Daily Static Quiz (Geography) March 15, 2025

Daily Static Quiz

Question 1: With reference to plate tectonics, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Convergent plate boundaries always result in the formation of mountains.

2. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a divergent plate boundary.

3. Transform boundaries involve plates sliding past each other without creating or destroying crust.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 2: Consider the following statements about the theory of continental drift:

1. Alfred Wegener proposed that continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea.

2. Fossil evidence and matching geological formations across continents support the theory.

3. The mechanism of continental drift as proposed by Wegener was widely accepted by his contemporaries.

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: With reference to hot spots in plate tectonics, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Hot spots are stationary thermal plumes that rise from the Earth’s mantle.

2. The Hawaiian Island chain was formed as the Pacific Plate moved over a hot spot.

3. All hot spots are located at plate boundaries.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question 4: With reference to endogenic and exogenic geomorphic processes, consider the following statements:

1. Endogenic processes derive their energy from the earth’s interior.

2. Weathering and erosion are examples of exogenic processes.

3. Diastrophism is an example of an endogenic process.

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 5: Which of the following landforms is/are typically formed by fluvial erosion?

1. Oxbow lakes

2. Moraines

3. Meanders

4. Drumlins

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Question 6: Consider the following statements regarding mass movements:

1. Solifluction is a type of mass movement that occurs in periglacial environments.

2. Creep is the slowest form of mass movement.

3. Rockfalls are examples of rapid mass movements triggered by gravity.

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 7: With reference to Earth’s magnetosphere, consider the following statements:

1. The magnetosphere protects Earth from the solar wind.

2. The Van Allen radiation belts are regions of charged particles trapped in Earth’s magnetosphere.

3. The Earth’s magnetic field originates primarily from the outer core.

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 8: Which of the following phenomena is/are associated with Earth’s magnetosphere?

1. Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

2. Ozone layer formation

3. Magnetic declination

4. Geomagnetic reversal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 9: With reference to seismic waves, consider the following statements:

1. P-waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

2. S-waves cannot travel through the Earth’s outer core.

3. Surface waves are typically more destructive than body waves during an earthquake.

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 10: The phenomenon of the ‘Shadow Zone’ in seismology is related to:
(a) The inability of P-waves to pass through the Earth’s inner core
(b) The inability of S-waves to pass through the Earth’s outer core
(c) Areas where neither P-waves nor S-waves are detected
(d) Regions where earthquake tremors are not felt due to distance from the epicenter

Answers with Explanations

Answer 1: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because convergent plate boundaries do not always result in mountain formation. When oceanic crust meets continental crust, mountains typically form (like the Andes). However, when two oceanic plates converge, one subducts beneath the other, forming oceanic trenches rather than mountains. Statement 2 is correct as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is indeed a classic example of a divergent plate boundary where new oceanic crust is formed as plates move away from each other. Statement 3 is correct because transform boundaries involve plates sliding horizontally past each other without creating or destroying crustal material, as seen in the San Andreas Fault in California.

Answer 2: (b) 1 and 2 only

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift in 1912, suggesting that all continents were once united in a single landmass called Pangaea before breaking apart and drifting to their current positions. Statement 2 is correct. Evidence supporting continental drift includes matching fossil records found on different continents, similar rock formations and mountain ranges that align when continents are fitted together, and paleoclimatic evidence. Statement 3 is incorrect. Wegener’s theory was initially rejected by the scientific community because he could not provide a convincing mechanism for how continents could move through the solid oceanic crust. It wasn’t until the 1960s, with the development of plate tectonics theory and the discovery of seafloor spreading, that a viable mechanism was identified and the concept gained widespread acceptance.

Answer 3: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Hot spots are areas where mantle plumes of molten rock rise from deep within the Earth’s mantle. These thermal plumes remain relatively stationary over long periods, creating volcanic activity at the surface. Statement 2 is correct. The Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain formed as the Pacific Plate moved northwestward over a stationary hot spot. This movement created a series of volcanoes that become progressively older as you move northwest along the chain. Statement 3 is incorrect. Unlike most volcanic activity, which occurs at plate boundaries, hot spots can occur both at plate boundaries and within plates. Many significant hot spots, including Hawaii, Yellowstone, and Réunion, are located within tectonic plates, far from plate boundaries.

Answer 4: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Endogenic geomorphic processes derive their energy from the earth’s interior and include processes like volcanism, diastrophism, and earthquakes. These processes are driven by heat energy generated within the earth. Statement 2 is correct. Weathering and erosion are classic examples of exogenic processes that operate at or near the earth’s surface and derive their energy primarily from the sun. Statement 3 is correct. Diastrophism refers to the deformation of the Earth’s crust, resulting in the formation of structural features like folds, faults, and mountains. It is powered by forces originating from within the Earth and is therefore an endogenic process.

Answer 5: (a) 1 and 3 only

Explanation: Fluvial processes relate to the action of rivers and streams. Oxbow lakes (option 1) are correct as they form when a meander is cut off from the main river channel due to the river finding a shorter course through erosion and deposition. Moraines (option 2) are incorrect as they are glacial landforms formed by the accumulation of glacial till deposited by glaciers, not by river action. Meanders (option 3) are correct as they are sinuous bends in a river channel that develop through fluvial erosion and deposition. Drumlins (option 4) are incorrect as they are elongated hills formed by glacial action, not fluvial processes.

Answer 6: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Solifluction is a type of mass movement that occurs predominantly in periglacial environments (areas with permafrost or seasonal frost). It involves the slow downslope flow of water-saturated soil during periods of thaw when the top layer of soil thaws but the underlying permafrost remains frozen, preventing water drainage. Statement 2 is correct. Creep is indeed the slowest form of mass movement, involving gradual, almost imperceptible downslope movement of soil and rock under the influence of gravity. Statement 3 is correct. Rockfalls are rapid mass movements where rocks detach from steep slopes and free-fall, bounce, or roll downslope due to gravity, often triggered by weathering processes, earthquakes, or human activities.

Answer 7: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. The magnetosphere acts as a shield, protecting Earth from the solar wind (a stream of charged particles from the Sun). Without it, these high-energy particles would strip away Earth’s atmosphere over time. Statement 2 is correct. The Van Allen radiation belts are zones of energetic charged particles captured from the solar wind and trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. These belts form toroidal regions around Earth. Statement 3 is correct. Earth’s magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron and nickel in the outer core, a process known as the geodynamo. This fluid motion creates electric currents, which produce the magnetic field that extends into space, forming the magnetosphere.

Answer 8: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation: Aurora Borealis (option 1) is correct as it is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. When these particles follow Earth’s magnetic field lines toward the poles, they collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere, creating colorful light displays. Ozone layer formation (option 2) is incorrect as it forms in the stratosphere through photochemical processes involving oxygen and ultraviolet radiation, unrelated to the magnetosphere. Magnetic declination (option 3) is correct as it is the angle between magnetic north and true north, a property of Earth’s magnetic field which is an integral part of the magnetosphere. Geomagnetic reversal (option 4) is correct as it involves the interchange of Earth’s magnetic north and south poles, directly affecting the magnetosphere.

Answer 9: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. P-waves (Primary waves) are compressional waves that move through media by particle motion in the same direction as the wave. They can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, making them the fastest seismic waves and the first detected during an earthquake. Statement 2 is correct. S-waves (Secondary waves) are transverse waves that move particles perpendicular to their direction of propagation. They cannot travel through liquids or gases because these media cannot support shear stresses. Since the Earth’s outer core is liquid, S-waves cannot pass through it. Statement 3 is correct. Surface waves travel along the Earth’s surface rather than through its interior. Though slower than body waves, they have larger amplitudes and longer durations, making them generally more destructive during an earthquake.

Answer 10: (b) The inability of S-waves to pass through the Earth’s outer core

Explanation: The ‘Shadow Zone’ in seismology primarily refers to areas on the Earth’s surface where specific seismic waves do not arrive after an earthquake. The most significant shadow zone phenomenon is caused by the inability of S-waves to pass through the Earth’s liquid outer core. S-waves cannot propagate through liquids because liquids have no shear strength. This creates a shadow zone approximately between 105° and 180° from the earthquake epicenter where no S-waves are detected. This phenomenon has been crucial for our understanding of Earth’s internal structure, particularly confirming that the outer core is liquid. There is also a P-wave shadow zone between approximately 105° and 140° from the epicenter, caused by refraction at the core-mantle boundary, but the S-wave shadow zone is more significant for determining Earth’s structure.