CAPF AC 2025 Q76: Geography – Oceanography
Which of the following ocean trenches are not located in the Pacific Ocean?
1. Bonin Trench
2. Cayman Trench
3. Kermadec Trench
4. South Sandwich Trench
Select the answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 1 and 3
- (c) 2 and 3
- (d) 2 and 4
Answer: (d) 2 and 4
Explanation
Trenches outside the Pacific
How to think: the deepest trenches, such as the Mariana, are in the Pacific.
So find the two that are not there: those in the Atlantic and Caribbean.
| Trench | Ocean |
|---|---|
| 1. Bonin Trench | Pacific (south of Japan) |
| 2. Cayman Trench | Caribbean Sea, Atlantic basin |
| 3. Kermadec Trench | Pacific (north of New Zealand) |
| 4. South Sandwich Trench | South Atlantic |
The two not in the Pacific are 2 and 4.
Bank key corrected: the stored key was (b) 1 and 3, which are the Pacific ones; the right answer is (d).
Answer: (d) 2 and 4.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Bonin Trench (1) lies in the Pacific.
- (b) Incorrect. Bonin and Kermadec are both Pacific trenches.
- (c) Incorrect. The Kermadec Trench (3) lies in the Pacific.
- (d) CORRECT. The Cayman and South Sandwich trenches are outside the Pacific.
Key point
Pacific trenches: Mariana, Tonga, Kermadec, Japan, Kuril, Bonin, Philippine, Peru-Chile. Atlantic: Puerto Rico, South Sandwich, Cayman (Caribbean). Indian: Sunda (Java) Trench.
Remember
Not Pacific: Cayman and South Sandwich.
Common mistakes
- Giving the Pacific trenches instead of the non-Pacific ones.
- Placing the Cayman Trench in the Pacific because of its name.
- Missing the word not in the question.
Exam tip
Educated guess: Bonin and Kermadec are well known as Japanese and New Zealand trenches. The remaining two are the odd ones out.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI Fundamentals of Physical Geography, chapter on Water (Oceans): relief of the ocean floor and trenches
- Majid Husain, Physical Geography (Oceanography: trenches of the world's oceans)