UPSC CSE Prelims
Continents and Regions Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Continents and Regions
Topic Breakdown: Scroll →
Consider the following pairs:
Region – Country
I. Mallorca : Italy
II. Normandy : Spain
III. Sardinia : France
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Correct Answer: ✅ Option 4 (None)
All three pairs are incorrectly matched. The question tests knowledge of important regions and islands of Europe and their respective countries.
❌ Pair I is Incorrect: Mallorca is part of Spain, not Italy. It is the largest island of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
❌ Pair II is Incorrect: Normandy is a historic and administrative region of France, not Spain.
❌ Pair III is Incorrect: Sardinia is an island belonging to Italy, not France.
Short Notes: Important Regions of Europe
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Mallorca is the largest island of Spain's Balearic Islands.
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Normandy is located in northwestern France along the English Channel.
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Normandy is famous for the D-Day Landings (1944) during Normandy Landings.
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Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily.
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Sardinia is an autonomous region of Italy.
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The Balearic Islands include Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.
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European map-based questions are common in UPSC examinations.
The longest border between any two countries in the world is between :
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Canada and the United States of America
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world, stretching approximately 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles), including the border shared with Alaska. It is a peaceful, mostly undefended boundary that includes both land and water segments, exemplifying one of the most stable and cooperative international relationships in modern history.
📝 Short Notes: Longest International Borders in the World
| Rank | Countries | Length (Approx.) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada – United States | 8,891 km (5,525 miles) | Longest international border; includes Alaska border; peaceful and mostly undefended; comprises land and water segments |
| 2 | Kazakhstan – Russia | 7,644 km | Second longest border; passes through vast steppes; important for trade and natural resources; largely flat terrain |
| 3 | Chile – Argentina | 5,308 km | Longest border in South America; follows the Andes mountain range; includes several high-altitude crossings |
| 4 | China – Mongolia | 4,677 km | Fourth longest; crosses through Gobi Desert and grasslands |
| 5 | China – India | 3,488 km | Highly disputed in areas like Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh; source of occasional tensions between the two nations |
- Canada-US Border Characteristics: The border runs through diverse terrain including forests, mountains, lakes, and rivers; it includes the Great Lakes and crosses through remote wilderness areas.
- Peace and Cooperation: The Canada-US border is often cited as the world's longest undefended border, symbolizing peaceful coexistence and strong bilateral relations.
- Historical Context: Established through various treaties including the Treaty of Paris (1783) and the Oregon Treaty (1846).
Consider the following pairs:
Region often mentioned in the news - Country
- Anatolia – Turkey
- Amhara – Ethiopia
- Cabo Delgado – Spain
- Catalonia – Italy
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Only two pairs
This question tests knowledge of geographical regions and their corresponding countries. Out of the four given pairs, only Anatolia–Turkey and Amhara–Ethiopia are correctly matched, while Cabo Delgado belongs to Mozambique (not Spain) and Catalonia is in Spain (not Italy).
✅ Pair 1 (Anatolia – Turkey) – Correct: Anatolia is the Asian portion of Turkey, a historic peninsula at the crossroads of Asia and Europe.
✅ Pair 2 (Amhara – Ethiopia) – Correct: Amhara is a region in northwestern Ethiopia, homeland of the Amhara people and location of Lake Tana.
❌ Pair 3 (Cabo Delgado – Spain) – Incorrect: Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique, not Spain; it has been affected by Al-Shabab extremist attacks since 2017.
❌ Pair 4 (Catalonia – Italy) – Incorrect: Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, not Italy; it has been in news due to separatist movements and protests.
📝 Short Notes: Important Global Regions
| Region | Country | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Anatolia | Turkey | Asian portion of Turkey; historical crossroads of civilizations |
| Amhara | Ethiopia | Northwestern Ethiopia; contains Lake Tana; ethnic conflicts |
| Cabo Delgado | Mozambique | Northernmost province; Al-Shabab insurgency since 2017 |
| Catalonia | Spain | Northeastern Spain; separatist movements; bordered by France and Andorra |
| Kurdistan | Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria | Autonomous region in Iraq; Kurdish population across four countries |
| Xinjiang | China | Autonomous region; Uyghur population; human rights concerns |
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Consider the following countries:
- Azerbaijan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 3, 4 and 5 only
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia that shares borders with six countries. Among the given Central Asian republics, only Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan share borders with Afghanistan to its north and northwest.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Azerbaijan is located in the Caucasus region on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and does not share a border with Afghanistan.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Kyrgyzstan is located to the north of Tajikistan and does not share a border with Afghanistan.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Tajikistan shares a long border (approximately 1,357 km) with Afghanistan to the north and northeast.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Turkmenistan shares a border (approximately 804 km) with Afghanistan to the northwest.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Uzbekistan shares a short border (approximately 144 km) with Afghanistan to the north.
📝 Short Notes: Afghanistan's Neighbors
| Country | Border Length (approx.) | Direction from Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 2,670 km | East and South |
| Iran | 921 km | West |
| Tajikistan | 1,357 km | North and Northeast |
| Turkmenistan | 804 km | Northwest |
| Uzbekistan | 144 km | North |
| China | 91 km | Northeast (Wakhan Corridor) |
- Afghanistan is completely landlocked with no access to the sea.
- The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip of territory that connects Afghanistan to China.
- Among Central Asian republics, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan do NOT share borders with Afghanistan.
- The Durand Line marks the disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north?
- Bangkok
- Hanoi
- Jakarta
- Singapore
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Jakarta (Indonesia) is located at approximately 6°S latitude, making it the southernmost city.
Singapore lies at approximately 1°N latitude, just north of the equator.
Bangkok (Thailand) is situated at approximately 13°N latitude.
Hanoi (Vietnam) is located at approximately 21°N latitude, making it the northernmost city.
Therefore, the correct south-to-north sequence is: Jakarta → Singapore → Bangkok → Hanoi (3-4-1-2).
Turkey is located between
Detailed Explanation:
Turkey is a transcontinental country strategically located between the Black Sea to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
It also borders the Aegean Sea to the west, while the Caspian Sea lies far to the east (beyond the Caucasus), the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba are part of Egypt/Israel region, and the Dead Sea is located between Israel and Jordan.