Q351. Which city in China was developed as the country’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and has grown into a global mega-centre for IT hardware and electronics?
World Geography: RAS Prelims MCQs
553 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on world geography are on this page, in 7 chapters. They cover physical landforms, major rivers and lakes, natural vegetation and biomes, world agriculture, industrial regions, the transport network and the main environmental issues: desertification, deforestation, climate change and ozone depletion. Each question has an answer and an explanation, in the formats the exam uses.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 351–360 of 553 questions
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Q352. Consider the following statements regarding emerging industrial economies:
I. China has grown rapidly due to state-led infrastructure development and SEZs.
II. India’s emergence is distinctly characterized by a strong Information Technology services sector.
III. Brazil’s industrial core is primarily concentrated in the dense Amazon rainforest region.
IV. Southeast Asian countries have heavily leveraged export-oriented manufacturing.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
I. China has grown rapidly due to state-led infrastructure development and SEZs.
II. India’s emergence is distinctly characterized by a strong Information Technology services sector.
III. Brazil’s industrial core is primarily concentrated in the dense Amazon rainforest region.
IV. Southeast Asian countries have heavily leveraged export-oriented manufacturing.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Emerging industrial economies like China and Southeast Asia have leveraged state-led development and export-oriented manufacturing to grow rapidly. India has distinguished itself through its robust IT services sector. However, the claim about Brazil is incorrect, as its industrial core is concentrated in the Southeast, particularly around São Paulo, rather than the sparsely populated and environmentally sensitive Amazon rainforest.
Q353. The concept of "agglomeration economies" is best applied to explain the rapid growth of which of the following industrial regions?
Explanation
Agglomeration economies occur when similar or related industries cluster together to benefit from shared infrastructure, a specialized labor pool, and the exchange of ideas. Silicon Valley is the definitive example of this concept, where the proximity of tech firms, research universities, and venture capitalists creates a synergistic environment that fosters rapid innovation and sustained economic growth in the sector.
Q354. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Major Oil Refining/Petrochemical Centre | Geographical Location |
|---|---|
| A. Houston | i. Gulf of Mexico coast |
| B. Rotterdam | ii. Mouth of the Rhine River |
| C. Ras Tanura | iii. Persian Gulf coast |
| D. Jamnagar | iv. Gulf of Kutch coast |
Explanation
Major oil refining and petrochemical centers are strategically located near water bodies for logistical efficiency. Houston sits on the Gulf of Mexico, while Rotterdam is at the mouth of the Rhine. Ras Tanura is located on the Persian Gulf, and Jamnagar is situated on the Gulf of Kutch. These locations facilitate the easy transport of crude oil and refined products.
Q355. Which of the following statements regarding the modern iron and steel industry is INCORRECT?
Explanation
The modern iron and steel industry has seen a massive geographic shift toward Asia, with China and India becoming leading global producers. The claim that production shifted back to Western Europe during the 21st century is incorrect. Today, Asian countries dominate the market due to large-scale investments, lower production costs, and high domestic demand for infrastructure development compared to older hubs.
Q356. Which of the following factors was most critical for the initial establishment of TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Company) at Jamshedpur?
Explanation
TISCO was established at Jamshedpur primarily due to the strategic proximity of essential raw materials. The location offered easy access to high-quality coking coal from the Jharia coalfields and iron ore from the mines of Noamundi and Badampahar. This geographic advantage minimized transportation costs for the bulky materials required in steel manufacturing, making the plant economically viable and highly successful.
Q357. Arrange the following emerging industrial economies in the correct descending order based on their typical volume of total global manufacturing output in recent times:
I. China
II. India
III. Brazil
Select the correct sequence from the options below:
I. China
II. India
III. Brazil
Select the correct sequence from the options below:
Explanation
In recent years, China has maintained its position as the world’s largest manufacturing economy by a significant margin. India follows as a major emerging manufacturing power, particularly in sectors like automobiles and chemicals. Brazil, while also a significant industrial player in the Southern Hemisphere, generally has a smaller total manufacturing output compared to the massive industrial scales of China and India.
Q358. Given below are two statements regarding industrial sectors:
Statement I: The synthetic textile industry is entirely dependent on the availability of vast agricultural lands for growing raw materials.
Statement II: The cotton textile industry is highly sensitive to the availability of cheap labour. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Statement I: The synthetic textile industry is entirely dependent on the availability of vast agricultural lands for growing raw materials.
Statement II: The cotton textile industry is highly sensitive to the availability of cheap labour. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
The synthetic textile industry depends on petrochemical feedstocks derived from oil and gas, not on agricultural land. In contrast, the cotton textile industry remains highly sensitive to labor costs because garment manufacturing and processing involve labor-intensive stages. While synthetic fibers are chemically produced, the production of cotton clothing continues to seek regions where labor is affordable and widely available.
Q359. The industrial decline and subsequent economic stagnation of traditional manufacturing centres like Detroit is primarily an effect of which of the following causes?
Explanation
Detroit’s industrial decline resulted from the relocation of automobile manufacturing to regions with cheaper labor and the increased use of automation in production. As competition from international manufacturers grew, traditional high-cost centers struggled to adapt. This economic shift, rather than a lack of fuel or government bans, led to the stagnation and "rusting" of many historic manufacturing hubs in the United States.
Q360. Consider the following statements regarding global industrial trends:
I. China is currently the world’s largest manufacturing economy by output.
II. India’s automobile industry has established significant clusters in regions like Pune and Chennai.
III. Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam have emerged as major alternatives for electronics assembly.
IV. Brazil has a strong aerospace manufacturing sector represented by companies like Embraer.
V. The Ruhr region is currently undergoing a massive expansion of its deep underground coal mining operations.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
I. China is currently the world’s largest manufacturing economy by output.
II. India’s automobile industry has established significant clusters in regions like Pune and Chennai.
III. Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam have emerged as major alternatives for electronics assembly.
IV. Brazil has a strong aerospace manufacturing sector represented by companies like Embraer.
V. The Ruhr region is currently undergoing a massive expansion of its deep underground coal mining operations.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Global industrial trends highlight China’s manufacturing leadership and the rise of specialized automotive clusters in India. Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam are becoming electronics hubs, while Brazil maintains a strong aerospace sector. However, the Ruhr region is actually moving away from coal mining toward cleaner energy and technology. Therefore, the statement regarding the expansion of deep underground coal mining in Ruhr is incorrect.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 351 | (b) Shenzhen |
| 352 | (a) I, II and IV only |
| 353 | (a) The concentration of IT firms in Silicon Valley |
| 354 | (a) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv |
| 355 | (d) Steel production shifted from Asia to Western Europe during the 21st century. |
| 356 | (c) Availability of coal from Jharia and iron ore from Noamundi. |
| 357 | (a) I, II, III |
| 358 | (d) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct. |
| 359 | (a) Shift of manufacturing to regions with lower labour costs and automation. |
| 360 | (a) I, II, III and IV only |
Key facts from World Geography
- The RPSC syllabus for world geography lists mountains, plateaus, plains and deserts, major rivers and lakes, natural vegetation, agriculture, industrial regions, transport and environmental issues.
- Questions ask for the location of a feature: where a range lies, where a river ends, which country has an industrial region.
- Statement and sequence questions are common, for example the order of mountain ranges or of vegetation layers.
- Environmental issues are asked through treaties and dates, such as the Montreal Protocol, the IPCC and the Paris Agreement.
- Indian and Rajasthan geography are on their own pages, each with its own chapters.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on World Geography?
This page has 553 practice MCQs on World Geography. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the world geography set cover?
Seven chapters: physical landforms (mountains, plateaus, plains and deserts), major rivers and lakes, natural vegetation and biomes, world agriculture, major industrial regions, the world transport network, and environmental issues including desertification, deforestation, climate change and ozone depletion.
Is world geography part of the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. The RPSC syllabus has a Geography of World and India section that lists physical aspects, rivers and lakes, natural vegetation, agriculture, industrial regions, transport and environmental issues for the world, followed by India and Rajasthan.
How can I revise world geography quickly?
Use an atlas alongside the questions. Attempt each chapter, read the explanation for every miss and mark the place on the map. Make short lists of ranges, rivers and industrial regions with their countries, and revise them over several days.