UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 76: Geography

Consider the following countries :

IUnited Kingdom
IIDenmark
IIINew Zealand
IVAustralia
VBrazil

How many of the above countries have more than four time zones?

aAll the five

bOnly four

cOnly three

dOnly two

AnswerThe answer is (b).

The count depends on including overseas territories. The United Kingdom has many time zones through its overseas territories. Denmark has several through Greenland and the Faroe Islands. New Zealand has more than four with the Chatham Islands, Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands. Australia has three on the mainland and more with Lord Howe Island and its external territories. Brazil has four time zones, which is not more than four. So four of the five countries qualify.

I. The UK has more than four time zones counting overseas territories.
II. Denmark has more than four with Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
III. New Zealand has more than four counting the Chathams and its associated territories.
IV. Australia has more than four counting Lord Howe Island and external territories.
V. Brazil has four time zones, not more than four.

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.

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: Brazil has exactly four time zones, not more than four.
(b) Right: the UK, Denmark, New Zealand and Australia have more than four.
(c) Wrong: four countries qualify, not three.
(d) Wrong: four, not two, qualify.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.