UPSC Prelims 2019 Q36: Geography – World Political Geography & Borders
- (a) 1, 2 and 4 only
- (b) 1, 3 and 4 only
- (c) 2 and 5 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Sea - Bordering Country Pairs
| Pair | Claim | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adriatic Sea - Albania | CORRECT | Albania has a western Adriatic coast (Durres, Vlore). |
| 2 | Black Sea - Croatia | FALSE | Croatia is on the Adriatic, NOT the Black Sea. Black Sea borders: Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia. |
| 3 | Caspian Sea - Kazakhstan | CORRECT | Kazakhstan borders the Caspian (Aktau port). |
| 4 | Mediterranean Sea - Morocco | CORRECT | Morocco's northern coast (Tangier, Nador) is Mediterranean; Atlantic coast lies west. |
| 5 | Red Sea - Syria | FALSE | Syria is on the Mediterranean, NOT the Red Sea. Red Sea borders: Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan (Aqaba), Israel (Eilat). |
Correct pairs: 1, 3, 4. Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only.
Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pair 2 (Black Sea-Croatia) is wrong; pair 3 (Caspian-Kazakhstan) is right.
- (b) CORRECT. Only pairs 1 (Adriatic-Albania), 3 (Caspian-Kazakhstan) and 4 (Mediterranean-Morocco) are correctly matched.
- (c) Incorrect. Pair 5 (Red Sea-Syria) is wrong; pair 2 is also wrong.
- (d) Incorrect. Pairs 2 and 5 are wrong.
Key point
Correct: Adriatic-Albania, Caspian-Kazakhstan, Mediterranean-Morocco. Wrong: Black Sea-Croatia (Croatia is Adriatic), Red Sea-Syria (Syria is Mediterranean).
Remember
Correct pairs: Adriatic Sea - Albania, Caspian Sea - Kazakhstan, and Mediterranean Sea - Morocco. Croatia borders the Adriatic (NOT Black Sea) and Syria borders the Mediterranean (NOT Red Sea). Answer: 1, 3 and 4 only.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Croatia (Adriatic) with Bulgaria/Romania (Black Sea).
- Assuming Syria has any Red Sea coast - it doesn't; only Mediterranean.
- Not knowing Morocco has BOTH Atlantic (west) and Mediterranean (north) coasts.
Exam tip
Sea-country memory anchors: Adriatic = Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania. Black Sea = Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia. Caspian = Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan. Red Sea = Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi, Yemen, Jordan, Israel.
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 - World Political Geography
- Oxford Atlas - World seas and coastlines