Q51. Identify the odd one out among the following African lakes based on their association with the Great Rift Valley system.
Major Rivers and Lakes of the World: RAS Prelims MCQs
80 RAS Prelims MCQs on the major rivers and lakes of the world cover the longest rivers, tributaries, deltas, lake basins and river features. The Amazon and its tributaries, the Congo at the Equator, the Volga and the Caspian, the Mississippi delta and the Aral Sea are tested, and the explanations link each river to its basin and mouth.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 51–60 of 80 questions
Q52. Consider the following statements about the Dead Sea:
I. It is situated in the Jordan Rift Valley.
II. Its surface and shores are at the lowest land elevation on Earth.
III. It supports a diverse range of marine fish and coral reefs.
IV. Its extreme salinity makes it highly buoyant for swimmers.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is situated in the Jordan Rift Valley.
II. Its surface and shores are at the lowest land elevation on Earth.
III. It supports a diverse range of marine fish and coral reefs.
IV. Its extreme salinity makes it highly buoyant for swimmers.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Dead Sea is a unique hypersaline lake located in the Jordan Rift Valley. It sits at the lowest land elevation on Earth. Due to its extreme salinity, the water is exceptionally dense, allowing people to float effortlessly on its surface. However, this high salt concentration makes the environment inhospitable for most forms of marine life, including fish and corals.
Q53. Which of the following pairs of River and Source Region is incorrectly matched?
Explanation
Most major rivers are defined by their high-altitude source regions. The Yangtze originates in the Tibetan Plateau, while the Rhine begins in the Swiss Alps. The White Nile’s primary source is Lake Victoria. In contrast, the Amazon River originates in the Andes Mountains of Peru, not the Brazilian Highlands, which are located further to the east of its headwaters.
Q54. The Danube River is unique because it passes through or touches the borders of four capital cities. Which of the following is NOT one of those capital cities?
Explanation
The Danube River is unique for its transnational path, passing through ten different countries. Along its course, it flows through or forms the border of four national capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. Prague, while a significant Central European capital, is located in the Czech Republic and sits on the Vltava River, which belongs to the Elbe basin.
Q55. Match List-I (European River) with List-II (Body of water it drains into) and select the correct option:
| European River | Body of water it drains into |
|---|---|
| A. Volga | i. North Sea |
| B. Rhine | ii. Caspian Sea |
| C. Danube | iii. Black Sea |
| D. Thames | iv. English Channel (North Sea region) |
Explanation
European rivers are categorized by the seas into which they discharge. The Volga flows south into the Caspian Sea. The Rhine travels north to the North Sea. The Danube flows east across the continent to the Black Sea. The Thames flows through London and empties into the North Sea region via its large estuary, often associated with the eastern English Channel entrance.
Q56. Which of the following is NOT classified as a freshwater lake?
Explanation
Lakes are primarily distinguished by their chemical composition. Lake Baikal, Lake Superior, and Lake Malawi are among the largest freshwater reservoirs in the world. The Aral Sea, however, is a saline body of water. Over the last several decades, as its water volume has decreased due to river diversion, its salt concentration has increased significantly, making it extremely saline.
Q57. The famous Rhine Gorge, through which the Rhine River flows, is primarily geologically classified as a:
Explanation
The Rhine Gorge is a significant geological feature located along the Middle Rhine in Germany. This dramatic landscape was formed by the river cutting through the Rhenish Massif. Geologically, it is associated with a rift valley system where the Earth’s crust has been pulled apart, creating a graben structure bordered by uplifted fault blocks that the river has since incised.
Q58. Consider the following statements regarding global lakes and their features:
I. The Caspian Sea is bounded by five countries.
II. Lake Baikal is considered the deepest freshwater lake globally.
III. Lake Superior holds the largest volume of liquid freshwater in the world.
IV. The Dead Sea is shrinking largely due to water diversion from the Jordan River.
V. African Great Lakes are highly significant to local riparian economies.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The Caspian Sea is bounded by five countries.
II. Lake Baikal is considered the deepest freshwater lake globally.
III. Lake Superior holds the largest volume of liquid freshwater in the world.
IV. The Dead Sea is shrinking largely due to water diversion from the Jordan River.
V. African Great Lakes are highly significant to local riparian economies.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Global lake systems provide vital resources and geographic benchmarks. The Caspian Sea is bordered by five nations and Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest. While Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by surface area, Lake Baikal contains the largest volume of liquid freshwater. The Dead Sea continues to shrink, while African lakes remain significant to regional economies.
Q59. Read the following statements regarding the Yangtze River and select the correct option:
Statement I: It is the longest river in the world to flow entirely within a single country.
Statement II: The Three Gorges Dam, one of the world’s largest hydroelectric power stations, is built on the Yangtze.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: It is the longest river in the world to flow entirely within a single country.
Statement II: The Three Gorges Dam, one of the world’s largest hydroelectric power stations, is built on the Yangtze.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and holds the distinction of being the longest river in the world to flow entirely within a single country, China. It is a major center for economic activity and energy production. The Three Gorges Dam, located on the Yangtze, is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed hydroelectric capacity.
Q60. Crater Lake in Oregon, USA, and Lake Toba in Indonesia are prime examples of which type of lake classification?
Explanation
Lakes can be classified by their formational origins. Crater Lake in the United States and Lake Toba in Indonesia are classic examples of volcanic lakes. These bodies of water form in the large, circular depressions called calderas, which are created when a volcano’s magma chamber empties and the summit collapses. Over time, these deep basins fill with rainwater and snowmelt.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 51 | (c) Lake Victoria |
| 52 | (b) I, II, and IV only |
| 53 | (c) Amazon River - Brazilian Highlands |
| 54 | (b) Prague |
| 55 | (d) A-ii, B-i, C-iii, D-iv |
| 56 | (a) Aral Sea |
| 57 | (c) Rift valley bordered by fault blocks |
| 58 | (a) I, II, IV, and V |
| 59 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 60 | (b) Volcanic Lakes |
Key facts from Major Rivers and Lakes of the World
- By the usual measurements the longest rivers run in the order Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, Mississippi-Missouri.
- The Rio Negro is a major left-bank tributary of the Amazon.
- The Congo River crosses the Equator twice.
- The Volga, the longest river of Europe, drains into the Caspian Sea; the Thames passes through London.
- The Mississippi forms a bird’s-foot delta; the Huang He carries yellow silt from the Loess Plateau.
- The Aral Sea has shrunk mainly because rivers were diverted for large-scale irrigation; Lake Tanganyika is the second deepest lake in the world.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Major Rivers and Lakes of the World?
This page has 80 practice MCQs on Major Rivers and Lakes of the World (World Geography). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which river crosses the Equator twice?
The Congo River in Africa. It flows through both hemispheres, which gives its basin rainfall in all seasons and makes it a river with a very steady flow.
Why has the Aral Sea shrunk?
Because the rivers that fed it, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, were diverted for large-scale irrigation of cotton and other crops. With little inflow, the lake lost most of its area and became a major environmental disaster.
Where does the Volga drain?
Into the Caspian Sea. The Volga is the longest river in Europe, and because the Caspian is an inland sea, the river is an example of inland drainage.