Author Archives: Rohit

1. In this chapter you have read that health is a wider concept than illness. Look at this quote from the Constitution and explain the terms ‘living standard’ and ‘public health’ in your own words.
An important part of the Constitution says it is the “duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health. ”
Answer:

1. Living Standard
   • The level of living at which they live.
     • It is a low level if the basic needs are barely satisfied.
     • If one leads a comfortable life, the living standard is said to be of a higher level.
2. Public Health
   • Public health means the health of the general public or people.
   • The constitution ensures equal access to health t.o all without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, sex, religion, etc.

2. What are the different ways through which the government can take steps to provide healthcare for all? Discuss.
Answer: The government can take steps to provide healthcare for all by:

• Increasing the number of hospitals, healthcare centres, and family welfare centres.
• Organising free camps for the check-up of the general public.
• Organising Pulse Polio campaigns.
• Spreading health awareness among common people through different means. Workshops, seminars, and training camps can also prove to be effective ways.

3. What differences do you find between private and public health services in your area? Use the following table to compare and contrast these.

4. ‘Improvement in water and sanitation can control many diseases’. Explain with the help of examples.
Answer: Water and sanitation are the basic necessities for the maintenance of our health. Poor quality of water causes a lot of health problems. Similarly, poor sanitation causes many epidemics giving birth to dangerous insects and worms. Recently we saw the spread of Dengue caused by Aedes (a mosquito). Malaria is also caused by a mosquito called anopheles. Improvement in water and sanitation can control these happenings.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What do people in a democratic country expect the government?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: People in a democratic country expect the government to work for their welfare.

2. Where do most doctors prefer to settle?
Answer: Most doctors prefer to settle in urban areas.

3. Name some water-borne diseases.
Answer: Diarrhoea, worms, hepatitis.

4. What problem do rural people face whenever they come in a grip of an illness?
Answer: They have to travel long distances to reach a doctor.

5. What do we need to prevent and treat illnesses?
Answer: We need appropriate healthcare facilities such as health centres, hospital laboratories for testing, ambulance services, etc.

6. What do you mean by a public health care system? [V. Imp.]
Answer: This is a system of hospitals and health centres run by the government.

7. What happened to Hakim Sheik?
Answer: One evening in 1992, he accidentally fell off a running train and suffered head injuries.

8. Why did Hakim Sheik file a case in the court?
Answer: Hakim Sheik filed a case in the court because of the indifferent attitude of various government hospitals that refused to admit him.

9. Who got costly medical treatment—Aman or Raryan?
Answer: Ranjan got costly medical treatment.

10. What did the court ask the State Government in the Hakim Sheik case?
Answer: The court asked the State Government to give Hakim Sheik the money that he had spent on his treatment.

11. What is the full form of RMPs? Where are they found?
Answer: Registered Medical Practitioners. They are found in rural areas.

12. Where are private services, easily available?
Answer: Private services are easily available in urban areas.

13. Why are poor people more likely to fall ill?
Answer: Poor people are more likely to fall ill because they are not provided basic necessities like drinking water, adequate housing, clean surroundings, etc.

14. Why are women not taken to a doctor in a prompt manner?
Answer: It is because women’s health concerns are considered to be less important than the health of men in the family.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Define health from broader perspective. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The common definition of health is the ability of a person to remain free of illness and injuries. But health is not only about the disease. It is something more than that. Apart from disease, we need to think of other factors such as safe drinking water, clean surroundings, etc. because they affect our health in various ways. If people fail to get these basic amenities of life, they will fall ill. Being active and in good spirits are also an essential part of health. We also need to be without mental stress, because we cannot be healthy for a long time if we are under mental strain.

2. Mention some positive aspects of healthcare in India. [Imp.]
Answer: Some positive aspects of healthcare in India are:

1. India has a good number of doctors, clinics, and hospitals. It is among the largest producers of doctors.
2. Healthcare facilities have grown substantially over the years. The number of hospitals grew from 11,174 in 1991 to 18,218 in 2000.
3. India gets a large number of medical tourists from several countries. They come for treatment in some of the world-famous hospitals in India.
4. India is the fourth-largest producer of medicines in the world and also a large exporter of medicines.

3. What are the negative aspects of healthcare in India? [Imp.]
Answer: The negative aspects of healthcare in India are:

1. Rural people face the crisis of doctors because most doctors settle in urban areas. They have to travel long distances to reach a doctor.
2. About live lakh, people die from tuberculosis every year. Almost two million cases of malaria are reported every year.
3. Clean drinking water is not available to all. As a result poor people easily become prey to various waterborne diseases such as diarrhea worms, hepatitis, etc.
4. Half of all children in India do not get adequate food to eat and are undernourished.

4. Write down the main features of the public health system. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The main features of the public health system are:

1. It provides quality healthcare services either free or at a low cost so that even the poor can seek treatment.
2. It takes action to prevent the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, jaundice, etc. Time to time it takes up a campaign to see that mosquitoes do not breed in water-coders, rooftops, etc.
3. This system is available in both rural and urban areas.

5. What did the court say in the case of Hakim Sheik?
Answer: The court said that the difficulty that Hakim Sheik had to face could have cost him his life. If a hospital cannot provide timely medical treatment to a person, it means that the protection of life is not being given. The court also said that it was the duty of the government to provide the necessary health services, including treatment in emergency situations. Hospitals and medical staff must fulfill their duty of providing essential treatment. As various government hospitals refused to admit him, the State Government was asked to give Hakim Sheik the money that he had spent on his treatment.

6. How can you say that adequate healthcare is not available to all?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: We can say without any doubt that adequate healthcare is not available to all in our country. The reason is that private services are increasing but public services are not. As a result, private services are mainly available to people. But these services are concentrated in urban areas and are very expensive.

Poor people hardly afford them whenever there is an illness in the family, they either borrow money or sell some of their possessions to pay for the expenses. Thus, medical expenses cause great hardship for the poor. Therefore, they avoid going to the doctor unless it is very urgent.

It has been found that women are not taken to a doctor in a prompt manner. Their health concerns are easily ignored. Many tribal areas have few health centres and they do not run properly.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Compare public health services with those of private health services.  [V. Imp.]
Answer: (a) Public health services are run by the government while private health services are managed by individuals or companies.
(b) Public health services provide health care facilities either free or at a low cost so that even the poor can seek treatment easily. Thus, money-making is not the goal of public health services. So far private health services are concerned, they are run mainly for profit. They usually prescribe expensive medicines. It is common for private doctors to prescribe unnecessary medicines, injections or saline bottles when tablets or simple medicines can suffice.
(c) Public health services are found both in rural and urban areas. But private health services are concentrated in urban areas.
(d) We often find huge rush at the government hospitals. People have to wait for hours in a long queue. But private hospitals are maintained properly. People don’t face such long queues there.

2. What is the Costa Rican approach? Explain.   [V. Imp.]
Answer: Costa Rica is a country in North America. It is considered to be one of the wealthiest countries on the continent. The Costa Rican govt gave much importance to the health of its citizens. It took an important decision and decided not to have an army. In this way, it saved money and began to spend this money on health, education, and other basic needs of the people. The Costa Rican government believes that a country has to be healthy for its development and pays sincere attention to the health of its people.

The Costa Rican government provides all the basic services and amenities to all the people of the country. It provides clean drinking water, sanitation, nutrition, and housing. Health education has been made an important part of education and at all levels, students are provided knowledge about health. The Costa Rican approach towards health is praiseworthy and inspiring.

3. What major changes were made by the Kerala government in the state in 1996?
Answer: The Kerala government made some major changes in the state in 1996. It gave 40% of the entire state budget to panchayats so that they could plan and provide for their requirements. This made it possible for a village to make sure that proper planning was done for water, food, women’s development, and education.

In this way water supply schemes were checked, the working of schools and anganwadis were ensured and specific problems of the village were taken up. Health centres were also improved.

In spite of all these efforts, some problems such as shortage of medicines, insufficient hospital beds, not enough doctors still exist and these are needed to be solved.

1. In a democracy why is Universal Adult Franchise important?
Answer: In a democracy, the Universal Adult Franchise is important because of the following reasons:

1. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
2. Every adult irrespective of caste, creed, religion, region, sex, the rich or poor background is allowed to vote. This is called a universal adult franchise.
3. The concept of the universal adult franchise is based on equality.
4. In a democracy every citizen is equal.

2. Re-read the box on Article 15 and state two ways in which this Article addresses inequality?
Answer: This Article addresses inequality in terms of access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment, or [b] the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of state funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.

3. In what ways was Omprakash Valmikis experience similar to that of the Ansaris?
Answer: Omprakash Valmiki’s experience was similar to that of Ansaris in the following ways:

1. Omprakash Valmiki was not allowed to sit with other students on the desks or mats.
2. Ansaris were not given apartments on rent in the locality of the people belonging to the Hindu religion.
3. Omprakash Valmiki was discriminated against on the basis of caste while Ansaris were discriminated against on the basis of religion.

4. What do you understand by the term “all persons are equal before the law”? Why do you think it is important in a democracy?
Answer:

1. By the term, “all persons are equal before the law”, we understand equality.
2. Equality is important in a democracy because democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
   • Equality is the essence of democracy.
   • If people are discriminated against on the basis of caste, creed, religion, sex, prosperity etc. the democracy will not survive.

5. The Government of India passed the Disabilities Act in 1995. This law states that persons with disabilities have equal rights, and that the government should make possible their full participation in society. The government has to provide free education and integrate children with disabilities into mainstream schools. This law also states that all public places including buildings, school etc., should be accessible and provided with ramps. 
Look at the photograph and think about the boy who is being carried down the stairs. Do you think the above law is being implemented in his case? What needs to be done to make the building and accessible for him?

How would his being carried down the stairs affect his dignity as well as his safety?
Answer: The boy in the photograph is disabled. As per the law this building should have been accessible for him. But we see the law is not being implemented in his case. He is being carried down by security personnels through stairs. This building does not provide ramps. The boy’s dignity is overlooked here. He may morally feel inferior. The way he is carried down the stars may prove dangerous. Law should take this case to the court.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What is Joothan about?
Answer: It is about the bitter experiences of growing up of a dalit boy.

2. What suggestion was given to Ansaris by the property dealer?
Answer: They were suggested to change their names and call themselves Mr and Mrs kumar.

3. On what basis were the Ansaris treated unequally?
Ans. The Ansaris were treated unequally on the basis of religion.

4. What do you mean by ‘dignity’? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Dignity means thinking of one self and others as worthy of self-respect.

5. What are the two ways in which the government has tried to implement the equality that guaranteed in the constitution?
Answer:
(i) Through laws
(ii) Through government programmes or schemes to help unprivileged groups.

6. Who have been employed to cook the meal under midday meal scheme?
Answer: Dalit women have been employed for this purpose.

7. How did B.R. Ambedkar view self-respect?
Answer: B.R. Ambedkar viewed self-respect as the most vital factor in life, without which man was cipher.

8. What was the condition of the African-Americans in the United States of America prior to 1950s?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Prior to 1950’s, the African-Americans were treated extremely unequally in the USA and denied equality through law.

9. What is known as the Civil Rights Movements?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: A movement took place in the USA in the late 1950’s to push for equal rights for African-Americans. This movement later came to be known as Civil Rights Movement.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What is it that makes Kanta unsure?
Answer: Kanta is a poor domestic worker. She lives in a slum which is very filthy. Her daughter is sick but she cannot skip work because she needs to borrow money from her employers to take her daughter to the doctor. Her job as a domestic help is not a permanent. She can be removed by her employers any time.

2. Mention two different kinds of inequalities that exist in our country. Give examples.  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Two different kinds of inequalities that exist in our country are—inequalities based on the caste system and that based on the religion.
Omprakash Valmiki was treated extremely unequally because he was a dalit. In school, his headmaster made him sweep the school and the playground.
The Ansaris were treated unequally on the basis differences of religion. They were looking to rent an apartment in the city. They were about to take an apartment at the first sight. But the moment the land lady knew their names she declined to rent the house.

3. Write a note on equality in Indian democracy.  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Indian constitution recognises all persons as equals. This means that every individual in the country irrespective of his/her caste, religion, educational and economic backgrounds is recognised as equal. Although, inequality still exists in the country, yet the principle of the equality of all persons is recognised. While earlier no law existed to protect people from discrimination and ill treatment now there are several that work to see that people are treated with dignity.

4. Write a brief note on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Answer: The Civil Rights Act was passed in the year 1964. The Act prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion or national origin. It also stated that all schools would be open to African-American children and that they would no longer have to attend separate schools specially set up for them. However, a majority of African-Americans continue to be among the poorest in the country.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What are the provision made in the constitution for the recognition of equality?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The provisions made in the constitution for the recognition of equality are as follow:
(a) Every person is equal before the law. What this means is that every person, from the President of India to a domestic worker like Kanta, has to obey the same laws.
(b) No person can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion, caste, race place of birth or whether they are male or female.
(c) Every person has access to all public places including playgrounds, hotels, shops and markets. All persons can use publicly available wells, roads and bathing ghats.
(d) Untouchability has been abolished.

2. How can you say that establishment of equality in society is a continuous struggle?
Answer: Inspite of several efforts made by the government inequalities still exist in our society. Even today low caste people are being discriminated against and treated unequally. The reason behind it is that people refuse to think of them as equal even though the law requires it.

This attitude of the people is so deeply rooted that it can not change all of a sudden. It will take a lot of time.Even though  people are aware that discrimination is against the law, they continue to treat others unequally on the basis of caste and religion. People are also discriminated against on the basis of economic status, disability and gender.

Unless people believe that every person deserves to be treated equally and with dignity, the present attitude cannot be rooted out. Changing people’s attitude is a very slow process and hence establishment of equality in society is a continuous struggle.

1. Answer the following questions briefly:                                                   
(a) What are the two types of deserts found in the world?
(b) In which continent is the Sahara desert located?
(c) What are the climatic conditions of the Ladakh desert?
(d) What mainly attracts tourists to Ladakh?
(e) What type of clothes the people of the Sahara desert wear?
(f) Name the trees that grow in Ladakh
Answer:
(a) The two types of deserts found in the world are hot deserts and cold deserts.

(b) The Sahara desert is located in Africa.

(c) The climate of the Ladakh desert is extremely cold and dry due to its high attitude which varies from about 3,000 m in Kargil to more than 8,000 m in the Karakoram. The air at this attitude is so then that the heat of the sun can be felt intensely. The day temperatures in summer are just above zero degree and the night temperatures are below -30°C. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures below -40°C for most of the time. There is very little rainfall in this region. It is as low as 10 cm every year. The area experiences freezing winds and burning hot sunlight. There is always a chance of sunstroke and frostbite at the same time.

(d) Ladakh is a famous tourist place. The tourists from within the country and abroad enjoy visiting Buddhist monasteries that dot the Ladakhi landscape with their traditional gompas.
The meadows and glaciers in Ladakh also attract these tourists. The ceremonies and festivities in which the local people keep themselves engaged during winter months are great attractions to the tourists.

(e) The people of the Sahara desert wear heavy clothes.

(f) Scanty patches of grasses and shrubs, groves of willows and poplars, fruit trees such as apples, apricots and walnuts.

2. Tick the correct answer:
(i) Sahara is located in which part of Africa?
(a) eastern                          (b)   northern                               (c) western.
(ii) Sahara is what type of dessert?
(a) cold                              (b)   hot                                      (c) mild.
(iii) The Ladakh desert is mainly inhabited by ………..
(a) Christians and Muslims
(b) Buddhists and Muslims
(c) Christians and Buddhists.
(iv) Deserts are characterized by ……………..
(a) Scanty vegetation        (b)heavy precipitation              (iii) low evaporation.
(v) Hemis in Ladakh is famous ………………
(a) temple                           (b)   church                                 (c) monastery.
(vi) Egypt is famous for growing
(a) wheat    (b) maize                                    (c) cotton.
Answer: (i)-(b), (ii)-(b), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(a), (v)-(c), (vi)—(c).

3. Match the following: 

4. Give reasons:

1. There is scanty vegetation in the deserts.
2. People of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes.

Answer:

1. There is scanty vegetation in the deserts because of the following reasons:
   • Vegetation depends on two factors: climate and soil.
     • The climate in the deserts is either very hot and dry or very cold and dry.
       ★ Such a climate does not allow the growth of vegetation.
       ★ Rainfall is scanty. Hence vegetation does not grow in dry conditions.
     • Soil is either sandy (in hot deserts) or covered with snow (cold deserts) for most of the year. Both types of soil do not encourage vegetation to grow.
2. People of the Sahara Desert wear heavy robes because of the following reasons:
   • Robes of the people of Sahara Desert are made of hides (of animals) or hair of animals.
   • These robes are heavy:
     • They protect the people from the scorching sun and extreme heat (dust storms and hot winds).
     • They protect the people from dust storms and hot winds.

5. Map skills:
(i) On the outline map of Africa, marks the Sahara desert and any four countries around it.
(ii) On the outline map of India, mark the Karakoram Range, Zanskar Range, Ladakh and zojila pass.
Answer:

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How many countries are touched by the Sahara desert? Name them.
Answer: The Sahara desert touches eleven countries—Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.

2. What are the two characteristic features of a desert?  [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The climate of a desert is either very hot and dry or very cold and dry.
The vegetation is sparse.

3. Mention the day and night temperatures of the Sahara desert.
Answer: The day temperature—It may soar as high as 50°C.
The night temperature—Nearing zero degrees

4. What vegetation is found in the Sahara desert?
Answer: Vegetation in the Sahara desert is comprised of cactus, date, palms, and acacia.
Green islands with date palms can be seen near the oases.

5. Name the two nomadic tribes living in the Sahara desert.
Answer: The Bedouins and Tuaregs.

6. Name the animals reared by the Bedouins and Tuaregs.
Answer: Goats, Sheep, Camels and horses.

7. What do these animals provide them?
Answer: These animals provide them with milk and hides.

8. Name the countries associated with the discovery of oil
Answer: Algeria, Libya and Egypt.

9. Ladakh is made up of two words. Mention these words with their meaning.
Answer: The two words with which Ladakh is made up of are La meaning mountain pass and Dak meaning country.

10. Where is Ladakh located?
Answer: Ladakh is located in the Great Himalayas, on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir.

11. Name an important river that flows through Ladakh.
Answer: Indus.

12. Why is there little rainfall in the Ladakh desert?     [Imp.]
Answer: It is because the Ladakh desert lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas.

13. Name the birds which are common in the Ladakh desert.
Answer: Robias, redstarts, Tibetan snowcock, raven and hoopoe.

14. What is the use of the hair of the sheep and goat in the cold desert of Ladak?
Answer: The hair of the sheep and goat is used to make woolens.

15. Why do people hunt Chiru or the Tibetan antelope?
Answer: People hunt the Chiru or the Tibetan antelope for its wool known as Shahtoosh

16. Name some famous monasteries of Ladakh
Answer: Hemis, Thiksey, Shey and Lamayuru.

17. Which National Highway connects Leh to Kashmir valley and through which pass?
Answer: The National Highway A connects Leh to Kashmir valley through the Zojila pass.

18. Name the four passes which Manali-Leh highway crosses.
Answer: Rohtang La, Lungalacha La, Baralacha La and Tanglang La.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Describe the Climate of the Sahara desert. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Sahara desert experience scorching hot and parch dry climate. The rainy season occurs for the short time. The sky is cloudless and clear. Days are extremely hot. The temperatures during the day may rise as high as 50°C. The nights may be freezing cold with temperatures nearing zero degrees.

2. Mention the summer and winter activities of the people of the Ladakh desert.[V. Imp.]
Answer: In the summer season the people of the Ladakh desert are busy in cultivation work. They grow crops such as barley, potatoes, peas, beans and turnip. The climate during winters is very harsh and people keep themselves engaged in festivities and ceremonies. The women manage the house and fields with great efficiency. They also manage small businesses and shops.

3. Describe the flora and fauna found in the Sahara desert
Answer: Flora. The Sahara desert has vegetation such as cactus, date palms and acacia. In some places there are oases where one can see green islands with date palms. Fauna. The animals found in the Sahara desert are camels, hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions, several varieties of snakes and lizards.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Describe the people of the Sahara desert Also write about their activities.  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Sahara desert experiences a harsh climate. Despite that various groups of people such as the Bedouins and Juaregs live here. These are nomadic tribes who pursue different activities. They rear animals such as goats, sheep, camels and horses. They get jnilk and hides from these animals. They prepare leather from hides. This leather is used in making belts, slippers, water bottles. They use the hair of these animals in making mats, carpets, clothes and blankets. The people of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes to protect themselves from the dust storms and hot winds.

The oasis in the Sahara desert and the Nile valley in Egypt support the settled population. Since water is available, people grow date palms. They also grow rice, wheat, barley and beans.

The Sahara is undergoing change with fast speed. Tuaregs, the nomadic tribe, are now acting as guides to foreign tourists. More and more nomadic herdsmen are migrating to cities in search of jobs in oil and gas operations.

2. Describe the flora and fauna found in the Ladakh desert.    [V. Imp.]
Answer: Flora—Vegetation is scanty in the Ladakh desert. There are scanty patches of grasses and shrubs. Groves of willows and poplars are seen in the valleys. During the summers, fruit trees such as apples, apricots and walnuts grow.

Fauna. Several species of birds are found in the Ladakh desert. Robins, redstarts, Tibetan snowcock, raven, and hoopoe are common. The animals found in this region are wild goats, wild sheep, yak, and special kinds of dogs.

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What are the Temperate Grasslands of North America called?
2. What are the cattle farms in the North American Grasslands known as?
3. Name the rivers that drain the velds.
4. When is the rainy season in the Velds.
5. What is the major occupation of the people of the South African grasslands?

Answer:

1. The Temperate Grasslands of North America are called Prairies.
2. The cattle farms in the North American grasslands are known as Ranches.
3. The names of the rivers which drain the velds are:
   • River Orange
   • River Limpopo
   • Their tributaries.
4. The rainy season in the velds is from November to February.
5. The major occupation of the people of the South African grasslands is Sheep Rearing.

2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) River Mississippi drains
(i) Canada(ii) Africa(iii) USA.
(b) Drakensberg Mountainsare to the west of 
(i) Prairies(ii) Velds(iii) Pampas.
(c) Merino is a species of
(i) Fish(ii) Elephant(iii) Sheep.
(d) Kimberley is famous for
(i) diamonds     (ii)silver  (iii) platinum.
Answer: (a)—(iii), (b)—(ii), (c)—(iii),(d)—(i)

3. Match the following:
(i) Comboys  (a)Iron and Steel
(ii) Gold    (b)Prairies
(iii) Kudu    (c)Hot wind
(iv) Chinook   (d)Velds
(v) Coal           (e)Johannesberg   (f)Animal
Answer: (i)—(b), (ii)—(e), (iii)—(f), (iv)—(c), (v)—a

4. Give reasons:

1. The Prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the world’.
2. Rise of the wool industry in the Velds.

Answer:

1. The Prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the World’ because of the following reasons:
   • Prairies grasslands have been cleared and wheat is grown extensively on these plains.
   • The use of tractors, harvesters, etc. and modem technologies have made the wheat production surplus:
   • Prairies supply wheat all over the world.
   • They satisfy the hunger of millions of people spread all over the world.
2. Rise of the wool industry in the Velds. The reasons responsible for this rise are the following:
   • Sheep rearing is the most important occupation of the people of the Velds grasslands.
   • Sheep are bred mainly for wool. Hence wool availability is in ample quantity.
     • The Merino wool is of the best quality.
     • Further merino wool is very warm.
     • Merino wool and woolen garments are in great demand all over the world.

5. Map skills:
On an outline map of North America, mark the Rocky mountains, the Great Lakes, River Mississippi, River Saskatchewan, the cities—Chicago and Winnipeg.
Answer:

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Enumerate the major features of the prairies. [Imp.]
Answer: The major features of the prairies are:

• These are the temperate grasslands of North America.
• It is a region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land.
• Prairies are almost treeless for the most part, but near the low lying plains, flanking river valleys, woodlands can be found.
• The landscape is dominated by tall grass, upto two metres high. It looks like a ‘sea of grass’.

2. Write a brief note on the climate of the prairies.
Answer: Prairies are located in the middle of the continent (North America). It is therefore, we find there a continental type of climate, characterised by extreme temperatures. The summers are warm with temperatures of around 20°C, while in winter-20°C has been recorded in Winnipeg and Canada, the important cities of the American prairies. In winters a think blanket of snow covers this region. The annual rainfall is moderate. A local wind called Chinook blows here.

3. Write some effects of Chinook? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Chinook is a hot wind that blows in winter. Being hot it raises the temperature within a short time. This increase in temperature results in the melting of snow, making the pasturelands available for grazing of animals.

4. Describe the climate of the velds.
Answer: The velds are under the influence of the Indian Ocean. Therefore they have a mild climate. Winters are cold and dry. Temperatures vary between 5°C and 10°C and July is the coldest month. Summers are short and warm Rainfall occurs in the summer months from November to February. Drought may occur if the rainfall is poor in the winter months from June to August.

5. Describe the flora and fauna of the prairies.                                                   [V. Imp.]
Answer: Flora. Prairies don’t have many trees. A few trees such as willows, alders and poplars grow where water is available. Fertile soil is found in the places that receive rainfall of over 50 cm. The crops grown here are maize, potatoes, soyabean, cotton and alfa-alfa. In the areas receiving poor rainfall, short grasses can be found.

Fauna. Cattle rearing is suitable in these areas. Large cattle farms called ranches are found here. Bison or the American buffalo is the important animal of this region. Other animals are rabbits, coyotes, gophers and Prairie dog.

6. Describe the flora and fauna of the velds.
Answer: Flora. Velds are not rich in vegetation. Grasses dominate the landscape. Red grass grows in bush velds. High velds are characterised by grasses like acacia and maroola.
Fauna. The animals found in the velds are lions, leopards, Cheetah, and Kudu.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What are the major occupations of the people in the prairies? What factors contributed to the industrialisation of this region. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The people living in the praries are hardworking. Their main occupations are cultivations and dairy fanning. People use scientific methods in cultivation. They use tractors, harvesters and combines and produce surplus food. The prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the world’ due to the huge surplus of wheat production.

Another main occupation of the people of the prairies is dairy farming. The daily belt extends from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coast in the east. Daily farming and extensive agriculture both promote setting up of food processing industries. The factors that led to the industrialisation of this region are:

• Large mineral deposits such as coal and iron.
• A good network of roads, railways and canals.

2. What various activities are performed by the people living in the velds?
Answer: Cattle rearing and mining are the two major activities of the people living in the velds. However, some people have engaged in agriculture also, though it is not the main occupation of this region. The soils are not very fertile in the velds. Where the land is fertile enough to grow crops, maize, wheat, barley, oats, and potato are cultivated. Cash crops like tobacco, sugercane, and cotton are also grown.

People of the velds are mostly engaged in sheep rearing. Sheep is bred mainly for wool and has given rise to the wool industry in the velds. Dairy farming is the next important occupation. Cattle are reared in warmer and wetter regions and dairy products such as butter, cheese is produced for both domestic supply and also for export.

As velds are very rich in mineral reserves, gold and diamond mining are also the chief occupations of the people of this region. Johannesburg is known for being the gold capital of the world. Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines.

1. Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Name the continent in which the Amazon Basin in located.
2. What are the crops grown by the people of the Amazon Basin?
3. Name the birds that you are likely to find in the rain forests of the Amazon.
4. What are the major cities located on the river Ganga?
5. Where are the one-homed rhinoceros found?

Answer:

1. South America.
2. Crops are grown by the people of Amazon Basin:
   • Tapioca
   • Pineapple
   • Sweet-potatoes
   • Cassava (manioc)
   • Maize, coffee, and cocoa are other important crops.
3. Birds:
   • Toucans
   • Humming Birds
   • Bird of paradise with their brilliantly coloured plumage, oversized bills.
4. Major Cities located on the banks of River Ganga:
   • Dev Prayag
   • Rishikesh
   • Haridwar
   • Kanpur
   • Allahabad
   • Varanasi
   • Patna
5. In Assam.

2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) Toucans are a type of
(i) birds                              (ii) animals     (iii) crops.
(b) Manioc is the staple food of
(i)  Ganga Basin                 (ii) Africa   (iii) Amazon.
(c) Kolkata is located on the river
(i)  Orange                          (ii) Hooghly   (iii) Bhagirathi.
(d) Deodars and firs are a type of
(i)  Coniferous trees            (ii) Deciduous trees   (iii) Shrubs.
(e) Bengal tiger is found in
(i)   Mountains                     (ii) Delta area   (iii) Amazon.
Answer: (a)-(i), (b)—(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)—(i), (e)—(ii).

3. Match the following:
(i) Cotton textile   (a) Assam
(ii) Maloca             (b) Terrace farming
(iii) Piranha           (c) Sericulture
(iv) Silk worm        (d) Slanting roof
(v) Kaziranga         (e) Ganga plain     (f) Varanasi  (g)Fish
Answer: (i)—(f), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(g), (iv)—(c),(v)—(a)

4. Give reasons:

1. The rainforests are depleting.
2. Paddy is grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plains.

Answer:

1. The Rainforests are depleting because of the following reasons:
   • Developmental activities have been started in a big way, resulting in the cutting of rainforests for various purposes.
   • The indigenous population has been pushed out who practiced conservation activities of forests and wildlife.
   • Industries are being set up after clearing the forests.
   • Lumbering has developed.
   • Topsoil is washed away during rains and lush green forests turn into barren lands.
2. Paddy is grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains because of the following:
   • Deep loamy soil is found in these plains due to the deposition of silt by the rivers for thousands of years.
   • Rivers in floods spread a new layer of alluvial every year. Hence it does not require manuring.
   • Canals from rivers supply ample water for irrigation of paddy fields during the dry season.
   • The lower portion of the plains receives adequate rainfall.
   • Cheap labour is available from the densely populated plains.
   • Means of transportation are developed to raise the movement of paddy and rice to the nearby markets.
   • New technologies are being adopted by the farmers because they can afford it due – to their sound financial position.

5. Map skills.
(i) Art an outline map of the Indian sub-continent, draw the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra from the source to the mouth Also show the important tributaries of both the rivers.
(ii) On the political map of South America, draw the equator. Mark the countries through which the equator passes.

Answer:

6. For fun:
Make a collage to show places of attractions in India You can divide the class into different groups to show attractions based on mountain landscapes, coastal beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and places of historical importance.
Ans. Attempt yourself.

7. Activity
Collect under mentioned material and observe how the destruction of trees affects the soil cover.
Material
(i) Three small flowerpots or food cans (e.g,, cold drinks tin cans),
(ii) One big can with holes punched in the bottom (this will act as a sprinkling can),
(iii) twelve coins or bottle caps
(iv) Soil.
Steps
Take three small cans or pots. Fill them with soil till the top. Press the soil to make it level with the top of the can. Now put four coins or bottle caps on the soil of each can. Take the big can that has been punched with holes and fill it with water. You can also take the sprinkling can from your garden. Now, sprinkle water on the three cans. On the first can sprinkle water veiy slowly so that no soil splashes out. Let moderate amount of water be sprinkled on the second can. On the third can, sprinkle the water heavily. You will observe that unprotected soil splashes out. Where the ‘rain’ is heavy the amount of soil that splashes out is the maximum and least in case of the first can. The coins or caps represent the tree covers. It is clear that if the land is cleared completely of the vegetation, the soil cover will quickly disappear.
Answer: Students are suggested to do this activity themselves under the guidance of their parents/guardians.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What type of vegetation grows in the Amazon forest?
Answer: Only shade tolerant vegetation grow here.

2. Name the animals Found in the Amazon forest.
Answer: Monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs.

3. What do men and women of the rainforest do?
Answer: Men hunt and fish along the rivers and women take care of the crops.

4. What do the people of the rainforest grow?
Answer: They grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato.

5. Name the cash crops that people of the rainforest grow.
Answer: Coffee, maize and cocoa.

6. What is the population density of West Bengal and Bihar? .
Answer: The populations density of west Bengal is 904 and that of Bihar is 880.

7. What is susu? What does its presence indicate?
Answer: In the fresh water of River Ganga and River Brahmaputra, a variety of dolphin is found which is locally known as susu. Its presence indicates the health of the river.

8. How and why are terraces built?              [V. Imp.]
Answer: Tarraces are built on steep slopes to create flat surfaces on which crops are grown.

9. By what names is the river Brahmaputra known in different places.
Answer: Meghna, Padma, Dehang, Debang, Yamuna, etc.

10. What leads to the pollution of the rivers?           [V. Imp.]
Answer: The wastewater from these towns and industries is discharged into the rivers. This leads to the pollution of the rivers.

11. Name the river on which Tcy Mahal is situated?
Answer: River Yamuna.

12. Name the cash crops grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.
Answer: Sugarcane and jute.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Write a short note on the climate of the Amazon Basin.
Answer: The climate of the Amazon Basin is characterised by hot and wet climate throughout the year. Both day and night and almost equally hot and humid. It rains almost everyday. The day temperatures are high with very high humidity. At night the temperature goes down but the humidity remains high.

2. What do you know about the location of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin? Mention the climate of this Basin.
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin lies in the sub-tropical region that is situated between 10°N to 30°N latitudes. The tributaries of river Ganga such as the Ghaghra, the son, the Chambal, the Gandak, the Kosi and the tributaries of Brahmaputra drain it.

The area of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is dominated by the monsoon climate. The monsoon brings rains from mid-June to mid-September. The summers are hot and the winters are cool.

3. The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin has varied topography. How does it affect the distribution of population there?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The basin area has a varied topography. As a result, the distribution of the population is not even everywhere in the area. The mountain areas with steep slopes have inhospitable terrain. Therefore less number of people live in the mountain area of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. The plain area provides the most suitable land for human habitation. Therefore, the density of the population of the plains is very high.

4. What is the main activity of the people of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin? Give an account of it.
Answer: The main activity of the people of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is agriculture. Paddy is the main crop here. Other crops grown here are wheat, maize, sorgham gram and millets. Cash crops like sugarcane and jute are also grown. Banana plantations are seen in some areas in the plain. In the West Bengal and Assam tea is grown in plantations. Silk is produced through the cultivation of silkworms in parts of Bihar and Assam. In the mountains and hills, where the slopes are gentle crops are grown on terraces.

5. How can you say that the life of the people of the Amazon basin is changing?[Imp.]
Answer: Time is moving ahead very fast. This has resulted in the change of the life style of the people everywhere. The life of the people of the Amazon basin is also changing, though not at fast speed. In the old days it was difficult to reach the heart of the forest. In 1970 the Trans Amazon highway made all parts of the rain forest accessible. Aircrafts and helicopters are also used for reaching various places. The indigenous populations was pushed out from the area and forced to settle in new areas.

6. What do you know about the wildlife of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?     [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is rich in wildlife. A variety of animals are found here. Elephants, tigers, deer and monkeys are common. The one-horned rhinoceros is found in the Brahmaputra plain. In the delta region, Bengal tiger, crocodiles and alligator are found. Acquatic life abounds in the fresh river waters, the lakes and the Bay of Bengal Sea. Popular varieties to fish such as catla, rohu and hilsa can be found here.

7. How is tourism an important activity in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra plain has several big towns and cities, such as Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna and Kolkata. All these places are important from tourism point of view. Taj Mahal on the bank of river Yamuna in Agra is a famous tourist place. Allahabad is situated on the confluence of the river Ganga and Yamuna. Several people visit this place everyday to have a holy dip in it. Buddhist stupas in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Lucknow with its Imambara, Assam with Kaziranga and Manas with wildlife sanctuaries are some other places in the basin where people from different parts of the country and abroad go with great enthusiasm.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How is the rainforest of the Amazon basin rich infauna?
Answer: The rainforest of the Amazon basin is very rich in fauna. A variety of birds such as toucans, hummingbirds, birds of paradise with their brilliantly coloured. Plumage and oversized bills for eating are found here.

These birds also make loud sounds in the forests. Animals like monkeys, sloth, and ant-eating tapirs are found here. Various species of reptiles and snakes also thrive in these jungles. A number of crocodiles, snakes, and pythons are also found here. Anaconda and boa constrictor are some of the species. The basin is also the home to thousands of species of insects. Several species of fishes including the flesh-eating Piranha fish is also found in the river.

2. What do you know about the people of the rainforest?   [V- Imp.]
Answer: The people of the Amazon basin practise slash and bum agriculture. They grow most of their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest. Men hunt and fish along the rivers and women take care of the crops. They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato. As hunting and fishing are uncertain it is the women who support the family. They feed them the vegetables that they grow. Their staple food is manioc, also known as cassava that grows under the ground like a potato. They also eat queen ants and egg sacs. Cash crops like coffee, maize, and cocoa are also grown.

People get wood for their houses from the rainforests. They build thatched houses shaped like beehives. There are also malocas there which are large apartment­like houses with a steeply slanting roof.

The Amazon basin is developing day by day. In 1970 the trans-Amazon highway made all parts of the rainforest accessible. With the change of time, people’s lifestyle is also changing gradually.

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What are the four means of transport?
2. What do you understand by the term ‘settlement’?
3. Which are the activities practiced by the rural people?
4. Mention any two merits of railways.
5. What do you understand by communication?
6. What is the mass media?

Answer:

1. Four Means of Transport:
   • Roadways
   • Railways
   • Waterways
   • Airways
2. Settlement:
   • The settlement is the group of houses where people live with their families.
3. Activities Practised by the Rural People:
   • Primary Activities:
   • Agriculture
   • Animal rearing/Pastoral activities
   • Fisting
   • Mining
   • Extracting and collecting
   • Trading of products related to primary activities.
   • Services related to primary activities.
4. Merits of Railways:
   • Quick means of transport
   • Carrier of bulk goods over long distances
     Cheap means of transport. (Any two)
5. Communication:
   • By communication we mean transmitting messages, ideas and words, written or oral.
6. Mass Media:
   • Mass Media is the medium of communication to the masses.
   • They are print media, radio, and television.

2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) Which is not a means of communication?
(i) telephone                       (ii)   books                               (iii)    table.
(b) Which type of road is constructed under the ground?
(i) flyover                          (ii)    expressways                     (iii)    subways.
(c) Which mode of transport is most suitable to reach an island?
(i) ship                              (ii)   train                                 (iii)   car.
(d) Which vehicle does not pollute the environment?
(i) cycle                             (ii)    bus                                  (iii)    aeroplane.
Answer: (a)—(iii), (b)—(iii), (c)—(i), (d)—(i).

3.Match the following:
(i) Internet                                        (a) areas where people are engaged in manufacturing,                                                                         trade and services
(ii) Canal route                                    (b) closely built area of houses
(iii) Urban areas                                 (c) houses on stilts
(iv) Compact settlement                   (d) inland waterways
                                                               (e)a means of communication
Ans. (i)—(e), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(b).

4. Give reasons:
Today’s world is shrinking.
Answer:
Today’s world is shrinking because of the following reasons:

• Airways have become popular, more and more people use aeroplanes to travel to
  far off places. Airways have reduced time taken in journeys.
• Means of communication have reduced both distances and time. We can talk, see, and interact with people sitting thousands of kilometers away within no time.
• We can strike business deals in seconds through superfast means of communication, like the internet, satellite phones, etc.

5. For Fun:
(i) Conduct a survey in your locality and find out how people commute to their respective workplaces using:
(a) more than two modes of transport
(b) more than three modes of transport
(c) stay within walking distance.
(ii) Mention which mode of communication you will prefer most in the following situations:
(a) your grandfather has suddenly fallen ill How will you inform the doctor?

(b) your mother wants to sell the old house. How will she spread this news?
(c) you are going to attend the marriage of your cousin for which you will be absent from the school for the next two days. How will you inform the teacher?

(d) your friend has moved out with his/her family to New York. How will you keep in touch on a daily basis?
Answer:
(i) (a) on foot, metro, and auto-rickshaw
(b) on foot, bus, metro, and rickshaw
(c) on foot.

(ii)
(a) By telephone or mobile.
(b) Through newspaper or through realty brokers.
(c) Through written application.
(d) Through telephone, mobile, e-mail, internet, etc.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Why did settlements grow near the river valleys? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Settlements grew near the river valleys because plenty of water was available there and the land was fertile.

2. What are called temporary settlements? [Imp.]
Answer: Settlements which are occupied for a short time are called temporary settlements.

3. What do people living in temporary settlements practice?
Answer: They practice hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation, and transhumance.

4. Why do people who rear animals move from place to place?
Answer: They move from place to place in search of new pastures according to changes in seasons.

5. Differentiate a compact settlement from a scattered settlement.
Answer: A compact settlement is a closely built area of dwellings wherever flat land is available. In a scattered settlement dwellings are spaced over an extensive area.

6. Where are scattered settlements found? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Scattered settlements are found in hilly tracts, thick forests, and regions of extreme climate.

7. Name the materials used in building houses in rural areas?
Answer: Stones, mud, clay, straw, etc

8. Name some animals used for carrying goods in India.
Answer: Donkeys, mules, bullocks, and camels,

9. Where do you find a dense network of roads?
Answer: In plains

10. What has replaced the steam engine? [Imp.]
Answer: Diesel and electric engines have replaced the steam engines.

11. Name any two important ports of the world.
Answer: Singapore and Rio de Janerio.

12. When are helicopters proved to be very useful?
Answer: Helicopters are proved to be very useful in the time of calamities for rescuing people and distributing food, water, clothes, and medicines,

13. How have satellites proved themselves helpful?        [V. Imp.]
Answer: Satellites have helped in oil exploration, a survey of forest, underground water, mineral wealth, weather forecast and disaster warning,

14. Why is air travel very expensive?
Answer: Air travel is very expensive due to the high cost of fuel.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What do you mean by a site? Mention the natural conditions for the selection of an ideal site?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The place where a building or a settlement develops is called its site. The natural conditions of an ideal site are:

• Favourable climate
• Availability of water
• Suitable land
• Fertile soil.

2. Write down the features of houses built in rural areas.
Answer: The houses built in rural areas suit to the environment. In regions of heavy rainfall, people build houses with slanting roofs. Places where water accumulates in the rainy season the houses are constructed on a raised platforms or slits,

3. How did people in the early days travel long distances? What changes came with time?     [V. Imp.]
Answer: In the early days people have no means of transport. Whenever they had to go somewhere they walked on foot. They used animals to carry their goods. It took a great deal to time. The invention of the wheel proved to be a boon for the people. It made transport easier. By and by different means of transport such as railways, airways etc. developed. Airplanes have made travel faster. Now, we can cover a long distance within hours,

4. Write a short note on the airways.
Answer: Airways is the fastest mode of transport today. It is very expensive due to high cost of fuels. It is the only mode of transport to reach the most remote and distant areas especially where there are no roads and railways. Helicopters are useful in most inaccessible areas and in time of calamities of rescuing people and distributing essential. Some important airports are Delhi, Mumbai, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt and Cairo.

5. How has Internet made our lives more comfortable?   [V. Imp.]
Answer: Internet is the latest development in the field of information technology. It not only provides us with worldwide information and interaction but has also made our lives very comfortable. In this age of internet we can reserve tickets for railways, airways and even cinemas and hotels silting at home. We can chat with our friends and relatives living far off places.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTION

1. How settlements become a necessity? What are its different types? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Settlements are places where people build their homes to live in. Early human beings did not need to develop settlements because they lived on trees and in caves. When they started to grow crops, it became essential to have a permanent home. Thus, settlements began to grow near the river valleys as the water was available and land was fertile. By and by settlements became larger because trade, commerce, and manufacturing developed.
Settlements can be permanent or temporary.

• Temporary Settlement. Settlements which are occupied for a short time Eire called temporary settlements. The people living in deep forests, hot and cold desserts, and mountains often dwell in such settlements. These people are engaged in hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation, and transhumance.
• Permanent Settlement. Under permanent settlements, people build homes to live in.

2. Give a detailed description of waterways.
Answer: Waterways are the cheapest mode of transport. They carry heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They are mainly of two types—inland waterways and sea routes.

• Inland Waterways. Navigable rivers and lakes are used as inland waterways. Some important inland waterways are the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system, the Great Lakes in North America, and the river Nile in Africa.
• Sea routes. Sea routes and oceanic routes are mostly used for transporting merchandise and goods from one country to another. These routes are connected with the ports. Some important ports are Singapore, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, etc.

3. What are the major means of transport? Explain each of them [Imp.]
Answer: There are four major means of transport:

1. Roadways
2. Railways
3. Waterways
4. Airways

Roads the most commonly used means of transport. Roads are of two types—metalled roads also known as pucca roads and unmetalled roads also known as Kutcha roads. The plugins have a dense network of roads. Roads built underground are called subways or underpass. Flyovers are built over raised structures.

The railways carry people and bulky goods. They cover long distances quickly and cheaply. The railway network is well developed over the plain areas. With the development of advanced technical skills, we have now railway lines laid in difficult mountain terrains also. The Indian railway network is well developed and the largest in Asia.

Waterways are the cheapest means of transport. They carry heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They are of two types—inland waterways and sea routes. Navigable rivers and lakes are used as inland waterways— for example, the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system. Sea routes and oceanic routes are mostly used for transporting merchandise and goods from one country to another.

Airways are the most expensive means of transport. It is the only mode of transport to reach the most remote and distant areas especially where there are no roads and railways. Helicopters are useful in most inaccessible areas and in times of calamities.

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Which are the two factors on which the growth of vegetation mostly depends?
2. Which are the three broad categories of natural vegetation?
3. Name the two hardwood trees commonly found in tropical evergreen forest
4. In which part of the world is tropical deciduous forests found?
5. In which climatic conditions are citrus fruits cultivated?
6. Mention the uses of coniferous forest.
7. In which part of the world is seasonal grassland found?

Answer:

1. Two factors on which growth of vegetation mostly depends:
   • Climate (Temperature and Moisture).
   • Height
   • Slope
   • The thickness of the soil.
     (Any two factors)
2. Three broad categories of natural vegetation:
   • Forests: Grow in regions of high temperature and rain.
   • Grasslands: Grow in regions of moderate rainfall.
   • Thorny shrubs and scrubs: Grow in dry regions.
3. Two Hardwood Trees:
   • Rosewood
   • Ebony
   • Mahogany (Any Two)
4. Tropical deciduous forest is found in the following parts of the world:
   • Large parts of India.
   • Northern Australia
   • Central America
5. Citrus fruits are cultivated in the Mediterranean climatic conditions.
6. Four uses of coniferous forests:
   • Coniferous forests provide softwood.
   • It is used in making pulp. The pulp is used in making paper and newsprint.
   • The matchmaking industry gets softwood from coniferous forests.
   • Softwood is also used in making package boxes.
7. Seasonal grassland is found in the Savannah region of Africa. It gets dried up in the dry season.

2. Tick the correct answer.
(a) Mosses and Lichens are found in
(i) Desertic vegetation
(ii) Tropical vegetation (iii) Tundra vegetation.
(b) Thorny bushes are found in
(i) Hot and humid tropical climate
(ii) Hot and dry desertic climate
(iii) Cold polar climate.
(c) In tropical evergreen forest, one of the common animals is
(i) Monkey                         (ii)    Giraffe
(iii) Camel.
(d) One important variety of coniferous forest is
(i) Rosewood                       (ii)    Pine
(iii) Teak.
(e) Steppe grassland is found in
(i) S. Africa                        (ii)    Australia
(iii) Central Asia.
Answer: (a)—(iii), (b)—(ii), (c)—(i), (d)—(ii), (e)—(iii).

Question 3.
Match the following.
(i) Walrus                  (a) Softwood tree
(ii) Cedar                  (b) An animal of tropical deciduous forest
(iii) Olives                 (c) A polar animal
(iv) Elephants           (d) Temperate grassland in Australia
(v) Campos               (e) Thorny shrubs
(vi) Downs                (f) A citrus fruit
                                 (g) Tropical grassland of Brazil
Answer.
(i) Walrus                  (c) A polar animal
(ii) Cedar                  (a) Softwood tree
(iii) Olives                 (f) A citrus fruit
(iv) Elephants           (b) An animal of tropical deciduous forest
(v) Campos               (g) Tropical grassland of Brazil
(vi) Downs                (d) Temperate grassland in Australia

4. Give reasons:

1. The animals in the polar region have thick fur and thick skin.
2. Tropical deciduous trees shed their leaves in the dry season.
3. The type and thickness of vegetation changes from place to place.

Answer:

1.  The animals in the polar region have thick fur and thick skin because of the following reasons:
   • Polar regions are very cold. .
   • Animals that do not have thick fur and thick skin cannot survive in these harsh and cold climates.;
   • They have to protect themselves from cold by thick fur and thick skin.
2. Tropical deciduous trees shed their leaves in the dry season because of the following reasons:
   • During the dry season, rainfall is scarce and water supply to plants and trees through their roots is reduced.
   • Transpiration occurs through leaves.
   • To reduce transpiration in dry season, trees shed their leaves.
   • The short supply of moisture through their roots keeps them alive during the dry season.
3. The type and thickness of vegetation changes from place to place because of the following reasons:
   • Climate (temperature and moisture)
   • Height from mean sea level – Slope
   • The thickness of the soil.
   • As these conditions vary from place to place, natural vegetation (types and thickness) also varies from place to place.

5. Activity:
(a) Collect pictures and photographs of forests and grasslands of different parts of the world. Write one sentence below each picture.
(b) Make a collage of rainforest, grassland, and coniferous forests.

Answer:
(a) Pictures and photographs of forests and grasslands of different parts of the world.

These forests are found in the regions near the equator and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year. These trees do not shed their leaves altogether.

These forests are the monsoon forests found in the large part of India, northern Australia and in central America. Trees shed their leaves in dry season.

These forests are commonly found along the eastern margin of the continents and comprise both hard and softwood trees like oak, pine etc.

The grass can grow veiy tall, about 3 to 4 metres in height. Savannah grasslands of Africa are of this type.
(b) Students are suggested to do this activity themselves

6. For Fun:
In the crossword table given below, some words are hidden. They are all about vegetation and wildlife and are to be found horizontally and vertically. Two have been worked out for you. Work in pairs with a friend

Answer:

Class 7 Geography Chapter 6 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Intext Questions

Question 1.
Now can you tell why Salima saw changes in the natural vegetation as she climbed higher and higher? What type of vegetation did she see in the Himalayas starting with the foothills and going to the higher altitudes?  (NCERT Page 39)
Answer.
Salima saw changes in the natural vegetation as she climbed higher and higher because of the following reasons:

1. Change in a climate with an increase in height.
2. Slope
3. The thickness of the soil.

Types of vegetation she saw

1. Sal and teak forests
2. Coniferous forests
3. Rhodo-dendrous
4. Short grass

Question 2.
Like Salima, when you go to visit any new place, notice the type of natural vegetation occurring there and try to think of factors responsible for the growth of such vegetation in that habitat.
Note down if any human interference has taken place in that area in terms of deforestation, grazing, cultivation of cash crops, constructional activities, etc. (NCERT Page 39)
Answer.
In October to Nainital.

• Alpine and Montane vegetation.

Factors:

• Cold climate.
• Heavy rainfall.
• Mountainous soil.

Yes, for habitation and commercial activities.

Question 3.
Where in India do tropical evergreen and tropical deciduous forests occur? Name the states. (NCERT Page 41)
Which type of forest dominates most parts of India?
Answer.

1. Western slopes of western ghats, N.E. India—Tropical evergreen (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, and N.E. states)
2. Central India—Deciduous (M.P., Chhattisgarh), Jharkhand etc.
3. Tropical Deciduous.

Question 4.
Look around in your surroundings and find out the articles made of hardwood and softwood.
Find out and learn the names of few trees of your locality. (NCERT Page 43)
Answer.
Hardwood: Steppers, bridges, furniture, doors, windows.
Softwood: Matches, packing material, false ceiling, boats etc.
Mango, neem, jamun, shisham, kikar, peepal, sal.

Question 5.
Can you name the great desert of India? Name some of the common animals of the desert. (NCERT page 44)
Answer.
Thar is the great Indian desert.
Camel, Snakes, lizards and many insects are found here.

Class 7 Geography Chapter 6 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife VSAQ

1. How is height of land and the character of vegetation related with each other? [V. Imp.]
Answer: With the change in height the climate changes and that changes natural vegetation.

2. Where are shrubs found?
Answer: Shrubs are found in the dry regions.

3. Why do trees of tropical evergreen forests not shed their leaves altogether?
Answer: It is because there is no particular dry season.

4. What is the special feature of tropical evergreen forests?  [V. imp.]
Ans. Thick canopies of the closely spaced trees are found here. As a result sunlight do not reach inside the forest.

5. Name the trees found in the tropical deciduous forests.
Ans. Sal, teak, neem and shisham.

6. Where are temperate evergreen forests located?
Answer: These forests are located in the mid-latitudinal coastal region.

7. Why are only citrus fruits cultivated in Mediterranean regions? [V. Imp.]
Answer: It is because people have removed the natural vegetation in order to cultivate citrus fruits.

8. Mention one special feature of coniferous forests.
Answer: These forests have tall and softwood evergreen trees.

9. Name the animals found, in the coniferous forests.
Answer: Silver fox, mink, and polar bear.

10. Name the animals found in tropical grasslands. ,
Answer: Elephants, zebras, giraffes, dear and leopards.

11. Where are Savannah grasslands found?
Answer: They are found in East Africa.

12. Where are Llanos grasslands found?
Answer: They are found in Venezuela.

13. Which type of grassland Prairie is?
Answer: Prairie is temperate grassland.

14. Where are tropical deserts located?
Answer: They are located on the western margins of the continents.

15. Name some animals found in polar regions.
Answer: Seal, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owl, polar bear, and snow foxes.

Class 7 Geography Chapter 6 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife SAQ

1. Mention the major features of tropical evergreen forests. [V. Imp.]
Answer: Major features of tropical evergreen forests are:

• These forests are so dense that thick canopies are developed which do not allow the sunlight to penetrate inside the forest.
• As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether. This keeps the forest evergreen.
• Hardwood trees such as rosewood, ebony and mahogany are found here.

2. Mention the features of Mediterranean trees.
Answer: These trees adapt themselves to dry summers with the help of their thick barks and wax-coated leaves which help them reduce transportation.

3. Write a short note tropical grasslands.          [V. Imp.]
Answer: Tropical grasslands occur on either side of the equator and extend till the tropics. This vegetation grows in the areas of moderate to low amount of rainfall. The grass can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 metres in height. Savannah grasslands of Africa are of this type. Common animals found here are elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer and leopards.

4. Give cm account of the natural vegetation and wildlife found in the polar regions.
Answer: Polar regions are extremely cold. Therefore the growth of natural vegetation is very limited here. Only mosses, lichens and veiy small shrubs are found here. They grow during the very short summer. This is called Tundra type of vegetation. This vegetation is found in the polar areas of Europe, Asia and North America. The animals found here have thick fur and thick skin which protect them from the cold climatic conditions. Seal, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owl, Polar bear and snow foxes are some of the animals found in these regions.

Class 7 Geography Chapter 6 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Long Answer Questions

1. Discuss various types of forests. [V. Imp.]
Answer: Types of forests:                                                                                ,

1. Tropical evergreen forests
2. Tropical deciduous forests
3. Temperate evergreen forests
4. Temperate deciduous forests
5. Mediterranean vegetation
6. Coniferous forests

1. Tropical evergreen forests. These forest are very dense and found in the regions near the equator and close to the tropics. These regions receive heavy rain throughout the year. The trees of these forests do not shed their leaves altogether and therefore they remain green all the time. Hardwood trees like rosewood, ebony and mahogany are found here.

2. Tropical deciduous forests. These forest are found in the regions which experience seasonal changes. Trees shed their leaves in the dry season to conserve water. The hardwood trees like sal, teak, neem and shisham are found here. Animals like tigers, lions, elephants, langoors and monkeys are common in these forests.

3. Temperate evergreen forests. These forests are commonly found along the eastern margin of the continents. They comprise both hard and softwood trees. For example, oak, pine, eucalyptus etc.

4. Temperate deciduous forests. Trees of these forests shed their leaves in dry ‘season’. Oak, ash, beech, etc. are common trees here. Deer, foxes, wolves, etc. are common animals in these forests.

5. Mediterranean vegetation. It is mostly found in the areas around the Mediterranean sea in Europe, Africa and Asia. Citrus fruits like oranges, figs, olives and grapes are commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean regions.

6. Coniferous forests. They are also called Taiga. They are tall, softwood evergreen trees. Chir, pine, cedar is an important variety of trees in these forests. Silver, fox, mink, polar bear are the common animals found here.

2. Describe different types of grasslands. [V. Imp.]
Answer: Different types of grasslands are:

1. Tropical grasslands
2. Temperate grasslands
3. Thorny bushes
4. Tropical grasslands. This type of vegetation grows in the areas of moderate to low amounts of rainfall. The grass here can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 metres in height. Savannah grasslands of Africa are of this type. Common animals found here are elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards etc.
5. Temperate grasslands. This type of vegetation is found in the mid-latitudinal zones and in the interior part of the continents. Grass here is usually short and nutritious. Common animals found in this region are wild buffaloes, bison, antelopes etc.
6. Thorny bushes. These are found in the dry desert-like regions. Tropical deserts are located on the western margins of the continents, which are characterised by scarce vegetation.

Vegetation in the polar regions is also limited. Only mosses, lichens, and very small shrubs are found here. It grows during the very short summer. This is called Tundra type of vegetation. Polar animals have thick fur and thick skin which protect them from the cold climate conditions, for example, seal, walruses, musk-oxen, Arctic owl, etc

Q. 1. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What is precipitation?
(b) What is the water cycle?
(c) What are the factors affecting the height of the waves?
(d) Which factors affect the movement of ocean water?
(e) What are tides and how are they caused?
(f) What are ocean currents?
Ans.
(a) Falling of moisture in the form of rainfall, snow, fog, sleet, and hailstone is termed as precipitation.
(b) The water cycle is the process by which water continually changes its form and circulates between oceans, atmosphere, and land.
(c) Winds, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, or underwater landslides are the factors affecting the height of the waves. The stronger the wind blows, the bigger the wave becomes.
(d) Temperature, winds, the gravitational pull of the sun, the earth, and the moon; warm and cold currents are the factors that affect the movement of ocean water.
(e) Tides are the rhythmic rise and fall of ocean water that occurs twice in a day. The strong gravitational pull exerted by the sun and the moon on the earth’s surface cause the tides.
(f) Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions.

Q. 2. Give reasons:
(a) Ocean water is salty.
(b) The quality of water is deteriorating.
Ans.
(a) The water of the oceans is salty as it contains a large amount of dissolved salts.
(b) Water is being used injudiciously. Whatever potable water is available, its quality is not good. It is because industrial effluents and untreated water of industries get mixed into streams and rivers. Sewerage water also gets mixed into these water bodies. As a result, the quality of water is deteriorating day by day.

Q. 3. Tick the correct answer.
(a) The process by which water continually changes its form and circulates between oceans, atmosphere and land
(i)  Water cycle
(ii) Tides
(iii) Ocean currents.

(b) Generally the warm ocean currents originate near
(i)  Poles
(ii) the Equator
(iii) None of these.

(c) The rhythmic rise and fall of ocean water twice in a day is called
(i) Tide
(ii) Ocean current
(iii) Wave
Ans.
(a)—(i), (b)—(ii), (c)—(i)

Q. 5. For Fun
Be a Detective
1. The name of one river is hidden in each of the sentences below. Spot it. Example: Mandira, Vijayalakshmi and Surinder are my best friends
Ans. Ravi
(a) The snake charmer’s bustee, stables where horses are housed, and the piles of wood, all caught fire accidentally. (Hint: Another name for River Brahmputra)
(b) The conference manager put pad, material for reading and a pencil for each participant. (Hint: A distributary on the Ganga-Brahmputra delta)

(c) Either jealousy or anger cause a person’s fall (Hint: Name of a juicy fruit!)

(d) Bhavani germinated the seeds in a pot (Hint: Look for her in West Africa)
(e) “I am a zonal champion now” declared the excited athlete. (Hint: The river that has the biggest basin in the world)
(f) The tiffin box rolled down and all the food fell in dusty potholes. (Hint: Rises in India and journeys through Pakistan)
(g) Malini leaned against the pole when she felt that she was going to faint. (Hint: Her delta in Egypt is famous)
(h) Samantha mesmerised everybody with her magic tricks. (Hint: London is situated on her estuary)

(i) “In this neighbourhood, please don’t yell! Owners of these houses like to have peace. Warned my father when we moved into our new flat”. (Hint: colour!)
(j)  ‘Write the following words’, Marc! “On”, “go”, “in”……….. said the teacher to the
little boy in KG Class. (Hint: Rhymes with ‘bongo’)
Now make some more on your own and ask your classmates to spot the hidden name. You can do this with any name: that of a lake, mountains, trees, fruits, school items, etc.
TAns. eesta, (b) Padma, (c) Orange, (d) Niger, (e) Amazon, (f)  Indus, (g) Nile,
(h) Thames, (i) yellow,(j) Conga.

Carry on Detective

2. With the help of an atlas, draw each river which you discovered in For fun (0, on
an outline map of the world.
Ans. Do yourself.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. What is a terrarium?
Ans. It is an artificial enclosure for keeping small house plants. .

Q.2. Which type of water do the ocean bodies and the seas contain?
Ans. They contain salty water.

Q.3. What do you mean by salinity? [V. Imp.]
Ans. Salinity is the amount of salt in grams present in 1000 grams of water.

Q.4. What is the average salinity of the oceans?
Ans. The average salinity of the oceans is 35 parts per thousand.

Q.5. What is the salinity of the Dead sea?
Ans. The salinity of the Dead sea is 45 parts per thousand.

Q.6. Why do swimmers float in the Dead Sea?
Ans. Swimmers float in the Dead sea because the increased salt content makes it dense.

Q.7. What is the significance of World Water Day?
Ans. On the occasion of World Water Day (22nd March) the need to conserve water is reinforced in different ways.

Q. 8. What is a Tsunami? [V. Imp.]
Ans. Tsunami is a Japanese word that means ‘Harbour Waves’ as the harbors get destroyed whenever there is a Tsunami.

Q.9- What happens during high Ode?        [Imp.]
Ans. During high tide, waves rise high and water covers much of the shore.

Q. 10. What happens during low tide?
Ans. During low tide waterfalls to its lowest level and recedes from the shore.

Q. 11. How are tides caused?
Ans. The strong gravitational pull exerted by the sun and the moon on the earth’s surface cause tides.

Q.12. Name one warm current and one cold current.
Ans. Warm current — The Gulf Stream
Cold current — The Labrador Ocean current.

Q. 13. What happened to the Indira point during the tsunami of 2004?
Ans. It got submerged.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. How are spring and neap tides formed?         [V. Imp.]
Ans. During the full moon and new moon days, the sun, the moon, and the earth are in the same line and the tides are highest. These tides are called spring tides. But when the moon is in its first and last quarter, the ocean waters get drawn in diagonally opposite directions by the gravitational pull of the sun and earth resulting in low tides. These tides are called neap tides.

Q.2. How are high tides important?[V. Imp.]
Ans. High tides are important for various reasons:

• They help in navigation
• They raise the water level close to the shores. This helps the ships to arrive at the harbour more easily.
• The high tides also help in fishing. Much more fish come closer to the shore during the high. This enables the fisherman to get a plentiful catch.
• The rise and fall of water due to tides is being used to generate electricity in some places.

Q.3. What are the waves? Write a short note on it
Ans. Waves are the rise and fall of the water on the surface of the ocean. Waves are formed when winds scrape across the ocean surface. The stronger the wind blows, the bigger the wave becomes. During the storm, the winds blow at very high speed and therefore huge waves are formed. These waves are very strong, hence very destruction. They may cause huge devastation.

Q.4. Write a brief note on Tsunami.                    [Imp.]
Ans. Tsunami is a Japanese word that means ‘harbour waves’ as the harbours get destroyed whenever there is a tsunami. An earthquake, a volcanic eruption or underwater landslides can shift large amounts of ocean water. As a result tsunami occurs which may be as high as 15 m. The tsunami of 2004 is still in our minds. It caused huge death and destruction in the coastal areas of India. The Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands got submerged after the tsunami.

Q.5. Write a note on the importance of water. [V. Imp.]
Ans. Water is life. Without water, we can not think of life. Its scarcity may create numerous problems but its absence would definitely lead to the non-existence of all the living beings on the earth. It is a precious resource of nature. We drink water whenever we feel thirsty. We use water in numerous activities such as washing clothes, cleaning house floors, watering the garden, etc. Industries also need water for their functioning. Thus, water is very essential and therefore we must conserve it. Our careless use of water has created several problems. Whatever water is there, it is not of good quality. We should think about the ways of its conservation for our own sake.

Q.6. Explain the water cycle with a neat and labelled diagram.                                             [V. Imp.]
Ans. The sun’s heat causes evaporation of water, flowing down to stream or drains into water vapour. When the water vapour cools down, it condenses and forms clouds. These clouds, when become too heavy to float, start falling on the land or sea in the form of rain, snow, or sleet. Thus, the process by which water continually changes its form and circulates between oceans, atmosphere, and land is known as the water cycle.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Give an account of ocean currents. [Imp.]

Ans. Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions. The ocean currents may be warm or cold. The warm ocean currents originate near the equator and move towards the poles. The cold current carries water from polar or higher latitudes to tropical or lower latitudes. For example, the Labrador Ocean current is a cold current while the Gulf Stream is a warm current.

The ocean current influences the temperature conditions of the area. Warm currents bring about warm temperatures over the land surface. The areas where the warm and cold currents meet provide the best fishing grounds of the world. For example seas around Japan and the eastern coast of North America. The areas where a warm and cold current meet also experience foggy weather and therefore navigation becomes difficult.

Q.2. How do we classify ocean movements? Explain. [V. Imp.]
Ans. Ocean movements can be classified into waves, tides, and currents.

When the water on the surface of the ocean rises and falls alternately, they are called waves. Waves are formed when winds scrape across the ocean surface. The stronger the wind blows, the bigger the wave becomes.

The rhythmic rise and fall of ocean water twice in a day is known as a tide. Tides may be high or low. It is high tide when water covers much of the shore by rising to its highest level. It is low tide when waterfalls to its lowest level and recedes from the shore. Tides are caused due to the strong gravitational pull exerted by the sun and moon on the earth’s surface. High tides help in navigation and fishing. The rise and fall of water due to tides is being used to generate electricity in some places.

Ocean currents. These are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions. The ocean currents may be warm such as the Gulf Stream and cold such as the Labrador Ocean current. The areas where the warm and cold currents meet provide the best fishing ground of the world. For example, seas around Japan and the Eastern Coast of North America.

Question 1.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is atmosphere?
(ii) Which two gases make the bulk of the atmosphere?
(iii) Which gas creates greenhouse effect in the atmosphere?
(iv) What is weather?
(v) Name three types of rainfall
(vi) What is air pressure?
Answer:
(i) Atmosphere is a thin blanket of air that surrounds the earth. It protects us from the harmful rays of the sun. It consists of several gases in which nitrogen and oxygen occupy the major portion.
(ii) Nirtrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) make the bulk of the atmosphere.
(iii) Carbon dioxide creates a greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.
(iv) Weather is the hour-to-hour, day-to-day condition of the atmosphere.
(v)

• Convectional rainfall
• Orographic rainfall
• Cyclonic rainfall.

(vi) The pressure exerted by the weight of air on the earth’s surface is known as air pressure.

Question 2.  Tick the correct answer:
(i)  Which of the following gases protects us from harmful sun rays?
(a) Carbon dioxide                            (b) Nitrogen
(c) Ozone.
(ii) The most important layer of the atmosphere is
(a) Troposphere       (b)        Thermosphere
(c) Mesosphere.
(iii) Which of the following layers of the atmosphere is free from clouds?
(a) Trosphere                                      (b) Stratosphere
(c) Mesosphere.
(iv) As we go up the layers of the atmosphere, the pressure
(a) Increases         (b) Decreases
(c) Ramains the same.
(v) When precipitation comes down to the earth in the liquid form, it is called
(a) Cloud           (b) Rain
(c) Snow.
Answer:  (i)—(c), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(b), (iv)—(b), (v)—(b).

Question 4.
Give reasons:

1. Wet clothes take longer time to dry on a humid day.
2. Amount of insolation decreases from equator torwards poles?

Answer:

1. As the air gets warmer its capacity to hold moisture, increases. Therefore it becomes more and more humid. On such days water from clothes or sweat from our body does not evaporate easily. Thus wet clothes take a longer time to dry.
   • On the equator, insolation comes through vertical rays.
   • It covers up less space. Hence heat is felt more.
2. From the equator, it goes on coming through slanting rays. Slanting rays come on the earth passing longer distances through the atmosphere. They heat up more space. Hence there is less heat on a point of space.

(ii) Make a weather calender for one week. Use pictures on symbols to show different types of weather. You can use more than one symbol in a day, if the weather changes. For example the sun comes out when .rain stops. An exmaple is given below:

Very Short Type Questions

Question 1.  How does carbon dioxide create green house effect? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Crbon dioxide creates greenhouse effect by trappeing the heat radiated from the earth.

Question 2.  What is the significance of greenhouse gas?
Answer:  Without the greenhouse gas the earth would have been too cold to line in.

Question 3.  What happens when air is heated?
Answer: When air is heated, it expands, becomes lighter and goes up.

Question 4.  What is the nature of cold air?
Ans. It has tendency to go down.

Question 5.  Why do green plants use carbon dioxide? [Imp.]
Answer:  Green plants use carbon dioxide to make their food and release oxygen.

Question 6.  What is an important feature of Stratosphere?
Answer:  Stratosphere contains a layer of ozone gas.

Question 7.  How is ozone important for us?  [Imp.]
Answer: It protects us from the harmful effect of the sunrays.

Question 8.  What is temperature?
Answer: The degree of hotness and coldness of the air is known as temperature.

Question 9.  What is insolation?
Answer:  Insolation is the incoming solar energy intercepted by the earth.

Question 10.  Why is there no air pressure on the moon?
Answer: There is no air on the moon and therefore no air pressure.

Question 11.  Where is air pressure highest?
Answer: Air pressure is highest at the sea level.

Question 12.  How does air move?
Answer:  Air moves from high pressure areas to low pressure areas.

Question 13.  Name three types of winds.
Answer: 

1. Permanent winds
2. Seasonal winds
3. Local winds.

Question  14.  What is the hot and dry wind of northern planes of India called?
Ans. It is called loo.

Q.15 What is called humidity? [V. Imp.]
Ans. Moisture in the air at any time is called humidity.

Q 16 Why do we feel uncomfortable on a humid day?
Ans. It is because sweat from our body does not evaporate easily.

Q.17 How is the flooding of low lying areas caused? [V. Imp.]
Ans. When trees on hill sides are cut, rainwater flows down the bare mountains. This causes flooding of low lying areas.

Q.18 Name various forms of precipitation.
Ans.

1. Rain
2. Snow
3. Sleet
4. Hail

Q.19 How is a wind named?
Ans. A wind is named after the direction from which it blows.                         ‘

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Give an account of the composition of the atmosphere. [V. Imp.]
Ans. Our atmosphere is composed of mainly two gases—nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%). Other gases like carbon dioxide, helium, ozone, orgon and hydrogen are found in lesser quantities. Apart from these gases, tiny dust particles are also present in the air.

Q.2 How do Bacteria help plants use nitrogen? [V. Imp.]
Ans. Nitrogen is essential for the survival of the plant. But plants cannot take nitrogen directly from the air. Bacteria, that live in the soil and roots of some plants, take nitrogen from the air and change its form so that plants can use it.

Q.3 How does nature balance our life? What is the result if this balance is disturbed?[V. Imp.]
Ans. Green plants use carbon dioxide to make their food and release oxygen. Humans or animals release carbon dioxide. The amount of carbon dioxide released by humans or animals seems to be equal to the amount used by the plants which make a perfect balance. But this balance is disturbed by the burning of fuels, which add billions of tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a result, the increased volume of carbon dioxide is affecting the earth’s weather and climate.

Q.4 Why is temperature in cities much higher than that of villages ?
Ans. In cities, we find high rise buildings. The concrete and metals in these buildings and the asaphalt of roads get heated up during the day. This heat is released during the night.
Another reason is that the crowded high rise buildings of the cities trap the warm air and thus raise the temperature of the cities.

Q.5 Write a short note on the distribution of air pressure in the atmosphere. [Imp.]
Ans. Air pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air on the earth’s surface. As we go up the layers of the atmosphere, the pressure falls rapidly. The air pressure is highest at the sea level and decreases with height. Horizonally the distribution of air pressure is influenced by the temperature of the air at a given place. In areas where the temperature is high the air gets heated and rises. This creates a low-pressure area. In areas having lower temperature, the air is cold, hence, it is heavy. Heavy air sinks and creates a high-pressure area.

Q.6 Why do astronauts wear special protective suits when they go to the moon?
Ans. Astronauts wear special protective space suits filled with air when they go to the moon. If they did not wear these space suits, the counter pressure exerted by the body of the astronauts would make the blood vessels burst. The astronauts would bleed.

Q.7 How is rainfall important for us? What happens when there is excess rain? [V. Imp.]
Ans. Rainfall is very important for the survival of plants and animals. It brings fresh water to the earth’s surface. If rainfall is less, there is water scarcity which sometimes causes drought like situation. If there is excess rain, floods take place which makes the life of the affected people miserable.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Give an account of the different layers of the atmosphere. [V. Imp.]
Ans. Our atmosphere has five different layers. They are:

1. Troposphere: This is the most important layer of the atmosphere with an average height of 13 km from the earth. It is in this layer that we find the air that we breathe. Almost all the weather phenomena such as rainfall, fog, and hailstorm occur here.
2. Stratosphere: This layer extends up to a height of 50 km. It presents the most ideal conditions for flying aeroplanes. It contains a layer of ozone gas which protects us from the harmful effect of the sunrays.
3. Mesosphere: This layer extends up to a height of 80 km. Meteorites bum up in this layer on entering from the space.
4. Thermosphere: In this layer, the temperature rises very rapidly with increasing height. The ionosphere is a part of this layer. It extends between 80—400 km. This layer helps in radio transmission. Radio waves transmitted from the earth are reflected back to the earth by this layer.
5. Exosphere: It is the uppermost layer where there is very thin air. Light gases such as helium and hydrogen float into space from here.

Q.2 What is wind? Mention its different types.
Ans. The wind is the movement of air from the high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. It is divided into three types:

1. Permanent winds
2. Seasonal winds
3. Local winds

1. Permanent winds. The trade winds, westerlies, and easterlies are the permanent winds. These blow constantly throughout the year in a particular direction.
2. Seasonal winds. These winds change their direction in different seasons. For example monsons in India.
3. Local winds. These winds blow only during a particular period of the day or year in a small area. For example land and sea breeze. Loo is a local wind which hot and dry and blows in the northern plains of India during summers.

Question  1.
Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Why do the plated move?
2. What are exogenic and endogenic forces?
3. What is erosion?
4. How are flood plains formed?
5. What are sand dunes?
6. How are the beaches formed?
7. What are the ox-bow lakes?

Answer:

1. Plates move due to the movement in the molten magma found in the interior of the earth.
   • Exogenic Forces
     • Exogenic forces are those forces which act on the surface of the earth and cause
       changes on the surface of the earth.
       Examples: Weathering, gradation, erosion, deposition.
   • Endogenic Forces
     • Endogenic forces are those forces which originate in the interior of the earth and
       cause changes on the surface of the earth.
       Examples: Volcanoes and Earthquakes.
2. Erosion
   Erosion is the wearing away of the landscape by different agents like running water, glacier, wind, ground water and sea waves.
3. Flood plains are formed in the following manners:
   • During rains rivers overflow their banks.
   • This leads to the flooding of the nearby areas.
   • After the flood has receded, a layer of fine material and other material is deposited over the plain in the form of sediments.
   • This leads to the formation of the flood plain.
4. Sand Dunes
   Sand dunes are heaps of sand deposited at a place by the wind’s action in the
   desert areas.
5. Formation of Beaches
   • Sea waves strike the coasts.
   • They erode the coasts and carry the eroded material in the form of silt and other material.
   • When they withdraw they deposit the silt and other material (sediments) along the shore, forming wide beaches.
6. Ox-Bow Lakes
   • When the meander loop is cut-off from the main river, it forms a cut-off lake.
   • Its shape is like an ox-bow.
   • Hence, the cut-off lake is called ox-bow lake.

Question 2. Tick the correct answer:
(i)  Which is not an erosional feature of sea waves?
(a) Cliff
(b) Beach
(c) Sea cave.
(ii) The depositional feature of a glacier is
(a) Flood plain
(b) Beach
(c) Moraine.
(iii) Which is caused by the sudden movements of the Earth ?
(a) Volcano
(b) Folding
(c) Flood plain.
(iv) Mushroom rocks are found In
(a) Deserts
(b) River valleys
(c) Glaciers.
(v) Ox bow lakes are found In
(a) Glaciers
(b) River valleys
(c) Deserts.
Answer: (i) – (a), (ii) – (c), (iii)-(a) , (iv) -(a), (v)-(b)

Question  4.
Give reasons:

1. Some rocks have the shape of a mushroom.
2. Flood plains are very fertile.
3. Sea caves are turned into stacks.
4. Buddings collapse due to earthquakes.

Answer:

1. Some rocks have the shape of a mushroom, because of the following reasons:
   • When’ rocks fall in the course of running dust-storms, the suspended particles of sand strike the lower portion of the rocks and erode them.
   • The upper portions of the rocks remain unaffected/uneroded.
   • In course of time the rocks take up the shape of a mushroom.
2. Flood plains are very fertile because of the following reasons:
   • They are made of the silt and other material brought by floods.
   • Due to spread of the new silt, the flood plains are fertile areas.
3. Sea caves are turned into stacks because of the following reasons:
   • The sea waves strike the coasts and erode the soft rocks. Hard rocks remain uneroded. This action results in the formation of sea caves.
   • In course of time the roofs of the caves also come down due to erosion and the arms/walls of the caves remain standing like pillars. • These pillars-like formations are termed as stacks.
4. Buildings collapse due to earthquakes because of the following reasons:
   • Most buildings are not built/made earthquake-proof.
   • When the earthquakes strike, the buildings are not capable of resisting the
     vibrations of the earthquakes.
   • They tear apart due to shallow foundation, sub-standard interior material, and lack of adequate steel.
   • They collapse and fall down like a pack of papers/cards.

Question  5.
Activity
Observe the photographs given below. These are various features made by a river. Identify them and also tell whether they are erosional or depositional or landforms formed by both.

Question 6.
For fun.
Solve the crossword puzzle with the help of given clues.
Across
2. Loop like the bend of a river.
4. Solid form of water.
7. Moving mass of ice.
9. Sudden descent of water in the bed of a river.
11. Natural cavity on weak rocks formed by action of waves.

12. Embankment on a river that keeps it in its channel.
13. Large body of seawater.
14. Dry area where sand dunes are found.
15. Small hill of sand caused by the action of the wind.
16. Flat plain formed by river deposits during the time of the flood.
Down
1. Rise and fall of water caused by friction of the wind on the water surface.
3. Flow of water in a channel.
5. Steep perpendicular face of rock along a sea coast.
6. Debris of boulder and coarse material carried by a glacier.

8. Crescent-shaped lake formed by a meandering river.
10. Fine sand deposited by the action of the wind.
13. Isolated mass of rising steep rock near a coastline.
14. Alluvial tracts of land formed by the river deposits at the mouth of a river.
Answer.

ACTIVITY

Earthquake-A case study

Activity

1. Read the ‘Earthquake – A case study’ given in the form of headlines that appeared in the newspapers after the quake. Arrange the events in the right sequence of their happening.
2. Imagine if a quake suddenly shook in the middle of the school day, where do you go for safety?
Answer.

1. Sequence


2. We would go for safety

• in the open
• under the gates
• would keep pillow or cushion on our heads.

INTEXT QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS

Question 1.
Find out the names of a few rivers of the world that form a delta?
Answer.
Name of some rivers (See the Map):

• Mississippi—Missouri.
• Amazon.
• Parana—Paraguay.
• The Nile.
• Zaire.
• Tigris—Euphrates.
• Ganga—Brahmaputra.
• Indus.
• Hwang Ho.
• The Yangtze.
• Irrawaddy.
• Salwin.
• Murray—Darling.
  

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question  1.  What do you know about the lithospheric plates?
Answer: The earth’s crust consists of several large and some small, rigid, irregularly— shaped plates, Le., slabs which cany continents and the ocean floor.

Question  2. How do the lithospheric plates move?
Answer:  They move around very slowly, just a few millimeters each year.

Question  3. What is a volcano?
Answer:  A volcano is a vent or opening in the earth’s crust through which molten material erupts suddenly.

Question  4.  Define focus’ and ‘epicentre’. [Imp.]
Answer: The place in the crust where the movement starts is called the ‘focus’. The place on the surface above the focus is called the ‘epicentre’.

Question  5.  Name the three types of earthquake waves.
Answer:

1. P waves or longitudinal waves
2. S waves or transverse waves
3. L wave or surface waves.

Question  6.  What is a seismograph? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  A seismograph is a machine which measures an earthquake.

Question  7.  Name the scale on which the magnitude of the earthquake is measured.
Answer: Richter scale.

Question  8. Which earthquake is classified as a major earthquake?
Answer: An earthquake of 7.0 magnitude is classified as a major earthquake.

Question  9. Where is Victoria Falls located? [Imp.]
Answer: Victoria Falls is located on the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa.

Question  10. What is delta?
Answer: The collection of sediments from all the mouths forms a delta. It is a triangular-shaped landmass.

Question  11. Name some coastal landforms.
Answer:  Sea caves, sea arches, stacks, and sea cliffs.

Question  12. How are glacial moraines formed?                              [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The material carried by the glacier such as rocks big and small, sand and silt gets deposited. These deposits form glacial moraines.

Question  13. Name the two processes which wear away the landscape.
Answer: Weathering and erosion.

Question  14. What does the process of erosion and deposition create?
Answer: The process of erosion and deposition create different landforms on the surface of the earth.

Question  15. Name a few rivers of the world that form a delta?
Answer: Nile, Zaire, Ganga-Brahmaputra, Hwangotto, Murray-Darling, Amazon, etc.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question  1. Mention the work of ice.
Answer:  Glaciers are rivers of ice that erode the landscape by destroying soil and stones to expose the solid rock below. Glaciers carve out deep hollows. As the ice melts they get filled up with water and become beautiful lakes in the mountains. The material carried by the glacier such as rocks big and small, sand and silt gets deposited. These deposits form glacial moraines.

Question  2. What is an earthquake? What are some common earthquake prediction methods?[V. Imp.]
Answer:  When the lithospheric plates move, the surface of the earth vibrates. The vibrations can travel all around the earth. These vibrations are called earthquakes. Some common earthquake prediction methods include studying animal behaviour, fish in the ponds get agitated, snakes come to the surface.

Question   3.  Give an account of earthquake preparedness.            [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Earthquake is a natural calamity which we cannot stop. But we can minimise its impact if we are prepared before-hand.
During an earthquake, we should shift to some safe spot. We should hide under a kitchen counter, table, or desk against an inside comer or wall. We should stay away from fireplaces, areas around chimneys, windows that shelter including mirrors and picture frames. Moreover, we should spread awareness amongst our friends and family members.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question  1.  Explain the work of a river.                [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The running water in the river erodes the landscape. When the river tumbles at a steep angle over very hard rocks or down a deep valley side it forms a waterfall. While entering the plain the river twists and turns and forms large bends which are known as meanders. Due to continuous erosion and deposition along the sides of the meander, the ends of the meander loop come closer and closer.

In due course of time the meander loop cuts off from the river and forms a cut-off lake, which is also called an ox-bow lake. Sometimes, the river overflows its banks causing flood in the neighboring areas. As it floods, it deposits layers of fine soil and other material called sediments along its banks. As a result—a fertile floodplain is formed. The raised banks are called levees.

As the river approaches the sea, the speed of the flowing water decreases, and the river begins to break up into several streams known as distributaries. Then a time comes when the river becomes very slow and it begins to deposit its load. Each distributary forms its own mouth. The collection of sediments from all the mouths forms a delta, which is a triangular landmass.

Question  2. Give an account of the work of wind. [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Wind is an active agent of erosion and deposition in the deserts. In deserts, we often notice rocks in the shape of a mushroom, known as mushroom rocks. Winds erode the lower section of the rock more than the upper part. Therefore, such rocks have a narrower base and a wider top. When the wind blows, it lifts and transports sand from one place to another.

When the wind stops blowing the sand falls and gets deposited in low hill-like structures. These are called sand dunes. When the grains are very fine and light, the wind can carry it over long distances. When such sand is deposited in a large area, it is called loess.