Consider the following countries : I. Bolivia II. Brazil III. Colombia IV. Ecuador V. Paraguay VI. Venezuela Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?
- (a) Only two
- (b) Only three
- (c) Only four ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Only five
Why the answer is (c)
• The Andes run about 7,000 km along the western edge of South America through seven countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
• Of the listed countries, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela lie on the range — four.
• Brazil, though the continent's largest country, lies east of the Andes on the Brazilian Highlands and Amazon basin; no part of the range crosses it.
• Paraguay is a landlocked lowland country of the Gran Chaco and Paraná basin, far from the mountains.
• Hence four, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only two
- Four listed countries, not two, are Andean.
- (b) Only three
- Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela all contain the Andes.
- (d) Only five
- Neither Brazil nor Paraguay has any Andean territory.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.