Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: All of the above
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Longitude lines are imaginary lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole, used to measure how far east or west a place is from the prime meridian. Among these, the 180 degrees longitude meridian is special because it roughly corresponds to the International Date Line, where calendar dates change when crossing from one side to the other. Understanding which regions lie along or close to this meridian gives a clearer picture of how the globe is divided and how time and date adjustments work in practice. This question asks which listed places are situated near 180 degrees longitude.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The 180 degrees longitude meridian runs mostly through the Pacific Ocean and marks the opposite side of the Earth from the prime meridian at Greenwich. To avoid splitting small island nations, the International Date Line zigzags around some territories, but it broadly follows this meridian. Fiji is located in the South Pacific, close to the International Date Line and near 180 degrees longitude. In the far east of Russia, especially the Chukotka region, the territory stretches across the 180 degrees meridian. In the Southern Ocean, the 180 degrees meridian continues towards Antarctica, passing through the polar region. Because each of the listed regions has land or waters close to this meridian, the most complete and accurate choice is that all of the options are correct.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that 180 degrees longitude runs mainly through the Pacific Ocean opposite Greenwich.
Step 2: Identify island nations and territories in the Pacific that lie near this line, such as Fiji.
Step 3: Remember that eastern Russia extends into the far Pacific and crosses the 180 degrees meridian.
Step 4: Follow the meridian on a mental or physical globe down to the Antarctic region, where it reaches Antarctica.
Step 5: Recognize that all three listed regions have locations near or on the 180 degrees meridian, so the correct option is all of the above.
Verification / Alternative check:
A useful verification approach is to imagine or look at a globe where 0 degrees longitude passes through Greenwich and 180 degrees longitude is directly opposite. This meridian cuts across the Pacific, touching or passing near the islands of Fiji and other Pacific nations. In the Northern Hemisphere, it intersects parts of eastern Russia. In the Southern Hemisphere, it reaches the continent of Antarctica. Since each listed option has territory near this line, choosing the combined option all of the above provides the most complete answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Choosing only Fiji would ignore the fact that eastern Russia also crosses the 180 degrees meridian. Selecting only eastern Russia would leave out the presence of the meridian in the South Pacific and Antarctica. Choosing only Antarctica focuses on the southern polar region but neglects the Pacific island nations and Russian territories that the meridian also touches. Therefore options A, B, and C are incomplete by themselves. The option that states all of the above correctly recognizes that the meridian passes near or through all these places.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that a major meridian like 180 degrees must pass only through ocean areas and avoid land altogether, which is not correct. Another common mistake is to associate the International Date Line strictly with one island group and forget that it also bends to respect international boundaries. Some learners also confuse the prime meridian with other longitude lines. Visualizing the Earth as a whole and remembering that longitude lines extend from pole to pole helps prevent these misunderstandings.
Final Answer:
The places that lie along or very close to the 180 degrees longitude meridian are found in Fiji, eastern Russia, and Antarctica, so the correct option is All of the above.
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