UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2024: Geography | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Ans: (a) Canada and the United States of America

The longest border between any two countries in the world is between:

Canada and the United States of America

This border is the longest international border in the world, stretching over 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles). It spans from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, separating Canada to the north and the United States to the south.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

(a) Canada and the United States of America

Ans:(c) Both 1 and 2

1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form: This statement is correct. The Red Sea region is generally arid, and precipitation in the form of rain or snow is minimal.

2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers: This statement is also correct. The Red Sea is mostly surrounded by arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, where major rivers do not flow directly into the sea. The limited water that enters comes from minor wadis (seasonal streams) during rare rainfall events, but these do not significantly contribute to the sea's volume compared to oceanic exchanges.
   Therefore, both statements are true, and the correct answer is (c) Both 1 and 2.

Ans: (d)Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct.

Ans: (A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

Statement I: Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to the poles.

This statement is correct. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere where most weather phenomena occur. At the equator, due to the heating of the Earth's surface by the Sun, the air is warmer and therefore expands. This expansion leads to a greater vertical extent of the troposphere at the equator compared to the poles, where the surface is colder and the troposphere is shallower.

Statement II: At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.

This statement is also correct. At the equator, the intense heating of the Earth's surface causes air to rise rapidly in the form of strong convection currents. These convection currents can transport heat to great heights within the troposphere. As warm air rises, it cools, condenses, and forms clouds and precipitation, contributing to the distinct weather patterns observed near the equator.

Explanation:

• Statement I is about the thickness of the troposphere, which is greater at the equator due to warmer temperatures and greater atmospheric expansion.
• Statement II explains why the troposphere is thicker at the equator—it's due to the strong convectional currents that transport heat vertically upwards to great heights.

Therefore, both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II provides an explanation for why Statement I is true.

The correct answer is: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I.

Ans: (d) All Four

Ans: (a) 1 only

Statement 1: The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.

This statement is generally correct. Isotherms are lines on a map connecting points of equal temperature. In January, due to various factors such as ocean currents, land-sea distribution, and atmospheric circulation, the distribution of temperatures can vary significantly. Over oceans, especially where warm currents flow, temperatures tend to be warmer, causing isotherms to bend to the north. Over continents, especially those further from the equator, temperatures tend to be colder, causing isotherms to bend to the south.

Statement 2: The presence of cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.

This statement is incorrect. The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm ocean currents that flow northeastward across the North Atlantic Ocean, bringing warmer waters from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea towards northern Europe. These currents actually make the North Atlantic Ocean warmer, not colder. Therefore, they would cause isotherms to bend towards the north due to the warmer temperatures they transport.

Conclusion:

• Statement 1 is correct because isotherms do indeed deviate to the north over warmer ocean areas and to the south over colder continental areas.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm currents that warm up the North Atlantic Ocean, causing isotherms to bend towards the north over this region.

Therefore, the correct answer is: (a) 1 only

Ans: (c)   Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana are globally recognized as the two largest cocoa producers in the world. Together, they account for a significant portion of the world's cocoa bean production, with Cote d’Ivoire often being the single largest producer annually, followed closely by Ghana. These two countries have favorable climates and conditions for cocoa cultivation, which has made them central to the global cocoa industry.

Ans: (b) Gomati — Ghaghara — Gandak — Kosi

Ans: (a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

Statement I: Rainfall is one of the reasons for weathering of rocks.

• This statement is correct. Rainfall contributes to physical and chemical weathering of rocks over time by processes such as erosion, dissolution, and chemical reactions facilitated by water.

Statement II: Rain water contains carbon dioxide in solution.

• This statement is correct. Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, forming carbonic acid (H2CO3), which can contribute to chemical weathering of rocks by reacting with minerals.

Statement III: Rain water contains atmospheric oxygen.

• This statement is incorrect. Rainwater does not contain significant amounts of atmospheric oxygen (O2). Instead, rainwater primarily contains dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide.

Explanation:

• Statement I is correct because rainfall indeed plays a role in weathering rocks.
• Statement II is correct because rainwater does contain carbon dioxide in solution, which is important for chemical weathering.
• Statement III is incorrect because rainwater does not contain atmospheric oxygen.

Therefore, the correct answer is: (a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I.

Statement II explains how carbon dioxide in rainwater contributes to chemical weathering (by forming carbonic acid), and Statement III is incorrect but does not affect the correctness of Statement I.

Ans: (b) Only two 

1. Finland: Finland does not have a border with the North Sea. It is located to the northeast of the Baltic Sea.

2. Germany: Germany does have a coastline along the North Sea in its northwest region.

3. Norway: Norway does not directly border the North Sea. It has coastlines along the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.

4. Russia: Russia does not have a border with the North Sea. It borders the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Baltic Sea to the west.

Based on this analysis, only Germany among the listed countries has a border with the North Sea. Therefore, the correct answer is:

(b) Only two

Ans: (a) Only one

1. Dhunandhar - Malwa - Narmada

   • Dhunandhar waterfall is indeed located in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, and it is formed by the Narmada River. This statement is correct.

2. Hundru - Chota Nagpur - Subarnarekha

   • Hundru waterfall is located near Ranchi in Jharkhand, which is in the Chota Nagpur plateau region. It is formed by the Subarnarekha River. This statement is correct.

3. Gersoppa - Western Ghats - Netravati

   • Gersoppa (also known as Jog Falls) is situated in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, and it is formed by the Sharavati River, not the Netravati. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

Based on the analysis:

• Row 1 and Row 2 have correct information.
• Row 3 has incorrect information.

Therefore, the correct answer is: (a) Only one

Ans: (b) Only two 

1. Central Asia - Vosges - Fold mountain

   • Vosges is actually a low mountain range in France and Germany, located in Western Europe, not in Central Asia. This statement is incorrect.

2. Europe - Alps - Block mountain

   • The Alps mountain range is located in Europe and is indeed an example of a block mountain (also known as a fault-block mountain). This statement is correct.

3. North America - Appalachians - Fold mountain

   • The Appalachian Mountains in North America are an example of fold mountains, formed through the collision of tectonic plates. This statement is correct.

4. South America - Andes - Fold mountain

   • The Andes mountain range in South America is also an example of fold mountains, formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate. This statement is correct.

Based on the analysis:

• Row 2, Row 3, and Row 4 have correct information.
• Row 1 has incorrect information.

Therefore, the correct answer is: (b) Only two

Ans: (a) Only one

1. Cashew: Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is native to northeastern Brazil, but it was introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century. It is now widely cultivated in parts of India, especially along the western coast and in some southern states. Therefore, cashew is not native to India.

2. Papaya: Papaya (Carica papaya) is native to southern Mexico and Central America, but it has been cultivated in India for centuries. It is widely grown and naturalized throughout tropical regions of India. Therefore, papaya is not native to India.

3. Red sanders: Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is native to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range in India. It is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, and it is native to India.

Based on this analysis:

• Only one of the listed trees, Red sanders, is actually native to India.

Therefore, the correct answer is: (a) Only one

Ans: (a) 1 only

Ans: (d) Marine West Coast Climate

Ans: (c) Both 1 and 2

1. It increases with increase in wind velocity.

   • This statement is correct. The Coriolis force is directly proportional to the velocity of the moving object, such as wind or ocean currents. Higher wind velocities result in stronger Coriolis forces influencing the direction of movement.

2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.

   • This statement is partially correct. The Coriolis force is maximum at the poles because the rotational speed of the Earth is essentially zero at the poles (where it's just spinning on the spot), so any motion across the Earth's surface causes a noticeable deflection. At the equator, however, the Coriolis force theoretically becomes zero due to the maximum rotational speed of the Earth's surface.

Therefore, the correct answer is: (c) Both 1 and 2

Statement 1 is correct in stating that the Coriolis force increases with wind velocity, and Statement 2 is correct in stating that the Coriolis force is maximum at the poles and decreases to zero at the equator.

Ans: (d) 2 and 4

Ans: (b) Congo Basin

The region with the world's largest tropical peatland, holding a significant amount of carbon emissions and playing a crucial role in global climate regulation, is:

(b) Congo Basin

The Congo Basin, located in Central Africa, contains extensive tropical peatlands that store vast amounts of carbon. The destruction or degradation of these peatlands can release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Therefore, option (b) is correct.

Ans: (c) All three

Ans: (d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.

This metric is used to measure fertility levels in a population and represents the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime if she were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates through her childbearing years (typically up to age 49). Therefore, option (d) is correct.