World Political Geography (UPSC) (Part-II)

41. Consider the following statements: [2022 - I]

Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
Some people who fled from the South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
Some people who fled from the civil war in Somalia live in the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only

Solution:Statement I is not correct Bidi Bidi is in Uganda and not in Kenya. Statement 2 is correct. Bidi Bidi hosts more than 270,000 refugees from South Sudan civil war Statement 3 is correct: The Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya was established in 1991 when refugees fleeing the civil war in Somalia started to cross the border into Kenya.

42. Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin? [2023 - I]

(a) Cameroon
(b) Nigeria
(c) South Sudan
(d) Uganda

Correct Answer: (a) Cameroon

Solution:The correct answer is (a) Cameroon. The Congo Basin is a large drainage basin in Central Africa, It covers an area of about 3.7 million square kilometers, making it the second largest drainage basin in the world after the Amazon Basin. The Congo Basin is home to the Congo River, the second longest river in Africa after the Nile. The Congo Basin is also home to a large rainforest, the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon Rainforest.

43. Consider the following countries: [2023 - I]

Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Romania

How many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?

(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Correct Answer: (a) Only two

Solution:The correct answer is (a), only two of the countries listed share a land border with Ukraine: Hungary and Romania. Overall, Ukraine shares a land border with seven countries: Russia, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and Slovakia.

44. About three-fourths of the world’s cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by [2023 - I]

(a) Argentina
(b) Botswana
(c) The Democratic Republic of the Congo
(d) Kazakhstan

Correct Answer: (c) The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Solution:The correct answer is (c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the world's largest producer of cobalt, a metal that is used in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles. In 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo produced 140,000 metric tons of cobalt, which accounted for about 70% of global production.

45. Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world? [2024 - I]

(a) Algeria and Morocco
(b) Botswana and Namibia
(c) Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana
(d) Madagascar and Mozambique

Correct Answer: (c) Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana

Solution:Cocoa, essential for chocolate manufacturing, is economically vital for many nations. Africa dominates global cocoa production, accounting for 60% of the world's supply. Production is primarily influenced by the region's climate, soil quality, and weather patterns. Côte d'Ivoire is the world's top cocoa producer, with an annual output of 2,200,000 tons, followed by Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Ecuador. Hence, the correct answer is (c).