2024 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2024 · GS Paper I

Question 8: Geography

Consider the following countries :

  1. 1.Finland
  2. 2.Germany
  3. 3.Norway
  4. 4.Russia

How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea ?

aOnly one
bOnly two
cOnly three
dAll four

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Of the four countries, only Germany and Norway have a coast on the North Sea. Finland faces the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, and Russia's seas are the Arctic, Pacific, Baltic, Black, Azov and Caspian, none of which is the North Sea. Remember the North Sea states: the UK, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

  • 1. Finland's coast is on the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia.
  • 2. Germany has a North Sea coast.
  • 3. Norway has a North Sea coast.
  • 4. Russia's coasts are on other seas, not the North Sea.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

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: two countries, Germany and Norway, border the North Sea.
  • (b) Right: only Germany and Norway border the North Sea.
  • (c) Wrong: Finland and Russia do not border the North Sea.
  • (d) Wrong: Finland and Russia have no North Sea coast.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.