7 Continents: Asia (largest) → Australia (smallest) Highest point: Mount Everest (8848 m)
Hydrosphere
71% water → Blue Planet 5 Oceans: Pacific (largest & deepest) → Arctic (smallest) Deepest point: Mariana Trench (-11,034 m)
Atmosphere
Nitrogen 78% • Oxygen 21% • Others 1%
Biosphere
Narrow zone where land, water and air interact to support life
UPSC/SSC One-Liners
Asia largest continent • Australia smallest
Pacific largest & deepest ocean • Arctic smallest
Mariana Trench deepest • Mount Everest highest
Earth = Blue Planet (71% water)
Q1. How many major domains does the Earth have?
3
4
5
6
Q2. The solid portion of the Earth is called
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
Q3. The largest continent is
Africa
Asia
Australia
Europe
Q4. The smallest continent is
Asia
Australia
Antarctica
Europe
Q5. The largest ocean is
Atlantic
Indian
Pacific
Arctic
Q6. The deepest point on Earth is
Java Trench
Mariana Trench
Puerto Rico Trench
Sunda Trench
Q7. Earth is called the Blue Planet because
71% water
Blue sky
Blue atmosphere
Blue soil
Q8. The highest point on Earth is
K2
Mount Everest
Kanchenjunga
Makalu
Q9. The gas essential for breathing is
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
Oxygen
Argon
Q10. The narrow zone supporting life is
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Q11. Total number of continents
5
6
7
8
Q12. Continent with no permanent human settlement
Australia
Africa
Antarctica
South America
Q13. Only continent through which Tropic of Cancer, Equator & Tropic of Capricorn pass
Asia
Africa
South America
Australia
Q14. Oceans cover about ___ of Earth’s surface
61%
71%
81%
51%
Q15. The S-shaped ocean is
Pacific
Atlantic
Indian
Arctic
Q16. Oxygen percentage in atmosphere
21%
78%
0.03%
1%
Q17. Lowest point on land
Mariana Trench
Dead Sea
Caspian Sea
Lake Baikal
Q18. Smallest ocean
Indian
Southern
Arctic
Atlantic
Q19. Southern Ocean was officially recognised in
1999
2000
2021
1953
Q20. Continent completely surrounded by water
Africa
Australia
Europe
South America
Q21. Nitrogen percentage in atmosphere
21%
78%
1%
0.93%
Q22. Ozone layer is found in
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Exosphere
Q23. Pacific Ocean is
Largest & deepest
Largest but not deepest
Deepest but not largest
Neither
Q24. Isthmus of Panama joins
North & South America
Africa & Europe
Asia & Australia
Antarctica & South America
Q25. Suez Canal connects Mediterranean Sea with
Red Sea
Black Sea
Arabian Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Q26. The ‘White Continent’ is
Asia
Australia
Antarctica
Europe
Q27. Total number of oceans recognised today
4
5
7
3
Q28. Gas most essential for plant life
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
Argon
Q29. Mount Everest lies in
Asia
Europe
Africa
North America
Q30. Biosphere makes life possible by providing
Air only
Water only
Food only
All necessary conditions
Q1. Name the four major domains of the Earth. Explain any two in detail.
Answer: The four domains are Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Biosphere. • Lithosphere: Solid crust consisting of continents and ocean basins. It has 7 continents. • Hydrosphere: All water bodies — oceans (71% of Earth), rivers, lakes, groundwater.
Q2. Why is Earth called the ‘Blue Planet’?
Answer: More than 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water (mainly oceans), so it appears blue from space.
Q3. List the continents and oceans in order of their size.
Answer: Continents: Asia > Africa > North America > South America > Antarctica > Europe > Australia Oceans: Pacific > Atlantic > Indian > Southern > Arctic
Q4. What is Biosphere? Why is it important?
Answer: The narrow zone where lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere interact to support life. It is the only zone that sustains plants, animals and human beings.
Q5. Which is the deepest point on Earth and where is it located?
Answer: Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean (depth 11,034 m).