People, Development and Environment - People, Development and Environment Section 2
16. Which of the following passes through India?
- Option : B
- Explanation :
The Tropic of Cancer is the only one among the listed options that passes through India, crossing it roughly in the middle from Gujarat to Mizoram.
A. Tropic of Capricorn – Incorrect. This line passes through the Southern Hemisphere, not India.
B. Tropic of Cancer – Correct. It passes through 8 Indian states.
C. Equator – Incorrect. The Equator is south of India and does not touch the country.
D. 0° Longitude – Incorrect. This prime meridian passes through Greenwich, not India.
17. When a ship crosses the International Date Line from west to East
- Option : A
- Explanation :
Crossing the International Date Line from west to east causes the ship to go back a calendar day.
A. It loses one day – Correct. The date shifts back by one full day.
B. It gains one day – Incorrect. Gaining a day happens when traveling east to west.
C. It loses half-a-day – Incorrect. The shift is always by one full day, not a fraction.
D. It gains half-a-day – Incorrect. This option is not applicable in timekeeping.
- Option : C
- Explanation :
C. Pakistan & China
This question refers to time zones and how crossing certain borders can create a large time difference — in this case, a half-day or 12-hour difference.
Between Pakistan and China, there is an unusual time difference of 3 hours — but the phrase “gains half-a-day” likely refers to situations like:
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China officially follows a single time zone (China Standard Time - UTC+8), even though it spans five geographical time zones.
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Pakistan follows Pakistan Standard Time (UTC+5).
So when you cross from Pakistan into western China, you suddenly "gain" 3 hours. In certain remote border regions, especially when traveling eastward, locals humorously say they’ve "gained half a day" because their day suddenly feels a lot longer.
While it's not literally a 12-hour gain, the phrase is often used informally or figuratively. Why the other options are wrong:
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A. India & Sri Lanka – Same time zone (UTC+5:30), so no gain or loss.
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B. North & South Korea – Same time zone now (UTC+9); even historically, the difference was never close to half a day.
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D. Britain & France – Only 1-hour difference (UTC+0 vs. UTC+1), not significant.
Summary:
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Pakistan & China have a large time jump (3 hours) at the border, which can feel like a dramatic "gain."
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This makes C the best and most appropriate answer to the phrase "It gains half-a-day."
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19. Kunchikal Falls, the highest waterfall in India is located in the state of
- Option : C
- Explanation :
Kunchikal Falls is the tallest waterfall in India and is located in the Western Ghats in Karnataka.
A. Uttar Pradesh – Incorrect. This state does not have major waterfalls.
B. West Bengal – Incorrect. Known for hill stations but not this waterfall.
C. Karnataka – Correct. Kunchikal Falls is located in the Shimoga district.
D. Maharashtra – Incorrect. Home to other waterfalls like Thoseghar, not Kunchikal.
20. Which of the following ports has a free trade zone?
- Option : A
- Explanation :
Kandla port in Gujarat was the first port in India to set up a Free Trade Zone.
A. Kandla – Correct. It hosts India’s first Free Trade and Warehousing Zone.
B. Cochin – Incorrect. Important port but not known for FTZ.
C. Madras – Incorrect. Major port, but not the first with a free trade zone.
D. Tuticorin – Incorrect. Has industrial zones but not an early FTZ like Kandla.
