Free World Geography MCQs with Answers

• A. Colombia
• B. Germany
• C. Britain
• D. The United States

Explanation: After the French company's project collapsed, the United States took over and finished the canal.

• A. 31 December 1999
• B. 15 August 1914
• C. 1 January 2000
• D. 7 September 1977

Explanation: Full control transferred to Panama on 31 December 1999 under the canal treaties.

• A. The Treaty of Paris
• B. The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
• C. The Torrijos-Carter Treaties
• D. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty

Explanation: The Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977 set the timetable for handing the canal to Panama.

• A. 1977
• B. 1997
• C. 1967
• D. 1987

Explanation: The two treaties were signed in 1977 by Panama's Omar Torrijos and US President Jimmy Carter.

• A. Vessel dimensions compatible with the Panama Canal's original locks
• B. The largest ship ever built
• C. The canal's expanded third set of locks
• D. Ships registered in Panama

Explanation: Panamax is the maximum size of ships that can fit the canal's original lock chambers.

• A. The original 1914 lock dimensions
• B. The larger vessel size class accommodated by the expanded Panama Canal locks
• C. A Panamanian shipping company
• D. Ships too large for any canal

Explanation: Neopanamax vessels are bigger ships that can use the new, larger locks opened in 2016.

• A. 2020
• B. 2006
• C. 2010
• D. 2016

Explanation: The canal's expansion, with a third set of larger locks, opened in 2016.

• A. A katabatic wind
• B. A sea breeze
• C. An anabatic wind
• D. A land breeze

Explanation: At night the land cools faster than the sea, so air flows from the cooler land out toward the warmer sea.

• A. The Loo
• B. The Khamsin
• C. The Harmattan
• D. The Sirocco

Explanation: The Loo is the scorching afternoon wind of the northern Indian plains during the hot season.

• A. The Foehn
• B. The Sirocco
• C. The Mistral
• D. The Bora

Explanation: The Sirocco carries hot, dry Saharan air northward across the Mediterranean into southern Europe.

• A. The Ghibli
• B. The Harmattan
• C. The Sirocco
• D. The Khamsin

Explanation: The Khamsin is the hot, dust-laden wind of the Sahara that affects Egypt, especially in spring.

• A. The Harmattan
• B. The Sirocco
• C. The Ghibli
• D. The Khamsin

Explanation: The Harmattan blows from the Sahara southwestward to the Atlantic coast of West Africa, carrying dust and haze.

• A. The Bora
• B. The Chinook
• C. The Foehn
• D. The Mistral

Explanation: The Chinook descends the eastern Rockies as a warm, dry wind that can rapidly melt snow.

• A. Desert storm
• B. Warm breath
• C. Snow-eater
• D. Mountain fire

Explanation: It is called the snow-eater because its warmth quickly melts accumulated snow.

• A. The Bora
• B. The Pampero
• C. The Mistral
• D. The Foehn

Explanation: The Foehn is a warm, dry downslope wind on the lee side of the Alps.

• A. The Mistral
• B. The Foehn
• C. The Bora
• D. The Pampero

Explanation: The Mistral is a strong, cold wind funneled down the Rhone valley to the Mediterranean coast.

• A. Mistral
• B. Bora
• C. Foehn
• D. Sirocco

Explanation: The Bora is a cold, gusty wind descending from the Dinaric Alps onto the Adriatic coast.

• A. The Minuano
• B. The Sudestada
• C. The Pampero
• D. The Zonda

Explanation: The Pampero is the cold wind sweeping across the Argentine pampas.

• A. Dust devils
• B. Mango showers
• C. Andhi
• D. Kalbaisakhi (Nor'westers)

Explanation: Kalbaisakhi, or Nor'westers, are fierce thunderstorms that strike Bengal before the monsoon.

• A. Kalbaisakhi
• B. Mango showers
• C. Blossom showers
• D. Retreating showers

Explanation: Mango showers are the early summer rains in Kerala and Karnataka that help coffee and ripen mangoes.