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UPSC Prelims 2018 · World Geography · Oceans, Seas and Straits
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Most of the world's coral reefs are in tropical waters.
- More than one-third of the world's coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
- Coral reefs host far more animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1,2 and 3
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) 1,2 and 3
All three are true.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT Most reefs are in warm tropical waters.
2. ✓ CORRECT Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines hold over a third of the world’s reefs.
3. ✓ CORRECT Reefs host more animal phyla than rainforests (rainforests have more species, reefs more phyla).
Why the others are wrong
(a) Drops the phyla fact.
(b) Keeps only the phyla fact.
(c) Drops the Australia–Indonesia–Philippines share.
The trap
Statement 3 sounds wrong because rainforests have the most species — but phyla is a higher rank.
🔒 Reefs: <1% of ocean floor, ~25% of marine species.
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