Previous Year Question
Which of the following pairs is NOT correctly matched?
Desert — Country
Sonoran — USA
Taklamakan — China
Karakum — Turkmenistan
Gibson — Brazil
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The Sonoran Desert extends across North America. It covers parts of the south-western United States, particularly Arizona and California, and extends into north-western Mexico. Therefore, Sonoran–USA is correctly matched.
The Taklamakan Desert is a vast sandy desert situated in the Xinjiang region of western China within the Tarim Basin. It is surrounded by major mountain systems including the Kunlun, Pamir and Tian Shan.
The Karakum Desert is the principal desert of Turkmenistan and occupies about three-fourths of the country's territory. With an area exceeding approximately 350,000 km², it is one of the largest desert regions of Central Asia.
The Gibson Desert is not in Brazil; it is situated in Western Australia. According to Geoscience Australia, it covers approximately 156,000 km² and is the fifth-largest mainland desert of Australia. Its landscape includes sand plains, stony plains and arid shrub vegetation.