1. How many continents are there on Earth (most widely accepted model)?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Answer: C
Explanation: The 7-continent model is most widely used: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, Antarctica.
2. Which is the largest continent by area?
A) Africa
B) Asia
C) North America
D) Europe
Answer: B
Explanation: Asia covers ~44.58 million sq. km (~30% of land area).
3. Which is the smallest continent by area?
A) Europe
B) Australia
C) Antarctica
D) South America
Answer: B
Explanation: Australia (~8.6 million sq. km) is the smallest continent.
4. Which continent has the highest population?
A) Africa
B) Europe
C) Asia
D) North America
Answer: C
Explanation: Asia houses ~60% of world’s population (China, India).
5. Which continent has the lowest population?
A) Australia
B) Antarctica
C) South America
D) Europe
Answer: B
Explanation: Antarctica has no permanent residents, only temporary researchers (~1,000–5,000).
6. Which two continents are sometimes considered one (Eurasia)?
A) Asia and Europe
B) Africa and Europe
C) North America and South America
D) Australia and Antarctica
Answer: A
Explanation: Due to being one continuous landmass, Asia and Europe are sometimes combined as “Eurasia.”
7. Which continent is known as the “Dark Continent”?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) South America
D) Australia
Answer: B
Explanation: Africa was historically called the Dark Continent due to its unexplored interior during colonial times.
8. Which continent is known as the “Frozen Continent”?
A) Antarctica
B) Europe
C) Asia
D) Australia
Answer: A
Explanation: Antarctica is covered by ~98% ice.
9. Which continent is called the “Island Continent”?
A) Africa
B) Australia
C) South America
D) Europe
Answer: B
Explanation: Australia is often called the Island Continent because it is the only continent that is also a country.
10. Which continent has the highest average elevation?
A) Asia
B) South America
C) Africa
D) Antarctica
Answer: D
Explanation: Antarctica’s average elevation is ~2,300 m, highest of all continents.
11. The largest desert in the world (Sahara) is located in which continent?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) Australia
D) Antarctica
Answer: B
Explanation: Sahara Desert (9.2 million sq. km) is in North Africa.
12. The driest desert (Atacama) is located in which continent?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) South America
D) Australia
Answer: C
Explanation: Atacama Desert (Chile, Peru) is the driest non-polar desert.
13. Which continent is completely in the Southern Hemisphere?
A) Africa
B) Australia
C) South America
D) Europe
Answer: B
Explanation: Australia is the only continent entirely south of the equator.
14. Which is the most urbanized continent?
A) Europe
B) North America
C) Australia
D) Asia
Answer: C
Explanation: Australia is the most urbanized, with ~90% people living in cities.
15. Which continent has the maximum number of countries?
A) Africa
B) Asia
C) Europe
D) South America
Answer: A
Explanation: Africa has 54 recognized countries.
16. Which continent has the least number of countries?
A) Europe
B) Antarctica
C) Australia/Oceania
D) South America
Answer: B
Explanation: Antarctica has no sovereign countries, only research stations.
17. Which continent has both the longest and shortest coastlines?
A) Asia (longest), Africa (shortest)
B) North America (longest), Europe (shortest)
C) Asia (longest), Africa (shortest)
D) Asia (longest), Antarctica (shortest)
Answer: A
Explanation: Asia has the longest coastline (~62,800 km), Africa shortest (~30,500 km) among major continents.
18. Which continent is known as the “Cradle of Civilization”?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) Europe
D) South America
Answer: A
Explanation: Mesopotamia and Indus Valley civilizations originated in Asia.
19. Which continent is known as the “Cradle of Humankind”?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) Europe
D) North America
Answer: B
Explanation: Human evolution traces back to Africa (~200,000 years ago).
20. Which continent is called the “New World”?
A) North & South America
B) Asia
C) Africa
D) Australia
Answer: A
Explanation: The Americas were called the “New World” after European exploration.
21. Which continent is called the “Old World”?
A) North America
B) South America
C) Europe, Asia & Africa
D) Australia
Answer: C
Explanation: Europe, Asia, and Africa together form the “Old World.”
22. Which continent has the Amazon rainforest?
A) Africa
B) South America
C) Asia
D) Australia
Answer: B
Explanation: Amazon rainforest covers ~5.5 million sq. km in South America.
23. Which continent has the most diverse range of climates?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) Europe
D) North America
Answer: A
Explanation: Asia has deserts, tropics, tundra, and highest mountains.
24. The Andes, the world’s longest mountain chain, lies in which continent?
A) Asia
B) South America
C) North America
D) Africa
Answer: B
25. Which continent has no active volcanoes?
A) Africa
B) Antarctica
C) Australia
D) Europe
Answer: C
Explanation: Australia has no active volcanoes; it is geologically the most stable continent.
26. Which is the largest continent by land area?
A) Africa
B) Asia
C) North America
D) South America
Answer: B
Explanation: Asia covers ~44.58 million sq. km, about 30% of Earth’s total land area.
27. Which is the highest mountain in Asia and the world?
A) K2
B) Mount Everest
C) Kangchenjunga
D) Lhotse
Answer: B
Explanation: Mount Everest (8,848.86 m) is in the Himalayas, on the Nepal–China border.
28. The longest river in Asia is:
A) Ganga
B) Mekong
C) Yangtze
D) Ob
Answer: C
Explanation: Yangtze (Chang Jiang) is ~6,300 km long, flowing across China.
29. The world’s largest plateau, the “Roof of the World,” is:
A) Colorado Plateau
B) Deccan Plateau
C) Tibetan Plateau
D) Iranian Plateau
Answer: C
Explanation: The Tibetan Plateau (~2.5 million sq. km) has an average elevation over 4,500 m.
30. The world’s largest desert in Asia is:
A) Thar
B) Gobi
C) Taklamakan
D) Kara-Kum
Answer: B
Explanation: Gobi Desert (~1.3 million sq. km) spans Mongolia and northern China.
31. Which sea in Asia is the saltiest large water body?
A) Caspian Sea
B) Aral Sea
C) Dead Sea
D) Red Sea
Answer: C
Explanation: Dead Sea (Israel–Jordan) has ~34% salinity, among the world’s highest.
32. The largest lake in Asia is:
A) Lake Baikal
B) Caspian Sea
C) Aral Sea
D) Issyk-Kul
Answer: B
Explanation: Caspian Sea (~371,000 sq. km) is the largest enclosed inland water body, often called a sea.
33. Which is the largest country in Asia by area?
A) China
B) India
C) Russia
D) Kazakhstan
Answer: C
Explanation: Russia (partly in Asia) is the largest; within Asia-only boundaries, China is the largest.
34. Which is the most populous country in Asia (2024)?
A) China
B) India
C) Indonesia
D) Pakistan
Answer: B
Explanation: India surpassed China in 2023 with ~1.43 billion people.
35. Which Asian desert is called the “Sea of Death”?
A) Gobi
B) Taklamakan
C) Karakum
D) Kyzylkum
Answer: B
Explanation: Taklamakan Desert (Xinjiang, China) is extremely inhospitable, called “Sea of Death.”
36. Which is the largest island in Asia?
A) Sri Lanka
B) Sumatra
C) Borneo
D) Honshu
Answer: C
Explanation: Borneo (~743,000 sq. km) is the largest island in Asia, shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
37. Africa is the ___ largest continent in the world by area.
A) First
B) Second
C) Third
D) Fourth
Answer: B
Explanation: Africa (~30.2 million sq. km) is second after Asia.
38. Africa is separated from Europe by:
A) Strait of Hormuz
B) Strait of Gibraltar
C) Bab-el-Mandeb
D) Bosporus Strait
Answer: B
Explanation: Gibraltar Strait separates Morocco (Africa) from Spain (Europe).
39. The Sahara Desert covers how many countries?
A) 5
B) 7
C) 11
D) 15
Answer: C
Explanation: Sahara (~9.2 million sq. km) extends across 11 North African countries.
40. The Nile River, world’s longest, flows into:
A) Arabian Sea
B) Mediterranean Sea
C) Red Sea
D) Atlantic Ocean
Answer: B
Explanation: Nile (~6,650 km) flows north into the Mediterranean Sea.
41. The Congo River is famous for being:
A) The longest river in Africa
B) The deepest river in the world
C) The widest river in the world
D) The saltiest river in Africa
Answer: B
Explanation: Congo River reaches depths over 220 m, making it the world’s deepest river.
42. The Great Rift Valley is located in which continent?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) South America
D) Australia
Answer: B
Explanation: Great Rift Valley stretches ~6,000 km from Lebanon to Mozambique across East Africa.
43. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, is located in:
A) Kenya
B) Tanzania
C) Ethiopia
D) Uganda
Answer: B
Explanation: Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) is in Tanzania.
44. The largest lake in Africa is:
A) Lake Malawi
B) Lake Tanganyika
C) Lake Victoria
D) Lake Chad
Answer: C
Explanation: Lake Victoria (~68,800 sq. km) is the largest lake in Africa, source of White Nile.
45. Which African lake is the longest freshwater lake in the world?
A) Lake Tanganyika
B) Lake Victoria
C) Lake Malawi
D) Lake Turkana
Answer: A
Explanation: Lake Tanganyika (~673 km long) is the longest freshwater lake in the world.
46. The Kalahari Desert is located in:
A) North Africa
B) East Africa
C) Southern Africa
D) Central Africa
Answer: C
Explanation: Kalahari Desert covers Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
47. The Namib Desert lies along the coast of:
A) Egypt
B) Kenya
C) Namibia
D) Nigeria
Answer: C
Explanation: Namib Desert is a coastal desert along the Atlantic Ocean in Namibia.
48. Africa is often called the “Plateau Continent” because:
A) It is surrounded by oceans
B) It has extensive elevated plateaus
C) It has the highest peak in the world
D) It has no volcanoes
Answer: B
Explanation: Much of Africa is a vast plateau with escarpments near coasts.
49. Which African country is landlocked?
A) Kenya
B) Uganda
C) Nigeria
D) Egypt
Answer: B
Explanation: Uganda has no coastline; it is surrounded by Kenya, South Sudan, DRC, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
50. Which African river forms the Victoria Falls?
A) Zambezi River
B) Nile River
C) Congo River
D) Limpopo River
Answer: A
Explanation: Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, lies on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
51. Europe is the ___ smallest continent by area.
A) Smallest
B) Second smallest
C) Third smallest
D) Fourth smallest
Answer: B
Explanation: Europe (~10.18 million sq. km) is the second smallest continent, larger only than Australia.
52. Which mountain range forms the natural boundary between Europe and Asia?
A) Alps
B) Carpathians
C) Urals
D) Pyrenees
Answer: C
Explanation: The Ural Mountains in Russia separate Europe and Asia.
53. The highest peak in Europe is:
A) Mont Blanc
B) Matterhorn
C) Mount Elbrus
D) Mount Etna
Answer: C
Explanation: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) in the Caucasus, Russia, is Europe’s highest mountain.
54. The longest river in Europe is:
A) Rhine
B) Volga
C) Danube
D) Loire
Answer: B
Explanation: Volga River (~3,530 km) flows through Russia into the Caspian Sea.
55. The Danube River flows through how many countries?
A) 5
B) 7
C) 10
D) 15
Answer: C
Explanation: The Danube flows through 10 countries, from Germany to the Black Sea.
56. Which European country is known as the “Land of a Thousand Lakes”?
A) Norway
B) Sweden
C) Finland
D) Switzerland
Answer: C
Explanation: Finland has ~188,000 lakes, earning the nickname.
57. The Iberian Peninsula consists mainly of:
A) Spain and Portugal
B) France and Italy
C) Greece and Turkey
D) Germany and Poland
Answer: A
Explanation: The Iberian Peninsula includes Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and part of France.
58. North America is the ___ largest continent by area.
A) Second
B) Third
C) Fourth
D) Fifth
Answer: B
Explanation: North America (~24.7 million sq. km) is the third largest, after Asia and Africa.
59. The largest country in North America is:
A) USA
B) Canada
C) Mexico
D) Greenland
Answer: B
Explanation: Canada (~9.98 million sq. km) is the second-largest country in the world and the largest in North America.
60. The largest island in North America is:
A) Cuba
B) Greenland
C) Baffin Island
D) Newfoundland
Answer: B
Explanation: Greenland (~2.16 million sq. km) is the largest island in the world, politically linked to Denmark.
61. The Mississippi–Missouri River system is:
A) The longest in North America
B) The longest in the world
C) The widest in North America
D) A glacial river system
Answer: A
Explanation: Mississippi–Missouri (~6,275 km) is North America’s longest river system.
62. The Great Lakes are located on the border of:
A) USA and Mexico
B) USA and Canada
C) Canada and Greenland
D) Mexico and Central America
Answer: B
Explanation: The Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario) lie between USA and Canada.
63. The Rocky Mountains extend through:
A) USA only
B) USA and Canada
C) USA, Canada, and Mexico
D) Canada only
Answer: C
Explanation: Rockies stretch from northern Canada to New Mexico (USA), covering ~4,800 km.
64. The largest desert in North America is:
A) Sonoran Desert
B) Mojave Desert
C) Chihuahuan Desert
D) Great Basin Desert
Answer: D
Explanation: Great Basin Desert (~492,000 sq. km) in USA is North America’s largest desert.
65. The Niagara Falls is located on the border of:
A) USA and Mexico
B) USA and Canada
C) Canada and Greenland
D) USA and Cuba
Answer: B
Explanation: Niagara Falls lies between New York (USA) and Ontario (Canada).
66. South America is the ___ largest continent by area.
A) Third
B) Fourth
C) Fifth
D) Sixth
Answer: B
Explanation: South America (~17.8 million sq. km) is the fourth largest continent.
67. The longest river in South America is:
A) Orinoco
B) Paraná
C) Amazon
D) São Francisco
Answer: C
Explanation: Amazon River (~6,400 km) is the world’s largest by discharge and longest in South America.
68. The highest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, is located in:
A) Brazil
B) Venezuela
C) Peru
D) Colombia
Answer: B
Explanation: Angel Falls (979 m) is in Venezuela.
69. The Andes Mountains stretch across how many countries?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Answer: D
Explanation: Andes span 7,000 km across 8 countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and a small part of Guyana.
70. The Atacama Desert, driest in the world, is located in:
A) Argentina
B) Chile
C) Peru
D) Bolivia
Answer: B
Explanation: Atacama Desert (Chile) receives less than 1 mm rainfall annually.
71. The largest country in South America is:
A) Argentina
B) Brazil
C) Chile
D) Peru
Answer: B
Explanation: Brazil (~8.5 million sq. km) is the fifth largest in the world and largest in South America.
72. The largest lake in South America is:
A) Lake Titicaca
B) Lake Poopó
C) Lake Maracaibo
D) Lake Valencia
Answer: C
Explanation: Lake Maracaibo (~13,000 sq. km, Venezuela) is the largest lake in South America, though technically a tidal bay.
73. Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, lies between:
A) Brazil and Argentina
B) Chile and Bolivia
C) Peru and Bolivia
D) Colombia and Ecuador
Answer: C
Explanation: Lake Titicaca (3,812 m above sea level) is shared by Peru and Bolivia.
74. The Pampas are famous grasslands located in:
A) Brazil
B) Argentina
C) Chile
D) Uruguay
Answer: B
Explanation: Pampas of Argentina are fertile plains, known for cattle ranching and wheat.
75. The Amazon rainforest is spread across how many countries?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 9
Answer: D
Explanation: Amazon forest spans 9 countries: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
76. Australia is the ___ smallest continent by area.
A) Smallest
B) Second smallest
C) Third smallest
D) Fourth smallest
Answer: A
Explanation: Australia (~8.6 million sq. km) is the smallest continent.
77. The Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of:
A) Western Australia
B) Northern Territory
C) Queensland
D) New South Wales
Answer: C
Explanation: Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, lies along Queensland in the Coral Sea.
78. The Nullarbor Plain is located in:
A) Western Australia
B) Northern Australia
C) Tasmania
D) Queensland
Answer: A
Explanation: Nullarbor Plain is a flat, arid limestone plateau in southern Australia.
79. The Great Dividing Range is:
A) Australia’s longest mountain range
B) World’s longest desert
C) Antarctica’s mountain chain
D) Africa’s plateau system
Answer: A
Explanation: Great Dividing Range (~3,500 km) runs along eastern Australia.
80. The largest desert in Australia is:
A) Simpson Desert
B) Great Victoria Desert
C) Great Sandy Desert
D) Gibson Desert
Answer: B
Explanation: Great Victoria Desert (~348,750 sq. km) is Australia’s largest desert.
81. The Murray–Darling Basin is famous for:
A) Coral reefs
B) Fertile agricultural land
C) Gold mines
D) Salt lakes
Answer: B
Explanation: Murray–Darling rivers form the most fertile farming region in Australia.
82. The highest mountain in Australia (mainland) is:
A) Mount Kosciuszko
B) Mount Wilhelm
C) Mount Cook
D) Mount Bogong
Answer: A
Explanation: Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) is in New South Wales.
83. Tasmania is located to the ___ of mainland Australia.
A) North
B) South
C) East
D) West
Answer: B
Explanation: Tasmania lies south of mainland Australia, across Bass Strait.
84. Antarctica is the ___ largest continent.
A) Third
B) Fourth
C) Fifth
D) Second smallest
Answer: C
Explanation: Antarctica (~14 million sq. km) is the fifth largest continent.
85. Antarctica contains about ___% of the world’s freshwater in ice.
A) 30%
B) 50%
C) 60–70%
D) 80–90%
Answer: C
Explanation: About 60–70% of Earth’s freshwater is locked in Antarctic ice sheets.
86. The South Pole is located on which continent?
A) North America
B) Antarctica
C) Asia
D) Europe
Answer: B
Explanation: The geographic South Pole lies in Antarctica.
87. Which is the highest mountain in Antarctica?
A) Mount Erebus
B) Mount Sidley
C) Mount Vinson
D) Mount Kosciuszko
Answer: C
Explanation: Mount Vinson (4,892 m) is Antarctica’s highest peak.
88. Which volcano in Antarctica is the southernmost active volcano on Earth?
A) Mount Vinson
B) Mount Erebus
C) Mount Kilimanjaro
D) Mount Sidley
Answer: B
Explanation: Mount Erebus on Ross Island is the world’s southernmost active volcano.
89. Antarctica is known as a “cold desert” because:
A) It has sand dunes
B) It has very low precipitation
C) It has no lakes
D) It has no mountains
Answer: B
Explanation: Despite being icy, Antarctica gets less than 50 mm precipitation annually in interior regions.
90. The Antarctic Treaty (1959) ensures:
A) Military bases allowed
B) Use for peaceful scientific research only
C) Partition into national territories
D) Commercial mining rights
Answer: B
Explanation: Antarctic Treaty prohibits military activity and mineral mining; focuses on research and conservation.
91. Which continent has no permanent human population?
A) Australia
B) Antarctica
C) Africa
D) South America
Answer: B
Explanation: Only temporary researchers live in Antarctica.
92. Which continent has the largest number of active volcanoes?
A) Asia
B) North America
C) South America
D) Antarctica
Answer: C
Explanation: The Andes (South America) has the highest number of active volcanoes.
93. Which continent is sometimes referred to as “Oceania” including nearby islands?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) Australia
D) Antarctica
Answer: C
Explanation: Oceania includes Australia and Pacific Islands.
94. Which continent is crossed by both Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) South America
D) Australia
Answer: B
Explanation: Africa is the only continent crossed by both tropics and the equator.
95. Which continent has the largest tropical rainforest?
A) Africa
B) Asia
C) South America
D) Australia
Answer: C
Explanation: South America has the Amazon rainforest (~5.5 million sq. km).
96. Which continent has the world’s largest waterfall system (Iguazu Falls)?
A) Africa
B) South America
C) North America
D) Asia
Answer: B
Explanation: Iguazu Falls lies on Argentina–Brazil border, South America.
97. Which continent is shrinking in population share but growing fastest in percentage terms?
A) Asia
B) Africa
C) Europe
D) Australia
Answer: B
Explanation: Africa’s population is growing fastest, but its share in global population remains smaller than Asia.
98. Which continent is known for the “Outback”?
A) Africa
B) Asia
C) Australia
D) South America
Answer: C
Explanation: Outback refers to Australia’s vast remote interior deserts and grasslands.
99. Which continent has no recognized sovereign states?
A) Antarctica
B) Australia
C) South America
D) Europe
Answer: A
Explanation: Antarctica has no countries; governed by Antarctic Treaty System.
100. Which statement about continents is correct?
A) All continents have permanent populations
B) Antarctica is uninhabited permanently
C) Australia is the largest continent
D) Europe is the oldest continent
Answer: B
Explanation: Antarctica has no permanent residents, only rotating research teams.