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GeographyEasyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Prelims GS Paper I, 5 Jun 2022

In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:

  1. A.First half of the month of June
  2. B.Second half of the month of June
  3. C.First half of the month of July
  4. D.Second half of the month of July

Correct answer

B. Second half of the month of June

Explanation

The correct answer is B, Second half of the month of June. The longest day in the northern hemisphere is the summer solstice, which falls on 20, 21 or 22 June, usually 21 June. On that day the Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N), because the North Pole is tilted most towards the Sun. Places north of the equator get their longest daylight and shortest night, and north of the Arctic Circle the Sun stays above the horizon for 24 hours. At the same time the southern hemisphere has its shortest day. The other solstice, around 22 December, puts the Sun over the Tropic of Capricorn and gives the north its shortest day. Option A is wrong because in the first half of June the days are still growing longer. Option C is wrong because by early July the days have started getting shorter. Option D is wrong for the same reason, as the days keep shortening through July. Exam tip: 21 June Tropic of Cancer, 22 December Tropic of Capricorn, 21 March and 23 September equinoxes.

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.