# Geography practice questions (Group 4)

> This page has practice questions on Geography for the Group 4 / VAO (Combined Civil Services Examination-IV) exam, 20 in all: new questions our editors prepared and the founder approved, not previous-year questions. Tap “Answer and explanation” under each question for the correct answer and a short, sourced explanation. For previous-year papers and official answer keys, see tnpsc.gov.in.

Last updated: 2026-10-27 · By TNPSC Guide editorial team
URL: https://www.tnpscguide.com/exams/group-4/questions/gs-geography

### Question 1

Consider the following statements on the extremities of Tamil Nadu.
1. The eastern extremity is Kodiakkarai.
2. The northern extremity is Pulicat Lake.
3. The southern extremity is Indira Point.
4. The western extremity is Anaimalai.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1, 2 and 4 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct answer: A. 1, 2 and 4 only

Tamil Nadu's extremities are Kodiakkarai in the east, Anaimalai in the west, Pulicat Lake in the north and Cape Comorin in the south; Indira Point is India's southern tip, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, so 3 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 6 தமிழ்நாடு – இயற்கைப் பிரிவுகள், p. 213 (PDF p. 219))

### Question 2

What is the study of the universe called?

- A. Cosmology
- B. Climatology
- C. Meteorology
- D. Geography

Correct answer: A. Cosmology

The universe is the stars and celestial bodies that came from the Big Bang; the study of the universe is cosmology.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஆறாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VI, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 1 பேரண்டம் மற்றும் சூரியக் குடும்பம், p. 160 (PDF p. 164))

### Question 3

From which language does the word 'solar' come?

- A. Greek
- B. Latin
- C. Arabic
- D. Sanskrit

Correct answer: B. Latin

The word 'solar' comes from the Latin word 'sol', meaning the Sun god.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஆறாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VI, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 1 பேரண்டம் மற்றும் சூரியக் குடும்பம், p. 161 (PDF p. 165))

### Question 4

Consider the following statements on the gases of the atmosphere, according to the Std 9 textbook.
1. Nitrogen and oxygen are the permanent gases of the atmosphere.
2. Oxygen is 78% of the atmosphere.
3. Carbon dioxide is 0.03% of the atmosphere.
4. Daniel Rutherford discovered nitrogen in the atmosphere in 1772.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1, 3 and 4 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct answer: B. 1, 3 and 4 only

Nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) are the permanent gases; carbon dioxide is 0.03%; Daniel Rutherford discovered nitrogen in 1772; 78% is the share of nitrogen, not oxygen, so 2 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஒன்பதாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard IX, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 3 வளிமண்டலம், p. 193 (PDF p. 199))

### Question 5

What is the science of weather called?

- A. Climatology
- B. Meteorology
- C. Cosmology
- D. Geography

Correct answer: B. Meteorology

Meteorology is the science of weather; climatology is the science of climate.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், எட்டாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VIII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 2 வானிலை மற்றும் காலநிலை, p. 112 (PDF p. 118))

### Question 6

Which layer of the atmosphere is called the "weather-making layer"?

- A. The stratosphere
- B. The mesosphere
- C. The troposphere
- D. The exosphere

Correct answer: C. The troposphere

All weather events take place in the troposphere, so it is called the "weather-making layer".

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஒன்பதாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard IX, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 3 வளிமண்டலம், p. 194 (PDF p. 200))

### Question 7

Consider the following statements on the water resources of Tamil Nadu.
1. Tamil Nadu has 4 per cent of India's area and 6 per cent of its population.
2. Tamil Nadu has only 2.5 per cent of India's water resources.
3. By the 2017 Tamil Nadu statistical handbook, Tamil Nadu has 81 river basins.
4. By the same handbook, Tamil Nadu has 41,127 lakes.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct answer: B. 1, 2 and 4 only

With 4% of India's area and 6% of its population, Tamil Nadu has only 2.5% of its water resources; the 2017 handbook gives 17 river basins, 81 reservoirs and 41,127 lakes; 81 is the number of reservoirs, not of basins, so 3 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 7 தமிழ்நாடு – மானுடப் புவியியல், p. 237 (PDF p. 243))

### Question 8

Which is the largest tributary of the Indus?

- A. The Jhelum
- B. The Chenab
- C. The Sutlej
- D. The Yamuna

Correct answer: B. The Chenab

The Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are tributaries of the Indus; the largest of them is the Chenab.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 1 இந்தியா – அமைவிடம், நிலத்தோற்றம் மற்றும் வடிகாலமைப்பு, p. 147 (PDF p. 153))

### Question 9

Consider the following statements on the soils of Tamil Nadu.
1. The soils of Tamil Nadu are of five types: alluvial, black, red, laterite and saline.
2. About two-thirds of the state's area is black soil.
3. Black soil is called regur soil or cotton soil.
4. Saline soil is on the Coromandel coast, especially at Vedaranyam.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Correct answer: D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Tamil Nadu has five soil types; about two-thirds of the state is red soil, not black soil; black soil is called regur or cotton soil; saline soil is only on the Coromandel coast, especially at Vedaranyam; so 2 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 6 தமிழ்நாடு – இயற்கைப் பிரிவுகள், p. 222 (PDF p. 228))

### Question 10

Into how many types are rocks divided by their mode of formation?

- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Five
- D. Eight

Correct answer: B. Three

By their mode of formation rocks are of three types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், எட்டாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VIII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 1 பாறை மற்றும் மண், p. 100 (PDF p. 106))

### Question 11

Consider the following statements on the forests of India and annual rainfall.
1. Tropical evergreen forests grow where the rain is over 200 cm and the humidity over 70 per cent.
2. Tropical deciduous forests are found where the rain is 100 to 200 cm.
3. Tropical dry forests are found where the rain is 50 to 100 cm.
4. Thorn forests are found only where the rain is under 25 cm.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct answer: B. 1, 2 and 3 only

Evergreen forests need over 200 cm, deciduous 100-200 cm and dry forests 50-100 cm of rain; thorn forests are where the rain is under 50 cm, and 25 cm is the mark of the desert biome, so 4 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 2 இந்தியா – காலநிலை மற்றும் இயற்கைத் தாவரங்கள், pp. 157-158 (PDF pp. 163-164))

### Question 12

By what other name are tropical deciduous forests called?

- A. Monsoon forests
- B. Swamp forests
- C. Thorn forests
- D. Shola forests

Correct answer: A. Monsoon forests

Tropical deciduous forests are also called monsoon forests; teak and sal are their most important trees.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 2 இந்தியா – காலநிலை மற்றும் இயற்கைத் தாவரங்கள், p. 157 (PDF p. 163))

### Question 13

Match the following (project - river).
(a) Tehri dam - 1. Narmada
(b) Sardar Sarovar - 2. Damodar
(c) Kosi project - 3. Bhagirathi
(d) Damodar project - 4. Kosi

- A. (a) 3, (b) 1, (c) 4, (d) 2
- B. (a) 1, (b) 3, (c) 4, (d) 2
- C. (a) 3, (b) 1, (c) 2, (d) 4
- D. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 1, (d) 2

Correct answer: A. (a) 3, (b) 1, (c) 4, (d) 2

The Tehri dam is on the Bhagirathi (Uttarakhand), Sardar Sarovar on the Narmada, the Kosi project on the Kosi (Bihar, Nepal) and the Damodar project on the Damodar.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 3 இந்தியா – வேளாண்மை, p. 170 (PDF p. 176))

### Question 14

Where is 60 per cent of India's perennial canal irrigation?

- A. Peninsular India
- B. The Deccan plateau
- C. The great plains of North India
- D. The eastern coastal plain

Correct answer: C. The great plains of North India

Canal irrigation is of two kinds, inundation and perennial; 60 per cent of perennial canal irrigation is in the great plains of North India.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 3 இந்தியா – வேளாண்மை, p. 167 (PDF p. 173))

### Question 15

Match the following.
(a) National Waterway 1 - 1. 1986
(b) National Waterway 2 - 2. Kollam-Kottapuram
(c) National Waterway 3 - 3. Haldia-Allahabad
(d) Inland Waterways Authority - 4. Dhubri-Sadiya

- A. (a) 4, (b) 3, (c) 2, (d) 1
- B. (a) 3, (b) 2, (c) 4, (d) 1
- C. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 2, (d) 1
- D. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 1, (d) 2

Correct answer: C. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 2, (d) 1

National Waterway 1 is Haldia-Allahabad (1620 km), NW 2 Dhubri-Sadiya on the Brahmaputra and NW 3 Kollam-Kottapuram in Kerala; the Inland Waterways Authority began in 1986.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 5 இந்தியா – மக்கள் தொகை, போக்குவரத்து, தகவல் தொடர்பு மற்றும் வணிகம், p. 205 (PDF p. 211))

### Question 16

According to the textbook, how long is National Highway 44 (NH 44), from Srinagar to Kanniyakumari?

- A. 4,076 km
- B. 5,846 km
- C. 3,640 km
- D. 627.2 km

Correct answer: A. 4,076 km

NH 44, India's longest national highway, runs 4,076 km from Srinagar to Kanniyakumari.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 5 இந்தியா – மக்கள் தொகை, போக்குவரத்து, தகவல் தொடர்பு மற்றும் வணிகம், p. 200 (PDF p. 206))

### Question 17

Assertion [A]: India's population grew rapidly.
Reason [R]: The death rate in India fell rapidly.

- 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

Correct answer: A. Both [A] and [R] are true and [R] is the correct explanation of [A]

The textbook says the rapid fall in the death rate is the main cause of India's rapid population growth; both are true and [R] explains [A].

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 5 இந்தியா – மக்கள் தொகை, போக்குவரத்து, தகவல் தொடர்பு மற்றும் வணிகம், pp. 197-198 (PDF pp. 203-204))

### Question 18

In which year was India's first census taken?

- A. 1872
- B. 1881
- C. 1921
- D. 2011

Correct answer: A. 1872

India's first census was taken in 1872 and the first complete census in 1881.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 5 இந்தியா – மக்கள் தொகை, போக்குவரத்து, தகவல் தொடர்பு மற்றும் வணிகம், p. 196 (PDF p. 202))

### Question 19

Consider the following statements on drought.
1. Drought is of three kinds: meteorological, hydrological and agricultural.
2. A third of the country is affected by drought.
3. About 12% of the land and 16% of the population are hit hard.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer: B. 1 and 2 only

Drought is of three kinds and affects a third of the country; about 16% of the land and 12% of the population are hit hard, so 3 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், எட்டாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VIII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 5 இடர்கள், p. 148 (PDF p. 154))

### Question 20

From which language's word does 'hazard' come?

- A. French
- B. Japanese
- C. Latin
- D. Greek

Correct answer: A. French

'Hazard' comes from the Old French 'hasart', meaning a game of dice.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், எட்டாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VIII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (புவியியல் அலகு 5 இடர்கள், pp. 143-144 (PDF pp. 149-150))

## Sources

- [Official syllabus page](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/english/syllabus.html)
- [Notifications](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/English/Notification.aspx)