World Economic Geography – NDA Geography PYQs

Question 1 [NDA 2007-I]
Which city is located on the bank of the Irrawaddy River?
(a) Bangkok
(b) Hanoi
(c) Manila
(d) Yangon

Answer: (d) Yangon
Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Myanmar’s largest city, lies near the Irrawaddy River delta. Bangkok is on the Chao Phraya. Hanoi is on the Red River. Manila is on Manila Bay — not a major river.

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Question 2 [NDA 2007-II]
Victoria Falls in Africa is located on which river?
(a) Zaire
(b) Orange
(c) Zambezi
(d) Niger

Answer: (c) Zambezi
Victoria Falls is on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. David Livingstone (Scottish explorer) was the first European to see it in 1855 and named it after Queen Victoria. The Zaire (Congo), Orange (South Africa), and Niger (West Africa) are completely separate rivers.

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Question 3 [NDA 2008-II]
Kiel Canal connects:
(a) Baltic Sea and North Sea
(b) Red Sea and Mediterranean
(c) Caribbean and Pacific
(d) Atlantic and Pacific

Answer: (a) Baltic Sea and North Sea
The Kiel Canal cuts through Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany — connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. It is the world’s busiest artificial canal by number of ships, saving ships the long journey around the Jutland Peninsula.

Question 4 [NDA 2008-II]
Detroit is famous for which industry?
(a) Cotton textile
(b) Iron and steel
(c) Automobiles
(d) Shipbuilding

Answer: (c) Automobiles
Detroit, Michigan is the automobile capital of the USA — home of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. It earned the nickname “Motor City” for its dominance in the automobile industry throughout the 20th century.

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Question 5 [NDA 2009-II]
Which strait separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand?
(a) Foveaux Strait
(b) Bass Strait
(c) Cook Strait
(d) Torres Strait

Answer: (c) Cook Strait
Cook Strait is the narrow body of water separating the North Island from the South Island of New Zealand. Named after Captain James Cook. Foveaux Strait separates South Island from Stewart Island. Bass Strait is between mainland Australia and Tasmania. Torres Strait is between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

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Question 6 [NDA 2012-I]
The Suez Canal, Strait of Hormuz, and Strait of Gibraltar are important because they:
(a) Prevent attacks on bordering nations
(b) Prohibit nuclear weapons movement
(c) Unite Russian access to warm water
(d) Control access to vital trade routes

Answer: (d) Control access to vital trade routes
All three are critical strategic chokepoints for world trade. The Suez Canal controls the route between Europe and Asia. The Strait of Hormuz controls access to Persian Gulf oil. The Strait of Gibraltar controls access to the Mediterranean. Together they control some of the most important sea lanes in the world.

Question 7 [NDA 2012-I]
The Isle of Youth is found near:
(a) Cuba
(b) Jamaica
(c) Haiti
(d) Puerto Rico

Answer: (a) Near Cuba
The Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud) is the second largest island of Cuba — located in the Caribbean Sea south of the main Cuban island. It is a Cuban territory. It has nothing to do with Jamaica, Haiti, or Puerto Rico.

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Question 8 [NDA 2014-I]
Faroe Islands lie in the Atlantic Ocean between:
(a) Scotland and Iceland
(b) Iceland and Norway
(c) Norway and Britain
(d) Britain and Ireland

Answer: (a) Scotland and Iceland
The Faroe Islands are a self-governing archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, situated between Scotland (to the south) and Iceland (to the northwest). They are a constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark. The name comes from Old Norse for “sheep” — making them the “Sheep Islands.”

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Question 9 [NDA 2014-II]
Rotterdam of Netherlands is largely famous for:
(a) Cotton textile
(b) Iron and steel
(c) Shipbuilding
(d) Motor cars

Answer: (c) Shipbuilding
Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port and is internationally known for its shipbuilding and ship repair industry. It also has major petrochemical facilities. Motor cars are associated with Detroit (USA) and Stuttgart (Germany). Iron and steel is associated with Lorraine (France) and Sheffield (UK).

Question 10 [NDA 2024-II]
Which one of the following is a landlocked water body?
(a) Mediterranean Sea
(b) Black Sea
(c) Red Sea
(d) Caspian Sea

Answer: (d) Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is completely enclosed by land — Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan — with no natural connection to any ocean. It is technically the world’s largest lake. The Mediterranean connects to the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar. The Black Sea connects to the Mediterranean through the Bosporus. The Red Sea connects to the Indian Ocean and through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean.