Practice Middle East MCQs for PPSC Naib Tehsildar Geography — topic-wise sets with solved answers.
Q1. 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.
Q2. A Gulf carrier advertises direct premium cabin service to ‘the federation’s capital near Saadiyat cultural district’ rather than the flashier skyline city next door along the shoreline. Which city is that federation capital?
Answer: Abu Dhabi
Explanation: Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) federation and is situated near the Saadiyat Island cultural district, distinct from the commercial skyline of Dubai.
Q3. Which strait connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara in Turkey?
Answer: Bosphorus
Explanation: The Bosphorus Strait, approximately 31 km long, connects the Black Sea in the north to the Sea of Marmara in the south, dividing Istanbul between Europe and Asia.
Q4. Damascus, the capital of Syria, is considered which of the following?
Answer: Oldest continuously inhabited city in the world
Explanation: Damascus has been continuously inhabited for at least 11,000 years and is widely regarded as one of - if not the - oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, serving as a major centre of civilisation throughout recorded history.
Q5. The Dead Sea, bordering Jordan and Israel, holds which geographical distinction?
Answer: Lowest point on Earth at approximately -430 metres
Explanation: The Dead Sea shoreline sits at approximately 430 metres below sea level, making it the lowest point on Earth's land surface, far below sea level.
Q6. The Rub al-Khali, located in Saudi Arabia, is geographically significant because it is the world's what?
Answer: Largest continuous sand desert
Explanation: The Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) covers about 650,000 km² across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Yemen, making it the world's largest continuous sand desert (erg).
Q7. The Zagros Mountains run through which country, forming a major physical barrier in the Middle East?
Answer: Iran
Explanation: The Zagros Mountains extend roughly 1,600 km through western and southwestern Iran, forming a major natural barrier that separates the Iranian Plateau from the Mesopotamian lowlands.
Q8. Which desert, located in central Iran, is also known as the Great Salt Desert?
Answer: Kavir Desert
Explanation: The Kavir Desert (Dasht-e Kavir) is Iran's Great Salt Desert, a vast expanse of salt flats and seasonal wetlands in the north-central Iranian Plateau.
Q9. The Anatolian Plateau is the geographical heartland of which country, bounded by the Pontic and Taurus mountain ranges?
Answer: Turkey
Explanation: The Anatolian Plateau forms the heartland of Turkey, bounded by the Pontic Mountains to the north and the Taurus Mountains to the south, with an average elevation of about 1,000 metres.
Q10. Which gulf is bordered by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Oman?
Answer: Persian Gulf
Explanation: The Persian Gulf is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean bordered by eight countries: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman.
Q11. The Arabian Plateau covers much of which peninsula?
Answer: Arabian Peninsula
Explanation: The Arabian Plateau forms most of the interior of the Arabian Peninsula, consisting of ancient crystalline rock and covering much of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and surrounding countries.
Q12. Which strait connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman?
Answer: Strait of Hormuz
Explanation: The Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf between Iran and Oman's Musandam Peninsula, is the only passage linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean.
Q13. Which of the following is the capital of Jordan?
Answer: Amman
Explanation: Amman is Jordan's capital and largest city, situated on a plateau in northwestern Jordan; it has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years and is home to about 4 million people.
Q14. The Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) desert is located primarily in which country?
Answer: Saudi Arabia
Explanation: The Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) is located primarily in Saudi Arabia, covering about 650,000 km² of the Arabian Peninsula - the world's largest continuous sand desert.
Q15. The Zagros Mountains are located primarily in which country?
Answer: Iran
Explanation: The Zagros Mountains run from northwestern Iran to the Strait of Hormuz, covering much of western and southwestern Iran and forming the dominant physical feature of the country.
Q16. The Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb connects which two bodies of water?
Answer: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Explanation: The Bab-el-Mandeb (Gate of Tears) connects the southern Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden at the junction of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, providing a critical chokepoint for global oil trade.
Q17. Which strait links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and open ocean traffic?
Answer: Strait of Hormuz
Explanation: The Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is the world's most important oil chokepoint; about 20% of global petroleum passes through its narrow waters between Iran and Oman.
Q18. Through which strait does the Persian Gulf connect to the Gulf of Oman?
Answer: Strait of Hormuz
Explanation: The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Oman and Iran that links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and then to the wider Arabian Sea; it is one of the world's most strategically important oil-transit chokepoints.
Q19. Which two rivers join to form the Shatt al-Arab waterway in Iraq?
Answer: Tigris and Euphrates
Explanation: The Shatt al-Arab is formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers near Basra in southern Iraq, flowing about 200 kilometres to the Persian Gulf.
Q20. The Zagros Mountains run through which country, forming a natural barrier between the Iranian plateau and Mesopotamia?
Answer: Iran
Explanation: The Zagros Mountains extend about 1,600 km across western and southwestern Iran, forming the dominant topographic barrier between the Iranian Plateau and the lowland plains of Iraq and the Persian Gulf.
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