Question 1

Question 2Fill in the blanks.(a) Ayer Rock is also known as ............... .(b) The Eastern Highlands extend almost parallel to ............... .(c) Murray and Darling Rivers originate in ............... .(d) Lake Eyre is a region of ............... .(e) Sydney is situated on the ............... coast.

Accepted Answer

(a) Ayer Rock is also known as Uluru.(b) The Eastern Highlands extend almost parallel to the eastern coast of Australia.(c) Murray and Darling Rivers originate in Australian Alps.(d) Lake Eyre is a region of the central lowland.(e) Sydney is situated on the Australia’s Southeast coast.

Question 2

Question 3Explain the following terms.(a) Inland drainage(b) Paddock(c) Sheep stations(d) Coral polyps

Accepted Answer

(a) Inland drainage — A river system in which the rivers are not able to reach the sea or ocean and drain into some shallow salt lake, is called inland drainage.(b) Paddock — A sheep station is divided into a number of fields called Paddocks.(c) Sheep stations — A sheep station is a large property in Australia or New Zealand, whose main activity is raising of sheep for their wool and/or meat.(d) Coral polyps — Tiny sea creatures living in shallow, warm and salty waters of the sea that secrete calcium carbonate is called coral polyp.

Question 3

Question 4(a)What is meant by the term Australasia? What is the other name given to it?

Accepted Answer

The term Australasia includes Australia, New Zealand and the neighbouring islands of the South Pacific Ocean. It is also called Oceania.

Question 4

Question 4(b)Name the political divisions of Australia.

Accepted Answer

Australia is divided into six states:New South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaQueenslandTasmania andWestern Australia.There are also two internal territories governed by the central government i.e., Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory which includes Canberra, the capital of Australia. Both these territories are large but thinly populated.

Question 5

Question 4(c)How is coral reef formed?

Accepted Answer

Coral reef is formed by tiny sea creatures called coral polyps. They live in shallow, warm and salty water of the sea and secrete calcium carbonate which on the death of the coral polyps, remains clinging to the rock. As time passes, a great ridge-like structure called coral reef is formed.

Question 6

Question 4(d)Name the factors that may cause damage to coral reefs.

Accepted Answer

Some of the factors that may cause damage to coral reefs are:Climate Change.Ocean acidification and pollution.Human activities like swimming, diving and mining.

Question 7

Question 4(e)State the importance of the Murray-Darling Basin. From where does it get its water supply?

Accepted Answer

Importance of the Murray Darling Basin are:The Murray-Darling Basin is the most fertile part of Australia, because it is drained by two important River- River Murray and River Darling.Rivers carry with them a lot of alluvium and deposit it on the riverbank, that makes the river basin fertile.The rivers Darling and Murray are snow-fed rivers originating from the southern Alps.

Question 8

Question 4(f)Where is Great Artesian Basin situated? What is its importance?

Accepted Answer

The Great Artesian Basin is situated mainly in the state of Queensland and New South Wales. It is important for irrigation purposes and is the major source of groundwater supply.

Question 9

Question 4(g)State any three favourable conditions for digging an artesian well.

Accepted Answer

Three favourable conditions for digging an artesian well are:The aquifer should be saucer shaped (synclinal) so that the water moves downward in it under the action of gravity.There should be a layer of porous rock between two layers of non-porous rocks.The layers of porous rock should be exposed at the surface of the ground to enable the surface water to go in.

Question 10

Question 1(j)Rivers Murray and Darling originate fromAustralian AlpsMusgrave RangeMt RobertsMacDonnell Range

Accepted Answer

Australian Alps

Question 11

Question 1(k)Tiny sea creatures that live in the shallow, warm and salty waters of the sea and secrete calcium carbonate.Coral polypsZooplanktonCoral ReefPhytoplanktons

Accepted Answer

Coral polyps

Question 12

Question 1(l)The Western Plateau in Australia is composed ofSandstoneGraniteMarbleBasalt

Accepted Answer

Sandstone

Question 13

Question 1(m)A huge single rock within the MacDonnell rangeUluruMonolithDonaldAyanger

Accepted Answer

Uluru

Question 14

Question 1(n)Which is not a condition for an Artesian well.Saucer shaped aquiferPorous rocks between non porous rocksAdequate rainSnow-capped mountain

Accepted Answer

Snow-capped mountain

Question 15

Question 1(o)The latitude that passes through the middle of AustraliaAntarctic CircleTropic of CapricornTropic of CancerEquator

Accepted Answer

Tropic of Capricorn

Australia — Location, Political Divisions and Physical Features

Exercise

Tick the correct option