UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Ring of Fire, Great Bitter Lake and more (Week 93)

1. United States

2. Philippines

3. Indonesia

4. Madagascar

5. Trinidad and Tobago

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2, 3 and 5

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 5

(d) 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

— On January 13, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported a significant earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 in the Kyushu area of southwestern Japan.

— Tsunami advisories have been issued for waves up to one metre high in Kyushu’s Miyazaki Prefecture and the adjoining Kochi Prefecture.

— Japan’s location in the “Ring of Fire” renders it susceptible to regular earthquakes.

— The Ring of Fire is a series of hundreds of volcanoes and earthquake sites that stretch along the Pacific Ocean. It is formed like a semicircle or horseshoe and covers roughly 40,250 km. According to National Geographic, the Ring of Fire marks the meeting points of numerous tectonic plates, including the Eurasian, North American, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Caribbean, Nazca, Antarctic, Indian, Australian, Philippine, and other smaller plates that all encircle the large Pacific Plate.

— It runs through the USA, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, Canada, Guatemala, Russia, Chile, Peru, and the Philippines.

— Madagascar and Trinidad and Tobago are not a part of ring of fire.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Mayotte, a French territory, was in the news due to severe flooding and mudslides caused by Storm Dikeledi. It is located in:

(a) Pacific Ocean

(b) Atlantic Ocean

(c) Arctic Ocean

(d) Indian Ocean

Explanation

— Storm Dikeledi has triggered major flooding and mudslides on the French enclave of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, just a month after Cyclone Chido ravaged the region.

— The storm caused high gusts, flash floods, and landslides on Sunday morning, causing authorities to declare a red alert. The prefect of Mayotte, François-Xavier Bieuville, reported that severe rains had caused significant damage.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

The Great Bitter Lake is associated with:

(a) Panama Canal

(b) Black Sea

(c) Pacific Ocean

(d) Suez Canal

Explanation

— The 193-kilometer artificial waterway that connects the Red maritime to the Mediterranean via the Isthmus of Suez shortens the maritime path from Asia to Europe by up to 7,000 kilometres by eliminating the requirement for ships to pass around the southern tip of Africa to cross between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

— A trade route connecting Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal dates back to antiquity. There is some evidence that a canal was built in the region during the era of Pharaoh Senausret III, who ruled in the second millennium BC.

— The Great Bitter Lake is one of several lakes along the Suez Canal, which connects the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Consider the following countries:

1. Lebanon

2. Iraq

3. Jordan

4. Egypt

How many of the countries given above borders Israel?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— Israel and Lebanon entered into a ceasefire on November 27 a day after Israel’s security cabinet approved a US-backed proposal to end the 13-month-long conflict that escalated in September.

— The ceasefire proposal is based on the provisions of Resolution 1701, which was passed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2006. Cross-border skirmishes continued, and the settlement was never fully implemented.

— The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 aims to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel by establishing a buffer zone and a lasting truce.

— The resolution aimed to complete Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon along the ‘Blue Line’ and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, which began in 2000.

— Israel is bounded by Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east and southeast, and Egypt in the southwest.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

The China-Pakistan Economic (CPEC) connects:

(a) Port Qasim with Yunnan province

(b) Gaddani Port Fujian province

(c) Ormara Port with Hainan province

(d) Gwadar Port with Xinjiang province

Explanation

— Pakistan and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their “all-weather strategic” alliance, including work on the “high-quality development” of the second phase of the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic alliance.

— The discussion evaluated the whole range of practical collaboration between the two countries, with a focus on initiatives that are driving the high-quality growth of CPEC 2.0.

— The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan to China’s Xinjiang province, is the centrepiece of China’s grandiose Belt and Road Initiative.

— The BRI is viewed as China’s aim to expand its influence abroad through infrastructure projects supported by Chinese investments around the world.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 93)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 93)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 93)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 93)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 92)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 92)

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