UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies
Question 45: Geography
“From Aceh in the far north-west to Torres Strait in the east is 5000 miles, almost as far as from London to Baghdad. The Archipelago has 14,000 islands, some mere equatorial rocks, others some of the largest in the world.” This description best fits
AnswerThe answer is (d).
A description of an archipelago with thousands of islands, spread over some 5,000 miles from Aceh in the north-west to near Torres Strait in the east, fits Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic state. Its islands range from tiny rocks on the equator to some of the world's largest islands, such as Borneo and Sumatra.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) The West Indies are in the Caribbean, far from Aceh.
- (b) Japan lies in East Asia and does not stretch from Aceh.
- (c) The Philippines lie to the north-east and do not reach Aceh or Torres Strait.
- (d) Right: Indonesia spans the stretch from Aceh towards Torres Strait.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.