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UPSC Prelims 2005 · World Geography · Rocks, Quakes and Landforms
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Total land area of Earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometres.
- Ratio of land area to water area of Earth is approximately 1 : 4
- Maximum percentage of Earth's water is in the Pacific Ocean.
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 only
- (d) 3 only
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) 3 only
Only the Pacific statement is right.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG Land area is about 149 million km² (~1,490 lakh km²) — the key treats 1,475 as wrong.
2. ✗ WRONG Land : water ≈ 29 : 71, about 1 : 2.4 — not 1 : 4.
3. ✓ CORRECT The Pacific holds about half of Earth’s ocean water.
The idea
Compare areas using one unit before testing a ratio. Earth’s surface is about seven parts water to three parts land, so a much larger water share needs checking. A rounded total and an exact numerical claim should also be kept separate.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Accepts the 1 : 4 ratio.
(b) Accepts the 1 : 4 ratio.
(c) Accepts the land-area figure.
The trap
Check ratios: 29 : 71 is not 1 : 4.
Elimination technique
The familiar 29:71 land-water split contradicts 1:4, so Statement 2 removes (a) and (b). Choosing between (c) and (d) still needs the numerical land-area claim and the Pacific statement; the ratio alone does not decide the answer.
Also know
A lakh is 100,000: 1,475 lakh square kilometres equals 147.5 million square kilometres. Common rounded figures are about 149 million for land and 361 million for water. Ocean area is not the same as ocean volume, and neither is the same as freshwater availability. Much of Earth’s freshwater is stored in ice rather than rivers.
🔒 Earth: 29% land, 71% water; Pacific ≈ 46% of ocean area.
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