Geography: Introduction – NDA Geography PYQs

Question 1 [NDA 2008-II]
Who among the following was first to measure the circumference of the Earth?
(a) Eratosthenes
(b) Aristotle
(c) Hecataeus
(d) Herodotus

Answer: (a) Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar living in Alexandria around 240 BCE, used the angle of sunlight at two cities — Alexandria and Syene — to calculate the Earth’s circumference. His result was remarkably close to the actual value of 40,075 km. Aristotle argued that the Earth is round but did not measure it. Hecataeus drew early maps. Herodotus is known as the Father of History.

Practice Question 1 (Important for NDA)
Which Greek philosopher coined the term Geography in the 3rd century BCE?
(a) Pythagoras
(b) Plato
(c) Eratosthenes
(d) Clio

Answer: (c) Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes combined the Greek words geo (Earth) and graphia (description) to create the term Geography. He is also the first person to have measured the Earth’s circumference using the angle of sunlight at Alexandria and Syene in Egypt.