"Physical Geography & Geomorphology" — Practice

Question 1

Earth's magnetic field is primarily generated by convection currents in the:
(a) liquid outer core (b) solid inner core (c) mantle (d) crust

Accepted Answer

(a) liquid outer core.

The outer core's molten iron-nickel composition allows convective flow, which generates Earth's magnetic field, unlike the solid inner core (kept solid by immense pressure despite extreme heat).

Question 2

The ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, which formed and continues to raise the Himalayas, is an example of a:
(a) convergent boundary (b) divergent boundary (c) transform boundary (d) passive boundary

Accepted Answer

(a) convergent boundary.

Since both plates carry lighter continental crust, neither easily subducts, so the collision instead folds and uplifts the crust, continuing to raise the Himalayas today.

Question 3

The 'Ring of Fire,' a zone of intense volcanic and seismic activity, is located primarily around the:
(a) Pacific Ocean (b) Atlantic Ocean (c) Indian Ocean (d) Arctic Ocean

Accepted Answer

(a) Pacific Ocean.

This horseshoe-shaped zone follows multiple convergent and transform plate boundaries and accounts for a large majority of the world's earthquakes and active volcanoes.

Question 4

The in-place physical, chemical or biological breakdown of rock, without any transport of the material, is called:
(a) weathering (b) erosion (c) deposition (d) subduction

Accepted Answer

(a) weathering.

Erosion, by contrast, refers specifically to the transport of already-weathered material by agents like rivers, wind, glaciers or waves — a frequently confused but distinct process.

Question 5

In which atmospheric layer does temperature INCREASE with height, due to ozone's absorption of UV radiation?
(a) Stratosphere (b) Troposphere (c) Mesosphere (d) Thermosphere

Accepted Answer

(a) Stratosphere.

This is the opposite trend from the troposphere (where weather occurs and temperature decreases with height) — the ozone layer within the stratosphere absorbs UV radiation, warming this layer.

Question 6

Most of the world's major deserts, including the Sahara and the Arabian Desert, are located near which pressure belt?
(a) Sub-tropical High (~30°N/S) (b) Equatorial Low (0°) (c) Sub-polar Low (~60°N/S) (d) Polar High (~90°N/S)

Accepted Answer

(a) Sub-tropical High (~30°N/S).

Descending, dry air at this latitude band creates arid conditions — a common distractor incorrectly associates deserts with the equator, which is actually typically wet due to the Equatorial Low.

Question 7

The Coriolis effect deflects moving air:
(a) to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere (b) to the left in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere (c) equally in both hemispheres, always rightward (d) only near the equator

Accepted Answer

(a) to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

This deflection shapes global wind patterns and the rotation direction of cyclones in each hemisphere.

Question 8

The extremely high rainfall at Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, is caused primarily by the:
(a) Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon (b) Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon (c) northeast monsoon (d) winter westerly disturbances

Accepted Answer

(a) Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon.

This branch curves west along the Himalayan foothills; Meghalaya's funnel-shaped terrain amplifies the orographic effect, producing among the highest rainfall totals on Earth.

Question 9

The Tamil Nadu coast receives its main rainfall during which season?
(a) the northeast (winter) monsoon, October–December (b) the southwest (summer) monsoon, June–September (c) spring, March–April (d) it receives no significant seasonal rainfall

Accepted Answer

(a) the northeast (winter) monsoon, October–December.

Unlike most of India, which receives its main rainfall from the southwest monsoon, the northeast monsoon picks up moisture crossing the Bay of Bengal before reaching Tamil Nadu.

Question 10

El Niño, the warming of central/eastern Pacific waters, is generally associated with:
(a) a weaker Indian monsoon and drought risk (b) a stronger Indian monsoon and above-normal rainfall (c) no impact on the Indian monsoon (d) only affects Atlantic hurricanes, not Indian monsoons

Accepted Answer

(a) a weaker Indian monsoon and drought risk.

La Niña, the opposite cooling phase, is associated with a stronger, above-normal Indian monsoon — a frequently tested current-affairs-linked pairing.

Question 11

A warm ocean current, by definition, flows:
(a) from lower to higher latitudes (b) from higher to lower latitudes (c) only along the equator (d) only in the Northern Hemisphere

Accepted Answer

(a) from lower to higher latitudes.

The Gulf Stream is a classic example, significantly warming Western Europe's climate relative to its latitude; cold currents flow in the opposite direction, from higher to lower latitudes.

Question 12

Coastal upwelling, associated with rich fishing grounds, refers to:
(a) the rising of cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the surface (b) the sinking of warm surface water (c) the formation of coral reefs (d) the melting of polar ice caps

Accepted Answer

(a) the rising of cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the surface.

This often occurs where winds push surface water away from a coast, as seen off the coast of Peru, supporting highly productive fishing zones.

Question 13

Oceanic crust, compared to continental crust, is:
(a) denser and thinner, composed chiefly of basalt (b) lighter and thicker, composed chiefly of granite (c) identical in composition to continental crust (d) entirely liquid

Accepted Answer

(a) denser and thinner, composed chiefly of basalt.

Continental crust is lighter (granitic, SIAL — silica+aluminium) and thicker; oceanic crust is denser (basaltic, SIMA — silica+magnesium) and thinner.

Question 14

A transform plate boundary, such as the San Andreas Fault, is characterised by:
(a) frequent earthquakes with no major volcanism, as plates slide past each other laterally (b) mountain building through crustal folding (c) the formation of new oceanic crust (d) intense volcanic activity

Accepted Answer

(a) frequent earthquakes with no major volcanism, as plates slide past each other laterally.

Unlike convergent boundaries (mountain building) or divergent boundaries (new crust formation), transform boundaries neither create nor destroy crust.

Question 15

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where new oceanic crust is continuously formed, is an example of a:
(a) divergent plate boundary (b) convergent plate boundary (c) transform plate boundary (d) passive continental margin

Accepted Answer

(a) divergent plate boundary.

As plates move apart here, magma rises to fill the gap, creating new oceanic crust — the same mechanism that forms continental rift valleys like the East African Rift.

Practice — "Physical Geography & Geomorphology"

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