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Geography Practice Set 07

Authored practice, not a verbatim PYQ. 25 CAPF-level geography MCQs (hard) with answer key and one-line explanations, span across geomorphology, climatology, oceanography and physical processes.

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At a glance
PaperPaper ISubjectGeography

Authored practice, not a verbatim PYQ. Twenty-five single-correct MCQs in CAPF Paper I objective style, weighted towards physical geography: the Earth's interior, plate tectonics, landforms, the atmosphere, winds and the oceans. Attempt closed-book, then check the key. For year-sensitive figures, verify the latest.

Questions

Q1The innermost layer of the Earth is the:
  1. ACrust
  2. BMantle
  3. CCore
  4. DLithosphere
Q2The theory that the Earth's crust is divided into large rigid plates that move is called:
  1. AContinental drift only
  2. BPlate tectonics
  3. CIsostasy
  4. DThe nebular hypothesis
Q3The boundary where two plates move apart, creating new crust, is a:
  1. AConvergent boundary
  2. BDivergent boundary
  3. CTransform boundary
  4. DSubduction zone
Q4The Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indian Plate with the:
  1. AAfrican Plate
  2. BEurasian Plate
  3. CPacific Plate
  4. DAntarctic Plate
Q5A volcano that is unlikely to erupt again is described as:
  1. AActive
  2. BDormant
  3. CExtinct
  4. DComposite
Q6The "Ring of Fire", a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes, surrounds the:
  1. AAtlantic Ocean
  2. BPacific Ocean
  3. CIndian Ocean
  4. DArctic Ocean
Q7The instrument used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake is the:
  1. ABarometer
  2. BSeismograph
  3. CAnemometer
  4. DHygrometer
Q8The bending of rock layers under compression forms:
  1. AFaults
  2. BFolds
  3. CPlateaus
  4. DDeltas
Q9The process by which rocks are broken down in situ by physical or chemical action is:
  1. AErosion
  2. BWeathering
  3. CDeposition
  4. DTransportation
Q10A "U-shaped" valley is typically carved by:
  1. AA river
  2. BA glacier
  3. CWind
  4. DSea waves
Q11The layer of the atmosphere in which weather phenomena occur is the:
  1. AStratosphere
  2. BTroposphere
  3. CMesosphere
  4. DThermosphere
Q12The ozone layer that absorbs ultraviolet radiation lies mainly in the:
  1. ATroposphere
  2. BStratosphere
  3. CMesosphere
  4. DExosphere
Q13The deflection of winds due to the rotation of the Earth is called the:
  1. ACoriolis effect
  2. BGreenhouse effect
  3. CAlbedo effect
  4. DFoehn effect
Q14The "Trade Winds" blow from the subtropical high-pressure belts towards the:
  1. APoles
  2. BEquatorial low-pressure belt
  3. CMountains
  4. DDeserts only
Q15A "cyclone" is a system of winds rotating around a centre of:
  1. AHigh pressure
  2. BLow pressure
  3. CEqual pressure
  4. DNo pressure
Q16Relief (orographic) rainfall occurs when moist air is forced to rise over:
  1. AOceans
  2. BMountains
  3. CDeserts
  4. DPlateaus only
Q17The salinity of ocean water is generally highest in:
  1. AEquatorial regions with heavy rainfall
  2. BEnclosed seas in hot, dry regions with high evaporation
  3. CPolar regions
  4. DRiver mouths
Q18Ocean currents are caused mainly by:
  1. ATides only
  2. BPrevailing winds, temperature and salinity differences, and the Earth's rotation
  3. CEarthquakes only
  4. DThe Moon alone
Q19A warm ocean current of the North Atlantic that moderates the climate of north-western Europe is the:
  1. ALabrador Current
  2. BGulf Stream (North Atlantic Drift)
  3. CCanary Current
  4. DBenguela Current
Q20Tides are caused chiefly by the gravitational pull of the:
  1. ASun only
  2. BMoon (and to a lesser extent the Sun)
  3. CJupiter
  4. DEarth's core
Q21"Spring tides", the highest tides, occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are:
  1. AAt right angles
  2. BIn a straight line (new and full moon)
  3. CFar apart
  4. DStationary
Q22The continental shelf is important because it:
  1. AIs the deepest part of the ocean
  2. BIs a shallow, gently sloping margin rich in fisheries and resources
  3. CHas no marine life
  4. DIs always frozen
Q23A "tsunami" is most often triggered by:
  1. AStrong surface winds
  2. BAn undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption
  3. CHeavy rainfall
  4. DHigh tides alone
Q24The greenhouse effect is the trapping of outgoing heat by gases such as:
  1. AOxygen and nitrogen
  2. BCarbon dioxide, methane and water vapour
  3. CArgon and neon
  4. DHydrogen and helium
Q25"El Nino", which disrupts weather including the Indian monsoon, is associated with:
  1. AAbnormal warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific
  2. BCooling of the Atlantic
  3. CMelting of the Arctic only
  4. DIncreased volcanic activity

Answer key

Reveal the answer key and full worked solutions
Q Answer Why
1 (c) The core is the innermost layer of the Earth.
2 (b) Plate tectonics describes rigid plates moving over the asthenosphere.
3 (b) A divergent boundary is where plates move apart and new crust forms.
4 (b) The Himalayas formed from the Indian Plate colliding with the Eurasian Plate.
5 (c) An extinct volcano is unlikely ever to erupt again.
6 (b) The Ring of Fire encircles the Pacific Ocean.
7 (b) A seismograph records the magnitude of earthquakes.
8 (b) Folds form when rock layers bend under compression.
9 (b) Weathering is in-situ breakdown of rock; erosion involves removal.
10 (b) Glaciers carve U-shaped valleys; rivers cut V-shaped ones.
11 (b) The troposphere is where weather occurs.
12 (b) The protective ozone layer lies in the stratosphere.
13 (a) The Coriolis effect deflects winds due to the Earth's rotation.
14 (b) Trade winds blow from subtropical highs towards the equatorial low.
15 (b) A cyclone circulates around a low-pressure centre.
16 (b) Orographic rainfall results when air is forced up over mountains.
17 (b) Salinity is highest in hot, dry enclosed seas with strong evaporation.
18 (b) Currents arise from winds, temperature and salinity gradients, and rotation.
19 (b) The Gulf Stream (North Atlantic Drift) warms north-western Europe.
20 (b) Tides are driven mainly by the Moon's gravity, with the Sun assisting.
21 (b) Spring tides occur at new and full moon when Sun, Moon and Earth align.
22 (b) The continental shelf is a shallow, resource-rich ocean margin.
23 (b) Tsunamis are usually triggered by undersea earthquakes or eruptions.
24 (b) Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour are major greenhouse gases.
25 (a) El Nino is the warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

Cross-references

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