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 471–480 of 553 questions
Browse World Geography chapters
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q471. Consider the following statements regarding global air transport networks: I. Air transport is the preferred mode for transporting high-value, lightweight, and perishable goods over long distances. II. The development of air routes is highly dependent on favorable climatic conditions and the availability of sophisticated navigation infrastructure. III. The Northern Hemisphere hosts a much denser network of air routes compared to the Southern Hemisphere. IV. Air transport has significantly reduced the friction of distance, bringing remote continents closer in terms of travel time. V. Air transport provides the most cost-effective solution for moving heavy bulk commodities like coal and iron ore internationally. Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
Explanation
Air transport is the fastest mode for high-value, perishable, or urgent goods, but it is not cost-effective for heavy bulk commodities like coal or iron ore. The high fuel costs and limited weight capacity of aircraft make them unsuitable for such low-value, high-volume items. These bulk materials are almost exclusively moved by sea or rail, where costs are lower.
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q472. Identify the correct statement regarding major global airports and air routes.
Explanation
Modern air travel is organized around a hub-and-spoke system where major airports act as central nodes for connecting flights. Hubs like Dubai International and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta facilitate the transfer of millions of passengers and tons of freight between diverse international and domestic destinations. This system optimizes aircraft usage and provides travelers with access to a comprehensive global aviation network.
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q473. Identify the odd one out among the following global transport hubs based on their primary categorization in standard geography.
Explanation
London Heathrow, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, and Dubai International are all globally renowned airports that serve as primary hubs for air transport and passenger transit. The Port of Rotterdam, however, is a maritime facility. It is one of the world’s largest seaports and serves as a critical node for ocean-going freight and inland waterway transport, belonging to a different infrastructure category.
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q474. Pipeline transport networks have gained immense global significance primarily for the overland and underwater transportation of which specific commodities?
Explanation
Pipeline networks are specialized infrastructure designed for the efficient, continuous transport of fluids. Globally, they are most extensively used for moving crude oil from extraction sites to refineries, and for distributing petroleum products and natural gas to consumers. Their ability to cross difficult terrains and provide an uninterrupted supply makes them the preferred choice for the energy sector over long distances.
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q475. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): Pipeline transport is highly capital-intensive to construct but extremely cost-effective to operate. Reason (R): Once laid, pipelines require minimal maintenance, operate continuously without empty return journeys, and are unaffected by surface weather conditions. Select the correct answer from the options given below:
Explanation
Pipelines require a massive initial investment for construction, making them highly capital-intensive. However, once operational, they are extremely cost-effective because they eliminate the need for fuel, drivers, and return journeys. They provide a continuous, weather-independent flow of goods with minimal maintenance, leading to very low operating costs per unit of volume transported over their long lifespan in the field.
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q476. Consider the following statements: Statement I: The ‘Big Inch’ is one of the most famous pipelines in the world, located in the United States. Statement II: It carries milk from dairy farms in the Midwest to processing plants in New York. Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The Big Inch is a famous 24-inch diameter pipeline built in the United States during World War II. It was designed to transport crude oil from the oil fields of Texas to refineries on the East Coast to ensure a secure energy supply. It was never intended for, nor is it physically used for, the transport of milk products.
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q477. Identify the incorrect statement concerning global pipeline transport networks.
Explanation
A pipeline’s maximum capacity is fundamentally constrained by its physical diameter and the pressure it can safely withstand. Unlike road or rail transport, where more vehicles can be added to handle peak demand, a pipeline cannot be easily scaled up once it is laid. Increasing throughput beyond design limits is impossible without constructing parallel lines. Pipelines ensure a continuous supply of energy resources.
RAS PrelimsWorld Geography · World Transport Network
Q478. Match the major pipelines in List I with their associated regions or countries in List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Major Pipeline/Network
Associated Region/Country
A. Big Inch
i. Middle East
B. Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline)
ii. India
C. COMECON pipeline (Druzhba)
iii. United States
D. HVJ Pipeline
iv. Russia and Eastern Europe
Explanation
Pipeline networks are critical infrastructure in major energy regions. The Big Inch is a historic American pipeline. The Trans-Arabian Pipeline is a major route in the Middle East. The Druzhba pipeline connects Russia to Eastern Europe. In India, the HVJ pipeline is a vital artery for transporting natural gas from western offshore fields to the northern industrial heartland of the country.
Q479. Which of the following best defines "desertification" according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)?
Explanation
Desertification refers to the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. It results primarily from human activities such as overgrazing and deforestation, coupled with natural climate variations like prolonged droughts. This process reduces the biological or economic productivity of land, severely impacting food security and livelihoods in vulnerable ecosystems.
Q480. Which greenhouse gas is the most abundant in the Earth’s atmosphere and acts primarily as a climate feedback mechanism rather than a direct initial climate forcing agent?
Explanation
Water vapour is the most prevalent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Unlike carbon dioxide, it acts as a feedback rather than a direct forcing agent. As the planet warms from other gases, the air holds more moisture, which further traps heat. This cycle amplifies the initial warming effect significantly within the complex global climate system.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
471
(c) V only
472
(a) Major hubs like Dubai and Atlanta facilitate transfers.
473
(d) Port of Rotterdam
474
(b) Crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas
475
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
476
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
477
(a) Transport capacity in a pipeline can be easily and immediately increased beyond its physical diameter limits during peak demand.
478
(b) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii
479
(b) Land degradation in drylands resulting from climatic variations and various human activities.
480
(a) Water vapour
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.
