Q61. The ‘Rub’ al Khali’, often known as the Empty Quarter, is a major feature of which of the following desert regions?
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 61–70 of 553 questions
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Q62. Match List-I (Local Desert Feature) with List- II (Description) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Local Desert Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| A. Erg | i. Rocky desert plateau |
| B. Reg | ii. Sandy desert with dunes |
| C. Hamada | iii. Dry riverbed |
| D. Wadi | iv. Stony desert plain |
Explanation
Desert landscapes are classified by their surface characteristics. An erg is a vast area of shifting sand dunes. A reg is a stony plain covered with gravel and pebbles. A hamada is a high, rocky desert plateau where most sand has been removed by wind. A wadi is a dry riverbed that may fill with water during rare, heavy rain events.
Q63. Oases are vital features in desert environments. Which of the following processes predominantly leads to their formation?
Explanation
An oasis is a fertile area in a desert where water is available. They are primarily formed through the process of wind deflation. Constant wind erosion can hollow out a depression in the desert floor. When this depression becomes deep enough to reach the underground water table, water seeps to the surface. This allows vegetation to grow and supports human and animal life.
Q64. Consider the following statements regarding cold deserts:
I. They are typically found in temperate regions at higher latitudes.
II. Precipitation often falls as snow rather than rain.
III. The Gobi and Patagonian deserts are prominent examples.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. They are typically found in temperate regions at higher latitudes.
II. Precipitation often falls as snow rather than rain.
III. The Gobi and Patagonian deserts are prominent examples.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Cold deserts are typically situated in temperate regions at high latitudes or within high-altitude interior continental areas. Due to the low temperatures, precipitation in these regions often occurs as snowfall. Prominent global examples include the Gobi Desert in Asia and the Patagonian Desert in South America. These environments have unique ecosystems adapted to both extreme cold and severe moisture deficits.
Q65. The Thar Desert is predominantly located in which two countries?
Explanation
The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is predominantly located within the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana in India, and the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan. It forms a natural boundary between the two nations and is the world’s ninth-largest subtropical desert.
Q66. Which of the following is the most accurate statement describing the rainfall pattern in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Thar Desert in Rajasthan is characterized by a highly erratic and low rainfall pattern. The amount of annual precipitation generally decreases as one moves from the eastern edge near the Aravalli Range toward the western border with Pakistan. This gradient occurs because the moisture-laden monsoon winds lose most of their water content before reaching the deep interior of the desert region.
Q67. Which of the following is the only major seasonal river that flows through the arid plains of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Luni River is the only significant seasonal river that flows through the arid plains of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. It originates in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range and flows west-southwest through the desert. The river is ephemeral, carrying water only during the monsoon season, and eventually terminates in the saline marshes of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
Q68. Consider the following statements regarding the Thar Desert:
I. It is bounded by the Aravalli range to the east.
II. It is the most densely populated desert in the world.
III. The predominant soil type in this region is black cotton soil.
IV. Indira Gandhi Canal has significantly altered the agricultural landscape of its north-western part.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is bounded by the Aravalli range to the east.
II. It is the most densely populated desert in the world.
III. The predominant soil type in this region is black cotton soil.
IV. Indira Gandhi Canal has significantly altered the agricultural landscape of its north-western part.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Thar Desert is bounded by the Aravalli Range to its east and is notable for having the highest human population density of any desert. The Indira Gandhi Canal has transformed agriculture in its northwestern regions. However, the desert soil is primarily sandy rather than black cotton soil. These features highlight the unique ecological and demographic character of the Great Indian Desert.
Q69. Identify the odd one out among the following deserts, considering their geographical location within the continent of Asia.
Explanation
The Thar Desert, Gobi Desert, and Arabian Desert are all located on the continent of Asia, spanning regions from South Asia to the Far East and the Middle East. Conversely, the Mojave Desert is situated in the southwestern United States in North America. This geographic location makes the Mojave the exception among the listed deserts, which are otherwise all Asian landforms.
Q70. How does the orientation of the Aravalli Range primarily contribute to the aridity of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan?
Explanation
The Aravalli Range plays a critical role in the aridity of the Thar Desert. Its orientation is almost parallel to the direction of the moisture-bearing South-West monsoon winds coming from the Arabian Sea. Because the mountains do not act as a barrier to these winds, the clouds pass over the region without being forced to rise and cool, resulting in negligible rainfall.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 61 | (c) Arabian Desert |
| 62 | (d) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 63 | (a) Wind deflation reaching the underground water table |
| 64 | (d) I, II, and III |
| 65 | (b) India and Pakistan |
| 66 | (a) Erratic rainfall decreasing from east to west |
| 67 | (c) Luni |
| 68 | (b) I, II, and IV only |
| 69 | (c) Mojave Desert |
| 70 | (b) Parallel orientation to the Arabian Sea monsoon |
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.