UPSC Prelims 2014 Q52: Geography – Cartography & Map Skills
What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South - East Asia as one
proceeds from south to north?
1. Bangkok
2. Hanoi
3. Jakarta
4. Singapore
Select the correct answer
using the code given below.
- (a) 4 - 2 - 1 - 3
- (b) 3 - 2 - 4 - 1
- (c) 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
- (d) 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
Answer: (c) 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Explanation
South-East Asian cities from south to north
| Order | City | Country | Latitude (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 3. Jakarta | Indonesia | 6 degrees South |
| Second | 4. Singapore | Singapore | 1 degree North |
| Third | 1. Bangkok | Thailand | 14 degrees North |
| Fourth | 2. Hanoi | Vietnam | 21 degrees North |
Useful anchors:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| South of the Equator | Only Jakarta among the four |
| Almost on the Equator | Singapore |
| Near the Tropic of Cancer | Hanoi |
So the sequence is Jakarta - Singapore - Bangkok - Hanoi, that is 3 - 4 - 1 - 2.
Answer: (c) 3 - 4 - 1 - 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Singapore is not the southernmost; Jakarta is south of the Equator.
- (b) Incorrect. Hanoi is the northernmost, so it cannot come second.
- (c) CORRECT. South to north: Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi.
- (d) Incorrect. Jakarta lies south of Singapore, so 4 cannot come first.
Key point
South to north: Jakarta (6°S), Singapore (1°N), Bangkok (14°N), Hanoi (21°N).
Remember
Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi: south to north.
Common mistakes
- Placing Singapore south of Jakarta.
- Forgetting that Jakarta (on Java) is south of the Equator.
- Mixing up Hanoi (north Vietnam) with Ho Chi Minh City (south Vietnam).
Exam tip
Find the Equator first: Singapore sits on it, Jakarta below it.
Sources
- Oxford School Atlas — South-East Asia political map
- NCERT Class XI — Fundamentals of Physical Geography (World map: latitudes)