World Geography

Statement I: Correct *Andes pass through Bolivia, forming the Altiplano plateau.*

Statement II: Incorrect *Andes do not pass through Brazil, which lies on the Brazilian Plateau.*

Statement III: Correct *Andes pass through Colombia, where they split into three mountain chains.*

Statement IV: Correct *Andes run north-south through Ecuador, shaping its geography.*

Statement V: Incorrect Paraguay lies in the interior lowlands; Andes do not pass through it.

Statement VI: Correct *The Venezuelan Andes extend into western Venezuela (Cordillera de Mérida).*

Correct Answer: (C) Only four Andes pass through: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela Not through: Brazil, Paraguay

Based on the distribution of official time zones including overseas territories, we can determine:

United Kingdom – More than four (Total 9 Time Zones) Denmark – More than four (At least 5 Time Zones) New Zealand – More than four (Total 5 Time Zones) Australia – More than four (Total 8-9 Time Zones) Brazil – Exactly four

Therefore, four out of the five countries have more than four time zones.

The question tests knowledge of European geography, particularly the correct country associations of famous regions.

I. Mallorca : Italy * Mallorca is part of Spain, not Italy.

II. Normandy : Spain * Normandy is a region in France, not Spain.

III. Sardinia : France * Sardinia belongs to Italy, not France.

This question checks knowledge of countries known for major natural resources that play key roles in global markets.

I. Botswana : Diamond – Correct * Botswana is a top global producer of diamonds, vital to its economy.

II. Chile : Lithium – Correct * Chile has vast lithium reserves in the Atacama Desert and is a leading global supplier.

III. Indonesia : Nickel – Correct * Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel, crucial for batteries and steel.

Statement I: Incorrect *Lake Tanganyika lies south of the Equator, in Tanzania, DRC, Burundi, and Zambia.*

Statement II: Incorrect *Lake Tonlé Sap is in Cambodia, well north of the Equator.*

Statement III: Incorrect *Patos Lagoon is in southern Brazil, far south of the Equator.*

Correct Answer: (D) None The Equator does not pass through any of the three water bodies listed.

* Central Asia - Vosges - Fold Mountain: This is incorrect. The Vosges Mountains are located in Europe, not Central Asia. They are block mountains.

* Europe - Alps - Block Mountain: This is incorrect. The Alps, located in Europe, are a classic example of fold mountains, formed due to the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.

* North America - Appalachians - Fold Mountain: This is correct. The Appalachian Mountains in North America are old fold mountains.


* South America - Andes - Fold Mountain: This is correct. The Andes, running along the western edge of South America, are the longest continental mountain range in the world and are fold mountains formed due to the convergence of the Nazca and South American plates.

Therefore, only two rows have the information correctly matched.

The Assertion (Statement-I) is Correct: The Sumed (Suez-Mediterranean) pipeline is a critical strategic route for transporting energy resources from the Persian Gulf to Europe. It serves as a vital alternative to the Suez Canal, particularly for Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) that are too large to navigate the canal fully loaded.

The Reason (Statement-II) is Correct: The pipeline physically connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. It runs from the Ain Sokhna terminal on the Gulf of Suez to the Sidi Kerir terminal near Alexandria. Crude oil from the Persian Gulf is unloaded from tankers at the Red Sea terminal, transported through the pipeline, and then reloaded onto tankers at the Mediterranean terminal for shipment to European ports.

Statement-II correctly explains Statement-I because the geographical connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean is the specific factor that enables the pipeline to function as a strategic transit bypass for shipments heading to Europe.

* Finland: Finland borders the Baltic Sea, not the North Sea.

* Germany: Germany shares a border with the North Sea.

* Norway: Norway has a long coastline along the North Sea.

* Russia: Russia does not border the North Sea.

* In total 7 countries border the North Sea - United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France.


Therefore, only Germany and Norway border the North Sea.

The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world, stretching approximately 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles), including the border shared with Alaska. It is a peaceful boundary and includes both land and water segments.


Chile and Argentina:

* Length: Approx. 5,308 kilometres

* This is the third-longest international border in the world and the longest in South America.

* It follows the Andes mountain range for most of its length, with several high-altitude border crossings.

China and India:

* Length: Approx. 3,488 kilometers * It is highly disputed in areas such as Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, leading to occasional tensions between the two nations.

Kazakhstan and Russian Federation:

* Length: Approx. 7,644 kilometers

* This is the second-longest international border in the world.

* It is largely flat, passing through vast steppes, and is a vital region for trade and natural resources between the two countries.

The Ivory Coast and Ghana are by far the two largest producers of cocoa, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the world's cocoa.


West Africa is home to the largest cocoa producing countries worldwide, with 3.9 million tonnes of production in 2022.

In fact, there are about one million farmers in Côte d'Ivoire supplying cocoa to key customers such as Nestlé, Mars, and Hershey.

However, the massive influence of this industry has led to significant forest loss to plant cocoa trees.

1. Brazil - Indri: Indris are _lemurs_ found only in Madagascar, not Brazil. So, this pair is incorrect.

2. Indonesia - Elk: Elks are found in North America, Europe, and Asia, but not in Indonesia. This pair is incorrect.


3. Madagascar - Bonobo: Bonobos are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, not Madagascar. This pair is also incorrect.

Therefore, none of the pairs are correctly matched.

* Italy and Japan are often cited as prime examples of countries with rapidly ageing populations and very low birth rates. Both countries have been grappling with the economic and social consequences of these demographic trends for several years.

* South Korea has also emerged as a country with significant demographic concerns. Its fertility rate is one of the lowest in the world, and its population is projected to start declining in the coming years.


* Nigeria and South Africa, while facing their own set of demographic challenges, are generally not highlighted for low birth rates or declining populations. Nigeria has a very young and rapidly growing population. South Africa's population growth has slowed in recent years, but it is not yet experiencing a decline.

* Bulgaria does not share a land border with Ukraine. It is located to the south of Romania and is separated from Ukraine by Romania.

* The Czech Republic is located to the west of Ukraine and does not share a land border with it.

* Hungary shares a land border with Ukraine to the west.

* Latvia is located to the north of Ukraine and does not share a land border with it.

* Lithuania is located to the north of Ukraine and does not share a land border with it.

* Romania shares a land border with Ukraine to the south.

* Only two of the above-mentioned countries (Hungary and Romania) share a land border with Ukraine.


* Cobalt has emerged as a vital ingredient for the shift to a lower-carbon energy system, but reserves of the metal are concentrated heavily in just a single country.

* The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to half of the world's known resources and currently accounts for around 70% of global production.

* The metals used in electronic goods, particularly the rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles and other forms of energy storage means interest in it is growing as the electrification of the global energy system continues to gather pace.

* Cobalt is used in batteries, superalloys, catalysts, magnets, and pigments for various industries like electronics, aviation, and manufacturing.

* Democratic Republic of Congo (I), Indonesia (II), Russia (III), Australia (IV), and Madagascar (V) are the top 5 Cobalt-producing countries in the world.

* Small deposits of Cobalt are known to exist in Odisha & Jharkhand in India.

* Cobalt has also been classified as a critical mineral by the Government of India.

* The Congo Basin is a vast region in Central Africa that encompasses several countries. It is the sedimentary basin of the Congo River and is located in a region known as West Equatorial Africa.


* The Congo Basin spans across mainly six countries Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.

Thus, Option A is correct.

* Statement I is incorrect: The soil in tropical rainforests is not rich in nutrients. The heavy rainfall in these regions washes away the nutrients from the soil, preventing them from accumulating.

* Statement II is correct: In tropical rainforests, high temperature and humidity help dead plants and animals decompose quickly. The warmth and moisture create the perfect conditions for bacteria and fungi, which are tiny organisms that break down dead material. These decomposers work faster in such an environment, turning dead matter into nutrients that go back into the soil to support new plant growth.

Therefore, Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

Pair 1 is correctly matched. Anatolia is the peninsula of land that today constitutes the Asian portion of Turkey. Because of its location at the point where the continents of Asia and Europe meet, Anatolia was, from the beginnings of civilization, a crossroads for numerous peoples migrating or conquering from either continent.


Pair 2 is correctly matched. The Amhara Region is located in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. It is the homeland of the Amhara people. Amhara is the site of the largest inland body of water in Ethiopia, Lake Tana. The Amhara region is often mentioned in the news due to historical conflicts among Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayan groups of Ethiopia.


Pair 3 is not correctly matched. Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique (not Spain). It has been in the news because Mozambique's Al-Shabab extremist group has been carrying out attacks in the province since 2017. 

Pair 4 is not correctly matched. Catalonia occupies a triangular area in the northeastern corner of Spain (not Italy). It is bordered by France and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the autonomous community of Valencia to the south, and the autonomous community of Aragon to the west. Recently, mass protests broke out across Spain's Catalonia region after its former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was arrested.


Therefore, only two pairs (Anatolia – Turkey and Amhara – Ethiopia) are correctly matched.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Azerbaijan is located in the Caucasus region on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and does not share a border with Afghanistan. Statement 2 is Incorrect: Kyrgyzstan is located to the north of Tajikistan and does not share a border with Afghanistan. Statement 3 is Correct: Tajikistan shares a long border with Afghanistan to the north and northeast. Statement 4 is Correct: Turkmenistan shares a border with Afghanistan to the northwest. Statement 5 is Correct: Uzbekistan shares a border with Afghanistan to the north. Afghanistan is a landlocked country. Its other neighbors include Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, and China to the northeast via the narrow Wakhan Corridor.

The term "Levant" refers to the geographical region located along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This region typically includes the countries of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey (the southern/southeastern region).


The Levant connects Anatolia, the Caucasus, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. It encompasses the eastern Mediterranean coastline and the hinterlands that stretch inland from that coast.

The Levant has faced prolonged unrest, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Syrian Civil War, and ethnic and religious tensions.

The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees. The forest development in such areas is generally kept in check by one or more or a combination of some conditions. These conditions include fire, grazing herbivores, and seasonal rainfall.

2. Fire is a common occurrence in savannahs and it helps to maintain the grassland by burning out tree saplings.

3. Grazing herbivores also help to maintain the grassland by eating young tree saplings before they can grow into mature trees.

4. Seasonal rainfall also plays a role as it affects the growth of trees and grasses.

1. Burrowing animals and termites, while they do have an impact on the ecosystem, are not the primary factors controlling forest development.

5. Similarly, soil properties can affect the types of vegetation that can grow, but they are not the primary factors controlling forest development in savannahs.

Therefore, the correct answer is (c) 2, 3 and 4.

Savannah Climate: - It is a transitional climate between equatorial rainforests and hot deserts. - It has wet and dry seasons like the monsoon climate but with much less rainfall. Unlike the monsoon climate, it lacks a distinct rainy season. - It has only two seasons—winter and summer, with rain occurring in summer. The savanna landscape features tall grasses and scattered short trees. - The savanna is called the 'big game country' because thousands of animals are hunted or trapped annually by people worldwide.


Sumatra is the geographically closest island to Great Nicobar, separated by the Great Channel (also known as the Six Degree Channel). The distance between the southernmost point of Great Nicobar and the northern tip of Sumatra (Aceh province, Indonesia) is approximately 145–150 km.

In contrast, Sri Lanka is located about 1,200 km to the west of the Nicobar Islands. Java is located to the southeast of Sumatra, and Borneo is situated much further east in the Malay Archipelago, making both significantly more distant from Great Nicobar than Sumatra.

Out of the listed countries, only Jordan does not have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea.


Syria, Lebanon, and Israel all border the Mediterranean Sea. Jordan is bordered by Israel and the West Bank to the west, effectively separating it from the Mediterranean Sea.

The region described in the passage is most likely experiencing an equatorial climate.

* Clear and bright mornings with sea breeze: This suggests a warm and humid environment near the ocean.

* Heat building up during the day: Equatorial regions receive strong, direct sunlight throughout the year, leading to high daytime temperatures.

* Afternoon thunderstorms: The rising heat in the afternoon creates convection currents, leading to the formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds that bring brief, intense rain showers with thunder and lightning.

* Short-lived rain: Equatorial regions experience frequent, short bursts of rain, followed by clear skies again.


Steppes: Steppes are usually characterized by a semi-arid or continental climate. Extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to 45 °C (113 °F) and in winter, -50 °C (-58°F). Besides this huge difference between summer and winter, the differences between day and night are also very great.


African Savannah & North American Prairie: These regions have more rainfall and varied landscapes compared to the Steppe. Nomadic herding existed, but wasn't the sole way of life.

Siberian Tundra: Colder, less rain, permafrost. Not ideal for grazing animals. Nomadic herding is less prevalent.

Therefore, the Central Asian Steppe, with its extreme climate, limited rainfall, and historical dependence on nomadic herding, best fits the description in the statement.

Option A is incorrect: The Abyssinian plateau is in Ethiopia (in Africa).

Option B is correct: The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in the Maghreb. It stretches around 2,500 km (1,600 mi) through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The range's highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of 4,167 metres (13,671 ft) in southwestern Morocco. It separates the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert.

Option C is incorrect: Guiana Highland is in South America.

Option D is incorrect: Okavango basin/swamp in the Southern part of Africa.

Statement 1 is correct: The trees are very tall (up to 50 m or more) and grow close together, competing for sunlight. Their crowns form a dense, multilayered canopy that blocks most sunlight from reaching the ground.

Statement 2 is correct: Equatorial forests are the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. A single hectare can host hundreds of tree species, along with diverse fauna and microorganisms. This is due to stable climate and continuous growing season.

Statement 3 is correct: Epiphytes (plants growing on other plants) such as orchids, mosses, and ferns thrive here. The humid atmosphere and dense canopy support their growth on trunks and branches.


* The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and Albania is one of the countries on its coast.


* Croatia does not border the Black Sea. The countries bordering the Black Sea are Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.


* Kazakhstan is one of the five countries (along with Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan) that border the Caspian Sea.


* Morocco is one of the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea.


* Syria does not border the Red Sea. The countries bordering the Red Sea are Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti.


So, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 3, and 4.

Pair 1 is incorrect. The Mekong River originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before emptying into the South China Sea, not the Andaman Sea.


Pair 2 is incorrect. The Thames River flows entirely within England and empties into the North Sea, not the Irish Sea.


Pair 3 is correct. The Volga River is the longest river in Europe. It originates in Russia and flows into the Caspian Sea.


Pair 4 is correct. The Zambezi River originates in Zambia and flows through Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique before emptying into the Indian Ocean.


So, the correct pairs are 3 and 4. Hence, option C is the correct answer.

The description provided is characteristic of the Tropical Rain Forest (Tropical Evergreen Forest).

- Rapid Decomposition: Tropical rain forests are characterized by high temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. These conditions facilitate intense microbial activity, causing leaf litter to decompose much faster than in any other biome. As a result, nutrients are quickly reabsorbed by plants, leaving the soil surface almost bare of organic matter. - Vegetation and Epiphytes: Due to the dense, multi-layered canopy, very little sunlight reaches the forest floor. To survive, many plant forms have adapted by climbing trees (lianas) or growing as epiphytes (plants that grow on the branches of trees to access sunlight without being parasitic). - Key Species: Common trees include Mahogany, Rosewood, Aini, and Ebony. - Distribution in India: According to NCERT, these forests are found in regions with heavy rainfall (over 200 cm), specifically the Western Ghats, the Northeastern states, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

In contrast, coniferous forests have slow decomposition due to cold climates; dry deciduous forests have seasonal leaf fall and less dense canopies; and mangrove forests are specialized for saline coastal environments with distinct stilt roots.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Jordan does not border the Mediterranean Sea; it is separated from it by Israel and the West Bank. While not landlocked, its only coastline is on the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). Statement 2 is Incorrect: Iraq does not border the Mediterranean Sea. It is located further east and has its only maritime access via the Persian Gulf. Statement 3 is Correct: Lebanon is a Levantine country with a coastline along the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Statement 4 is Correct: Syria borders the eastern Mediterranean Sea, situated between Turkey to the north and Lebanon to the south.