UPSC Prelims 2005 Q128: Geography – World Physical Geography
Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List - I (City)
A. Washington D.C.
B. Berlin
C. Paris
D. Madrid
List - II (River)
1. River Manzanares
2. River Seine
3. River Spree
4. River Potomac
- (a) A - 2 B - 3 C - 4 D - 1
- (b) A - 4 B - 1 C - 2 D - 3
- (c) A - 2 B - 1 C - 4 D - 3
- (d) A - 4 B - 3 C - 2 D - 1
Answer: (d) A - 4 B - 3 C - 2 D - 1
Explanation
Capital cities and their rivers
| City | River |
|---|---|
| A. Washington D.C. | Potomac (4) |
| B. Berlin | Spree (3) |
| C. Paris | Seine (2) |
| D. Madrid | Manzanares (1) |
The correct matching is A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1: Washington D.C. stands on the Potomac, Berlin on the Spree, Paris on the Seine and Madrid on the small Manzanares river.
Answer: (d) A - 4, B - 3, C - 2, D - 1.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Washington is on the Potomac, not the Seine.
- (b) Incorrect. Berlin is on the Spree, not the Manzanares.
- (c) Incorrect. Washington is not on the Seine.
- (d) CORRECT. A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 matches all four.
Key point
Potomac - Washington; Spree - Berlin; Seine - Paris; Manzanares - Madrid; Thames - London; Tiber - Rome.
Remember
Madrid stands on the Manzanares river.
Common mistakes
- Placing Paris on the Spree instead of the Seine.
- Mixing the Seine with the Danube of central Europe.
- Not recalling the small Manzanares at Madrid.
Exam tip
Capital-river pairs: Danube - Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Potomac River
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Spree River
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Manzanares River