MCQs on Hydrosphere – Geography
Q1. The hydrosphere primarily consists of:
a) Oceans
b) Rivers
c) Lakes
d) All of the above
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Correct Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: The hydrosphere includes all the water on Earth, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and even water vapor in the atmosphere.
Q2. What percentage of Earth’s water is found in the oceans?
a) 50%
b) 71%
c) 96.5%
d) 99%
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Correct Answer: c) 96.5%
Explanation: About 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth’s water.
Q3. Which of the following is the largest ocean on Earth?
a) Atlantic Ocean
b) Indian Ocean
c) Pacific Ocean
d) Arctic Ocean
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Correct Answer: c) Pacific Ocean
Explanation: The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth, covering more than 60 million square miles.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting ocean salinity?
a) Evaporation
b) Precipitation
c) River discharge
d) Earth’s rotation
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Correct Answer: d) Earth’s rotation
Explanation: Ocean salinity is mainly influenced by evaporation, precipitation, and river discharge. Earth’s rotation does not directly affect salinity.
Q5. The process by which water evaporates from the Earth’s surface and rises into the atmosphere is called:
a) Evaporation
b) Condensation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
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Correct Answer: a) Evaporation
Explanation: Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas and rises into the atmosphere.
Q6. The process by which water vapor in the atmosphere cools and changes back into a liquid is called:
a) Evaporation
b) Condensation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
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Correct Answer: b) Condensation
Explanation: Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the atmosphere cools and changes back into a liquid, forming clouds or dew.
Q7. The process by which water is released from plants into the atmosphere is called:
a) Evaporation
b) Condensation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
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Correct Answer: c) Transpiration
Explanation: Transpiration is the process by which water is released from plants into the atmosphere, usually through small openings in the leaves called stomata.
Q8. The process by which water falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface is called:
a) Evaporation
b) Condensation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
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Correct Answer: d) Precipitation
Explanation: Precipitation is the process by which water falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface, in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Q9. Which of the following is the largest freshwater lake by volume?
a) Lake Superior
b) Lake Victoria
c) Lake Baikal
d) Lake Tanganyika
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Correct Answer: c) Lake Baikal
Explanation: Lake Baikal, located in Siberia, Russia, is the largest freshwater lake by volume, containing about 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface freshwater.
Q10. Which of the following is the longest river in the world?
a) Amazon River
b) Nile River
c) Yangtze River
d) Mississippi River
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Correct Answer: b) Nile River
Explanation: The Nile River, located in northeastern Africa, is the longest river in the world, stretching approximately 6,650 kilometers (4,130 miles).
Q11. Which ocean has the highest average salinity?
a) Atlantic Ocean
b) Indian Ocean
c) Pacific Ocean
d) Arctic Ocean
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Correct Answer: a) Atlantic Ocean
Explanation: The Atlantic Ocean has the highest average salinity among the world’s oceans, due to its smaller size and higher evaporation rates.
Q12. The area where a river meets the ocean and freshwater mixes with saltwater is called:
a) Delta
b) Estuary
c) Floodplain
d) Watershed
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Correct Answer: b) Estuary
Explanation: An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating a unique and productive ecosystem.
Q13. Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting ocean currents?
a) Wind
b) Temperature
c) Salinity
d) Vegetation
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Correct Answer: d) Vegetation
Explanation: Ocean currents are primarily influenced by wind, temperature, and salinity. Vegetation does not directly affect ocean currents.
Q14. The movement of ocean water caused by differences in temperature and salinity is called:
a) Surface current
b) Gyre
c) Thermohaline circulation
d) Tidal current
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Correct Answer: c) Thermohaline circulation
Explanation: Thermohaline circulation is the movement of ocean water caused by differences in temperature and salinity, which affect the density of the water.
Q15. The Coriolis effect causes ocean currents to:
a) Move in straight lines
b) Move in circular patterns
c) Reverse direction periodically
d) Remain stationary
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Correct Answer: b) Move in circular patterns
Explanation: The Coriolis effect, caused by Earth’s rotation, causes ocean currents to move in circular patterns, deflecting them to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Q16. Which of the following is a major ocean current in the Atlantic Ocean?
a) Gulf Stream
b) Kuroshio Current
c) California Current
d) East Australian Current
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Correct Answer: a) Gulf Stream
Explanation: The Gulf Stream is a major ocean current in the Atlantic Ocean that transports warm water from the Gulf of Mexico towards Europe, influencing the climate of the eastern coast of North America and western Europe.
Q17. The area of the ocean where sunlight can penetrate and support photosynthesis is called the:
a) Aphotic zone
b) Benthic zone
c) Photic zone
d) Abyssal zone
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Correct Answer: c) Photic zone
Explanation: The photic zone is the upper layer of the ocean where sunlight can penetrate and support photosynthesis, typically extending to a depth of about 200 meters.
Q18. The deepest part of the ocean is located in the:
a) Atlantic Ocean
b) Indian Ocean
c) Pacific Ocean
d) Arctic Ocean
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Correct Answer: c) Pacific Ocean
Explanation: The deepest part of the ocean, known as the Challenger Deep, is located in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, reaching a depth of approximately 11,000 meters (36,000 feet).
Q19. Which of the following is a significant source of freshwater on Earth?
a) Glaciers and ice caps
b) Rivers
c) Lakes
d) Groundwater
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Correct Answer: a) Glaciers and ice caps
Explanation: Glaciers and ice caps are a significant source of freshwater on Earth, storing about 68.7% of the continue from world’s total freshwater. Although they are not immediately accessible for human use, they play a crucial role in supplying water to rivers and lakes, particularly during periods of melting.
Q20. The process by which water seeps into the ground and becomes stored in underground reservoirs is called:
a) Infiltration
b) Percolation
c) Evaporation
d) Transpiration
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Correct Answer: a) Infiltration
Explanation: Infiltration is the process by which water seeps into the ground and becomes stored in underground reservoirs, such as aquifers. This water can later be accessed through wells or may eventually resurface in springs and rivers.