Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 27, 2025

Answer: C [Both 1 and 2]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Earth’s crust is indeed the outermost solid layer of the planet, lying above the mantle. It includes both continental and oceanic crust and is where all terrestrial life exists. This layer is relatively thin compared to other layers of the Earth, like the mantle and core.

Statement 2 is correct: Plate tectonics drives the movement of Earth’s lithospheric plates, causing processes like subduction, seafloor spreading, and continental drift. These processes lead to the creation of new crust at divergent boundaries and the destruction of old crust at convergent boundaries, making plate tectonics central to crustal dynamics.

Answer: A [Morocco and Spain]
Explanation:

Option A is correct: The Strait of Gibraltar separates Morocco in North Africa from Spain in Southern Europe. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and serves as a strategic maritime passage. The narrow strait is only about 13 kilometers wide at its narrowest point.

Option B is incorrect: Algeria and France are not separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. France is located in Europe, north of the Mediterranean Sea, while Algeria lies in North Africa. The Mediterranean Sea separates them, but not via the Strait of Gibraltar.

Option C is incorrect: Tunisia and Italy are separated by the central Mediterranean Sea, not the Strait of Gibraltar. While they are relatively close, the strait lies much farther west, between Spain and Morocco, linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean.

Option D is incorrect: Libya and Greece are separated by the Mediterranean Sea, specifically its eastern part. The Strait of Gibraltar is located in the far western part of the Mediterranean and does not lie between these two countries.

Answer: A [They are located between approximately 30° to 35° N and S latitudes and are characterized by persistent high-pressure systems and calm winds.]
Explanation:

Option A is correct: Horse Latitudes are regions located around 30° to 35° north and south of the equator. These areas are dominated by high-pressure systems, resulting in calm winds, clear skies, and dry conditions. Historically, sailing ships stalled here due to lack of wind, giving rise to the name.

Option B is incorrect: The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) lies near the equator, not at 30°–35° latitudes. It is a low-pressure zone characterized by rising warm air, frequent thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall—conditions quite different from the calm, dry Horse Latitudes.

Option C is incorrect: Subpolar Low-Pressure Belts are found around 60° latitudes and are known for stormy weather and strong westerly winds. These belts are far from the Horse Latitudes, which are calm and dry zones located near 30°–35° latitudes.

Option D is incorrect: Low-pressure belts around 45° latitudes do not define the Horse Latitudes. These mid-latitude zones may have variable weather, but Horse Latitudes specifically refer to high-pressure zones near 30°–35° latitudes with calm and dry conditions.

Answer: B [Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (Coromandel Coast)]
Explanation:

Option A is incorrect: The Konkan Coast of Maharashtra receives most of its rainfall during the southwest monsoon (June to September). It is not significantly affected by the retreating monsoon, which occurs later in the year and primarily impacts southeastern India.

Option B is correct: Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, especially the Coromandel Coast, receive substantial rainfall during the retreating monsoon (October to December). This is due to the northeast monsoon winds and the southward shift of the ITCZ, making it a key rainy season for the region.

Option C is incorrect: The Indo-Gangetic Plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar mainly receive rainfall during the southwest monsoon. The retreating monsoon has minimal impact here, and the region experiences dry conditions during the northeast monsoon period.

Option D is incorrect: The Eastern Himalayas and foothills of West Bengal and Sikkim get heavy rainfall during the southwest monsoon due to orographic lifting. The retreating monsoon does not contribute significantly to their annual rainfall.

Answer: D [Potwar Plateau]
Explanation:

Option A is incorrect: The Dhang Range is part of the Siwalik system but is located more centrally within the Himalayan foothills. It does not represent the westernmost extension of the Siwalik Hills.

Option B is incorrect: The Dafla Hills are situated in the eastern Himalayas, along the Arunachal Pradesh–Bhutan border. These hills are far from the western edge of the Siwalik range and are not relevant to its westernmost extent.

Option C is incorrect: The Churia Ghat Hills are another name for parts of the Siwalik Hills, especially in Nepal. While they are part of the system, they are not the westernmost extension but rather more central or eastern.

Option D is correct: The Potwar Plateau, located in northern Pakistan, marks the westernmost extension of the Siwalik Hills. It represents a geological transition zone where the relatively younger Siwalik sediments meet older and more complex rock formations of the Salt Range and beyond.