Geography MCQs

Question 1

#1

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23 Jan 2026

The exceptional salinity of which major lake is primarily due to being part of an endorheic basin?

Answer

The Dead Sea is a terminal (endorheic) lake, meaning water flows in but does not flow out to an external body like an ocean. The only way water leaves is through evaporation, which concentrates the dissolved salts and minerals, resulting in its high salinity. The other options are freshwater lakes with natural outflows.

Question 2

#2

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22 Jan 2026

Which plate boundary is characterized by deep-focus earthquakes and explosive, silica-rich stratovolcanoes?

Answer

Convergent subduction zones (e.g., oceanic-continental or oceanic-oceanic) are characterized by the subducting slab plunging deep into the mantle, causing deep-focus earthquakes. The presence of water from the subducting plate lowers the melting point of the mantle wedge, producing silica-rich (intermediate/felsic) magma. This viscous magma leads to explosive eruptions and the formation of stratovolcanoes. Divergent and transform boundaries only exhibit shallow-focus earthquakes and generally effusive volcanism (at divergent zones).

Question 3

#3

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22 Jan 2026

What process primarily forms landforms associated with Karst topography?

Answer

Karst topography is a distinctive landscape (featuring sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage) formed by the dissolution of soluble bedrock, most commonly limestone. This process is primarily achieved through chemical weathering, where mildly acidic water (containing carbonic acid) dissolves the calcium carbonate in the rock.

Question 4

#4

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18 Jan 2026

Which country officially distributes its executive, legislative, and judicial capitals among Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein?

Answer

South Africa is unique in having three capital cities to separate governmental functions: Pretoria is the Administrative and Executive capital, Cape Town is the Legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is the Judicial capital.

Question 5

#5

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18 Jan 2026

What is the primary temperature criterion for classifying a region as a Polar (E) climate zone?

Answer

In the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, the Polar (E) group is defined by the fact that the average temperature of the warmest month is below 10°C (50°F). This fundamental criterion determines that the region is too cold to support tree growth, which is a key characteristic of the polar climate. Sub-types like Ice Cap (EF) have all months below 0°C, but the general 'E' group definition uses the 10°C threshold.

Question 6

#6

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18 Jan 2026

Weakening of the Pacific Walker Circulation during an El Niño event primarily results in which climatic effect?

Answer

El Niño involves a warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific, which weakens the pressure gradient driving the Walker Circulation (trade winds). This shift in atmospheric convection leads to suppressed rainfall and drought conditions in the Western Pacific (e.g., Southeast Asia, Australia) and increased precipitation and flooding in the Eastern Pacific (e.g., Peru, Ecuador).

Question 7

#7

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18 Jan 2026

What characteristic primarily explains the continental shelf’s high marine productivity and economic value?

Answer

The continental shelf is the shallowest part of the ocean floor, which allows sufficient sunlight to penetrate the water column. This access to sunlight is crucial for photosynthesis by phytoplankton and marine plants, which forms the base of the food web and drives high primary productivity in the neritic zone. This biological richness results in significant economic value, particularly for fishing and resource extraction.

Question 8

#8

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17 Jan 2026

Which of the following is classified as one of the four major landforms on Earth?

Answer

The four major types of landforms are Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, and Hills. Alluvial fans, sinkholes, and moraines are considered minor or third-order landforms formed by specific processes like river deposition, chemical weathering (karst), and glaciation, respectively.

Question 9

#9

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17 Jan 2026

Increased meridional flow of the Polar Jet Stream most likely leads to which mid-latitude weather pattern?

Answer

A highly meridional (North-South wavy) jet stream pattern creates deep troughs and ridges, causing 'blocking' patterns. This stagnation leads to prolonged periods where weather systems, and the associated air masses, remain stationary. Consequently, regions under the ridge experience prolonged extreme heat, while those under the trough experience prolonged extreme cold, increasing the persistence of weather extremes. This contrasts with zonal flow, which moves systems quickly (Option A) and yields milder conditions (Option B).

Question 10

#10

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17 Jan 2026

What primary geographical characteristic leads to the Caspian Sea’s classification as the world’s largest *lake*?

Answer

The Caspian Sea is geographically classified as the world's largest *lake* because it is an endorheic basin, meaning it lacks a natural surface outlet connecting its waters to the global ocean. This absence of a continuous flow to the ocean is the fundamental criterion distinguishing a lake from a sea in this context.

Geography MCQs

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