What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north? (1). Bangkok (2). Hanoi (3). Jakarta (4). Singapore Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The question is about latitude, so the job is to place each city on the map and read them from south to north. Jakarta lies on Java at about 6 degrees south of the equator, so it is the southernmost. Singapore sits at roughly 1.3 degrees north, just above the equator. Bangkok is near 13.7 degrees north, and Hanoi is near 21 degrees north, making it the northernmost. That gives 3-4-1-2, which is option C.

• Option A (4-2-1-3) puts Jakarta north of Hanoi, which is wrong by a wide margin.
• Option B (3-2-4-1) places Hanoi south of Singapore, which is wrong.
• Option D (4-3-2-1) places Singapore south of Jakarta, which is wrong because Singapore is north of the equator and Jakarta is south of it.

The core concept is the basic use of latitude to order places. For Mains, this helps with questions on ASEAN geography, the equatorial climate of Indonesia and Singapore versus the monsoon climate of mainland Southeast Asia, and the monsoon-linked rice belts of the region.

Trap: Aspirants often assume that Jakarta and Singapore are at similar latitudes because both are coastal port cities, or they think Bangkok lies further south than Singapore because Thailand is seen as a mainland state. Check the latitude of each city instead of relying on the impression of the region.