Question 98
AOptions
BSolution
Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Nicobar Islands chain, which forms part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an Indian Union Territory located in the Bay of Bengal.
Geographically, when looking at a map of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, Great Nicobar is situated in close proximity to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The northern tip of Sumatra, particularly the Aceh province, is relatively close to the Nicobar Islands. The channel separating Great Nicobar from Sumatra is known as the Great Channel or Six Degree Channel.
Borneo and Java are Indonesian islands located further to the southeast and east, respectively, much further from Great Nicobar. Sri Lanka is located to the west of the Bay of Bengal, far from the Nicobar Islands.
Therefore, Sumatra is geographically closest to Great Nicobar.
CStrategy
For geography questions involving islands or coastal features, have a strong mental map of India and its extended neighborhood. Pay attention to relative locations and the names of important channels or seas. Visualizing the map is key.
DSyllabus Analysis
This question falls under Indian and World Geography, specifically physical geography and the geographical proximity of Indian territories to other landmasses.
EQuestion Analysis
Easy. This is a basic geography question requiring knowledge of the relative locations of major islands and landmasses in the Indian Ocean region. For those with a good grasp of world geography, it should be straightforward.