Which one of the following statements with regard to the winter solstice is correct?
- A.The South Pole experiences 24 hours of darkness.
- B.It occurs on June 21.
- C.The North Pole experiences 24 hours of darkness.
- D.The Sun is at aphelion.
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, The North Pole experiences 24 hours of darkness. The winter solstice of the Northern Hemisphere falls on about 22 December. On that day the Sun's rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Capricorn, and the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun. So the whole region north of the Arctic Circle stays in darkness all day, while the region south of the Antarctic Circle has daylight for 24 hours. The Northern Hemisphere has its shortest day and longest night. Option A is wrong because the South Pole has continuous daylight, not darkness, at this time. Option B is wrong because 21 June is the summer solstice, when the Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. Option D is wrong because the Earth is at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, in early July; around the December solstice it is close to perihelion, which comes in early January. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the axis, not by distance. Exam tip: 21 June summer solstice, 22 December winter solstice, perihelion in January, aphelion in July.
Practice Questions
View allLoktak lake is situated in the State of
- A.Sikkim
- B.Manipur
- C.Odisha
- D.Mizoram
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Loktak Lake lies south of Imphal in Manipur and is the largest freshwater lake in North-East India. Loktak is famous for its phumdis, floating masses of soil, vegetation and decaying organic matter that drift on the water.
Read the full explanation →The formation of 'tors' on small rocky hills is associated with which among the following?
- A.Granite
- B.Limestone
- C.Alluvial
- D.Dolomite
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Tors are piles of rounded, weathered blocks standing on hilltops, and they form typically in granite. Granite cools deep underground and develops a network of joints, or cracks.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?
- A.Bokaro steel plant is located in Damodar river basin
- B.Jamshedpur steel plant is located on the confluence of Damodar and Barakar
- C.Salem steel plant is located on the bank of Kaveri River
- D.Bhilai steel plant obtains water from Tandula reservoir
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Jamshedpur stands at the meeting point of the Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers, not the Damodar and Barakar. Jamsetji Tata chose Sakchi, later named Jamshedpur, and the Tata Iron and Steel Company began production there in 1912.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following is/are warm ocean current(s) ? 1. Alaska Current 2. Agulhas Current 3. Falkland Current 4. West Australian Current Select the answer using the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2
- C.3 and 4
- D.4 only
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The Alaska Current and the Agulhas Current carry warm water, while the Falkland and West Australian currents are cold. A useful rule is that currents flowing from the tropics towards the poles are warm and those flowing from high latitudes towards the equator are cold.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements regarding the nature of rocks : I. Rocks are aggregates of one or more minerals. II. Granite is softer than soapstone. III. Gabbro is black and quartzite can be milky white. IV. Sedimentary rocks are related to foliation. Which of the statements given above are not correct ?
- A.I and II
- B.I and III
- C.II and IV
- D.II and III
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Granite is far harder than soapstone, and foliation is a feature of metamorphic rocks, not sedimentary ones, so these two statements are wrong.
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