RAS question
The Equator passes through how many continents?
Correct answer: (A) Three (South America, Africa, Asia).
The Equator passes through three continents: South America, Africa, and Asia.
Explanation
The Equator is the 0-degree latitude line, and the relevant count depends on the continental landmasses crossed by that line. It passes through South America first, through Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil. It then crosses the Atlantic and enters Africa, passing through Gabon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia. In Asia, the equatorial crossing is through Indonesia. The Equator intersects the landmasses of South America, Africa, and Asia. Its oceanic path through the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans does not add another continent.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) One continent is too few because the Equator crosses land in South America, Africa, and Asia.
- (C) Two continents leaves out one of the three equatorial continental landmasses: South America, Africa, or Asia.
- (D) Four is too many because the Equator crosses continental land only in South America, Africa, and Asia.
Concept
RAS prelims often test the world geography mapping concept of major lines of latitude and the landmasses they cross. Latitude, continents, oceans, and map-based factual recall are standard prelims traps.