Free World Geography MCQs with Answers
4,434 World Geography MCQs from General Knowledge, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
World Geography covers continents, oceans, major rivers, lakes, mountains, deserts, islands, straits and canals, along with countries, capitals, borders and time zones. It also includes climate regions, natural resources, population distribution and important physical features, distinguishing physical geography from political geography.
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4,434 questions · page 158 of 222
- A. Volcanic eruptions and tides only
- B. The Moon's gravity alone
- C. Earthquakes and tsunamis
- D. Prevailing winds, Earth's rotation, differences in water density and the shape of coastlines
Explanation: Surface currents are driven mainly by prevailing winds, deflected by Earth's rotation, while density differences and coastlines shape…
Correct answer: Prevailing winds, Earth's rotation, differences in water density and the shape of coastlines3142. A gyre is:
- A. A large circular system of ocean currents
- B. A type of tidal bore
- C. A deep ocean trench
- D. A narrow strait between islands
Explanation: Gyres are vast, slowly rotating loops of currents that dominate each ocean basin.
Correct answer: A large circular system of ocean currents- A. Randomly
- B. Clockwise
- C. From east to west only
- D. Anticlockwise
Explanation: Northern Hemisphere subtropical gyres rotate clockwise under the influence of the Coriolis effect.
Correct answer: Clockwise- A. From west to east only
- B. Clockwise
- C. Anticlockwise
- D. Randomly
Explanation: Southern Hemisphere subtropical gyres rotate anticlockwise, the mirror image of northern ones.
Correct answer: Anticlockwise- A. Creating desert conditions inland
- B. Cooling the coast and causing fog
- C. Having no effect on climate
- D. Warming the coast and increasing rainfall
Explanation: Warm currents raise coastal temperatures and add moisture to the air, boosting rainfall.
Correct answer: Warming the coast and increasing rainfall- A. Raising sea levels permanently
- B. Cooling the coast and often causing dry, foggy conditions
- C. Warming the coast and increasing rainfall
- D. Causing heavy monsoon rains
Explanation: Cold currents chill adjacent coasts, stabilize the air and often produce dryness and sea fog.
Correct answer: Cooling the coast and often causing dry, foggy conditions- A. The Labrador Current
- B. The Benguela Current
- C. The Gulf Stream
- D. The Peru Current
Explanation: The Gulf Stream runs northward along the US east coast before turning east across the Atlantic.
Correct answer: The Gulf Stream- A. The Canary Current
- B. The Kuroshio Current
- C. The Agulhas Current
- D. The North Atlantic Drift
Explanation: The North Atlantic Drift carries the Gulf Stream's warm water onward toward western Europe.
Correct answer: The North Atlantic Drift- A. The Kuroshio (Japan) Current
- B. The East Australian Current
- C. The Oyashio Current
- D. The Brazil Current
Explanation: The Kuroshio, or Japan Current, is the warm current flowing along Japan's eastern shore.
Correct answer: The Kuroshio (Japan) Current- A. Benguela Current
- B. Brazil Current
- C. Falkland Current
- D. Agulhas Current
Explanation: The Brazil Current is the warm current running southward along Brazil's east coast.
Correct answer: Brazil Current- A. The Leeuwin Current
- B. The Humboldt Current
- C. The East Australian Current
- D. The West Australian Current
Explanation: The East Australian Current is the warm current off Australia's eastern seaboard.
Correct answer: The East Australian Current- A. Somali Current
- B. Canary Current
- C. Benguela Current
- D. Agulhas (Mozambique) Current
Explanation: The Agulhas Current flows down Africa's east coast through the Mozambique Channel as a warm current.
Correct answer: Agulhas (Mozambique) Current- A. The Brazil Current
- B. The Peru (Humboldt) Current
- C. The Falkland Current
- D. The Guinea Current
Explanation: The Peru, or Humboldt, Current is the cold current running northward along South America's west coast.
Correct answer: The Peru (Humboldt) Current- A. Somali Current
- B. Mozambique Current
- C. Benguela Current
- D. Agulhas Current
Explanation: The Benguela Current is the cold current flowing northward along Africa's southwestern coast.
Correct answer: Benguela Current- A. The Florida Current
- B. The Gulf Stream
- C. The North Atlantic Drift
- D. The Labrador Current
Explanation: The Labrador Current carries cold water southward past Newfoundland along North America's northeast coast.
Correct answer: The Labrador Current- A. South Equatorial Current
- B. East Australian Current
- C. Leeuwin Current
- D. West Australian Current
Explanation: The West Australian Current is the cold current moving northward along Australia's west coast.
Correct answer: West Australian Current- A. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current
- B. The Kuroshio Current
- C. The Agulhas Current
- D. The Gulf Stream
Explanation: The Antarctic Circumpolar Current circles Antarctica, linking the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
Correct answer: The Antarctic Circumpolar Current- A. Red Desert
- B. Empty Quarter
- C. Great Sand Sea
- D. Land of Thirst
Explanation: Rub' al-Khali translates as the Empty Quarter, reflecting its vast uninhabited sands.
Correct answer: Empty Quarter- A. The Sahara
- B. The Gobi Desert
- C. Rub' al-Khali
- D. The Kalahari
Explanation: Rub' al-Khali is recognized as the largest unbroken expanse of sand desert on Earth.
Correct answer: Rub' al-Khali- A. Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Yemen
- B. Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Chad
- C. Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania
- D. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain
Explanation: The Empty Quarter spans Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Correct answer: Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Yemen