Daily GK Challenge

More practice: Geography & Economy

5 more Railways questions from the same chapter, with step-by-step solutions. Try each one, then reveal the answer.

1. Q1easy

   Which river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar' because of its frequent floods and changing course?

   • ADamodar
   • BKosi
   • CGandak
   • DSon
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   Correct answer: (B) Kosi

   The Kosi brings huge amounts of silt from the Himalayas and often shifts its course, causing destructive floods in north Bihar, hence the name 'Sorrow of Bihar'. The Damodar was called the 'Sorrow of Bengal' before the Damodar Valley Corporation dams controlled it. Answer: Kosi.

2. Q2easy

   Which is the smallest state of India by area?

   • ASikkim
   • BTripura
   • CGoa
   • DMizoram
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   Correct answer: (C) Goa

   Goa, with an area of about 3,702 sq km, is the smallest Indian state by area. Sikkim is the second smallest by area (about 7,096 sq km) and the least populous state. Rajasthan is the largest state by area. Answer: Goa.

3. Q3easy

   In which layer of the atmosphere do almost all weather phenomena such as clouds, rain and storms occur?

   • AStratosphere
   • BMesosphere
   • CThermosphere
   • DTroposphere
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   Correct answer: (D) Troposphere

   The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere (about 8 km thick at the poles and 18 km at the equator) and holds most of the water vapour and dust. So clouds, rain and storms form here, and temperature falls with height in this layer. The ozone layer lies higher up, in the stratosphere. Answer: Troposphere.

4. Q4medium

   Indian Standard Time is based on the 82.5° E longitude. If the Earth rotates through 1° in 4 minutes, by how much is IST ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (0° longitude)?

   • A5 hours
   • B5 hours 30 minutes
   • C6 hours
   • D4 hours 30 minutes
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   Correct answer: (B) 5 hours 30 minutes

   The Earth turns 360° in 24 hours, so 1° = 24 × 60 ÷ 360 = 4 minutes. Difference = 82.5 × 4 = 330 minutes. 330 minutes = 5 hours 30 minutes, and places east of Greenwich are ahead in time. Answer: 5 hours 30 minutes.

5. Q5medium

   The Ganga–Brahmaputra delta, the largest delta in the world, is known for which mangrove forest?

   • ASundarbans
   • BBhitarkanika
   • CPichavaram
   • DCoringa
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   Correct answer: (A) Sundarbans

   The Sundarbans, spread across West Bengal and Bangladesh on the Ganga–Brahmaputra delta, is the largest mangrove forest in the world and home of the Royal Bengal tiger. Bhitarkanika (Odisha), Pichavaram (Tamil Nadu) and Coringa (Andhra Pradesh, Godavari delta) are smaller mangrove areas. Answer: Sundarbans.