Current Affairs MCQs – Geography & Environment (20 Explained)

This is a Current Affairs MCQs set — 20 original MCQs on Geography & Environment: continents, oceans, mountains, rivers, climate, and environment. Attempt all 20 in 25 minutes without looking at the answers, then check the explained answers and review your weak section. These are original practice questions, not copied from FPSC papers or competitor question banks, and this site is not affiliated with FPSC. Scoring: 18–20 = strong. 15–17 = good. 12–14 = fair, revise the sections you missed. Below 12 = study the weak-section review, then re-attempt in 2 days.

Questions:

Q1. Which is the largest continent in the world by land area? A) Africa B) Asia C) Europe D) North America

Q2. Which is the smallest ocean in the world? A) Atlantic Ocean B) Indian Ocean C) Pacific Ocean D) Arctic Ocean

Q3. Which is the longest mountain range in the world? A) Himalayas B) Andes C) Alps D) Rockies

Q4. Which country has the largest population in the world? A) China B) India C) USA D) Indonesia

Q5. Which gas is the main contributor to global warming? A) Oxygen B) Nitrogen C) Carbon dioxide D) Hydrogen

Q6. What is the main cause of climate change? A) Volcanoes B) Greenhouse gases C) Earthquakes D) Ocean tides

Q7. Which is the largest island in the world? A) Borneo B) Greenland C) Madagascar D) Sumatra

Q8. Which river flows through Egypt? A) Amazon B) Nile C) Danube D) Indus

Q9. Which is the driest continent in the world? A) Africa B) Australia C) Antarctica D) Asia

Q10. What is the capital of Australia? A) Sydney B) Melbourne C) Canberra D) Perth

Q11. Which country holds the largest share of the Amazon rainforest? A) Peru B) Colombia C) Brazil D) Venezuela

Q12. What is deforestation? A) Planting trees B) Cutting down forests C) Cleaning rivers D) Building dams

Q13. Which of the following is a renewable resource? A) Coal B) Oil C) Wind D) Natural gas

Q14. Which layer protects Earth from harmful UV rays? A) Troposphere B) Ozone layer C) Stratosphere (general) D) Ionosphere

Q15. Which is the highest mountain in the world? A) K2 B) Mount Everest C) Kangchenjunga D) Makalu

Q16. Which desert is located in Asia? A) Sahara Desert B) Gobi Desert C) Kalahari Desert D) Atacama Desert

Q17. Which country is known as the Land of the Rising Sun? A) China B) Korea C) Japan D) Thailand

Q18. What is the highest peak in Pakistan? A) Nanga Parbat B) K2 C) Tirich Mir D) Broad Peak

Q19. What does “biodiversity” mean? A) Variety of life B) Variety of rocks C) Variety of climates D) Variety of languages

Q20. Which is the largest lake in the world? A) Lake Superior B) Lake Victoria C) Caspian Sea D) Lake Baikal

Answer Key + Explained Answers:

Q1 – B) Asia. Asia is the largest continent (about 44.6 million sq km). Africa is second, North America third, Europe is smaller.

Q2 – D) Arctic Ocean. Arctic is the smallest ocean. Pacific is largest, Atlantic second, Indian third.

Q3 – B) Andes. Andes is the longest mountain range (about 8,900 km, South America). Himalayas are highest, Alps are in Europe, Rockies are in North America (shorter).

Q4 – B) India. India is the largest by population (overtook China in 2023, as reported). China is second, USA third, Indonesia fourth.

Q5 – C) Carbon dioxide. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas driving global warming (from fossil fuels). Oxygen and nitrogen are not greenhouse gases, hydrogen is trace.

Q6 – B) Greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases (CO2, methane) trap heat — the main cause of climate change. Volcanoes, earthquakes, and tides are minor / natural factors.

Q7 – B) Greenland. Greenland is the largest island (about 2.16 million sq km). Borneo is third, Madagascar is fourth, Sumatra is sixth.

Q8 – B) Nile. The Nile flows through Egypt (and 10 other countries). Amazon is in South America, Danube is in Europe, Indus is in Pakistan / India / China.

Q9 – C) Antarctica. Antarctica is the driest continent (very little precipitation, mostly as snow). Africa has deserts but is not driest overall, Australia is second-driest, Asia has varied climates.

Q10 – C) Canberra. Canberra is Australia’s capital. Sydney is the largest city, Melbourne is second-largest, Perth is a state capital.

Q11 – C) Brazil. Brazil holds about 60% of the Amazon rainforest, as reported. Peru is second, Colombia and Venezuela hold smaller shares.

Q12 – B) Cutting down forests. Deforestation = cutting down forests. Planting trees is afforestation, cleaning rivers is not deforestation, building dams is not deforestation.

Q13 – C) Wind. Wind is renewable (never runs out). Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels (non-renewable).

Q14 – B) Ozone layer. The ozone layer (in the stratosphere) absorbs UV rays. Troposphere is the lowest layer, stratosphere is the layer containing ozone, ionosphere reflects radio waves.

Q15 – B) Mount Everest. Mount Everest (8,849 m) is the highest mountain. K2 is second-highest, Kangchenjunga third, Makalu fifth.

Q16 – B) Gobi Desert. Gobi is in Asia (Mongolia / China). Sahara is in Africa, Kalahari is in Africa, Atacama is in South America.

Q17 – C) Japan. Japan is the Land of the Rising Sun (east of Asia, sunrise). China is the Middle Kingdom, Korea is the Land of Morning Calm, Thailand is the Land of Smiles.

Q18 – B) K2. K2 (8,611 m) is Pakistan’s highest peak (second-highest in the world). Nanga Parbat is second-highest in Pakistan, Tirich Mir is highest in Hindu Kush, Broad Peak is third-highest in Pakistan.

Q19 – A) Variety of life. Biodiversity = variety of life (species, ecosystems, genes). Rocks, climates, and languages are not biodiversity.

Q20 – C) Caspian Sea. Caspian Sea is the largest lake (about 371,000 sq km, saline). Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by area, Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest, Lake Baikal is the deepest.

Weak-Section Review:

Which questions did you miss? Write the 3 you missed, the correct answers, and one line for each explaining why. Geography: revise Asia (largest continent), Arctic (smallest ocean), Andes (longest range), Greenland (largest island), Nile (Egypt), Antarctica (driest), Canberra (Australia), Brazil (Amazon), Gobi (Asia), Japan (Rising Sun), K2 (Pakistan highest), Everest (world highest), Caspian Sea (largest lake). Environment: revise CO2 (global warming), greenhouse gases (climate change), deforestation (cutting forests), wind (renewable), ozone layer (UV), biodiversity (variety of life). Re-attempt this set in 2 days.

These are original practice questions written for csspastpapers.pk. They are not FPSC official questions, and this site is not affiliated with FPSC.

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