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GeographyEasyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2026, GAT

Consider the following statements regarding hypocentre : I. It is the point where the energy is released and is called the focus of an earthquake. II. It is the point where the earthquake starts and may be many kilometers deep within the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.I only
  2. B.II only
  3. C.Both I and II
  4. D.Neither I nor II

Correct answer

C. Both I and II

Explanation

The correct answer is C, Both I and II. The hypocentre, also called the focus, is the point inside the Earth where the rupture begins and the stored energy is released.

An earthquake starts when rocks along a fault suddenly slip. The point of this slip, where the energy is first released, is the focus or hypocentre. It lies below the surface, from a few kilometres down to about 700 kilometres in deep-focus earthquakes at subduction zones. The point on the surface directly above the focus is the epicentre, which is the first place on the surface to receive the waves and usually where shaking is strongest. Seismic waves spread outward from the focus in all directions.

A is wrong because statement II is also correct: the hypocentre is where the quake starts and it can lie many kilometres deep. B is wrong because statement I is also correct, as focus and hypocentre are two names for the same point. D is wrong because both statements describe the hypocentre correctly.

Exam tip: focus or hypocentre is inside the Earth; the epicentre is the point on the surface right above it.

Practice Questions

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Q2.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Himalayan rivers have their origin in the snow-covered areas, hence are dry in winter season. 2. Rivers of the Peninsular Plateau have reached maturity. 3. Himalayan rivers depict all the three stages of normal cycle of erosion. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 2 and 3 only

Himalayan rivers are perennial, so statement 1 is wrong, while statements 2 and 3 are correct. Himalayan rivers such as the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra rise from glaciers and snowfields and also get monsoon rain, so they flow all year round, including in winter.

Q3.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements related to latitude are true? 1. Rainfall, temperature and vegetation vary with latitude. 2. The difference between the longest day and the shortest day increases with latitude. 3. Indira Point is located approximately at 6°45' N latitude. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

All three statements about latitude are true. Latitude decides how directly the Sun's rays strike a place, so temperature, rainfall and the type of vegetation change from the equator towards the poles, from hot, wet rainforests to cold tundra.

Q4.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following lakes is/are situated in Ladakh? 1. Tso Kar 2. Pangong Tso 3. Tsomgo 4. Tso Moriri Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 and 3
  3. C.1, 2 and 4
  4. D.2 and 4 only
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1, 2 and 4

Tso Kar, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri are high-altitude lakes of Ladakh, while Tsomgo lies in Sikkim. Pangong Tso, at about 4,350 metres, is a long, narrow lake that stretches from Ladakh into Tibet, and most of its length lies on the Chinese side.