TSPSC | GROUP-I | Prelims Test Series-2024 | 90 days Plan

TG1DPT-0301 | Key and Explanations

No Option Q No Option Q No Option Q No Option Q No Option
1 1 11 1 21 3 31 2 41 1
2 3 12 2 22 4 32 3 42 4
3 3 13 1 23 4 33 4 43 3
4 3 14 2 24 2 34 4 44 4
5 4 15 1 25 1 35 4 45 2
6 3 16 4 26 4 36 1 46 3
7 1 17 2 27 3 37 3 47 3
8 3 18 4 28 1 38 3 48 2
9 2 19 3 29 3 39 4 49 1
10 3 20 1 30 1 40 1 50 3

Detailed Explanations
1. Correct Answer: Option (1) • For low-mass stars (left hand side), after the
Type of Question: Factual helium has fused into carbon, the core
Stellar Formation/Life cycle of a star: collapses again.
• A star's life cycle is determined by its mass. • The core remains as a white dwarf and
The larger its mass, the shorter its life cycle. eventually cools to become a black dwarf.
• A star's mass is determined by the amount of • However, their life cycles start to differ after
matter that is available in its nebula, the giant the red giant phase.
cloud of gas and dust from which it was born. • A massive star will undergo a supernova
• Over time, the hydrogen gas in the nebula is explosion.
pulled together by gravity and it begins to • It has now become a black hole which readily
spin. As the gas spins faster, it heats up and attracts any matter and energy that comes
becomes as a protostar. near it.
• Eventually the temperature reaches 2. Correct Answer: Option (3)
15,000,000 degrees and nuclear fusion occurs Type of Question: Factual
in the cloud's core. ● Ptolemy proposed the geocentric (earth-
• The cloud begins to glow brightly, contracts a centred) model of the solar system.
little, and becomes stable. ● Ptolemy thought that the universe was a set
• As the main sequence star glows, hydrogen in of nested spheres surrounding the Earth.
its core is converted into helium by nuclear ✓ He believed that the Moon was orbiting
fusion. on a sphere closest to the Earth, followed
• When the hydrogen supply in the core begins by Mercury, then Venus and then the
to run out, and the star is no longer generating Sun.
heat by nuclear fusion, the core becomes ● Copernicus advocated the heliocentric model
unstable and contracts. (sun-centered) of the solar system.
• The outer shell of the star, which is still mostly ● Copernican system, in astronomy, model of
hydrogen, starts to expand. As it expands, it the solar system centred on the Sun, with
cools and glows red. Earth and other planets moving around it,
• The star has now reached the red giant phase. formulated by Nicolaus Copernicus, and
• In the core of the red giant, helium fuses into published in 1543.
carbon. All stars evolve the same way up to Further reading: Advent of Aryans
the red giant phase. The amount of mass a 3. Correct Answer: Option (3)
star has determines which of the following Type of Question: Conceptual

TSPSC | GROUP-I | Prelims Test Series-2024 | 90 days Plan | TG1DPT-0301 1

 ● The planets inside the orbit of the earth are • Meteoroids: These rocks still are in space.
called the Inferior Planets: Mercury and Meteoroids range in size from dust grains to
Venus. small asteroids.
● The planets outside the orbit of the earth are • Meteors: When meteoroids enter Earth’s
called the Superior Planets: Mars, Jupiter, atmosphere (or that of another planet, like
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs
● The planets inside the asteroid belt are or “shooting stars” are called meteors.
termed the Inner Planets (or the Terrestrial • Meteorites: When a meteoroid survives a trip
Planets): Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. through the atmosphere and hits the ground,
● The planets outside the asteroid belt are it’s called a meteorite.
termed the Outer Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, 7. Correct Answer: Option (1)
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. • The Goldilocks Zone, also known as the
● The planets sharing the gaseous structure of habitable zone, is the region around a star
Jupiter are termed the Gas Giant (or Jovian) where conditions are just right for the
Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. existence of liquid water on the surface of a
Further reading: Society during Vedic age planet.
4. Correct Answer: Option (3) • This zone is neither too hot nor too cold,
Type of Question: Factual making it potentially suitable for life as we
• The planets beyond our solar system are know it.
called “exoplanets,” and they come in a wide • The Goldilocks Zone is used in exoplanet
variety of sizes, from gas giants larger than exploration to describe planets beyond our
Jupiter to small, rocky planets about as big solar system.
around as Earth or Mars. • Astronomers use Earth as a blueprint for life
• They can be hot enough to boil metal or and look for planets with Earth-like
locked in deep freeze. characteristics, like liquid water
• They can orbit their stars so tightly that a • The Kuiper Belt, on the other hand, is a region
“year” lasts only a few days; they can orbit of the solar system beyond Neptune that
two suns at once. contains a large number of small, icy bodies,
• Some exoplanets are sunless rogues, including dwarf planets like Pluto.
wandering through the galaxy in permanent • It's one of the largest structures in our solar
darkness. system, and is 20 times wider and 20–200
• So far scientists have categorized exoplanets times more massive than the asteroid belt.
into the following types: Gas giant, Neptunian, 8. Correct Answer: Option (3)
super-Earth and terrestrial. • Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons.
5. Correct Answer: Option (4) • Throughout the year, different parts of Earth
Type of Question: Analytical receive the Sun's most direct rays.
• Asteroids are also called minor planets. • When the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's
• They are rocky, airless remnants left over summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
from the early formation of our solar system • When the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's
about 4.6 billion years ago. winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The current known asteroid count is at least
• Earth’s revolution of the sun is also a causative
1,351,400. factor for formation of seasons.
• Most of this ancient space rubble can be
Type of Question: Factual
found orbiting the Sun between Mars and 9. Correct Answer: Option (2)
Jupiter within the main asteroid belt. Type of Question: Factual
• Asteroids range in size from Vesta – the • Solar eclipses occur when the Sun, the Moon,
largest at about 329 miles (530 kilometers) in and Earth line up, either fully or partially.
diameter – to bodies that are less than 33 feet • Depending on how they align, eclipses provide
(10 meters) across. a unique, exciting view of either the Sun or the
• The total mass of all the asteroids combined is
Moon.
less than that of Earth's Moon. • A solar eclipse happens when the Moon
passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a
6. Correct Answer: Option (3) shadow on Earth that either fully or partially
Type of Question: Conceptual blocks the Sun’s light in some areas.

TSPSC | GROUP-I | Prelims Test Series-2024 | 90 days Plan | TG1DPT-0301 2

 • This only happens occasionally, because the 12. Correct Answer: Option (2)
Moon doesn't orbit in the exact same plane as Type of Question: Conceptual
the Sun and Earth do. • The Earth's magnetic field is similar to that of
• The time when they are aligned is known as a bar magnet tilted 11 degrees from the spin
eclipse season, which happens twice a year. axis of the Earth.
• Lunar eclipses occur at the full moon phase. • On Earth, flowing of liquid metal in the outer
• When Earth is positioned precisely between core of the planet generates electric currents.
the Moon and Sun, Earth’s shadow falls upon • The rotation of Earth on its axis causes these
the surface of the Moon, dimming it and electric currents to form a magnetic field
sometimes turning the lunar surface a striking which extends around the planet.
red over the course of a few hours. • A current loop gives a field similar to that of
• Each lunar eclipse is visible from half of Earth. the earth.
10. Correct Answer: Option (3) • The magnetic field magnitude measured at
Type of Question: Conceptual the surface of the Earth is about half a Gauss
• Uttarayan is the six-month period between and dips toward the Earth in the northern
Makar Sankranti and Karka Sankranti. hemisphere.
• During this period, days are longer than • The Earth's magnetic field is attributed to a
nights. dynamo effect of circulating electric current,
• Dakshinayan is the six-month period between but it is not constant in direction.
the summer solstice and winter solstice. • The north pole of a compass needle is a
• It includes winter, autumn, and monsoon. magnetic north pole. It is attracted to the
• Dakshinayan comprises longer nights and geographic North Pole, which is a magnetic
shorter days. south pole (opposite magnetic poles attract).
• Dakshinayan is considered to be a less 13. Correct Answer: Option (1)
auspicious period. Type of Question: Factual
• It's associated with negative energy, shorter Ursa Major:
days, and the start of autumn. • All these factors contributed to the decline of
• Some festivals celebrated during Dakshinayan Buddhism in India.
include Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, and • It is also referred to as Saptarishi, the Great
Shivratri Bear, or the Big Dipper.
11. Correct Answer: Option (1) • Seven stars in Ursa Major form the shape of a
Type of Question: Factual plough.
• Polestar, the brightest star that appears • We may locate the Pole star, often known as
nearest to either celestial pole at any Polaris, by drawing a line connecting the
particular time. plough's pointers (Dhruv Tara).
• Owing to the precession of the equinoxes, the • Since the Pole star is situated directly above
position of each pole describes a small circle the North Pole, it constantly appears in the
in the sky over a period of 25,772 years. same spot in the sky.
• Each of a succession of stars has thus passed • It is possible to see this constellation in the
near enough to the north celestial pole to summer in the northern hemisphere.
serve as the polestar. 14. Correct Answer: Option (2)
• At present the polestar is Polaris (α Ursae Type of Question: Factual
Minoris); Thuban (α Draconis) was closest to • Sunspots are areas that appear dark on the
the North Pole about 2700 BCE, and the bright surface of the Sun.
star Vega (α Lyrae) will be the star closest to • They appear dark because they are cooler
the pole in 14,000 CE. than other parts of the Sun’s surface.
• The location of the northern polestar has • The temperature of a sunspot is still very hot
made it a convenient object for navigators to around 6,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
use in determining latitude and north-south • Sunspots are relatively cool because they
direction in the Northern Hemisphere. form at areas where magnetic fields are
• There is no bright star near the south celestial
particularly strong.
pole; the present southern polestar, Polaris
• These magnetic fields are so strong that they
Australis (also called σ Octantis), is only of the
keep some of the heat within the Sun from
5th magnitude and is thus barely visible to the
reaching the surface.
naked eye.

TSPSC | GROUP-I | Prelims Test Series-2024 | 90 days Plan | TG1DPT-0301 3

 • Solar flares are a sudden explosion of energy • The P waves are the fastest of all the three
caused by tangling, crossing or reorganizing of types of seismic waves and can travel through
magnetic field lines near sunspots. solid, liquid and gaseous materials.
• If a solar flare is very intense, the radiation it • These waves travel at a speed of 6 km/sec
releases can interfere with our radio through the solid rock of Earth’s crust.
communications here on Earth. • Both P waves and S waves travel through
Earth’s interior.
• The S waves are transverse waves and are
slower than the P waves.
• Unlike P waves, S waves can only travel
through solid materials (they cannot pass
through liquids, molten materials or gases).
• The S waves travel at a speed approximately
half that of P waves through earth’s crustal
rocks.
• Surface waves are of two types:
✓ Love and Rayleigh waves and are the most
destructive waves
15. Correct Answer: Option (1) Further reading: Instruments used for measuring
Type of Question: Conceptual Earth Quake
• The International Date Line (IDL) is an 17. Correct Answer: Option (2)
imaginary line on the Earth's surface, located Type of Question: Conceptual
mostly along the 180th meridian. Continental drift theory:
• The time difference across the IDL is 24 hours, • Alfred Wegener—a German meteorologist
with the time increasing by one hour for every who put forth a comprehensive argument in
15 degrees of longitude to the west of the line the form of “the continental drift theory in
and decreasing by one hour for every 15 1912.
degrees to the east. • Continental drift hypothesis proposed that
• In this case, Tokyo is to the west of the IDL, the continents were carved out from Pangaea.
and Honolulu is to east. Tokyo is at ✓ Pangea means all earth
approximately 139.6917° E, and Honolulu is at • According to Wegener, all the continents
157.8583° W. formed a single continental mass and mega
• The total longitude difference between the ocean surrounded the same.
two locations is approximately 297.5499 ✓ The super continent was named
degrees (139.6917° + 157.8583°). PANGAEA, which meant all earth.
• As there are 15 degrees in one hour, the time ✓ The mega-ocean was called
difference is 297.5499/15 = 19.8367 hours. PANTHALASSA, meaning all water.
• However, since the time on the west side of • Wegener suggested that the movement
the IDL is ahead, we subtract the 2 hours from responsible for the drifting of the continents
19.8367, resulting in a time difference of was caused by pole-fleeing force and tidal
approximately 17 hours. force.
• The polar-fleeing force relates to the rotation
16. Correct Answer: Option (4) of the earth.
Type of Question: Conceptual • Earth is not a perfect sphere; it has a bulge at
Sesmic Waves: the equator.
• The energy released during an earthquake is ✓ This bulge is due to the rotation of the
in form of seismic waves. earth.
• The seismic waves are of three types viz.: • The second force that was suggested by
✓ P waves or the Primary waves Wegener—the tidal force—is due to the
✓ S waves or the Secondary waves attraction of the moon and the sun that
✓ Surface waves develops tides in oceanic waters.
• P waves are compressional waves and • The seafloor spreading theory was first put
propagate like sound waves. forth in 1960 by American geophysicist Harry
H. Hess.

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 Further reading: Sea floor Spreading theory Further reading: Land forms formed by volcanism.
18. Correct Answer: Option (4) 20. Correct Answer: Option (1)
Type of Question: Conceptual Type of Question: Conceptual
Karst topography: • The characteristics of each of the stages of
• This distinctive topography formed due to the landscapes developing in running water
action of underground water in limestone regimes may be summarised as follows:
region is known as Karst topography. • Youth
• ‘Karst’ word comes from the Karst region of ✓ Streams are few during this stage with
Adriatic Sea coast in Croatia (Yugosalvia) poor integration and flow over original
where such formations are noticeable. slopes showing shallow V-shaped valleys
• This region is made up of limestone rocks, with no floodplains or with very narrow
where underground water is the most active floodplains along trunk streams.
agent of gradation ✓ Streams divides are broad and flat with
• The karst topography is also characterised by marshes, swamp and lakes.
erosional and depositional landforms. ✓ Meanders if present develop over these
• EROSIONAL LANDFORMS broad upland surfaces.
✓ Pools, Sinkholes, Lapies and Limestone ✓ These meanders may eventually entrench
Pavements, Caves. themselves into the uplands.
✓ The term doline is sometimes used to ✓ Waterfalls and rapids may exist where
refer the collapse sinks. local hard rock bodies are exposed.
• Depositional Landforms • Mature
✓ Stalactites, Stalagmites and Pillars. ✓ During this stage streams are plenty with
• Stalactites hang as icicles of different good integration.
diameters. ✓ The valleys are still V-shaped but deep;
• Stalagmites rise up from the floor of the caves. trunk streams are broad enough to have
• The stalagmite and stalactites eventually fuse wider floodplains within which streams
to give rise to columns and pillars of different may flow in meanders confined within the
diameters. valley.
19. Correct Answer: Option (3) ✓ The flat and broad inter stream areas and
Type of Question: Conceptual swamps and marshes of youth disappear
Diastrophism and volcanism: and the stream divides turn sharp.
• Diastrophism and volcanism are endogenic ✓ Waterfalls and rapids disappear.
geomorphic processes. • Old
• The energy emanating from within the earth ✓ Smaller tributaries during old age are few
is the main force behind endogenic with gentle gradients.
geomorphic processes. ✓ Streams meander freely over vast
✓ This energy is mostly generated by floodplains showing natural levees,
radioactivity, rotational and tidal friction oxbow lakes, etc.
and primordial heat from the origin of the ✓ Divides are broad and flat with lakes,
earth. swamps and marshes. Most of the
✓ This energy due to geothermal gradients landscape is at or slightly above sea level
and heat flow from within induces
diastrophism and volcanism in the
lithosphere
• All processes that move, elevate or build up
portions of the earth’s crust come under
diastrophism.
• Orogeny is a mountain building process
whereas epeirogeny is continental building
process.
• Volcanism includes the movement of molten Further reading: Erosional and depositional land
rock (magma) onto or toward the earth’s forms associated with running water
surface and also formation of many intrusive 21. Correct Answer: Option (3)
and extrusive volcanic forms. Type of Question: Conceptual

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Igneous rocks: 22. Correct Answer: Option (4)
• As igneous rocks form out of magma and lava Type of Question: Factual
from the interior of the earth, they are known • The igneous rocks are formed when magma
as primary rocks. cools and solidifies.
• The igneous rocks (Ignis – in Latin means ✓ Granite, gabbro, pegmatite, basalt,
‘Fire’) are formed when magma cools and volcanic breccia and tuff are some of the
solidifies examples of igneous rocks
• In terms of origin, there are two types of • Sedimentary rocks are formed from sediment
igneous rocks. accumulated over long periods, usually under
✓ Plutonic rocks. water.
(1) These are igneous rocks, formed at ✓ They are distinguished from the other
some depth in the earth’s crust. rock types in their characteristic layer
(2) They have cooled and solidified slowly formation and are termed stratified rocks.
so that large, easily recognised crystals • Sedimentary rocks are classified into three
have been able to form. major groups:
(3) These intrusive rocks such as granite, ✓ Mechanically formed — sandstone,
diorite and gabbro, are exposed at the conglomerate, limestone, shale, loess etc.
surface by the processes of denudation are examples;
and erosion. ✓ Organically formed — geyserite, chalk,
✓ Volcanic rocks. limestone, coal etc. are some examples;
(1) These are molten rocks poured out of ✓ Chemically formed — chert, limestone,
volcanoes as lavas. halite, potash etc. are some examples.
(2) They solidify rapidly on the earth’s ● All rocks whether igneous or sedimentary may
surface and the crystals are small. become metamorphic or changed rocks under
● Rocks do not remain in their original form for great heat and pressure.
long but may undergo transformation. ✓ Their original character and appearance
● Rock cycle is a continuous process through may be greatly altered by such forces,
which old rocks are transformed into new particularly during intense earth
ones. movements.
● Igneous rocks are primary rocks and other ✓ In this manner, clay may be
rocks (sedimentary and metamorphic) form metamorphosed into slate, limestone
from these primary rocks. into marble, sandstone into quartzite,
✓ Igneous rocks can be changed into granite into gneiss, shale into schist and
metamorphic rocks. coal into graphite.
✓ The fragments derived out of igneous Further reading: Rock cycle
and metamorphic rocks form into 23. Correct Answer: Option (4)
sedimentary rocks. Type of Question: Conceptual
● Intrusive igneous rocks—those that congeal at • Valleys start as small and narrow rills, the rills
depth—are virtually always crystalline, will gradually develop into long and wide
whereas extrusive igneous rocks, or volcanic gullies, the gullies will further deepen, widen
rocks, may be partly to entirely glassy. and lengthen to give rise to valleys.
• Depending upon dimensions and shape, many
types of valleys like V-shaped valley, gorge,
canyon, etc. can be recognised.
• A gorge is a deep valley with very steep to
straight sides and a canyon is characterised by
steep step-like side slopes and may be as deep
as a gorge.
• A gorge is almost equal in width at its top as
well as its bottom.
• In contrast, a canyon is wider at its top than at
its bottom.
• In fact, a canyon is a variant of gorge.
Further reading: Types of Mountains

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 • Valley types depend upon the type and • The desert floors get heated up too much and
structure of rocks in which they form. too quickly because of being dry and barren.
• For example, canyons commonly form in • Erosional landforms:
horizontal bedded sedimentary rocks and ✓ Pediplains: Once, pediments are formed
gorges form in hard rocks. with a steep wash slope followed by cliff
Further reading: Depositional land forms of or free face above it, the steep wash slope
glaciers and free face retreat backwards.
24. Correct Answer: Option (2) ✓ This method of erosion is termed as
Type of Question: Conceptual parallel retreat of slopes through
• During its revolution around the sun, the backwasting.
earth is farthest from the sun (152 million km) ✓ So, through parallel retreat of slopes, the
on 4th July. pediments extend backwards at the
✓ This position of the earth is called expense of mountain front, and gradually,
aphelion. the mountain gets reduced leaving an
• On 3rd January, the earth is the nearest to the inselberg which is a remnant of the
sun (147 million km). mountain.
✓ This position is called perihelion ✓ That’s how the high relief in desert areas
• Once in a month, when the moon’s orbit is is reduced to low featureless plains called
closest to the earth (perigee), unusually high pediplains
and low tides occur. ● Playas are flat-bottomed depressions in arid
• During this time the tidal range is greater than and semiarid regions that are sometimes
normal. covered by water.
✓ Two weeks later, when the moon is ● Depositional Landforms:
farthest from earth (apogee), the moon’s ✓ Crescent shaped dunes called barchans
gravitational force is limited and the tidal with the points directed away from wind
ranges are less than their average heights. direction
Further reading: Different types of tides ✓ Parabolic dunes form when sandy
25. Correct Answer: Option (1) surfaces are partially covered with
Type of Question: Factual vegetation.
Geological Time Scale: (1) That means parabolic dunes are
• Eons>Era>Period>Epoch >Age/ Years. reversed barchans with wind direction
Period Major Events being the same.
Quaternary Modern Man ✓ Seif is similar to barchan with a small
Homo Sapiens difference.
Tertiary Early Human Ancestor (1) Seif has only one wing or point. This
happens when there is shift in wind
Cretaceous Extinction of Dinosaurs conditions.
Jurassic Age of Dinosaurs ✓ Longitudinal dunes form when supply of
sand is poor and wind direction is
Triassic Frogs and turtles
constant.
Permian Reptile dominate-replace
✓ They appear as long ridges of
amphibians
considerable length but low in height.
Carboniferous First Reptiles: Vertebrates:
✓ Transverse dunes are aligned
Coal beds
perpendicular to wind direction.
Devonian Amphibians
(1) These dunes form when the wind
Silurian First trace of life on land: direction is constant and the source of
Plants sand is an elongated feature at right
Ordovician First Fish angles to the wind direction.
Cambrian No terrestrial Life : Marine
Invertebrate
Further reading: Evolution of life on earth
26. Correct Answer: Option (4)
Type of Question: Conceptual
• Wind is one of the two dominant agents in hot
deserts.

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 Further reading: Glacial land forms
27. Correct Answer: Option (3)
Type of Question: Factual
Interior of the earth
• Just like an onion, the earth is made up of Further reading: Earth Quakes
several concentric layers with one inside 28. Correct Answer: Option (1)
another. Type of Question: Factual
• The uppermost layer over the earth’s surface North to South Order:
is called the crust. • A zone of transition between the Earth's core
✓ It is the thinnest of all the layers. and mantle is known as the Gutenberg
✓ It is about 35 km. on the continental discontinuity.
masses and only 5 km. on the ocean ✓ It occurs approximately 2,900 kilometers
floors. (1,800 miles) beneath the surface.
✓ The main mineral constituents of the • The discontinuity between the upper mantle
continental mass are silica and alumina. and the lower mantle is known as Repetti
✓ It is thus called sial (si-silica and al- Discontinuity.
alumina). • The Conrad discontinuity (named after the
• The oceanic crust mainly consists of silica and seismologist Victor Conrad) is considered to
magnesium; it is therefore called sima (si- be the border between the upper continental
silica and ma-magnesium) crust and the lower one.
• Just beneath the crust is the mantle which ● ‘Mohorovicic discontinuity’ lies between crust
extends up to a depth of 2900 km. below the and mantle
crust. Further reading: Plate tectonics
• The innermost layer is the core with a radius 29. Correct Answer: Option (3)
of about 3500 km. Type of Question: Conceptual
✓ It is mainly made up of nickel and iron and • A volcano is an opening in the earth’s crust
is called nife (ni – nickel and fe – ferrous through which molten rock material are
i.e. iron). thrown out slowly or forcefully depending
✓ The central core has very high upon the force of eruption.
temperature and pressure. • The cause of volcanic eruption is the excessive
pressure exerted by the magma and hot gases
on the earth’s crust.
• The process by which solid, liquid and gaseous
materials escape from the earth’s interior to
its surface is known as Vulcanism.
• The study of volcanoes is called volcanology,
which is a branch of geology.
✓ Volcanologists are geologists who
specialize in observing volcanic activity
and visiting active sites.
Further reading: Active volcanoes in India

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30. Correct Answer: Option (1)
Type of Question: Conceptual
● Immediately beneath the crust or lithosphere
is the mantle (or mesosphere) about 1,800
miles thick, composed mainly of very dense
rocks rich in olivine.
● The interior layer is the core 2,160 miles in
radius, and is made up mainly of iron (Fe) with
some nickel and is called nife.
● The temperature here is estimated to be as
high as 3,500°F., and the core is subject to 33. Correct Answer: Option (4)
extremely high pressure. ✓ Each type of coral reef has its own unique
● Under such conditions, the core could be
features and plays a crucial role in marine
expected to be in a liquid state. biodiversity and coastal protection.
Further reading: composition of different layers • There are four main types of coral reefs based
of the Earth on their characteristics and formation:
31. Correct Answer: Option (2) • Fringing Reefs: These reefs grow near the
● The order of ocean areas from largest to coastline, often around islands and
smallest: continents.
✓ Pacific Ocean: The largest ocean, ✓ They are directly connected to the shore
covering approximately 63 million square and are separated from it by narrow,
miles (about 165 million square shallow lagoons.
kilometers). ✓ Fringing reefs are the most common type
✓ Atlantic Ocean: The second-largest of reef.
ocean, spanning around 41 million ✓ Examples include the fringing reefs
square miles (approximately 106 million around the Hawaiian Islands and the
square kilometers). Great Barrier Reef off the coast of
✓ Indian Ocean: The third-largest ocean, Australia.
with an area of about 27 million square • Barrier Reefs: Barrier reefs also parallel the
miles (around 70 million square coastline but are separated by deeper, wider
kilometers). lagoons.
✓ Southern Ocean: Encircling Antarctica, it ✓ They form a “barrier” to navigation due to
has an area of approximately 7.8 million their shallowest points sometimes
square miles (about 20 million square reaching the water’s surface.
kilometers). ✓ The Great Barrier Reef is a famous
✓ Arctic Ocean: The smallest ocean, example of a barrier reef.
covering roughly 5.4 million square miles • Atolls: Atolls are circular or oval-shaped coral
(approximately 14 million square formations that create protected lagoons in
kilometers). the centre.
32. Correct Answer: Option (3) ✓ They are usually located in the middle of
Type of Question: Conceptual the sea.
● The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries: ✓ Atolls typically form when islands
✓ Kazakhstan, surrounded by fringing reefs sink into the
✓ Turkmenistan, sea or when the sea level rises around
✓ Iran, them.
✓ Azerbaijan, and ✓ The Maldives and Tuvalu are known for
✓ Russia their atolls.
• Patch Reefs: These are small, isolated reefs
that grow up from the open bottom of the
island platform or continental shelf.
✓ They occur between fringing reefs and
barrier reefs.
✓ Patch reefs vary greatly in size and rarely
reach the surface of the water.
34. Correct Answer: Option (4)

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 Major Relief Features of Oceans: • Factors affecting ocean salinity are mentioned
• The Continental Shelf below:
• The Continental Slope ✓ The salinity of water in the surface layer
• The Deep-Sea Plain of oceans depend mainly on evaporation
• The Oceanic Deeps. and precipitation.
Minor Relief Features: ✓ Surface salinity is greatly influenced in
• Mid-Oceanic Ridges: A mid-oceanic ridge is coastal regions by the fresh water flow
composed of two chains of mountains from rivers, and in polar regions by the
separated by a large depression. processes of freezing and thawing of ice.
✓ The mountain ranges can have peaks as ✓ Wind, also influences salinity of an area by
high as 2,500 m and some even reach transferring water to other areas.
above the ocean’s surface. ✓ The ocean currents contribute to the
✓ Iceland, a part of the mi Atlantic Ridge, is salinity variations. Salinity, temperature
an example. and density of water are interrelated.
• Seamount: It is a mountain with pointed ✓ Hence, any change in the temperature or
summits, rising from the seafloor that does density influences the salinity of water in
not reach the surface of the ocean. an area.
✓ Seamounts are volcanic in origin. • Highest salinity in water bodies
✓ These can be 3,000-4,500 m tall. ✓ Lake Van in Turkey (330 ppt),
✓ The emperor seamount, an extension of ✓ Dead Sea (238 ppt),
the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, ✓ Great Salt Lake (220 ppt).
is a good example. 36. Correct Answer: Option (1)
• Submarine Canyons: These are deep valleys, • Density of Ocean is determined by
some comparable to the Grand Canyon of the temperature, the quantity of dissolved salts
Colorado river. (also known as salinity), and the pressure to
✓ They are sometimes found cutting across which a parcel of seawater is exposed.
the continental shelves and slopes, often ✓ Density is lighter at the depth than at the
extending from the mouths of large rivers. surface.
✓ The Hudson Canyon is the best-known ✓ The average density of ocean is 1.03
submarine canyon in the world. g/cm3.
• Guyots: It is a flat-topped seamount. 37. Correct Answer: Option (3)
✓ They show evidences of gradual • Ocean waters get heated up by the solar
subsidence through stages to become flat energy just as land.
topped submerged mountains. • The process of heating and cooling of the
✓ It is estimated that more than 10,000 oceanic water is slower than land.
seamounts and guyots exist in the Pacific Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution:
Ocean alone. • Latitude: the temperature of surface water
• Atoll: These are low islands found in the decreases from the equator towards the poles
tropical oceans consisting of coral reefs because the amount of insolation decreases
surrounding a central depression. poleward.
✓ It may be a part of the sea (lagoon), or • Unequal distribution of land and water: the
sometimes form enclosing a body of oceans in the northern hemisphere receive
fresh, brackish, or highly saline water. more heat due to their contact with larger
35. Correct Answer: Option (4) extent of land than the oceans in the southern
• Salinity is the amount of salt in grams present hemisphere.
in 1000 grams of water. • Prevailing wind: the winds blowing from the
✓ The average salinity of the oceans is 35 land towards the oceans drive warm surface
parts per thousand. water away from the coast resulting in the
✓ Salinity of 24.7 ppt has been considered as upwelling of cold water from below.
the upper limit to demarcate ‘brackish ✓ It results into the longitudinal variation in
water’ the temperature. Contrary to this, the
✓ Dead sea in Israel has salinity of 340 grams onshore winds pile up warm water near
per litre of water. the coast and this raises the temperature.

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 • Ocean currents: warm ocean currents raise ✓ Oozes have a very fine, flour-like texture
the temperature in cold areas while the cold and either occur as accumulated deposits
currents decrease the temperature in warm or float about in suspension
ocean areas. • The clays: These occur mainly as red clays in
✓ Gulf stream (warm current) raises the the deeper parts of the ocean basins, and are
temperature near the eastern coast of particularly abundant in the Pacific Ocean.
North America and the West Coast of ✓ Red clay is believed to be an accumulation
Europe while the Labrador current (cold of volcanic dust blown out from volcanoes
current) lowers the temperature near the during volcanic eruptions.
north-east coast of North America. 40. Correct Answer: Option (1)
• All these factors influence the temperature of
the ocean currents locally.
• The enclosed seas in the low latitudes record
relatively higher temperature than the open
seas; whereas the enclosed seas in the high
latitudes have lower temperature than the
open seas.
38. Correct Answer: Option (3)
• The Brazil Current is a warm water current
that flows southward along the eastern coast
of South America in the South Atlantic Ocean.
• The Kuroshio Current, also known as the Black
Current or Japan Current is a north-flowing, 41. Correct Answer: Option (1)
warm ocean current on the west side of the • The Sargasso Sea, located entirely within the
North Pacific Ocean basin. Atlantic Ocean, is the only sea without a land
• The Labrador Current is a cold oceanic current boundary.
in North Atlantic Ocean that flows southward • The Sargasso Sea is known for its brown
along the west side of the Labrador Sea. sargassum seaweed, this characteristic
• The Agulhas Current is the western boundary seaweed gives the sea its name.
current of the southwest Indian Ocean. It is a • It forms large mats and floats on the water’s
warm oceanic current. surface.
39. Correct Answer: Option (4) ✓ It is surrounded by four oceanic currents.
• The Oceanic Deposits of the Ocean Floor • The sea often exhibits tranquil, clear blue
Materials eroded from the earth which are waters.
not deposited by rivers or at the coast are ✓ Ocean water in the Sargasso Sea is
eventually dropped on the ocean floor. exceptionally clear, with underwater
• The thickness of the layer of sediments is still visibility of up to 60 meters (200 feet).
unknown.
✓ Its rate of accumulation is equally
uncertain.
• Generally speaking, we may classify all the
oceanic deposits as either muds, oozes or
clays.
• The muds: These are terrigenous deposits
because they are derived from land and are
mainly deposited on the continental shelves.
The muds are referred to as blue, green or red 42. Correct Answer: Option (4)
muds; their colouring depends upon their
• Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal
chemical content.
Husbandry and Dairying, in September 2023
• The oozes: These are pelagic deposits because laid the foundation stone for the first-ever
they are derived from the oceans. They are multipurpose seaweed park of the country at
made of the shelly and skeletal remains of Tamil Nadu, in Valamavur, Ramanathapuram
marine micro- organisms with calcareous or
district.
siliceous parts.

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 ✓ India’s 1st Fisheries Aquapark in form of ✓ When the sun, the moon and the earth
‘Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil are in a straight line, the height of the tide
Nadu’ was announced by Finance will be higher.
Minister in Union Budget 2021 ✓ These are called spring tides and they
announcement. occur twice a month, one on full moon
About Seaweed: period and another during new moon
• Seaweed is the common name for a variety of period.
different species of marine plants and algae • Neap tides: Normally, there is a seven day
that grow in the ocean and places like rivers, interval between the spring tides and neap
lakes, and other bodies of water. tides.
• The majority of seaweeds are medium in size, ✓ At this time the sun and moon are at right
and they come in various colours, like red, angles to each other and the forces of the
green, brown, and black. sun and moon tend to counteract one
✓ They can be found on beaches and another.
shorelines almost anywhere. ✓ The Moon’s attraction, though more than
• Lots of different types of seaweed species are twice as strong as the sun’s, is diminished
edible, and lots of them can provide humans by the counteracting force of the sun’s
with a variety of benefits. gravitational pull.
43. Correct Answer: Option (3) 45. Correct Answer: Option (2)
• OSIRIS-REx is the first U.S. mission to collect a • The ocean currents may be classified based on
sample from an asteroid. their depth as surface currents and deep-
✓ It returned to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023, to water currents
drop off material from asteroid Bennu. • Surface currents constitute about 10 per cent
✓ The spacecraft didn't land, but continued of all the water in the ocean, these waters are
on to a new mission, OSIRIS-APEX, to the upper 400 m of the ocean.
explore asteroid Apophis. • Deep water currents make up the other 90 per
• Perseverance Rover is exploring the surface of cent of the ocean water.
Mars since 2021 ✓ These waters move around the ocean
✓ Objective: Search for signs of past basins due to variations in the density and
microbial life, study Martian geology, and gravity.
prepare for future human missions. ✓ Deep waters sink into the deep ocean
✓ Perseverance carries instruments like basins at high latitudes, where the
MOXIE, which produces oxygen from the temperatures are cold enough to cause
Martian atmosphere. the density to increase.
• Shukrayaan: ISRO Mission planned for • Ocean currents can also be classified based on
December 2025. temperature as cold currents and warm
✓ Objective: Study the atmosphere of currents:
Venus. • Cold currents bring cold water into warm
✓ Shukrayaan will provide insights into water areas.
Venus, our neighboring planet. ✓ These currents are usually found on the
• NASA’s Europa Clipper Launching on Oct. 10, west coast of the continents in the low
2024 aimed to study Jupiter’s icy moon, and middle latitudes (true in both
Europa. hemispheres) and on the east coast in the
✓ Objective: Investigate Europa’s higher latitudes in the Northern
subsurface ocean, ice shell, and potential Hemisphere
habitability. • Warm currents bring warm water into cold
✓ Europa is believed to harbour a vast water areas and are usually observed on the
subsurface ocean beneath its icy crust, east coast of continents in the low and middle
making it an intriguing target for latitudes (true in both hemispheres).
astrobiology. ✓ In the northern hemisphere they are
44. Correct Answer: Option (4) found on the west coasts of continents in
• Spring tides: The position of both the sun and high latitudes.
the moon in relation to the earth has direct 46. Correct Answer: Option (3)
bearing on tide height. Islands in South China Sea:

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 • The South China Sea, a marginal sea within the ✓ East: Jordan
Pacific Ocean, is marred by territorial ✓ Southwest: Egypt
disputes, notably over the ✓ West: The Mediterranean Sea
✓ Spratly Islands ✓ East and southwest: The Palestinian
✓ Scarborough Islands territories
✓ Paracel Islands Further reading: Hamas, Recent war areas in news
✓ Natuna Islands. in Gaza strip - Rafah
• China's contentious nine-dash line claim 48. Correct Answer: Option (2)
clashes with international rulings, including a • Red Sea bordering nations:
2016 verdict by the Permanent Court of ✓ Yemen
Arbitration. ✓ Egypt
• Beyond sovereignty, the sea holds geopolitical ✓ Eretria
significance for India, as its presence in the ✓ Somalia
Indo-Pacific grows. ✓ Sudan
• India advocates freedom of navigation in the ✓ Djibouti
area, vital for its trade and economic
interests, including collaboration with
Vietnam in petroleum exploration.
• Concerns mount globally over China's
assertive stance potentially violating the
UNCLOS, jeopardizing high seas navigation
rights.

49. Correct Answer: Option (1)

• Recently, there has been renewed interest in
Further reading: UNCLOS the Ben Gurion Canal Project, a proposed
47. Correct Answer: Option (3) 160-mile-long sea-level canal that would
• Israel Bordering Nations: connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf
of Aqaba, bypassing the Suez Canal.

• The Kra Canal, also known as the Thai Canal or

• The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated due to Kra Isthmus Canal, is a proposed waterway
Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The that would connect the Gulf of Thailand and
conflict has the potential to impact the global the Andaman Sea.
economy. ✓ The canal would be about 1,200
✓ North: Lebanon kilometres long and would cut travel time
✓ Northeast: Syria through the Strait of Malacca by 2–3 days.

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 Aeronautics and Space Administration's
(NASA) Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
(TESS) and European Space Agency’s(ESA)
Characterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS).
✓ The planets are named HD 110067 b, c, d,
e, f, and g, in order of increasing distance
from the star.

• The India-Middle East-Europe Economic

Corridor is a planned economic corridor that
aims to bolster economic development by
fostering connectivity and economic
integration between Asia, the Persian Gulf
and Europe.

50. Correct Answer: Option (3)

The newly discovered Planets and Stars:
• According to NASA: The new planets
are Teegarden's Star d, TOI-904 b & c, TOI-
1135 b, TOI-1199 b, TOI-1273 b, and TOI-1347
b & c.
✓ TOI-1136: A dwarf star
✓ TOI-715 b: A super-Earth in the habitable
zone around its star
✓ HD 63433d: An Earth-sized planet orbiting
the star HD 63433
• The recently discovered super-Earth, TOI-715
b, might be making its appearance at just the
right time.
• Its parent star is a red dwarf, smaller and
cooler than our Sun; a number of such stars
are known to host small, rocky worlds. At the
moment, they’re the best bet for finding
habitable planets.
• Six exoplanets found orbiting a nearby bright
star:
• These planets referred to as ‘sub-Neptunes’,
were detected and characterized by using
data from two space telescopes: National

TSPSC | GROUP-I | Prelims Test Series-2024 | 90 days Plan | TG1DPT-0301 14