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UPSC Prelims 2021 · World Geography · Countries, Rivers and Resources
With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
- The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.
- (a) 1 Only
- (b) 2 Only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) 2 Only
Only the ice statement is right.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG Groundwater (~30% of fresh water) is far more than rivers and lakes (under 1%).
2. ✓ CORRECT Ice caps and glaciers hold about 69% of fresh water — more than groundwater.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Rivers and lakes hold much less than groundwater.
(c) Statement 1 is wrong.
(d) Statement 2 is right.
The trap
Rivers and lakes are what we see, so they feel like the biggest store.
🔒 Water: 97.5% salt. Fresh: ice ~69%, groundwater ~30%, surface ~1%.
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