UPSC Prelims 2025 Q76: Geography – World Geography
Consider the following countries:
I. United Kingdom
II. Denmark
III. New Zealand
IV. Australia
V. Brazil
How many of the above countries have more than four time zones?
- (a) All five
- (b) Only four
- (c) Only three
- (d) Only two
Answer: (b) Only four
Explanation
Countries with More Than Four Time Zones
| Country | Time Zones | Why More Than Four? |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Multiple | UK mainland = UTC+0/+1. With territories: British Indian Ocean Territory (UTC+6), Falkland Islands (UTC-3), South Georgia (UTC-2), British Virgin Islands (UTC-4), etc. = well over 4 time zones across territories. |
| Denmark | Multiple | Greenland alone spans UTC-4 to UTC-1 (3+ zones). Faroe Islands = UTC+0. Denmark mainland = UTC+1. Total = 5+ time zones across the Kingdom of Denmark. |
| New Zealand | Multiple | Mainland = UTC+12. Chatham Islands = UTC+12:45 (unique offset). Tokelau = UTC+13. Cook Islands = UTC-10. Niue = UTC-11. = 5 distinct time zones. |
| Australia | Multiple | UTC+8 (WA), UTC+9:30 (NT), UTC+10 (QLD, NSW, VIC), UTC+10:30 (SA standard), UTC+11 (NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS summer) + external territories = well over 4. |
| Brazil | 4 time zones | UTC-2 (Fernando de Noronha), UTC-3 (Brasília, east), UTC-4 (Amazon), UTC-5 (Acre) = exactly 4 - NOT more than 4. |
Countries with >4 time zones: UK, Denmark, NZ, Australia = Only four (Brazil excluded)
Answer: (b) Only four.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'All five' would mean Brazil also has more than 4 time zones. Brazil has exactly 4 standard time zones — not more than 4.
- (b) CORRECT. UK, Denmark (with Greenland), New Zealand (with Pacific territories), and Australia all have more than 4 time zones. Brazil has exactly 4, so it does not qualify.
- (c) Incorrect. 'Only three' would exclude one of UK, Denmark, NZ, or Australia — all four have more than 4 time zones when territories are included.
- (d) Incorrect. 'Only two' would exclude two of the four qualifying countries. All of UK, Denmark, NZ, Australia have 5+ time zones across their territories.
Key point
Brazil = exactly 4 time zones = does NOT qualify for 'more than 4.' UK, Denmark (Greenland!), New Zealand (Pacific territories), Australia = all have 5+ time zones.
Remember
Brazil has exactly 4 time zones — does NOT have more than four. UK, Denmark (Greenland), New Zealand (Pacific territories), Australia all have 5+ time zones.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting Greenland belongs to Denmark — Greenland alone spans 3 time zones, pushing Denmark well over 4 total.
- Thinking New Zealand = just UTC+12 — NZ's Pacific territories (Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue) extend across many time zones.
- Counting Brazil as having 5 time zones — Brazil has exactly 4 standard zones (UTC-2 to UTC-5).
Exam tip
Brazil = 4 time zones = the answer's key eliminator. The question asks for STRICTLY MORE THAN FOUR. Denmark passes because of Greenland. New Zealand passes because of Cook Islands/Tokelau. Australia passes because of its 5 mainland zones alone.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — Practical Work in Geography (Chapter 3: Latitude, Longitude and Time)
- Time Zone Database (IANA) — National territory time zone listings