Q61. Which of the following is the most appropriate description of a "subsequent river"?
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 61–70 of 80 questions
Q62. Select the correct order of the Great Lakes of North America from largest to smallest based strictly on their surface area:
Explanation
The North American Great Lakes vary significantly in size. When ranked by surface area from largest to smallest, the sequence begins with Lake Superior, followed by Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Lake Erie is the second smallest, and Lake Ontario is the smallest of the five. Together, these interconnected lakes constitute the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth.
Q63. Identify the correct statement regarding the Thames River.
Explanation
The Thames River is the primary waterway of southern England. It originates in the Cotswold Hills and flows eastward through major towns and the capital city, London. Eventually, the river broadens into the Thames Estuary and discharges its waters into the North Sea. It is a vital historical and modern route for navigation and urban development within the region.
Q64. A drainage pattern where the rivers directly reflect and follow the initial geological slope of a newly formed landscape is classified as:
Explanation
Drainage patterns are classified according to how they relate to the landscape’s topography and geological structure. A system where the rivers flow in direct response to the initial slope and tilt of a newly formed land surface is known as consequent drainage. This is often seen on coastal plains or newly uplifted mountain slopes where the water follows the simplest path.
Q65. Match List-I (River System) with List-II (Associated Nation/Continent) and select the correct option:
| River System | Associated Nation/Continent |
|---|---|
| A. Ob-Irtysh | i. North America |
| B. Mississippi-Missouri | ii. Central Africa |
| C. Huang He | iii. China |
| D. Congo | iv. Russia |
Explanation
Major river systems are globally distributed across different continents. The Ob-Irtysh system is a major drainage network in Russia. The Mississippi-Missouri system covers a vast area of North America. The Huang He is a critical river in China. The Congo River flows through the heart of Central Africa. These systems are essential for the water security of their respective regions.
Q66. Lake Superior is recognized globally as:
Explanation
Lake Superior, located on the border between the United States and Canada, holds a prominent place in global geography. It is officially recognized as the world’s largest freshwater lake when measured by surface area. Its vast size influences regional weather patterns, including lake-effect snow, and it serves as a critical component of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system.
Q67. The Congo River does not possess a true delta at its mouth. What is the primary cause for this geographical phenomenon?
Explanation
Unlike many major rivers, the Congo River does not form a traditional delta at its mouth. This is primarily because of the unique underwater topography and powerful currents at its discharge point into the Atlantic Ocean. A deep submarine canyon extends from the river’s mouth, allowing sediment to be carried far out into the deep sea rather than accumulating near the shore.
Q68. Consider the following statements regarding the environmental disaster of the Aral Sea:
I. Before shrinking, it was considered one of the four largest lakes in the world.
II. The retreating water left behind toxic salt and dust plains that cause severe local health issues.
III. The primary cause was intensive water diversion during the Soviet era to grow cotton.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Before shrinking, it was considered one of the four largest lakes in the world.
II. The retreating water left behind toxic salt and dust plains that cause severe local health issues.
III. The primary cause was intensive water diversion during the Soviet era to grow cotton.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Aral Sea once ranked among the four largest lakes globally, but it has undergone a catastrophic decline. The primary cause was the massive diversion of its feeder rivers for cotton irrigation. As the water receded, it exposed vast plains of toxic salt and dust, which are blown across the region by winds, causing severe local health problems.
Q69. Which of the following pairs concerning the classification of lakes is incorrectly matched?
Explanation
Lakes are classified by their mode of origin. Lake Tanganyika is a tectonic rift lake, while Lake Huron was formed by glacial processes. Crater Lake is a classic volcanic caldera lake. However, the Caspian Sea is not an oxbow lake; it is a massive tectonic basin and a remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea, far exceeding the scale of oxbows.
Q70. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option:
Assertion (A): The Indus and Brahmaputra rivers have carved remarkably deep gorges into the Himalayas.
Reason (R): Both are antecedent rivers that continued to cut downward at a rate matching the tectonic uplift of the Himalayan mountains.
Choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The Indus and Brahmaputra rivers have carved remarkably deep gorges into the Himalayas.
Reason (R): Both are antecedent rivers that continued to cut downward at a rate matching the tectonic uplift of the Himalayan mountains.
Choose the correct option:
Explanation
The Indus and Brahmaputra rivers are famous for the deep, spectacular gorges they have carved through the Himalayan mountains. These rivers are classified as antecedent drainage systems because they existed before the mountains were formed. As the Himalayas rose due to tectonic forces, the rivers maintained their courses by eroding downward at a rate that matched the mountain-building process.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 61 | (c) A tributary eroding along a band of weak rock |
| 62 | (a) Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario |
| 63 | (a) It flows through southern England into the North Sea |
| 64 | (b) Consequent drainage |
| 65 | (b) A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii |
| 66 | (a) The largest freshwater lake by surface area |
| 67 | (c) Deep trenches and fast currents carrying sediment to the sea |
| 68 | (d) I, II, and III |
| 69 | (c) Oxbow Lake - Caspian Sea |
| 70 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
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.