The world's largest single rock formation, regarded as sacred by the Aboriginal people of Australia, is known by which of the following names?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Large rock formations often become important cultural and spiritual landmarks. In Australia, a famous sandstone monolith has great cultural, spiritual, and historical significance for the Aboriginal people and is recognised around the world as a symbol of the Australian outback. This question asks you to identify the name of that rock, which is also frequently mentioned in travel and geography materials.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The rock in question is regarded as sacred by Aboriginal communities.
  • It is often described as the world's largest single rock or monolith.
  • Options include Uluru (Ayers Rock), Mount Everest, Stonehenge, and the Rock of Gibraltar.
  • We assume basic knowledge of world geography and famous landmarks.


Concept / Approach:
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a massive sandstone formation located in the Northern Territory of central Australia. It is sacred to the Anangu, the local Aboriginal people, and is famous for its changing colours at sunrise and sunset. Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, not a single rock monolith in the same sense. Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone monument in England, consisting of multiple stones arranged in a circle, not one giant rock. The Rock of Gibraltar is a limestone promontory located at the entrance to the Mediterranean, important but not described in the same way as Uluru in this context. Therefore, Uluru (Ayers Rock) is the correct answer.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the key clues: world's largest single rock, sacred to Aboriginal people, and located in Australia. Step 2: Recall that Uluru, also known historically as Ayers Rock, matches all of these descriptions. Step 3: Recognise that Mount Everest, while very famous, is a high mountain in the Himalayas and not a single rock formation of the type described. Step 4: Understand that Stonehenge is a ring of standing stones in England, and the Rock of Gibraltar is a strategic cliff in Europe, neither of which is the sacred Australian monolith in the question. Step 5: Select Uluru (Ayers Rock) as the only option consistent with the sacred status among Australian Aboriginal people and with the description of a giant rock monolith.


Verification / Alternative check:
Geography textbooks and travel documentaries almost always introduce Uluru/Ayers Rock when discussing Australian landscapes and Aboriginal culture. The site is part of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. By contrast, Mount Everest is covered under the topic of high mountains, and Stonehenge under prehistoric monuments, confirming that Uluru is the intended answer here.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mount Everest does not match the description of a single monolith or sacred Aboriginal site. Stonehenge is a constructed monument consisting of multiple stones in England, not a naturally occurring single rock. The Rock of Gibraltar is a well known cliff in southwestern Europe, but it is not tied to Aboriginal Australian spirituality or described as the world's largest single rock in this context. Hence, these options are not correct.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be tempted to choose Mount Everest simply because it is famous and associated with a superlative (highest mountain). Others may get distracted by the recognisable name Rock of Gibraltar. Carefully reading the reference to Aboriginal people and Australian context helps to quickly narrow the answer to Uluru, preventing such confusion.


Final Answer:
The world's largest sacred rock formation described in the question is Uluru (Ayers Rock).

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