Question 1

Question 4(i)(a) Name the type of climate experienced by India.(b) Mention any two factors responsible for it.

Accepted Answer

(a) India experiences a tropical monsoon type of climate.(b) Two factors responsible for tropical monsoon type of climate in India are -The HimalayasVaried Relief

Question 2

Question 4(ii)With the help of a suitable example explain how relief features affect the rainfall of a place.

Accepted Answer

Relief plays an important role in determining the rainfall of a place. Let us consider some examples,The Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall on the western side because they stand in the way of South West Monsoon winds which come from the Arabian Sea. On the other hand, the Deccan Plateau gets less rainfall as it lies in the rainshadow area of the Western Ghats.In Rajasthan, the Aravali Range is parallel to the direction of the South West Monsoon winds. So it is unable to stop the moisture laden winds. This makes Rajasthan a dry area.The southern hills of Assam get heavy rainfall but the northern ones do not. This is because the southern hills force the moisture laden winds to shed their moisture before they proceed northwards.

Question 3

Question 4(iii)Give a geographical reason for each of the following:(a) Annual range of temperature is higher in Delhi than Mumbai.(b) Mango showers are beneficial local winds.(c) The North East monsoons bring almost no rain to most parts of India.(d) Study the climatic data and answer the following questions:MonthJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECTemp. °C23.825.027.728.330.230.330.430.330.030.325.524.2Rainfall cm001.11.52.145.346.545.443.320.13.01(i) Calculate the annual range of temperature.(ii) What is the total rainfall during the monsoon season?(iii) On which coast is the station located? Give a reason for your answer.

Accepted Answer

(a) Delhi has a higher annual range of temperature than Mumbai because Delhi is situated in the northern part of India, away from the sea. Hence, it experiences continental type of climate, too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Mumbai, on the other hand, is situated near the sea so it has a moderate type of climate, neither too hot nor too cold.(b) Mango showers are the pre-monsoon showers in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Konkan and Goa that help in the ripening of mangoes. These showers are also important for tea and coffee plants. Hence they are beneficial for crops.(c) The North East monsoons bring almost no rain to most parts of India because these winds blow from land to sea. Thus, they are dry winds and have no moisture to cause rainfall. When these winds pass over the Bay of Bengal, they pick up some moisture and cause some rainfall on the Coromandel Coast.(d) Study of climatic data:(a) Annual range of temperature:Maximum Temperature = 30.4°C (In July)Minimum Temperature = 23.8°C (In January)Annual range of temperature = Maximum Temperature - Minimum Temperature = 30.4°C - 23.8°C = 6.6°C∴ Annual range of temperature = 6.6°C(b) According to the given data, the monsoon season starts from June and ends in October.Total rainfall = 45.3 + 46.5 + 45.4 + 43.3 + 20.1 = 200.6 cm(c) The station is located on the west coast of India as it receives heavy rainfall in the months of June, July and August. During these months, South West Monsoon winds cause heavy rainfall on the west coast of India.

Question 4

Question 5(i)Differentiate between alluvial and laterite soil.

Accepted Answer

Alluvial SoilLaterite SoilIt is formed by the deposition of sediments by rivers.It is formed due to leaching in areas of heavy rain.Its colour varies from light grey to deep black.It is red in colour.It is a fertile soil as it is rich in minerals, especially iron, magnesia, alumina, potash and lime but poor in phosphorous, nitrogen and organic matter.It is not fertile. It is rich in iron oxide and potash and poor in lime and magnesium and nitrogen.It is coarse and dry in the upper reaches of the river and gets finer and moist as the river flows down.It is of a coarse texture, soft and friable.It is suitable for cultivation of rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, gram and oilseeds.It suits crops like tapioca, cashewnuts, tea, coffee, etc.

Question 5

Question 5(ii)Name the following:(a) This soil is sticky when wet and cracks when dry.(b) This soil is mainly used for making bricks.(c) This soil is classified into khadar and bhangar.(d) When heavy rainfall washes away the topmost layer of the soil.

Accepted Answer

(a) Black soil(b) Laterite soil(c) Alluvial soil(d) Soil erosion

Question 6

Question 5(iii)Give geographical reasons for the following:(a) Black soil is a residual soil.(b) Red soils are generally infertile.(c) Alluvial soil differs in texture.

Accepted Answer

(a) Black soil is a residual soil as it is formed at the place of its origin over the underlying rocks. It is formed by the denudation of volcanic rocks.(b) Red soils are infertile due to low nutrient content, poor water-holding capacity, high acidity, and susceptibility to erosion.(c) Alluvial soils differs in texture as in the upper reaches of the river valleys, the soil is dry, coarse, porous and sandy. Soil particles are large and non-uniform but as we move further down a river valley, the soil particles become smaller and more uniform. They are more compact and more moist.

Question 7

Question 5(iv)What is Soil Conservation? Mention any two measures taken to conserve soil.

Accepted Answer

Soil conservation means prevention of soil loss from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility of soil caused by over-use, acidification, salinisation or other types of soil contamination.Two measures taken to conserve soil are:Terrace farming — Terraces act as bunds and prevent soil erosion by running water.Contour Ploughing — Ploughing along contours on a slope prevents soil erosion by running water.

Question 8

Question 6(i)Mention any two characteristics of Tropical Evergreen forests.

Accepted Answer

Two characteristics of Tropical Evergreen forests are:Since this region remains warm and wet throughout the year, it has a luxuriant vegetation of all kinds - trees, shrubs and creepers, which give it a multi-layered structure.The carpet layer of herbs and grasses cannot grow because of the dense canopy of trees which do not allow enough sunlight to reach the ground.

Question 9

Question 6(ii)Name the forest which is found in the delta of the river Ganga. Name two trees which are found here.

Accepted Answer

Littoral or Tidal forests are found in the delta of the river Ganga.Palms and sundari trees are found in these forests.

Question 10

Question 6(iii)Give geographical reasons for the following:(a) Xerophytic plants have long roots.(b) Forests prevent floods.(c) Tropical deciduous forests are commercially most exploited.

Accepted Answer

(a) Xerophytic plants have long roots because it enables the plants to absorb water from great depths. It is an adaptation of xerophytic plants to survive in desert area.(b) Forests prevent floods as the dense vegetation of forests acts as a natural barrier, intercepting and slowing down rainfall. Trees and plants absorb and store water, reducing runoff and preventing excessive water from entering rivers or streams, thus mitigating flood risks.(c) Tropical deciduous forests are commercially most exploited because besides providing valuable timber, they provide various other valuable products, like sandalwood. Moreover, they are less dense which makes transport between these forests and markets easier and economical.

Question 11

Question 6(iv)Give three reasons why we must conserve our forests.

Accepted Answer

We must conserve our forests because of the following reasons:Moderators of Climate — Forests play an effective role in controlling humidity, temperature and precipitation.Carbon Cycle — Forests absorb atmospheric Carbon dioxide and help in maintaining the purity of air and controlling atmospheric pollution.Water table — Forests help in water percolation and thereby maintain underground water table.

Question 12

Question 7(i)Mention two conditions necessary for the construction of wells.

Accepted Answer

Two conditions necessary for the construction of wells are:Availability of groundwater is essential.The depth of the water table should not exceed 15 m.

Question 13

Question 7(ii)Define:(a) Surface water(b) Ground water

Accepted Answer

(a) Surface water forms streams, lakes, rivers and ponds flowing on land. It can be used directly without pumping.(b) The water which seeps through the cracks and crevices under the surface of the land is known as ground water. It needs to be pumped out of the ground before it can be used.

Question 14

Question 7(iii)Mention one advantage of canals and two disadvantages of tanks.

Accepted Answer

Advantage of Canal — The rainfall deficiency in some areas is made up by canals taken out from the perennial rivers.Two disadvantages of tanks —When the monsoons fail these tanks go dry and therefore, are not dependable source of irrigation.Tanks occupy a large fertile area which otherwise could have been utilised for growing crops.

Question 15

Question 7(iv)Mention three ways by which you as an individual can reuse and conserve water.

Accepted Answer

Three ways by which water can be reused and conserved are:We can collect rainwater using rainwater harvesting and use the water for various purposes.Water used for washing vegetables and fruits can be further used to water the plants.The reject water coming from the water filter or air conditioner outlets can be used for washing or cleaning purposes.

Question 16

Question 8(i)Mention one advantage and one disadvantage of coal found in India.

Accepted Answer

Advantage — India ranks third in the world in coal production that makes coal the cheapest fossil fuel available in India owing to its availability, easy transport and easy storage.Disadvantage — Calorific value of coal found in India is low.

Question 17

Question 8(ii)Name two states where copper is found in India. Mention one use of it.

Accepted Answer

Copper is found in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.Copper is used in shipbuilding industry.

Question 18

Question 8(iii)Mention two advantages of using natural gas over petroleum. Name an area where natural gas is found.

Accepted Answer

Two advantages of using natural gas over petroleum are:Natural gas is an eco-friendly fuel.It is a cleaner, cheaper fuel than diesel or gasoline.Natural gas is found in Mumbai High in Maharashtra.

Question 19

Question 8(iv)What are the advantages of using bio gas?

Accepted Answer

The advantages of using bio gas are:Biogas is clean, non-polluting and cheap.There is direct supply of gas from the plant. Therefore, there is no storage problem.The sludge left behind is a rich fertiliser containing bacterial biomass.

Question 20

Question 9(i)Mention any two problems faced by Indian farmers.

Accepted Answer

Two problems faced by Indian farmers are:Fragmented Land Holdings — Land holdings in India are often small and fragmented, which makes it challenging for farmers to adopt modern farming techniques and achieve economies of scale.Dependence on Monsoons — Agriculture in India heavily relies on monsoon rains for irrigation. Inadequate or irregular rainfall can lead to droughts, crop failure, and financial distress for farmers.

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