The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn describe the area between which parallels?

• A. The Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle
• B. The Equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
• C. The Tropics of Cancer only
• D. The Tropics of Capricorn only

Answer: (B)

The area described by the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is the tropical zone—the belt around the equator where the Sun can be directly overhead at some point during the year. These two parallels sit about 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator, so the region that lies between the equator and those Tropics on either side forms the tropical band. That’s why thinking of it as the area bounded by the equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn best captures where the tropics are located.

The other options point to polar regions or only one of the tropics, which don’t define the full tropical zone.