World Islands – Rank by Area After Greenland (the largest island), which island is the second largest in the world by land area?

Introduction / Context:
Ranking the world’s largest islands is common in geography quizzes. Knowing the exact order helps when differentiating among large Southeast Asian and Pacific islands with comparable reputations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Greenland is the largest island.
• Candidates for second place include New Guinea and Borneo; Madagascar (often called Malagasy) and Sumatra are also large but smaller.
• We ignore Australia because it is a continent rather than an island in standard lists.

Concept / Approach:
New Guinea (shared by Papua New Guinea and Indonesia) is the world’s second-largest island by area. Borneo ranks third, followed by Madagascar and then Baffin Island/Sumatra depending on the list segment.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Reference atlases and statistical yearbooks consistently place New Guinea behind Greenland in area rankings.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Borneo: Third, not second.
• Malagasy (Madagascar): Fourth.
• Sumatra: Smaller than Borneo and Madagascar.

Common Pitfalls:
Including Australia in island rankings or mixing up Borneo and New Guinea due to both being in Maritime Southeast Asia.

Final Answer:
New Guinea