The Tropic of Cancer is an important latitude. Among the following countries, through which one does this latitude not pass?

Introduction / Context:
Parallels of latitude such as the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are important reference lines in world geography. Knowing which countries these lines cross is a favourite topic in competitive examinations. This question asks you to identify a country from the list that does not lie on the path of the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at about 23.5 degrees north latitude.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Tropic of Cancer is fixed at approximately 23.5 degrees north.
• The countries listed are India, Egypt, Mexico, and Iran.
• We assume standard political boundaries as shown in contemporary world maps.

Concept / Approach:
To solve this question, recall or visualise the world map and follow the approximate path of the Tropic of Cancer as it circles the globe. It passes through parts of North America, North Africa, the Arabian region, and South and East Asia. Specifically, it runs through Mexico in North America, then crosses the Sahara where it passes through countries like Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Niger, Libya, and Egypt. In Asia it passes through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and China. When you mentally trace this band of latitude, Iran does not appear on the list.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that the Tropic of Cancer is located at about 23.5 degrees north latitude.Step 2: Recall that it crosses Mexico, so Mexico is on the Tropic.Step 3: Recall that in Africa, the Tropic of Cancer passes through Egypt among other countries.Step 4: Recall that in Asia, it definitely passes through India in states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.Step 5: Observe that Iran lies slightly to the north of this latitude band and is not crossed by the Tropic of Cancer. Therefore, Iran is the country where this latitude does not pass.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the answer by briefly checking an atlas or a world map with lines of latitude marked. The Tropic of Cancer curve can be seen passing clearly through Mexico, Egypt, and India. However, the line does not intersect the territory of Iran. Instead, Iran is located roughly between 25 and 40 degrees north, but its shape and location keep it outside the direct path of the Tropic of Cancer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
India: The Tropic of Cancer cuts across several Indian states, so this option is incorrect as an answer to the question.Egypt: The northern part of the Sahara in Egypt is intersected by the Tropic of Cancer, so Egypt is not the correct choice.Mexico: Mexico lies in the path of the Tropic of Cancer across North America, so this option is also incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Iran with nearby countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman that are on or near the Tropic of Cancer. Another common mistake is to rely on rough mental pictures of the map without noting the exact latitude. Learning a simple list of countries that the Tropic of Cancer passes through and revising it regularly is a good way to avoid such confusion in exams.

Final Answer:
The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through Iran.