Physical Geography - Solved Questions (1995-2007) | UPSC Topic Wise Previous Year Questions PDF Download

Question 1:
What is the average distance (approximate) between the sun and the earth?  [2007]
(a) 70 × 10⁵ km
(b) 100 × 10⁵ km
(c) 110 × 10⁶ km
(d) 150 × 10⁶ km

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The actual average distance between the sun and the earth is 152 × 10⁶ km which is near 150 × 10⁶ km.

Question 2:
Assertion (A): To orbit around the Sun the planet Mars takes lesser time than the time taken by the earth. 
Reason (R): The diameter of the planet Mars is less than that of earth.   [2006]
(a) Both ‘A’ and ‘R’ are individually true and ‘R’ is the correct explanation of ‘A’. 
(b) Both ‘A’ and ‘R’ are individually true but ‘R’ is not the correct explanation of ‘A’. 
(c) ‘A’ is true but ‘R’ is false. 
(d) ‘A’ is false but ‘R’ is true.

Correct Answer is Option (d)
A is incorrect as the mars revolution around the sun takes 1.88 years of Earth's revolution. The diameter of the earth is almost double to the diameter of mars.

Question 3:
In which one of the following oceans Diamantine Trench is situated?  [2006] 
(a) Pacific Ocean 
(b) Atlantic Ocean 
(c) Indian Ocean 
(d) Arctic Ocean

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Diamantine Trench is situated in the southeast part of the Indian Ocean. The depth of the Diamantine Trench is 8047 m.

Question 4:
Consider the following statements: [2005] 
1. Total land area of the earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers. 
2. Ratio of land area to water area of the earth is approximately 1: 4. 
3. Maximum percentage of earth's water is in the Pacific Ocean. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
(a) 1 and 3 
(b) 2 and 3 
(c) 1 only 
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The total land area is 148226000 km² square kilometers. So, the ratio of land area to water area of the earth is approximately 1 : 3. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean, so a maximum percentage of earth's water is present in it.

Question 5:
Consider the following statements: [2005] 
1. The Axis of the earth's magnetic field is inclined at 23 and a half to the geographic axis of the earth. 
2. The earth's magnetic pole in the Northern Hemisphere is located on a Peninsula in Northern Canada. 
3. The earth's magnetic equator passes through Thumba in South India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
(a) 1, 2 and 3 
(b) 2 and 3 
(c) 2 only 
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Earth's magnetic field is inclined between –90° to 90°. In the northern hemisphere, it points downwards and upward in the southern hemisphere.

Question 6:
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?   [2005] 
(a) Bahamas: Nassau 
(b) Costa Rica: San Jose 
(c) Nicaragua: Belmopan 
(d) Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Managua is the capital of Nicaragua, not Belmopan. Belmopan is the capital city of Balize.

Question 7:
Where are the Balearic Islands located? [2005] 
(a) Mediterranean Sea 
(b) Black Sea 
(c) Baltic Sea 
(d) North Sea

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the Western Mediterranean sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula.

Question 8:
Assertion (A): Wind patterns are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. 
Reason (R): The directions of wind patterns in the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis effect.    [2005] 
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (a)
A is true as the direction of the wind in the north ern hemisphere is clock wise and in the southern hemisphere, it is anti clock wise. The explanation is correct as this is mainly due to the Coriolis effect.

Question 9:
Assertion (A): Existence of human life on Venus is highly improbable. 
Reason (R): Venus has extremely high level of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. [2005] 
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The atmosphere of Venus is composed primarily of carbon dioxide and much denser and hotter than that of Earth. The atmosphere of Venus supports opaque clouds made of sulfuric  acid, making optical Earth-based and orbital observation of the surface impossible.

Question 10:
Assertion (A): Th e same face of the moon is always presented to the earth. 
Reason (R): The moon rotates about its own axis in 23 and half days which is about the same time that it takes to orbit the earth. [2005] 
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The moon rotates about its own axis in 27.322 days. When the Moon first formed, its rotational speed and orbit were very different than they are now.  Over time, the Earth's gravitational field gradually slowed the Moon's rotation until the orbital period and the rotational speed stabilized, making one side of the moon always face the Earth.

Question 11:
Where is the volcanic mountain, Mount St. Helens located? [2005] 
(a) Chile 
(b) Japan 
(c) Philippines 
(d) United States of America

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Volcanic mountain. St. Helen is located in United States of America.

Question 12:
Assertion (A): Thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator. 
Reason (R): High insolation and strong convection currents occur over the Equator. [2004] 
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The circulation of atmosphere and oceans is fundamentally caused by the fact that the amount of incoming solar radiation varies from a maximum at the equator to a minimum at the poles. More reflection and absorption of incoming radiation takes place in high latitude because of the greater thickness of atmosphere that must be penetrated. Thickness of the earth is maximum over the pole.

Question 13:
Among the following which planet takes maximum time for one revolution around the Sun?   [2003] 
(a) Earth 
(b) Jupiter 
(c) Mars 
(d) Venus

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Jupiter takes maximum time for one revolution i.e., 11 year 86 days. Mars take 687 days, Venus takes 267 days.

Question 14:
Which one among the following covers the h ighest percentage of forest area in the world?   [2003] 
(a) Temperate coniferous forests 
(b) Temperate deciduous forests 
(c) Tropical monsoon forests 
(d) Tropical rain forests

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Temperature coniferous forests covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world.

Question 15:
Assertion (A): Areas lying within five to eight degrees latitude on either side of the equator receive rainfall throughout the year. 
Reason (R): High temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain to fall mostly in the afternoons near the equator.   [2003] 
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The highest rainfall totals occur near the equator in the tropics, where the strong heating by the sun creates significant vertical uplifts of air and the formation of prolonged heavy showeas and frequent thunderstorms.

Question 16:
Assertion (A): Unlike temperate forests, the tropical rain forests, if cleared, can yield productive farmland that can support intensive agriculture for several years even without chemical fertilizers. 
Reason (R): The primary productivity of the tropical rain forest is very high when compared to that of temperate forests.   [2003] 
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A. 
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Due to Constant rain in tropical rain forests the nutrients in the soil continuously leaches out. To compensate for the loss the additional minerals and essential elements are required through Chemical fertilizers.

Question 17:
Assertion (A): The amount of moisture in the atmosphere is related to latitude
Reason (R): The capacity to hold moisture in the form of water vapour is related to temperature.   [2003] 
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The amount of moisture in atmosphere is related to latitude because the temperature depends upon the latitude and capacity to hold moisture is related to temperature.

Question 18:
Which one of the following stat ements is correct with reference to our solar system?   [2002]
(a) The earth is the densest of all the planets in our solar system
(b) The predominant element in the composition of earth is silicon
(c) The sun contains 75 percent of the mass of the solar system
(d) The diameter of the sun is 190 times that of the earth

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The earth is the densest of all the planet. Density of Earth is 5.52, Venus–5.50, Mercury 5.27, Mars – 3.95, Jupiter and Saturn – 0.69, Uranus – 1.27.

Question 19:
Which one of the following is not a lagoon? [2002] 
(a) Ashtamudi lake 
(b) Chilka lake 
(c) Periyar lake 
(d) Pulicat lake

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Periyar Lake is favoured by the construction of the dam across the Mulloperiyar River. It is an artificial lake in the middle of the periyar wildlife sanctuary.

Question 20:
For short-term climatic predictions, which one of the following events, detected in the last decade, is associated with occasional weak monsoon rains in the Indian subcontinent?   [2002] 
(a) La Nina 
(b) Movement of Jet Stream 
(c) El Nino. and Southern Oscillations 
(d) Greenhouse effect at global level

Correct Answer is Option (c)
E1 Nino and La Nina are opposite phases of what is known as the E1 Nino-southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. The ENSO cycle is a scientific term that describes the fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central. Impact of E1 -Nino: - Normal or High rainfall in Eastern/Central Pacific. - Drought or Scant rainfall in western Pacific/Asia.

Question 21:
Consider the following climatic and geographical phenomena:    [2002]
1. Condensation
2. High temperature and humidity
3. Orography
4. Vertical wind
Thunder cloud development is due to which of these phenomena?
(a) 1 and 2    
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4    
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The thunder clouds develop by the above climatic and geographic phenomena. High temperature and humidity causes the wind to rise vertically up and due to orography and pressure of mountains these winds get condensed and form cumulonimbus clouds or thunder clouds.

Question 22:
Assertion (A): The surface winds spiral inwards upon the centre of the cyclone. Reason (R): Air descends in the centre of the cyclone.   [2002] 
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Bot h A and R a re tr ue but R is NOT a corr ect explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Air begins to slowly descend in the centre of the storm, creating a rain-free area. This is a newly formed eye. On land, the centre of the eye is, by for, the calmest part of the storm.

Question 23:
Assertion (A): 60° - 65º latitudes in both the hemispheres have a low pressure belt instead of high pressure. 
Reason (R): The low pressure areas are permanent over oceans rather than on land. [2002] 
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Bot h A and R a re tr ue but R is NOT a corr ect explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (c)
A is true but R is false. Sub-polar low pressure is located between 60–65º latitude in both hemisphere. Low pressure is produced in this area, because the surface air spreads outward from this zone due to rotation of earth.

Question 24:
Consider the following ecosystems:   [2002] 
1. Taiga 
2. Tropical Evergreen 
3. Tropical Deciduous 
4. Tundra 
The correct sequence in decreasing order of the Albedo values of these ecosystems is: 
(a) 1, 4, 3, 2 
(b) 4, 1, 3, 2 
(c) 4, 1, 2, 3 
(d) 1, 4, 2, 3

Correct Answer is Option (b)
According to ecosystem, the maximum albedo would be of Tundra, then Taiga, then Tropical Deciduous then Tropical ever green.

Question 25:
Consider the following statements: [2002] 
1. In equatorial regions, the year is divided into four main seasons 
2. In Mediterranean region, summer months receives more rain. 
3. In China type climate; rainfall occurs throughout the year 
4. Tropical highlands exhibit vertical zonation of different climates 
Which of these statements are correct? 
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 
(b) 1, 2 and 3 
(c) 1, 2 and 4 
(d) 3 and 4

Correct Answer is Option (d)
1st statement is wrong: Equational region has only two seasons. 2nd statement : Mediterranean gets rainfall during winter season is also wrong.

Question 26:
Consider the following statements: [2002] 
1. Ocean currents are slow-surface movement of water in the ocean. 
2. Ocean currents assist in maintaining the Earth's heat balance 
3. Ocean currents are set in motion primarily by prevailing winds 
4. Ocean currents are affected by the configuration of the ocean 
Which of these statements are correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 
(b) 2, 3 and 4 
(c) 1, 3 and 4 
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Ocean currents are not slow most of the time and can be subsurface current also. So, statement '1' is wrong. But '2', '3' and '4' statements are correct.

Question 27:
Sun's halo is produced by the refraction of light in:  [2002]
(a) water vapour in Stratus clouds 
(b) ice crystals in Cirro-Cumulus clouds 
(c) ice crystals in Cirrus clouds 
(d) dust particles in Stratus clouds

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Sun halo also known as 22 degree halo, the ring is caused by sunlight passing through ice crystals in cirrus clouds with in the Earth's atmosphere.

Question 28:
Assertion (A): During the neap tides. The high tide is lower and the low tide is higher than usual. 
Reason (R): The neap tide, unlike the spring tide, occurs on the new moon instead of on the full moon.    [2001] 
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of  A 
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The sun, the earth and the moon come in the position of quadrature (form-a right angle) on seventh and eighth day of every fortnight of a month and thus the tide producing forces of the sun and the moon works in opposite direction, causing low tide. This is lower in height than the normal tide and is called neap tide. But the spring tide occurs during full moon and are called high tides.

Question 29:
The temperature and rainfall of a meteorological station are given below:    [2001]

Average temperature: 12.8°C 
Average rainfall: 54.9 cm per annum 
Identify the region having the above climatic patterns from amongst the following:
(a) Mediterranean region 
(b) Monsoon region 
(c) Steppe region 
(d) N.W. European region

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The region will be the Mediterranean according to the characteristics described by the climatic patterns. Mediterranean climate is characterised by hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters.

Question 30:
Identify the correct order of the process of soil-erosion from the following:   [2001] 
(a) Splash erosion, Sheet erosion, Rill erosion, Gully erosion 
(b) Sheet erosion, Splash erosion, Gully erosion, Rill erosion 
(c) Rill erosion, Gully erosion, Sheet erosion, Splash erosion 
(d) Gullyerosion, Rillerosion, Sheet erosion, Splash erosion

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The correct order of the soil erosion process is splash erosion, sheet erosion, rill erosion and gully erosion. Splash occurs when the raindrop hits the surface; explosive impact soil into individual particles. Sheet erosion is the detachment of soil particles by raindrop and their removal downslope by water flowing overland as a sheet in definite channels. Rill erosion refers to the development of small ephemeral concentrated flow paths which function as both sedimentary source and sediment delivery systems for erosion on hill slopes. Sheet erosion removes this top layer by raindrop kill or Orion occurs in lines that are less than 30 cm deep when these rills are deeper than 30 forming channels are called gully erosion. Gully erosion occurs when water flows in narrow channels after heavy rain and melting snow.

Question 31:
Quartzite is metamorphosed from:   [2001] 
(a) limestone 
(b) obsidian 
(c) sandstone 
(d) shale

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Quartzite is a metamorphosed form of sandstone.

Question 32:
Volcanic eruptions do not occur in:   [2001] 
(a) Baltic Sea 
(b) Black Sea 
(c) Caribbean Sea 
(d) Caspian Sea

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The basaltic rock found in the Baltic sea is transported by glaciers.

Question 33:
Consider the following statements made about sedimentary rocks:   [2001]
1. Sedimentary rocks are formed at the earth's surface by the hydrological system
2. Formation of sedimentary rocks involves the weathering of preexisting rocks
3. Sedimentary rocks contain fossils
4. Sedimentary rocks typically occur in layers
Which of these statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 4
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer is Option (d)
All the statements are true about the sedimentary rock.

Question 34:
If the stars are seen to rise perpendicular to the horizon by an observer, he is located on the:   [2001] 
(a) Equator 
(b) Tropic of Cancer 
(c) South Pole 
(d) North Pole

Correct Answer is Option (a)
If the stars are seen to rise perpendicular to the horizon by an observer then the observer is at the equator because the celestial equator is an imaginary circle around the sky directly above the earth's equator. It is always 90º from the pole. All the stars rotate in a path that is parallel to the celestial equator.

Question 35:
Who amongst the following was the first to state that the earth was spherical?    [2001] 
(a) Aristotle 
(b) Copernicus 
(c) Ptolemy 
(d) Strabo

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Aristotle in 340 B.C first stated that the earth was spherical in his book “On the Heaven”.

Question 36:
Which one of the following weather conditions is indicated by a sudden fall in barometer reading?   [201] 
(a) Stormy 
(b) Calm weather 
(c) Cold and dry weather 
(d) Hot and sunny weather

Correct Answer is Option (a)
In stormy weather conditions, the pressure of the atmosphere varies, which causes a sudden fall in barometer reading.

Question 37:
Consider the following statements about the 'Roaring Forties': [2000]
1. They blow uninterrupted in the northern and Southern Hemispheres
2. They blow with great strength and constancy
3. Their direction is generally from northwest to east in the Southern Hemisphere
4. Overcast skies, rain, and raw weather are generally associated with them
Which of these statements are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 4

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The westerlies in the southern hemisphere are called roaring forties; lies between 40°S to 50°S and are permanent wind. It is slow over the landmass.

Question 38:
Consider the following statements:   [2000] 
1. Tides are of great help in navigation and fishing. 
2. High tide enables big ships to enter or leave the harbor safely 
3. Tide prevents siltation in the harbors 
4. Kandla and Diamond Harbour are tidal ports 
Which of these statements are correct? 
(a) 1 and 4 
(b) 2, 3 and 4 
(c) 1, 2 and 3 
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer is Option (d)
All the given statements are true.

Question 39:
Along which one of the following meridian s did In dia experience the first light of the sunrise of the new millennium?   [2000] 
(a) 2°30' W 
(b) 82°30' E 
(c) 92°30' W 
(d) 92°30' E

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The first light of the sunrise of the new Millenium in India was experienced at Kathal island of Andaman and Nicobar, which is located at 92°30 E meridian.

Question 40:
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:   [1999]

(a) A - 3; B- 2; C- 1; D-4 
(b) A - 3; B- 2; C- 4; D-1 
(c) A - 2; B- 3; C- 4; D-1 
(d) A - 2; B- 3; C- 1; D-4

Correct Answer is Option (c)

• Cedar—Canada 
• Douglas Fir—Mexico 
• Mahogany—Honduras 
• Teak—Myanmar

Question 41:
In the given map, which one of the following pairs of ocean currents are shown?   [1999]

(a) Benguela and Falkland 
(b) Canary and Humboldt 
(c) Agulhas and Guinea 
(d) Benguela and Guinea

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Benguela is a cold current flows from south to north along the west coast of Africa. Guinea current is a warm current flowing east of Guinea along the west coast of Africa.

Question 42:
Which one of the following scholars suggested the earth's origin from gases and dust particles?   [1999] 
(a) James Jeans 
(b) H. Alfven 
(c) F. Hoyle 
(d) O. Schmidt

Correct Answer is Option (d)
O. Schmidt in 1943 gave Interstellar Dust Hypothesis for the origin of the earth and solar system.

Question 43:
Which one of the following types of coal contains a higher percentage of carbon than the rest?   [1999] 
(a) Bituminous coal 
(b) Lignite 
(c) Peat 
(d) Anthracite

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Anthracite is a dense, shiny coal that has a high carbon content. Very little volatile matter is present in it. It gives a clean flame while burning. Anthracite contains 91% of carbon; is very little volatile and has almost smokeless burning.

Question 44:
Physical regions marked as 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the given map are respectively:    [1999]

(a) Andes, Brazilian Shield, Guyana Highlands and Amazon Basin 
(b) Andes, Guyana Highlands, Brazilian Shield and Amazon Basin 
(c) Amazon Basin, Guyana Highlands, Brazilians Shield and Andes 
(d) Guyana Highlands, Brazilian Shield Andes and Amazon Basin

Correct Answer is Option (a)

In the given figure: 

• Andes is marked as ‘1’, which is located at the western coast of South America. 
• Brazilian shield is marked as ‘2’, this area is located at the eastern part of South America. The shield extends over 8.5 million square. 
• Guyana highland is marked as ‘3’ Guyana highland is a plateau and low mountain region of South America located north of Amazon river and South of Orinoco river. 
• Amazon basin is marked as ‘4’, it is the tropical rain forest in the world. Amazon river drains more than half of Brazil, part of Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.

Question 45:
Estuaries possess distinct blooms of excessive growth of a pigmented dinoflagellates. These blooms are called   [1998] 
(a) red tides 
(b) sea tides 
(c) black tides 
(d) sea flowers

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Red tides are a special type of blooms, which are found at the estuaries. These blooms are pigmented dinoflagellates. These single celled organisms are able to swim short distances. When the algae is present in high concentration, the water appears purple or pink in colour.

Question 46:
The correct sequence of different layers of the atmosphere from the surface of the Earth upwards is:   [1998] 
(a) Troposphere, Stratosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere 
(b) Stratosphere, Troposphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere 
(c) Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Ionosphere 
(d) Stratosphere, Troposphere, Mesosphere, Ionosphere

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The correct sequence of different layers of atmosphere from the surface of earth is Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere and Ionosphere. Troposphere extends upto 8 km from earth surface, but at equator it is 16–18 km. Stratosphere extends above Troposphere 18–50 km. Mesosphere extends up to 80 km and above Mesosphere Ionosphere is present, which extends up to 400 km.

Question 47:
Consider the following statements regarding asteroids:    [1998] 
1. Asteroids are rocky debris of varying size orbiting the sun 
2. Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large and 1000 km 
3. The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn 
Of these statements: 
(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct 
(b) 2 and 3 are correct 
(c) 1 and 2 are correct 
(d) 1 and 3 are correct

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The asteroids are group of small pieces of rocky debris of different sizes. Some asteroids are small and some asteroids even have diameter 1000 km. The asteroids revolve between Mars and Jupiter.

Question 48:
Consider the map given  below:     [1997]

Of the four shaded areas in the map, which is characterised by hot dry summers, mild and moist winters and seasonal reversal of winds.
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4

Correct Answer is Option (a)
In the given world map ‘1’ refers the hot, dry summers, mild and moist winter in California (U.S.A).

Question 49:
Which one of the following conditions is most relevant for the presence of life on Mars?   [1997] 
(a) Atmospheric composition 
(b) Thermal conditions 
(c) Occurrence of ice caps and frozen water 
(d) Occurrence of ozone

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Mars is the only planet with similar day time temperatures and an atmosphere similar to earth. The most relevant condition for presence of life on Mars is occurrence of ice caps and frozen water.

Question 50:
Which one of the following stars is nearest to the Earth?   [1997] 
(a) Polaris 
(b) Alpha Centauri 
(c) Sun 
(d) Sirius

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Sun is the star nearest to the earth. It is 150 million kilometer away from earth. Sun has temperatures of over 15 million ºC.