World Geography MCQs set 2 for PPSC Forest / Wildlife Officer (BS-17) Geography — 20 solved questions.
Q1. Which is the largest desert in Asia?
Answer: Gobi Desert
Explanation: The Gobi Desert spans approximately 1.3 million km² across northern China and southern Mongolia, making it the largest desert in Asia. It is a cold desert known for its extreme temperature variations and dinosaur fossil discoveries.
Q2. What is the name of the boundary between the Earth's crust and mantle?
Answer: Mohorovičić Discontinuity
Explanation: The Mohorovičić Discontinuity (or "Moho") marks the boundary between Earth's crust and upper mantle, named after Croatian seismologist Andrija Mohorovičić who discovered it in 1909. It lies about 5-10 km beneath the ocean floor and 20-90 km beneath continents.
Q3. In the Köppen climate system, which sub-type is denoted by "Af"?
Answer: Tropical rainforest
Explanation: Af denotes a tropical rainforest climate in the Köppen system, characterized by high temperatures (above 18°C year-round) and heavy rainfall exceeding 60 mm in every month. Such climates are found in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asian archipelago.
Q4. Which ocean basin contains the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
Answer: Atlantic Ocean
Explanation: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs approximately 16,000 km down the centre of the Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to near the Antarctic Circle, forming a divergent plate boundary. It separates the North and South American plates from the Eurasian and African plates.
Q5. What is the approximate depth at which most of the world's earthquakes originate?
Answer: Less than 70 km (shallow focus)
Explanation: Approximately 75% of the world's earthquake energy is released by shallow-focus earthquakes originating less than 70 km below the surface. These shallow earthquakes tend to cause the most damage as seismic energy is released closer to populated areas.
Q6. Which biome is characterised by permafrost, no trees, and extremely cold temperatures?
Answer: Tundra
Explanation: The tundra biome is found in Arctic regions and high mountain tops, featuring permafrost (permanently frozen subsoil), very low vegetation such as mosses and lichens, and average temperatures below -30°C in winter. It covers about 20% of Earth's land surface.
Q7. Which continent is the Atlas Mountains located on?
Answer: Africa
Explanation: The Atlas Mountains run approximately 2,500 km across northwestern Africa through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal at 4,167 m in Morocco, and the range separates the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean coast.
Q8. Which gulf lies between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran?
Answer: Persian Gulf
Explanation: The Persian Gulf (also called the Arabian Gulf) lies between the Arabian Peninsula to the southwest and Iran to the northeast, covering approximately 251,000 km². It is a strategically vital waterway containing some of the world's largest oil reserves.
Q9. What type of plate boundary causes earthquakes but not volcanic activity along its length?
Answer: Transform boundary
Explanation: Transform (conservative) boundaries occur where two plates slide horizontally past each other, generating frequent and powerful earthquakes but generally no volcanic activity. The San Andreas Fault in California is a classic example, where the Pacific and North American plates grind past each other.
Q10. Which continent has no permanent human settlement and no indigenous population?
Answer: Antarctica
Explanation: Antarctica is the only continent with no indigenous human population and no permanent civilian settlement; its approximately 1,000-5,000 rotating residents are all scientists and support staff at research stations. It is governed by the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.
Q11. Which of the following is NOT a biome?
Answer: Monsoon
Explanation: Monsoon is a seasonal wind and precipitation pattern (a climate phenomenon), not a biome. The major biomes include tropical rainforest, savanna, desert, tundra, taiga, temperate forest, and grassland - each defined by distinctive flora, fauna, and climate.
Q12. Which ocean has the lowest average salinity?
Answer: Arctic Ocean
Explanation: The Arctic Ocean has the lowest average salinity of all five oceans at approximately 28-32 PSU (practical salinity units) compared to the global ocean average of 35 PSU. Its lower salinity results from significant freshwater input from rivers, ice melt, and low evaporation rates.
Q13. What is the approximate height of the Tropic of Capricorn's latitude?
Answer: 23.5° South
Explanation: The Tropic of Capricorn lies at 23.5° South latitude and marks the southernmost point where the Sun can appear directly overhead at noon (during the December solstice). It passes through Australia, Brazil, South Africa, and Chile.
Q14. Which sea lies between Italy and the Balkan Peninsula?
Answer: Adriatic Sea
Explanation: The Adriatic Sea lies between the eastern coast of Italy and the Balkan Peninsula (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Albania), covering approximately 138,600 km². It connects to the Mediterranean through the Strait of Otranto at its southern end.
Q15. Which type of climate does the letter "B" represent in the Köppen classification?
Answer: Arid and semi-arid
Explanation: In the Köppen climate classification, "B" denotes dry (arid and semi-arid) climates where potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation. This category includes hot deserts (BWh), cold deserts (BWk), hot steppes (BSh), and cold steppes (BSk).
Q16. Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake by surface area, is located on which continent?
Answer: Africa
Explanation: Lake Victoria covers approximately 68,800 km² in East Africa, shared among Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, making it Africa's largest lake and the world's second largest freshwater lake by surface area. It is the primary source of the White Nile.
Q17. Which mountain range marks the boundary between the North European Plain and the Iberian Plateau?
Answer: Pyrenees
Explanation: The Pyrenees form a natural border approximately 491 km long between France and Spain (and Andorra), separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe. The highest peak is Aneto at 3,404 m on the Spanish side.
Q18. What is the approximate volume of freshwater held in Lake Baikal?
Answer: 23,615 km³ (about 20% of world's surface fresh water)
Explanation: Lake Baikal contains approximately 23,615 km³ of water, which represents about 20% of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water. Despite not being the largest lake by surface area, its extraordinary depth of 1,642 m gives it this exceptional volume.
Q19. Which of the following deserts is a cold desert located in South America?
Answer: Patagonian Desert
Explanation: The Patagonian Desert, located in southern Argentina east of the Andes, is South America's largest desert at about 673,000 km² and is classified as a cold desert. The Atacama in contrast is the driest (non-polar) desert, not a cold desert per se.
Q20. Which mountain in Africa is the highest?
Answer: Mount Kilimanjaro
Explanation: Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania stands at 5,895 m and is the highest peak in Africa as well as the world's highest free-standing mountain. It is a dormant stratovolcano with three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.