UPSC Prelims 2025 Q80: Geography – World Geography
Consider the following pairs:
Region : Country
I. Mallorca : Italy
II. Normandy : Spain
III. Sardinia : France
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Answer: (d) None
Explanation
European Regions and Their Correct Countries
| Region | Country Claimed | Verdict | Correct Country + Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mallorca | Italy | FALSE | Mallorca (Majorca) is the largest island of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of SPAIN in the western Mediterranean. Major tourist destination. Capital: Palma. |
| Normandy | Spain | FALSE | Normandy (Normandie) is a historic region in northern FRANCE, on the English Channel coast. Famous for the D-Day landings (June 6, 1944). Capital: Rouen. |
| Sardinia | France | FALSE | Sardinia (Sardegna) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, part of ITALY. It is an autonomous region with its own culture and language. |
All three pairs are WRONG → Answer: None
Correct Pairings (What These Regions Actually Belong To):
| Region | Correct Country | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Mallorca | Spain | Largest Balearic Island; top tourist destination; also spelt Majorca |
| Normandy | France | D-Day beaches; William the Conqueror (1066 invasion of England) was from here |
| Sardinia | Italy | 2nd largest Mediterranean island; distinct Sardinian language; autonomous region |
| Corsica | France | Napoleon Bonaparte's birthplace (often confused with Sardinia) |
| Sicily | Italy | Largest Mediterranean island; tip of Italy's 'boot' |
Answer: (d) None.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' would mean one region is correctly placed. All three are wrong: Mallorca is in Spain (not Italy), Normandy is in France (not Spain), Sardinia is in Italy (not France).
- (b) Incorrect. 'Only two' would mean one region is correctly placed. None are correctly placed — all three are assigned to the wrong countries.
- (c) Incorrect. 'All three' would mean Mallorca = Italy, Normandy = Spain, Sardinia = France — all three are factually incorrect.
- (d) CORRECT. All three pairings are wrong. This is a classic UPSC geography trick question where all options are European regions assigned to neighbouring but incorrect countries.
Key point
Mallorca = SPAIN (Balearics). Normandy = FRANCE (D-Day coast). Sardinia = ITALY (Mediterranean island). Classic 'one-country-shifted' trick question.
Remember
Mallorca = Spain (Balearic Islands). Normandy = France (D-Day coast). Sardinia = Italy (2nd largest Mediterranean island). All three pairs in the question are WRONG — answer is None.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Sardinia (Italy) with Corsica (France) — both are large Mediterranean islands; Corsica = French, Sardinia = Italian.
- Placing Normandy in Spain — Normandy is famous for the 1944 D-Day allied landings and is definitively in northern France.
- Thinking Mallorca is Italian — it is a Spanish island (Balearics); Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza = all part of Spain.
Exam tip
Mediterranean island cheat sheet: Sardinia + Sicily = Italy. Corsica = France (Napoleon's birthplace). Mallorca/Ibiza/Menorca = Spain (Balearics). Crete + Rhodes = Greece. For Normandy = always FRANCE (think D-Day, 1944).
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — Practical Work in Geography (Political Map of Europe)
- European Geography — Regions and Administrative Divisions