture province of Tibet). This pass is very significant as it increases trade between India and Tibet and serves as India’s border post between the two countries.
Answer 7: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
Option 1 (Narmada) is correct: The Narmada is the largest west-flowing river of Peninsular India and flows westwards through a rift valley between the Vindhyan Range on the north and the Satpura Range on the south. It rises from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh. The rift valley was formed during the upheaval of the Himalayas when the northern part of the Peninsula experienced subsidence and consequent trough faulting. As a rift valley river, the Narmada does not form a delta but an estuary.
Option 2 (Tapti) is correct: The Tapti River is the second-largest west-flowing river of Peninsular India and is known as ‘the twin’ or ‘the handmaid’ of the Narmada. It flows through a rift valley between different ranges, similar to the Narmada. It originates near the Multai reserve forest in Madhya Pradesh at 752 m elevation and flows for about 724 km before draining into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Cambay.
Option 3 (Damodar) is correct: The Damodar River rises in the hills of the Chotanagpur plateau and flows through a rift valley. It has several tributaries including Barakar, Konar, Bokaro, and Haharo. The Damodar Valley is one of India’s richest coal-bearing regions.
Option 4 (Mahanadi) is incorrect: The Mahanadi River does not flow through a rift valley. It is a typical east-flowing Peninsular river that originates in the highlands of Chhattisgarh (Amarkantak region) and flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha before draining into the Bay of Bengal, forming a delta. It follows the normal pattern of Peninsular rivers with gradual slopes.
Answer 8: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Chhattisgarh is the largest producer of coal in India, contributing nearly 20-25% of the country’s total coal production. The Korba district is a key hub for coal mining, with important coalfields including Korba, Hasdeo-Arand, Chirmiri, Jhilmili, and Johila. The Damuda series (Lower Gondwana) coalfields account for 80% of total coal production in India.
Statement 2 is correct: Odisha is the largest producer of iron ore in India, accounting for approximately 50-60% (some sources say up to 90-93% of reserves) of the country’s total iron ore production. The major mining areas include Keonjhar, Sundargarh, and Mayurbhanj districts. Odisha’s iron ore reserves are crucial for the country’s steel manufacturing and export industries.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh (particularly Nellore district) and Jharkhand (Hazaribagh district), not Rajasthan, are the leading producers of mica in India. Hazaribagh within the Chota Nagpur Plateau is a global hub for mica mining, supplying material for cosmetics, electrical insulators, and construction. Rajasthan is known for being the largest producer of marble, limestone, zinc, copper, and gypsum.
Statement 4 is correct: The Damodar Valley in the Chota Nagpur Plateau is one of India’s richest coal-bearing regions and one of the major contributors to India’s coal production. Important coalfields in this region include Raniganj (oldest coal mine in India, first mined in 1774), Jharia (India’s largest coal reserves with 19.4 billion tonnes and storehouse of the best metallurgical coal), Bokaro, Giridih, and Karanpura. The Jharia coalfield alone represents the largest coal reserves in India.
Answer 9: (a) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
Explanation:
A-1 is correctly matched: Laterite soil is formed under high temperature and high rainfall with alternate dry and wet periods. After rain, lime and silica get washed away and the soil left behind is rich in iron oxide and aluminium, ultimately leading to the formation of laterite soil. It is called monsoon soil. It comprises about 3.7-10% of total soil and is found mainly on summits of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats (Rajamahal Hills, Vindhyas, Satpuras, Malwa Plateau), and parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Kerala, Assam, and Meghalaya.
B-2 is correctly matched: Black soil is also known as Regur soil or Black Cotton soil because it is most suitable for cotton cultivation. It is formed from weathering of basaltic lava rocks of the Deccan Trap and is rich in lime, iron, magnesia, alumina, and potash. It covers about 15-16.6% of India’s geographical area, mainly in the Deccan Plateau region covering Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
C-3 is correctly matched: Red soil develops on granite and gneiss rocks under low rainfall conditions through weathering of metamorphic and crystalline rocks. It is red in color due to high concentration of iron oxide. When hydrated during monsoon, it appears yellow. It covers about 18.5% (or about 3.5 lakh sq km, 10.6% according to some sources) of India’s land area and is found in Western Ghats, parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, southeastern Karnataka, northeastern and southeastern Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and hills and plateaus of Northeast India.
D-4 is correctly matched: Alluvial soil is the most widespread soil type in India, covering about 45-46% of the total land area (about 15 lakh sq km or 143 sq km according to various sources). It is formed by deposition of sediments (alluvium) by rivers, winds, glaciers, and sea waves. It is found in the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plains (Great Northern Plains), coastal plains of the eastern coast, Narmada-Tapi plains, and river valleys. It is highly fertile, rich in potash, lime, and organic matter but poor in phosphorus.
Answer 10: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Most Peninsular rivers, excluding the Narmada and Tapi, flow from west to east (originating from the Western Ghats) and drain into the Bay of Bengal. The Western Ghats, running close to the western coast, act as the major water divide between Peninsular rivers. The major east-flowing rivers include Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri (Cauvery), and Mahanadi. Only Narmada and Tapi flow westward into the Arabian Sea through rift valleys.
Statement 2 is correct: The Peninsular river system is much older than the Himalayan river system. Peninsula rivers are believed to be much older and in their mature stage, having reached the base level of their erosion. This is evident from their largely graded, broad, and shallow valleys. They have fixed courses, well-established drainage patterns, and absence of extensive terraces. The entire Indian Peninsula represents an older geological formation showing features of mature drainage.
Statement 3 is correct: The Godavari is the largest among all peninsular river systems in terms of basin area and is the second longest river in India. It is recognized as the “Dakshin Ganga” (Ganges of the South). The river rises in Nashik at an elevation in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and flows eastward through Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh before draining into the Bay of Bengal. Its principal tributaries include Indravati, Penganga, Manjra, Wardha, and Pranhita.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Peninsular rivers are NOT perennial throughout the year. They are primarily fed by seasonal rainfall (monsoon-fed), leading to pronounced seasonal variation in their flow with maximum discharge during the rainy season. They are characterized by non-perennial water flow, with high water levels during monsoon season and significantly reduced or even dry flow during dry seasons. Peninsular rivers are seasonal in nature. Only Himalayan rivers fed by glaciers, snow-melt, and rainfall are perennial with year-round flow.
