Oceans and Continents – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Class 6
CBSE Class 6 Social Science — Chapter 2: Oceans & Continents (MCQs)
CBSE Board Examinations: Objective MCQs, Map skills, Short & Long answers, Practical assessment.
Content Bank — Chapter 2 (Topic-wise)
Topics: Major Oceans; Continents; Ocean currents & trenches; Islands, peninsulas & isthmuses; Coastal features; Human uses (trade, fisheries); Map skills (latitude/longitude).
Topic 1 — Major Oceans (MCQs 1–8)
1. Which is the largest ocean on Earth?
Answer: C. Pacific
Explanation: The Pacific Ocean covers the greatest area and is also the deepest, stretching between Asia/Australia and the Americas.
2. The ocean that is mostly surrounded by land and is the smallest is:
Answer: C. Arctic
Explanation: The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and is largely surrounded by Eurasia and North America with seasonal ice cover.
3. Which ocean lies to the east of Africa?
Answer: B. Indian
Explanation: The Indian Ocean borders eastern Africa and influences the monsoon climate of South Asia.
4. Which ocean encircles Antarctica?
Answer: B. Southern
Explanation: The Southern (Antarctic) Ocean surrounds Antarctica and plays a key role in global ocean circulation and climate.
5. Oceans are important in the water cycle mainly because they:
Answer: B. Evaporate water to form clouds
Explanation: Oceans are the main source of evaporation, supplying moisture for clouds and rainfall globally.
6. Which ocean has the Mariana Trench—the deepest known point?
Answer: B. Pacific
Explanation: The Mariana Trench, including Challenger Deep, is located in the Pacific Ocean and is the deepest known point in the world’s oceans.
7. Which of these is NOT an ocean?
Answer: B. Mediterranean
Explanation: The Mediterranean is a sea (part of the Atlantic) enclosed by land—seas are smaller than oceans and often partly enclosed.
8. Oceans support which of the following economic activities?
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: Oceans enable fisheries, international shipping routes, and coastal tourism among other economic activities.
Topic 2 — Continents (MCQs 9–18)
9. How many continents are there on Earth (commonly taught)?
Answer: C. Seven
Explanation: The common model lists seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia.
10. Which continent is the largest by area?
Answer: B. Asia
Explanation: Asia is the biggest continent both in area and population, stretching across varied climates and landforms.
11. Which continent is known for the Amazon rainforest?
Answer: B. South America
Explanation: The Amazon Rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest, is in South America and is vital for biodiversity and oxygen production.
12. Which continent is almost entirely covered by ice?
Answer: A. Antarctica
Explanation: Antarctica is a polar continent mostly covered by ice sheets and has very low human population but great importance for climate studies.
13. Australia is unique because it is:
Answer: B. Both a country and a continent
Explanation: Australia is the only landmass that is both a sovereign country and a continent, with distinct flora and fauna due to isolation.
14. Which continent contains the Sahara Desert?
Answer: B. Africa
Explanation: The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert located in North Africa, influencing climate and settlement patterns.
15. Which continent is often combined with Europe to form 'Eurasia'?
Answer: C. Asia
Explanation: Europe and Asia form a single large landmass called Eurasia; cultural and historical factors separate them into two continents.
16. Which continent has the highest number of countries?
Answer: B. Africa
Explanation: Africa currently has the largest number of internationally recognised sovereign countries among continents.
17. The Andes mountain range is located in which continent?
Answer: C. South America
Explanation: The Andes run along the western edge of South America and are the longest continental mountain chain in the world.
18. Which continent is known for its temperate forests, ancient civilisations and dense urbanisation in parts?
Answer: A. Europe
Explanation: Europe features temperate climates, historic civilisations and dense urban and industrial regions influencing global history and economy.
Topic 3 — Ocean Features & Processes (MCQs 19–28)
19. What is an ocean current?
Answer: B. A large-scale flow of seawater
Explanation: Ocean currents move water across vast distances, driven by wind, temperature and salinity differences and Earth's rotation, affecting climate and marine life.
20. The Gulf Stream is an example of a:
Answer: B. Warm current
Explanation: The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic, warming Western Europe.
21. What causes ocean tides primarily?
Answer: C. Gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun
Explanation: Tides result from gravitational interactions, mainly with the Moon and to a lesser extent the Sun, causing regular sea-level changes.
22. The depth depression on the ocean floor formed at subduction zones is called a:
Answer: B. Trench
Explanation: Trenches are very deep, narrow parts of the ocean floor formed where one tectonic plate is forced under another.
23. Upwelling zones are rich fishing grounds because they bring:
Answer: B. Cool, nutrient-rich deep water
Explanation: Upwelling brings nutrients to surface waters supporting plankton, which forms the base of rich marine food chains.
24. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an underwater feature formed mainly by:
Answer: B. Sea-floor spreading
Explanation: The ridge marks divergent tectonic plates where magma rises to create new oceanic crust, pushing plates apart.
25. Thermohaline circulation is driven by differences in:
Answer: A. Temperature and salinity
Explanation: Thermohaline circulation (global conveyor belt) results from variations in water density caused by temperature and salt content, moving heat globally.
26. Coral reefs are most commonly found in:
Answer: B. Warm, shallow tropical seas
Explanation: Corals need sunlight and warm temperatures, so reefs grow in clear, shallow tropical waters like the Coral Sea.
27. Which process mainly creates tides that are unusually high called spring tides?
Answer: B. When Moon and Sun align (new/full moon)
Explanation: Spring tides occur when gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun combine during new and full moons, producing higher high tides.
28. Deep sea trenches are important to scientists because they:
Answer: B. Host unique life forms and record tectonic activity
Explanation: Trenches are extreme environments with special organisms and provide evidence for plate tectonics and geological history.
Topic 4 — Map Skills & Coordinates (MCQs 29–34)
29. Latitude lines are also called:
Answer: B. Parallels
Explanation: Latitudes run east–west and are parallel to the Equator, hence called parallels.
30. The Prime Meridian passes through which place?
Answer: A. Greenwich
Explanation: The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passes through Greenwich, London, serving as the reference for global longitudes and time zones.
31. Coordinates are usually written in the order:
Answer: B. Latitude, Longitude
Explanation: Standard notation lists latitude (N/S) first, then longitude (E/W), e.g., 28°N, 77°E for New Delhi.
32. The Equator is at which latitude?
Answer: A. 0°
Explanation: The Equator is the 0° latitude line dividing Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is the reference for latitude measurements.
33. A large-scale map is best used to show:
Answer: B. A city's streets in detail
Explanation: Large-scale maps cover small areas with more detail (e.g., 1:10,000) useful for local planning and navigation.
34. The map feature that helps interpret symbols is the:
Answer: B. Legend
Explanation: A map legend (key) explains what colours and symbols represent, enabling correct interpretation.
Topic 5 — Islands, Peninsulas & Human Uses (MCQs 35–40)
35. An island is defined as:
Answer: A. Land surrounded by water
Explanation: Islands are landmasses completely surrounded by water, ranging from small islets to large landmasses like Greenland.
36. The Isthmus of Panama connects which two landmasses?
Answer: B. North and South America
Explanation: The Isthmus of Panama links North and South America and hosts the Panama Canal, a vital maritime shortcut.
37. Coral reefs help coasts by:
Answer: B. Protecting shorelines from erosion
Explanation: Coral reefs absorb wave energy, reducing coastal erosion and protecting beaches and settlements behind them.
38. Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) typically extend how far from a country's coast?
Answer: B. 200 nautical miles
Explanation: EEZs extend up to 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) where the coastal state has special rights to marine resources for economic purposes.
39. The Panama Canal mainly shortened shipping by providing a route between:
Answer: C. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Explanation: The canal links the Atlantic and Pacific, allowing ships to avoid long passages around South America (Cape Horn), saving time and fuel.
40. Overfishing affects oceans by:
Answer: B. Depleting fish stocks and harming ecosystems
Explanation: Unsustainable fishing removes too many individuals, disrupting food webs, reducing biodiversity and threatening livelihoods dependent on fisheries.
Note: These MCQs and explanations follow the NCERT syllabus and are ideal for CBSE Class 6 exam preparation and quick revision.