2009 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies

Question 34: Geography

Consider the following countries :

  1. 1.Australia
  2. 2.Namibia
  3. 3.Brazil
  4. 4.Chile Through which of the above does the Tropic of Capricorn pass ?
a1 only
b2, 3 and 4
c1, 2 and 3
d1, 2, 3 and 4

AnswerThe answer is (d).

The Tropic of Capricorn (about 23.5 degrees south) passes through all four countries: northern Australia (Queensland and Western Australia), Namibia, Brazil (near Sao Paulo) and northern Chile. It also crosses Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Paraguay and Argentina. The Tropic of Cancer is the matching line in the north, passing through India.

  • 1. The Tropic of Capricorn crosses northern Australia.
  • 2. It crosses Namibia.
  • 3. It crosses Brazil.
  • 4. It crosses northern Chile.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The Tropic of Capricorn crosses northern Australia.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 4 is correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them leaves 4 out.

    What you needed to know: It crosses northern Chile.

Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: the line also crosses Namibia, Brazil and Chile.
  • (b) Wrong: it also crosses Australia.
  • (c) Wrong: it also crosses Chile.
  • (d) Right: Australia, Namibia, Brazil and Chile are all crossed.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.