World Political Geography (UPSC) (Part-II)

Total Questions: 45

21. Conisder the following statements: [2008]

1. Ajman is one of the seven emirates of the UAE.

2. Ras al-Khaimah was the last Sheikhdom to join the UAE.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:Ajman is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates with an area of 260 sq kilometer. Ras al-Khaimah was the 7th and last Sheikhdom to join UAE in 1972.
  • United Arab Emirates, federation of seven emirates along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Neighbouring countries: Saudi Arabia (west and south) and Oman (east and northeast).
    Maritime border: Gulf of Oman; Persian Gulf.

Geographical Features

  • Nearly the entire country is desert with no perennial streams.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel, between the Omani Musandam Peninsula and Iran.
  • It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
  • Tropic of Cancer passes through UAE, specifically the Abu Dhabi emirate.
  • Highest point: Jebel Jais mountain

22. Which two countries follow China and India in the decreasing order of their population? [2008]

Correct Answer: (b) USA and Indonesia
Solution:The top ten countries with the highest population in decreasing order are:

1. India

2. China

3. United States

4. Indonesia

5. Pakistan

6. Nigeria

7. Brazil

8. Bangladesh

9. Russia

10. Mexico

23. Consider the following countries: [2009]

1. Australia

2. Namibia

3. Brazil

4. Chile

Through which of the above does the Tropic of Capricorn pass?

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Solution:
  • The Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five major circles of latitude (imaginary lines around the Earth) that are often marked on maps of the Earth.
  • The 23.5 degrees south latitude in the Southern Hemisphere is known as Tropic of Capricorn.
  • The Tropic of Capricorn's position is not fixed, but constantly changes because of a slight wobble in the Earth's longitudinal alignment relative to its orbit around the
  • Sun Its latitude is currently 23°26′11.7" (or 23.43659") south of the Equator
  • Tropic of Capricorn passes through 10 countries, 3 continents and 3 water bodies.
  • South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay
  • Africa: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar
  • Australia: Australia
  • Water Bodies: Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean.

24. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [2009]

CITYRIVER
(a) BerlinRhine
(b) LondonThames
(c) New YorkHudson
(d) ViennaDanube
Correct Answer: (a)
Solution:The Rhine is a major river in Europe, flowing through several countries including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. However, Berlin is not located on the Rhine River. Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany, but it is situated in the north eastern part of the country, far away from the Rhine River. Instead, Berlin is situated on the River Spree, which is a smaller river that flows through the city.

25. Which one among the following South Asian countries has the highest population density ? [2009]

Correct Answer: (a) India
Solution:Overall population density of India is 324. Nepal is 102, Pakistan is 146, Sri Lanka is 280 person per square kilometers.
India is the most populous country in the world with 1.44 billion people. Surpassing China recently. It will continue to rise until reaching 1.52 billion by 2036, according to India's National Commission on Population. India has a huge advantage as well as challenges to tap the potential benefits of its large population with religious and ethnic diversities.
The Government of india has taken several steps to directly control the population growth. India was the first country to launch a national programme of family planning in 1952, that emphasised the necessity of reducing birth rates to stabilize the population.

26. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: [2009]

List-I (Geographic feature) List-II (Country) 
A. Great Victoria Desert1. Australia
B. Grand Canyon2. Canada
C. Lake Winnipeg3. New Zealand
D. Southern Alps4. USA

 

ABCD
(a)1243
(b)1423
(c)3241
(d)3421

 

Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:Great Victoria Desert - Australia

Grand Canyon - USA

Lake Winnipeg - Canada

Southern Alps - New Zealand

27. Cape Canaveral, the site from which space shuttles are launched is located on the coast of: [2009]

Correct Answer: (a) Florida
Solution:Cape Canaveral is the part of Florida's coast.
  • It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean side of the state.
  • It is a key part of the Space Coast, a nickname given to the area due to its association with space exploration.
  • It is located east of Orlando and is separated from Merritt Island by the Banana River.
  • The area is known for the Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral, and the Canaveral National Seashore.

28. Which among the following has the world’s largest reserves of Uranium? [2009]

Correct Answer: (a) Australia
Solution:Australia has the world's largest uranium reserves. Approximately 24% of the planet's uranium is present in Australia.
  • Uranium is a silvery-gray metallic radioactive chemical element. It is only naturally formed in supernova explosions.
  • Uranium, thorium, and potassium are the main elements contributing to natural terrestrial radioactivity.
  • Uranium has the chemical symbol U and atomic number 92.
    Uranium isotopes in natural uranium are 238U (99.27%) and 235U (0.72%).
  • All uranium isotopes are radioactive and fissionable. But only 235U is fissile (will support a neutron-mediated chain reaction).
  • Traces of Uranium are found everywhere. Commercial extraction is possible only in locations where the proportion of Uranium is adequate. There are very few such locations.

29. Which one of the following is the country’s administrative capital new federal administrative centre of Malaysia? [2009]

Correct Answer: (c) Putrajaya
Solution:Putrajaya is new federal administrative centre of Malaysia.
  • Putrajaya was created to move administrative functions from the congested capital of Kuala Lumpur to a new, modern, and purpose-built city
  • The development of Putrajaya began in 1995, and many federal offices moved there around the turn of the 21st century.
    It is located about 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Kuala Lumpur.
  • Putrajaya is the seat of the Malaysian federal government and hosts numerous government offices, ministries, and agencies, while Kuala Lumpur remains the national capital and royal capital.
  • The city was designed as a planned city featuring modern architecture, spacious boulevards, and extensive green spaces, incorporating elements of Islamic architecture.
  • Notable landmarks include the Putra Mosque, Perdana Putra (Prime Minister's Office), and the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

30. Which one of the following can come across if one travels through the Strait of Malacca? [2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Singapore
Solution:
  • It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
  • It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West) Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east
  • The Strait of Malacca's name was derived from the Malacca Sultanate, who governed the archipelago from 1400 until 1511.
  • It links the Indian and Pacific oceans and is one of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world.
  • Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia control the joint patrolling of Malacca Strait.