2026 Examination

10 MCQS - Geography - Atmosphere

March 17, 2026

March 18, 2026


March 17, 2026

1.     The atmosphere "filters the incoming solar radiation and thus prevents the ultra-violet solar radiation waves to reach the earth's surface." Which of the following conclusions is strictly warranted by this statement alone?

(a) The atmosphere absorbs all forms of solar radiation before they reach the Earth.

(b) Ultra-violet radiation is a component of incoming solar radiation.

(c) The Earth's surface receives no solar radiation whatsoever due to atmospheric filtering.

(d) Filtering of solar radiation and prevention of UV rays are two entirely separate, unrelated functions.

2.     Match the following terms from the passage with their correct descriptions:

List I (Term)

List II (Description)

A. Gravitational force

1. Filters incoming solar radiation

B. Atmosphere

2. Attaches the atmosphere to Earth's surface

C. Biospheric ecosystem

3. A mechanical mixture of gases, vapour and particulates

D. Air

4. System of which the atmosphere is a significant component

(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

(b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

(c) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3

(d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

3.     Oxygen is considered the most important gas from the standpoint of living organisms for which of the following reasons?

  1. It is inhaled by organisms for survival.
  2. It is essential for combustion of burning matter.
  3. It acts as a dilutent in the atmosphere.

Select the correct answer using the codes below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

4.     Consider the following pairs:

Gas

Role

1. Ozone

Absorbs UV radiation; prevents excessive heating

2. Carbon dioxide

Absorbs earth's radiant energy; increases surface temperature

3. Nitrogen

Supports combustion; most abundant in atmosphere

4. Argon

Present in trace amounts; no specific role mentioned

How many of the above pairs are CORRECTLY matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

5.     With reference to the gases present in the Earth's atmosphere, which of the following statements best explains why Nitrogen, despite being the most abundant atmospheric gas, is NOT considered the most important from a biological standpoint?

(a) Nitrogen is present in lower concentrations than oxygen.

(b) Nitrogen is chemically inactive and acts only as a dilutent, unlike oxygen which supports respiration.

(c) Nitrogen absorbs harmful solar radiation preventing it from reaching organisms.

(d) Nitrogen is a greenhouse gas and thus harmful to living organisms.

6.     Which of the following correctly explains why the sky appears blue during the day?

(a) Absorption of blue wavelength by dust particles in the upper atmosphere

(b) Selective scattering of solar radiation by dust particles favouring shorter wavelengths

(c) Reflection of blue light from ocean surfaces into the atmosphere

(d) Emission of blue-spectrum radiation by the ozone layer

7.     Match the following particulates with their primary atmospheric role:

List I (Particulate)

List II (Role)

A. Salt particles

1. Scattering of solar radiation causing sky to appear blue

B. Dust particles

2. Hygroscopic nuclei for cloud and precipitation formation

C. Smoke and soot

3. Contribute to varied colours at sunrise and sunset

D. Pollen

4. Biological aerosol with no direct optical or hydrological role as described

(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

(b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

(c) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

(d) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4

8.     Consider the following statements about the Earth's atmosphere:

  1. About 50 percent of the atmosphere lies below 5.6 km altitude.
  2. 97 percent of the atmosphere is confined within 29 km of the surface.
  3. The upper limit of the atmosphere is definitively established at 10,000 km.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

9.     Troposphere : Weather phenomena :: Thermosphere : ?

(a) Ozone concentration

(b) Auroras and satellite orbits

(c) Meteor burning

(d) Commercial aviation

10.  A meteorologist wishes to study phenomena that affect nearly the entire atmospheric mass in as thin a slice as possible. Which altitude threshold should he/she focus on?

(a) 5.6 km, covering 50% of the atmosphere

(b) 29 km, covering 97% of the atmosphere

(c) 800 km, covering the most important layer

(d) 10,000 km, covering the full estimated atmosphere


Answer keys:

1 b 6 b

2 a 7 a

3 b 8 a

4 b 9 b

5 b 10 b


March 18, 2026

1.     Consider the following statements:

  1. The atmosphere is attached to the Earth's surface by gravitational force.
  2. Without the atmosphere, the Earth would become as barren as the Moon due to absence of gravitational force.
  3. The Moon is barren because it lacks an atmosphere.
  4. Gravitational force is absent on the Moon's surface.

Which of the above statements is/are TRUE ?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

2.     Match List I (Component of atmosphere) with List II (Nature/characteristic as per the passage):

List I

List II

A. Gases

1. Suspended solid/liquid particles

B. Vapour

2. Primary constituents of the mechanical mixture

C. Particulates

3. Moisture content in gaseous form

D. Atmosphere as a whole

4. A thick gaseous envelope attached by gravitational force

(a) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4

(b) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

(c) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

(d) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

3.     "The atmosphere is estimated to have a height between _______ from sea level, and _______ per cent of its effective extent is concentrated within _______ km."

(a) 16 to 29 thousand kilometres; 97; 29

(b) 16 to 29 kilometres; 79; 97

(c) 29 to 50 thousand kilometres; 97; 29

(d) 16 to 29 thousand kilometres; 79; 16

4.     Consider the following statements about Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere:

  1. It absorbs most of the radiant energy from the earth and reradiates it back.
  2. It is used by green plants for photosynthesis.
  3. Its concentration is increasing due to burning of fossil fuels and afforestation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

5.     Match the following atmospheric gases with their primary characteristics:

List I (Gas)

List II (Characteristic)

A. Nitrogen

1. Absorbs UV radiation from the sun

B. Oxygen

2. Used by green plants for photosynthesis

C. Carbon dioxide

3. Acts as a dilutent; chemically inactive

D. Ozone

4. Essential for combustion and respiration

(a) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1

(b) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

(c) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3

(d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

6.     "Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, increases the temperature of the _______ and the earth's surface."

(a) Upper atmosphere

(b) Stratosphere

(c) Lower atmosphere

(d) Troposphere only

7.     Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a function or property of atmospheric particulates?

(a) Scattering of solar radiation

(b) Acting as hygroscopic nuclei

(c) Absorption of terrestrial radiation

(d) Contributing to sunrise and sunset colours

Directions for the below question 8: Both A and R are individual statements. Select the correct answer using the codes below:

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

(c) A is true but R is false

(d) A is false but R is true

8.     Assertion (A): Despite the atmosphere extending up to an estimated 10,000 km, the layer up to 800 km is considered most important. Reason (R): About 97 percent of the total atmospheric mass is concentrated within only 29 km from the Earth's surface.

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

(c) A is true but R is false

(d) A is false but R is true

9.     Match the following atmospheric layers with their correct position in the sequence from Earth's surface upward:

List I (Layer)

List II (Position)

A. Mesosphere

1. First layer

B. Troposphere

2. Second layer

C. Thermosphere

3. Third layer

D. Stratosphere

4. Fourth layer

(a) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

(b) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

(c) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

(d) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

10.  Assertion (A): Temperature at the top of the tropopause is lowest over the equator compared to the poles.

Reason (R): The tropopause height over the equator is considerably greater than over the poles, so the temperature drops more due to the normal lapse rate.

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

(c) A is true but R is false.

(d) A is false but R is true.

 

 

Answer Keys:

1          b                      6          c

2          b                      7          c

3          a                      8          b

4          a                      9          a

5          a                      10        a


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Human Geography - Terminologies

Image
  Population Distribution & Density Population distribution denotes the spatial spread of people across the globe. Remarkably, 90% of the global population is concentrated on merely 10% of the Earth’s surface, indicating extreme demographic clustering. Population density, expressed as persons per square kilometre, serves as a crucial metric to assess human pressure on land. Determinants of Population Distribution Geographical Factors : Access to freshwater (rivers, lakes, aquifers), fertile plains (e.g., Indo-Gangetic Plain), favourable climate, and productive soil influence habitability. Economic Factors : Industrial hubs (like Ruhr in Germany or Osaka-Kobe in Japan) attract populations due to employment opportunities. Urbanisation brings in better civic amenities and services, triggering rural-urban migration. Mining belts (e.g., Katanga-Zambia Copper Belt) pull labour for extractive industries. Social-Cultural ...
Read more

Week 5: Climatology – Atmosphere, Heat Budget, and Insolation

Image
  Climatology is the scientific study of the Earth’s atmosphere and its long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation. It is a critical discipline within Earth sciences, influencing meteorology, geography, environmental science, and even socio-economic planning. The three fundamental aspects of climatology: Composition & Layers of the Atmosphere Heat Budget of Earth, Albedo, and the Greenhouse Effect Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution 1. Composition & Layers of the Atmosphere 1.1 Composition of the Atmosphere The Earth’s atmosphere is a complex gaseous system composed of permanent gases, variable gases, and suspended particulates (aerosols). These components play essential roles in regulating climate, supporting life, and influencing weather patterns. Permanent Gases (Remain constant in proportion) Nitrogen (N₂) – 78.08% : Inert, dilutes oxygen, crucial for biological nitrogen fixation. Oxygen...
Read more

Week 1: Historical Background - Constitution of India

  Evolution of Constitutional Reforms in British India The British presence in India began in 1600 with the establishment of the East India Company, which received a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I granting it exclusive trading rights. Initially a commercial enterprise, the Company gradually evolved into a political force, notably after acquiring the diwani —or rights over revenue collection and civil justice—of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765 through the Treaty of Allahabad after the Battle of Buxar. This marked the beginning of its transformation into a territorial power, laying the foundation for formal colonial rule. The trajectory of British governance in India can be broadly divided into two distinct phases:  the Company Rule (1773–1858) and  the Crown Rule (1858–1947).  The Company Rule witnessed a series of legislative and administrative reforms that aimed to centralize authority and establish British supremacy. These included the Regulating Act of 1...
Read more