Mastering
geography is essential for excelling in the UPSC exam, and what better way to
test your knowledge than through practice? This comprehensive set of MCQs
covers the most important geographical terms, ensuring you’re ready to tackle
any geography-related question in Prelims. Let’s dive in and sharpen your
skills!
1. What is Plate Tectonics?
A. Movement of Earth’s lithospheric plates
B. Formation of the inner core
C. Water cycle movement
D. Erosion of rocks
Answer: A
2. Who proposed the Continental Drift Theory?
A. Charles Darwin
B. Alfred Wegener
C. Isaac Newton
D. James Hutton
Answer: B
3. A Subduction Zone is characterized by:
A. Folding of Earth’s crust
B. One tectonic plate sinking beneath another
C. Formation of glaciers
D. Erosion of soil
Answer: B
4. Seismic Waves are studied in which form?
A. Surface waves, Trade winds, Erosion waves
B. Ocean currents, La Niña, Delta waves
C. P-waves, S-waves, Surface waves
D. Tidal waves, Fold waves, Block waves
Answer: C
5. Which region is known as the “Ring of
Fire”?
A. The Atlantic Ocean
B. The Indian Ocean
C. Pacific Ocean’s seismic zone
D. Arctic Ocean
Answer: C
6. Which of these is a cold ocean current?
A. Gulf Stream
B. Humboldt Current
C. El Niño Current
D. Canary Current
Answer: B
7. El Niño is caused by:
A. Overgrazing of land
B. Ocean salinity increase
C. Warming of Pacific waters
D. Melting glaciers
Answer: C
8. The cooling phase opposite to El Niño is
called:
A. Trade Winds
B. Monsoon
C. La Niña
D. Insolation
Answer: C
9. What are Trade Winds?
A. High-speed winds at the poles
B. Steady winds from east to west in the tropics
C. Winds causing desertification
D. High-pressure cyclonic winds
Answer: B
10. Which winds blow from west to east in
temperate regions?
A. Westerlies
B. Monsoon Winds
C. Cyclonic Winds
D. Trade Winds
Answer: A
11. The reversal of seasonal winds in India is
called:
A. Cyclone
B. Westerlies
C. Monsoon
D. El Niño
Answer: C
12. Which system is characterized by
low-pressure areas with strong winds?
A. Cyclones
B. Anticyclones
C. Trade Winds
D. Westerlies
Answer: A
13. What is Orogeny?
A. A process of mountain building
B. Erosion by wind
C. Formation of deltas
D. Formation of trenches
Answer: A
14. Which of these is a Fold Mountain?
A. Vindhya Range
B. Himalayas
C. Deccan Plateau
D. Karst Plateau
Answer: B
15. Which landform is created by faulting?
A. Fold Mountains
B. Block Mountains
C. Coral Reefs
D. Deltas
Answer: B
16. Which river forms the largest delta in the
world?
A. Amazon
B. Ganga-Brahmaputra
C. Nile
D. Mississippi
Answer: B
17. A narrow waterway connecting two water
bodies is called a:
A. Lagoon
B. Strait
C. Delta
D. Fjord
Answer: B
18. The Isthmus of Panama connects:
A. Asia and Europe
B. North and South America
C. Africa and Europe
D. India and Sri Lanka
Answer: B
19. Which is the largest coral reef system in
the world?
A. Great Barrier Reef
B. Maldives Coral Reef
C. Gulf of Mannar
D. Andaman Coral Reef
Answer: A
20. An atoll is best described as:
A. A ring-shaped coral reef surrounding a lagoon
B. A mountain range formed by folding
C. A valley formed by glaciers
D. A faulted block of land
Answer: A
21. A Biosphere Reserve aims to:
A. Conserve water bodies
B. Protect biodiversity
C. Prevent desertification
D. Increase agricultural yield
Answer: B
22. What is Permafrost?
A. Soil permanently frozen year-round
B. Frozen rivers in Antarctica
C. Mountain ice caps
D. Iceberg formation
Answer: A
23. The term Karst Topography refers to:
A. Landscapes formed by limestone dissolution
B. Frozen tundra regions
C. Wind-eroded deserts
D. Glacially carved valleys
Answer: A
24. Which is the largest glacier in India?
A. Siachen Glacier
B. Gangotri Glacier
C. Zemu Glacier
D. Baltoro Glacier
Answer: A
25. The process of removing soil by water or
wind is called:
A. Erosion
B. Deposition
C. Desertification
D. Urbanization
Answer: A
26. Which region in India is a Rain Shadow
area?
A. Deccan Plateau
B. Western Ghats
C. Sundarbans
D. Indo-Gangetic Plains
Answer: A
27. The Sundarbans is an example of:
A. Lagoon
B. Coral Reef
C. Mangroves
D. Delta
Answer: C
28. What are Greenhouse Gases?
A. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
B. Gases released from glaciers
C. Gases produced by coral reefs
D. Gases from volcanoes
Answer: A
29. Sustainable Development focuses on:
A. Meeting current needs without harming future generations
B. Using all available resources immediately
C. Rapid industrialization
D. Depleting natural resources
Answer: A
30. The Hydrological Cycle involves:
A. Wind movements and cyclones
B. Movement of tectonic plates
C. Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation of water
D. Soil erosion and deposition
Answer: C
Practicing these MCQs not only tests your knowledge but
also helps you identify areas that need improvement. By consistently revisiting
and mastering these questions, you’ll gain the confidence to handle any
geography-related topic in the UPSC exam. Keep practicing, and success will
follow!