Daily Static MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams - Geography (19 July 2023)

Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams

Subject : Geography

1. Consider the following statements:

1. Oceanic trenches are formed due to collision of oceanic and continental crust.
2. Deepest ocean depth is measured at Mariana Trench located North of Japan’s coast.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Along a convergent boundary two lithospheric plates collide against each other. When one of the plates is an oceanic plate, it gets embedded in the softer asthenosphere of the continental plate, and as a result, trenches are formed at the zone of subduction. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The deepest part of the ocean is called the Challenger Deep and is located beneath the western Pacific Ocean in the southern end of the Mariana Trench, which runs several hundred kilometers southwest of the U.S. territorial island of Guam. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

2. December and January are the coldest months in the northern plain. The reasons for the excessive cold in north India are:

1. Far away from the sea.
2. Snowfall in the nearby Himalayan ranges
3. Cold winds coming from Taklamakan Desert and Plateau of Tibet.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation: There are three main reasons for the excessive cold in north India during this season:

  • States like Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan being far away from the moderating influence of sea experience continental climate.
  • The snowfall in the nearby Himalayan ranges creates cold wave situation; and
  • Around February, the cold winds coming from the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan bring cold wave along with frost and fog over the north-western parts of India.

Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

3. Consider the following statements regarding Jet Streams:

1. Jet streams are narrow bands of strong winds that flow over thousands of kilometres predominantly from east to west.
2. Major jet streams are found near the upper levels of the atmosphere, around 9 to 16 km from the earth’s surface.
3. In India, the Tropical jet stream influences the formation and duration of the summer monsoon.
4. Jet streams can aid in the faster travelling of Aircrafts.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Jet streams are narrow bands of strong winds that flow over thousands of kilometres from west to east. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Major jet streams are found near the upper levels of the atmosphere, around 9 to 16 km from the earth’s surface, and can reach speeds of over 320 kph. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • The jet streams shift to the north or south depending on the season. During winters, the wind current is the strongest. They are also closer to the Equator during winter. The major jet streams are the Polar Front, Subtropical, and Tropical jet streams. In India, the Tropical jet stream influences the formation and duration of the summer monsoon. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • Most commercial planes fly at the jet stream level, and a strong jet stream can provide a potent tailwind to a flight travelling from west to east. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

4. Equatorial counter-currents are unique because:

(a) They flow in a direction opposite to that of the surface winds
(b) They circulate from equator to the poles uninterruptedly.
(c) Their travel speed is not affected by the ocean depth.
(d) They are the only current to be sandwiched between two eastward-flowing ocean currents.

Answer: (A)

Explanation: Equatorial counter-currents are major surface flows that carry water eastward in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. They are located near the equator and are sandwiched between two westward-flowing currents, the North Equatorial Current and the South Equatorial Current. Equatorial counter-currents are unique, in that they flow in the opposite direction of the surface winds. The other major surface currents in the tropics flow in the same direction as the prevailing winds. Hence, option (a) is correct.

5. Consider the following statements regarding Anticyclones:

Statement 1 – Anticyclone is a region where the atmospheric pressure is high compared with that of adjacent areas.
Statement 2 – In the northern hemisphere the general wind circulation is anti-clockwise round the anticyclone.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.
(c) Statement-I is correct but statement II is incorrect.
(d) Statement -I is incorrect but Statement -II is correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Anticyclone is a region where the atmospheric pressure is high compared with that of adjacent areas. The extents are generally large and the effects are also pronounced. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • In the northern hemisphere the general wind circulation is clockwise round the anticyclone, while in the southern hemisphere it is anticlockwise. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.