This set tests world map knowledge, including important straits and canals, major rivers, grasslands and deserts. UPSC often asks location-based questions, especially about places that appear in international news, so a clear mental map is very useful.
How to practise: read each question and tap the option you think is correct. You will see right away whether you got it, along with a short explanation, and your score is tracked at the bottom of the screen. This set has 15 questions.
Topics covered in this set
- Strategic straits of Asia and the Middle East
- Straits linking Europe, Asia, Africa and America
- Temperate and tropical grasslands
- Major hot deserts and their causes
- Rivers of Africa and the Arctic
- Interoceanic canals
UPSC Geography MCQs with answers and explanations
Q1. The Strait of Malacca lies between:
a) the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra
b) the islands of Java and Borneo
c) Sri Lanka and India
d) Taiwan and mainland China
Q2. The Strait of Hormuz connects:
a) the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
b) the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman
c) the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara
d) the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea
Q3. The Bab-el-Mandeb strait connects:
a) the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean
b) the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea
c) the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
d) the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea
Q4. Which strait separates Europe from Africa?
a) Bosphorus
b) Dardanelles
c) Strait of Dover
d) Strait of Gibraltar
Q5. The Bosphorus strait connects:
a) the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea
b) the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara
c) the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea
d) the Baltic Sea and the North Sea
Q6. The Bering Strait separates:
a) North America and South America
b) Europe and Asia
c) Asia (Russia) and North America (Alaska)
d) Australia and Asia
Q7. The Pampas grasslands are located in:
a) North America
b) Hungary
c) South Africa
d) Argentina
Q8. The Downs are the temperate grasslands of:
a) Australia
b) Central Asia
c) Brazil
d) Canada
Q9. The Llanos tropical grasslands are found mainly in the basin of which river?
a) Amazon
b) Nile
c) Orinoco
d) Congo
Q10. The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. Which factor contributes most to its aridity?
a) Its location on the equator
b) Strong influence of monsoon winds
c) Its location deep inside a large continent far from any sea
d) The cold Humboldt Current offshore and the rain-shadow of the Andes
Q11. The Kalahari Desert is located mainly in:
a) Botswana
b) Egypt
c) Mongolia
d) Mexico
Q12. Which river crosses the Equator twice?
a) Amazon
b) Congo
c) Nile
d) Mississippi
Q13. Which of the following rivers flows into the Arctic Ocean?
a) Danube
b) Mekong
c) Zambezi
d) Ob
Q14. The Panama Canal connects:
a) the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea
b) the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
c) the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean
d) the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean
Q15. The White Nile originates from the region of:
a) Lake Tana
b) Lake Chad
c) Lake Victoria
d) Lake Tanganyika
Quick revision notes
- Malacca, Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb are key chokepoints for oil and trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
- The Bosphorus and Dardanelles link the Black Sea with the Mediterranean through the Sea of Marmara.
- Temperate grasslands are called Prairies, Pampas, Steppes, Veld, Puszta and Downs in different continents.
- Tropical grasslands include the Savanna of Africa, the Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia, and the Campos of Brazil.
- Many west-coast deserts, such as the Atacama and Namib, are made drier by cold ocean currents offshore.
- The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific using locks, while the Suez Canal links the Mediterranean and Red Sea without locks.
Frequently asked questions
How should I prepare world map questions for UPSC Prelims?
Study an atlas regularly and mark straits, rivers, mountains and countries on a blank map. Pay extra attention to places that appear in international news, and learn which countries and water bodies lie on either side of each feature.
Why are straits like Hormuz and Malacca called chokepoints?
They are narrow passages through which a large share of global shipping, especially oil, must pass. Any blockage or conflict there can disrupt world trade and energy supplies.
What is the difference between tropical and temperate grasslands?
Tropical grasslands such as the Savanna lie between the equatorial forests and hot deserts and have tall grasses with scattered trees. Temperate grasslands lie in the interior of continents in mid-latitudes and have short grasses with very few trees.
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