The International Date Line passes roughly through which of the following straits or nearby oceanic regions?

Introduction / Context:
The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface that roughly follows the 180 degree meridian in the Pacific Ocean. When this line is crossed, the calendar date changes by one day. Understanding where this line is located is important in world geography and time zone calculations. This question tests your knowledge of which strait is closely associated with the region where the International Date Line passes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Several water bodies are listed: Hudson Bay, Denmark Strait, Bering Strait, Baffin Bay, and the Strait of Malacca.

- The International Date Line runs mainly through the Pacific Ocean and Arctic regions, with some zigzags to avoid splitting countries and island groups.

- It is assumed that you know basic world map locations of the listed straits and bays.

- The question expects you to identify which one lies near the 180 degree meridian region where the date line passes.

Concept / Approach:
The International Date Line is not a straight political boundary, but it approximates the 180 degree longitude, especially around the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska and then down through the central Pacific. Denmark Strait lies between Greenland and Iceland in the North Atlantic. Hudson Bay and Baffin Bay are in northern Canada, far from the 180 degree line. The Strait of Malacca is between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, again nowhere near the central Pacific. The correct approach is to recall that Bering Strait lies between eastern Russia and western Alaska and that the date line runs near this strait in the Arctic region.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the globe and the approximate path of the International Date Line, which follows 180 degrees longitude through the Pacific Ocean. Step 2: Recall that near the Arctic, this line passes between Siberia in Russia and Alaska in the United States. Step 3: Identify that the narrow stretch of water between Russia and Alaska is called the Bering Strait. Step 4: Note that Hudson Bay and Baffin Bay are located in and around northern Canada, well away from 180 degrees longitude. Step 5: Recognise that Denmark Strait lies between Iceland and Greenland in the North Atlantic, and the Strait of Malacca lies between Southeast Asia and Sumatra, neither of which are close to the date line. Step 6: Conclude that Bering Strait is the only option that matches the path of the International Date Line.

Verification / Alternative Check:
A quick check is to remember that when news reports talk about places where it can be one calendar day in one country and another day in a neighbouring region, they often mention the line between Russia and Alaska. The two Diomede Islands in Bering Strait are famous for being in different calendar dates because of the nearby date line. This strongly confirms that the date line passes near the Bering Strait region rather than the other straits and bays listed.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Hudson Bay is a large inland sea in Canada and is far from the central Pacific and the 180 degree meridian. Denmark Strait is between Greenland and Iceland in the North Atlantic and has no direct relationship with the International Date Line. Baffin Bay lies between Greenland and northeastern Canada, again located in the Atlantic sector, not near the date line. The Strait of Malacca is an important shipping lane in Southeast Asia but lies near 100 degrees east longitude, far from 180 degrees longitude.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse cold northern names like Hudson Bay and Baffin Bay with any Arctic related feature, including the date line. Students also sometimes overlook that the date line is centered on 180 degrees longitude and not on latitude. Carefully associating each option with its correct region on the world map, and remembering that the date line runs approximately north south in the Pacific near Bering Strait, helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
The International Date Line passes near the region of the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska.