Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?
- A.It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.
- B.China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.
- C.A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.
- D.Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man's land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea. The Senkaku Islands are a small group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, administered by Japan and claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands; Taiwan also claims them as Diaoyutai. The dispute matters because the surrounding waters hold fishing grounds and possible oil and gas reserves, and the islands sit on important shipping lanes. Japan has controlled them since the late nineteenth century, and Chinese coast guard ships regularly enter the nearby waters, keeping the issue alive. Option A is wrong because the Senkakus are natural islands in the East China Sea, not artificial islands in the South China Sea, where China has built up reefs such as those in the Spratlys. Option C is wrong because there is no permanent American base on these islands. Option D is wrong because the International Court of Justice has never ruled on them, and South-East Asian countries do not claim them. Exam tip: Senkaku (Japan's name) = Diaoyu (China's name), East China Sea; Spratly and Paracel islands are the South China Sea disputes.
Practice Questions
View allAlluvial soils vary in nature from sandy loam to clay. They are generally
- A.poor in potash and rich in phosphorus.
- B.poor in both potash and phosphorus.
- C.rich in both potash and phosphorus.
- D.rich in potash and poor in phosphorus.
Show answer
Alluvial soils, laid down by rivers, generally contain plenty of potash but lack phosphorus, and they are also often short of nitrogen and humus.
Read the full explanation →Which one among the following State capitals is closest to the Equator ?
- A.Hyderabad
- B.Bhubaneswar
- C.Panaji
- D.Mumbai
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Panaji, the capital of Goa, lies at about 15.5° N latitude, the lowest of the four cities, so it is the closest to the Equator.
Read the full explanation →Which Greek philosopher coined the term "Geography" in the 3rd century B.C.E. ?
- A.Euclid
- B.Plato
- C.Eratosthenes
- D.Clio
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Eratosthenes of Cyrene first used the word "geographia", from the Greek "geo" (earth) and "graphe" (description), so geography means a description of the Earth.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements about primary waves of earthquakes is not correct ?
- A.They are similar to sound waves.
- B.They can travel only through solid materials.
- C.They travel through gaseous, liquid and solid materials.
- D.They move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface.
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This statement is false because primary waves pass through solids, liquids and gases alike. Primary or P-waves are longitudinal waves: they push and pull the rock in the same direction in which the wave travels, compressing and stretching the material just as sound waves compress air.
Read the full explanation →Which one among the following States has the longest extension in north-south direction?
- A.Jharkhand
- B.Telangana
- C.Odisha
- D.Chhattisgarh
Show answer
Chhattisgarh is a long, narrow state that stretches from about 17.8° N in Sukma district to about 24.1° N in Balrampur district, a north-south length of roughly 700 km.
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