Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean?1.Bahrain2.Syria3.Qatar4.Egypt Select the answer using the code given below:

1. A

   1 and 2

   1 and 2 claims that ships from Bahrain and Syria must cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach the Indian Ocean. While Bahrain borders the Persian Gulf and its vessels must navigate the Strait of Hormuz to enter the open Indian Ocean, Syria lies on the eastern Mediterranean Sea with access to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic via the Suez Canal or Gibraltar, making this option incorrect.

2. B

   1 and 3

   1 and 3. Both Bahrain and Qatar are located within the Persian Gulf. To access the Indian Ocean (via the Arabian Sea), ships departing from their ports must transit through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, situated between Oman and Iran.

3. C

   2 and 3

   2 and 3 claims that ships from Syria and Qatar must cross the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar's ships must use the strait, but Syria faces the Mediterranean Sea and does not use the Strait of Hormuz for maritime trade toward the Indian Ocean, making this option incorrect.

4. D

   3 and 4

   3 and 4 claims that ships from Qatar and Egypt must cross the Strait of Hormuz. While Qatar requires the strait, Egypt is located in northeastern Africa with its coastline on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea; Egyptian ships access the Indian Ocean directly via the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Summary. Official key is (b). Bahrain and Qatar lie inside the Persian Gulf, meaning their maritime traffic must pass through the Strait of Hormuz to reach the Indian Ocean, whereas Syria (Mediterranean) and Egypt (Red Sea) do not require this transit.