All Free General Knowledge MCQs with Answers

• A. It decreases
• B. It stays the same
• C. It doubles
• D. It increases

Explanation: Parallels get shorter as they approach the poles.

• A. A circle of latitude
• B. A circle whose plane passes through Earth's centre
• C. Any circle drawn on a map
• D. The Arctic Circle

Explanation: A great circle is the largest possible circle on a sphere, centred on Earth's centre.

• A. The Tropic of Cancer
• B. The Arctic Circle
• C. The Equator
• D. 45° N

Explanation: Only the Equator among parallels is a great circle.

• A. Yes, except at the poles
• B. No; meridians are not circles
• C. Yes, always
• D. No; it forms one with its opposite meridian

Explanation: A meridian is half a great circle; paired with its opposite (e.g. 0° and 180°) it completes one.

• A. The shorter arc of a great circle
• B. A rhumb line
• C. A straight line on a map
• D. A line of latitude

Explanation: Great-circle arcs are the shortest paths on a sphere, used by aircraft.

• A. 180°
• B. 360°
• C. 270°
• D. 90°

Explanation: A complete circle contains 360 degrees, which is why longitude runs 180° east and 180° west of Greenwich.

• A. 100 minutes
• B. 360 minutes
• C. 60 minutes
• D. 30 minutes

Explanation: Each degree is divided into 60 angular minutes.

• A. 360 seconds
• B. 30 seconds
• C. 100 seconds
• D. 60 seconds

Explanation: Each angular minute contains 60 angular seconds.

• A. 3,600 seconds
• B. 1,800 seconds
• C. 6,000 seconds
• D. 36,000 seconds

Explanation: 60 minutes × 60 seconds = 3,600 angular seconds per degree.

• A. Latitude, longitude and altitude
• B. Degrees, angular minutes and angular seconds
• C. North, south and east
• D. Hours, minutes and seconds of time

Explanation: Coordinates use ° for degrees, ′ for minutes and ″ for seconds of arc.

• A. Either one
• B. Longitude
• C. Latitude
• D. Altitude

Explanation: By convention, latitude is stated before longitude (e.g. 24°N, 67°E).

• A. 23½° S
• B. 66½° N
• C. 0°
• D. 23½° N

Explanation: The Tropic of Cancer lies at about 23.5° north.

• A. 23½° S
• B. 66½° S
• C. 0°
• D. 23½° N

Explanation: The Tropic of Capricorn lies at about 23.5° south.

• A. 45° N
• B. 66½° N
• C. 23½° N
• D. 90° N

Explanation: The Arctic Circle is at about 66.5° north latitude.

• A. 23½° S
• B. 90° S
• C. 66½° S
• D. 45° S

Explanation: The Antarctic Circle is at about 66.5° south latitude.

• A. Tropic of Cancer → Arctic Circle → Equator → Antarctic Circle → Tropic of Capricorn
• B. Arctic Circle → Equator → Tropic of Cancer → Tropic of Capricorn → Antarctic Circle
• C. North Pole → Arctic Circle → Equator → Antarctic Circle → South Pole
• D. Arctic Circle → Tropic of Cancer → Equator → Tropic of Capricorn → Antarctic Circle

Explanation: From north to south the major parallels are: Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, Antarctic Circle.

• A. The tropics
• B. The subtropics
• C. The temperate zones
• D. The polar zones

Explanation: The belt between the two tropics is called the tropics (torrid zone).

• A. The Arctic Circle
• B. The Tropic of Cancer
• C. The Equator
• D. 45° N

Explanation: The Sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer at the June solstice — never farther north.

• A. The Equator
• B. 45° S
• C. The Tropic of Capricorn
• D. The Antarctic Circle

Explanation: The Sun reaches the zenith at the Tropic of Capricorn at the December solstice — never farther south.

• A. The South Temperate Zone
• B. The North Frigid Zone
• C. The Torrid Zone
• D. The North Temperate Zone

Explanation: The North Temperate Zone lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle.