Free World Geography MCQs with Answers

• A. Winds circling a cyclone's eye
• B. Winds blowing parallel to the coast
• C. Warm winds blowing up mountain slopes
• D. Cold winds flowing down mountain slopes

Explanation: Anabatic winds rise up mountain slopes heated by the sun during the day.

• A. Storm winds rotating around a low
• B. Warm winds blowing up mountain slopes
• C. Steady trade winds near the equator
• D. Cold winds flowing down mountain slopes

Explanation: Katabatic winds are dense, cold air masses draining downhill under gravity.

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

Explanation: The Ghibli is Libya's name for the hot, dusty wind blowing from the Sahara.

• A. A hot, dry wind in southern California
• B. A wet monsoon wind of India
• C. A polar wind of Antarctica
• D. A cold wind of the Argentine pampas

Explanation: The Santa Ana is a hot, dry downslope wind affecting southern California, often fanning wildfires.

• A. A haboob front
• B. A dust devil
• C. A tornado
• D. A waterspout

Explanation: Dust devils are small, rotating columns of dust and debris that form over hot desert surfaces.

• A. Kalbaisakhi
• B. Loo
• C. Andhi
• D. Ghibli

Explanation: Andhi is the local term for the violent dust storms of Sindh and Punjab.

• A. Hurricanes
• B. Willy-willies
• C. Typhoons
• D. Cyclones

Explanation: The same storms are named hurricanes in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific.

• A. Tornadoes
• B. Typhoons
• C. Hurricanes
• D. Cyclones

Explanation: In the northwestern Pacific, tropical cyclones are called typhoons.

• A. Hurricanes
• B. Typhoons
• C. Cyclones
• D. Willy-willies

Explanation: Around the Indian Ocean the generic term "cyclone" is used for these storms.

• A. Hurricanes
• B. Nor'westers
• C. Typhoons
• D. Willy-willies

Explanation: Australians have long called tropical cyclones willy-willies.

• A. Eye
• B. Wall
• C. Core
• D. Funnel

Explanation: The eye is the relatively calm, clear central region of a tropical cyclone.

• A. About 20-21 C
• B. About 26-27 C
• C. About 23-24 C
• D. About 30-31 C

Explanation: Warm ocean water of around 26-27 C or more supplies the heat and moisture that fuel cyclones.

• A. Vertically
• B. Clockwise
• C. In no fixed direction
• D. Anticlockwise

Explanation: Coriolis deflection makes Northern Hemisphere cyclones rotate anticlockwise.

• A. Clockwise
• B. Anticlockwise
• C. In no fixed direction
• D. Vertically

Explanation: Coriolis deflection reverses south of the equator, so Southern Hemisphere cyclones rotate clockwise.

• A. A large ocean whirlpool
• B. A violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground
• C. A high-altitude jet stream
• D. A gentle sea breeze

Explanation: A tornado is a narrow, violently spinning funnel of air reaching from a thunderstorm cloud to the surface.

• A. Australia
• B. Argentina
• C. The United States
• D. Bangladesh

Explanation: The United States records more tornadoes than any other country.

• A. The Great Basin
• B. The Sun Belt
• C. The Rust Belt
• D. Tornado Alley

Explanation: Tornado Alley, in the central United States, sees an exceptionally high frequency of tornadoes.

• A. The Saffir-Simpson Scale
• B. The Beaufort Scale
• C. The Richter Scale
• D. The Fujita Scale

Explanation: The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies hurricanes by sustained wind speed.

• A. The Mercalli Scale
• B. The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale
• C. The Saffir-Simpson Scale
• D. The Beaufort Scale

Explanation: The Enhanced Fujita scale rates tornadoes based on the damage they cause.

• A. A tidal wave near the shore
• B. A seasonal change in sea level
• C. A continuous, directed movement of seawater
• D. An underwater earthquake

Explanation: Ocean currents are steady flows of seawater moving in consistent directions across ocean basins.