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ICSE Notes : Geography Question Bank (Climate, Soils, Minerals, Water Resources and Natural Vegetation of India)

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Prerak Modia
S N Kansagra School (SNK), Rajkot
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QUESTION BANK STANDARD 10 GE0GRAPHY 2010-11 CHAPTERS INCLUDED IN THE QUESTION BANK 1. Climate of india 2. SOILS OF INDIA 3. MINERALS IN INDIA 4. WATER RESOURSES IN INDIA 5. NATURAL VEGETATION IN INDIA 5 PRACTICE MAPS FOR BOARD EXAMINATION INCLUDED SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 1 Climate of South Asia 1. Name a. One region which gets rainfall due to the western disturbances. North-west India (Punjab) b. A hot local wind that blows in summer in the northern plains. Loo c. A region in India which gets most of its rainfall during winter. Tamil Nadu d. A place in India which receives the heaviest rainfall in the world. Mawsynram e. A region which receives very little or no rainfall due to the south west monsoon season. Tamil Nadu f. Winds that bring rain to the coast of Tamil Nadu. North-east monsoon g. Devastating storm occurring in West Bengal summer. Kalbaisakhi h. State in India which receives mango showers . Kerala i. Area from where the Western disturbances originate. Mediterranean Sea j. Two branches of the south west monsoon. Arabian Sea Branch, Bay of Bengal Branch k. State where the monsoon arrives first Kerala SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 2 l. Place where monsoon arrives first Kanyakumari m. Area of intense low pressure in the northern plains in summer Low Pressure Trough n. Two states in India frequently struck by tropical cyclones West Bengal and Orissa o. Months in which cyclones originate in the Andaman Sea. October and November 2. What do you understand by the following? a. Climatic divide A bold relief feature which has two different types of climates on its either side is called a climatic divide. b. Annual range of temperature The difference between highest monthly mean temperature and the lowest monthly mean temperature is called annual range of temperature. In other words, it is the difference in mean temperature of the hottest month subtracted by the mean temperature of the coldest month. Annual Range of temperature = Mean temperature of hottest month mean temperature of the coldest month c. Moderating influence of the sea In coastal areas, land is in contact with the sea. Hence, the heat absorbed by the land in the day is transferred to the sea. Vice-versa, the heat absorbed by the sea is transferred back to the land in the night. As a result, places in coastal areas do not become very hot in the day or very cold in the night. This phenomenon is called moderating influence of the sea. d. Equable climate If the annual range of temperature is very less (<5 C), a place is said to have equable climate. e. Extreme climate SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 3 If the annual range of temperature is quite high (>20 C), a place is said to have extreme climate. f. Loo Loo is a local name given to hot and dry winds which blow into the low pressure trough created in the northern plains in summer. g. Kal Baisakhi Kalbaisakhi (Calamity in the month of harvest or Norwesters) is the name given to violent storms hitting the coast of West Bengal in April and May. These cause widespread destruction. h. Mango Showers Pre-monsoon showers in Kerala that help in ripening of mangoes are known as mango showers. i. Western disturbances Western Disturbance is the term used in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal to describe cyclones which bring sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This precipitation pattern is driven by the meeting of the warm Westerlies with the cool dry NE monsoons. The moisture in these storms usually originates over the Mediterranean Sea. j. Retreating monsoon After September 23, the sun moves south of the equator due to which India becomes cooler. The low pressure existing over the Indian sub-continent is gradually replaced by high pressure. As a result, the monsoon decreases in intensity. The methodical withdrawal of the south west monsoon from the Indian sub-continent is called retreating monsoon or retreating south-west monsoon. k. Orographic Rainfall When a cloud is encountered by a mountain, it rises on the windward side. The temperature towards the top is less on account of altitude. At a lesser temperature, air loses its moisture carrying capacity and the excess moisture is given off as rainfall. This phenomenon is called orographic or relief rainfall. l. North East Monsoon In winter, winds blow from land to sea. In the Indian sub-continent, winds blow from India into the Indian Ocean from north-east to south-west in SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 4 accordance with Ferrell s Law. This seems to be the return of the south-west monsoon as is therefore named as north east monsoon. The phenomenon is also sometimes stated as reversal of monsoons. m. October Heat In the month of October due to high temperature and humidity the weather becomes oppressive and called October heat. The retreat of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature but the land is still moist, so it becomes very oppressive - hot and moist. 3. State three characteristics of the monsoon kind of climate. Following are the three characteristics of the monsoon kind of climate. a. There is a distinct rainy season from June to September b. Rainfall occurs due to seasonal winds called monsoons. c. Rainfall is sudden, unpredictable and uncertain. 4. Why is India sometimes said to have a sub-tropical kind of climate? The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two equal halves. The southern half is completely in the Torrid Zone while the northern Half is completely in the Temperate Zone. Yet, the climate of places in both the northern and southern region is not very different from each other on account of the Himalayas and the monsoons. It is for this reason that India is sometimes said to have a sub-tropical kind of climate which means that the typical tropical kind of climate has been modified by the monsoons. 5. List three reasons for the extremes prevalent in the climate of India. Three reasons for the extremes of climate prevalent in India are a. Physical Features (rainfall) b. Distance from the Sea (annual range of temperature) c. Altitude (annual mean temperature) 6. List the factors affecting the climate of India. Factors affecting climate of India are Major factors 1. Latitude 2. Physical features like Himalayas, Arakan Yoma Range, Aravallis, Western Ghats etc. 3. Distance from the sea 4. Altitude Minor Factors 1. Western Disturbances SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 5 2. Conditions surrounding India 3. Jet Streams 7. What is the influence of the following on the climate of India? a. The Himalayas b. The Arakan Yoma Range c. The Aravallis The Himalayas affect the climate of India in the following ways. a. They prevent cold winds coming from the north. b. They force the monsoons to shed their moisture over India. c. They also cause the western disturbances to cause rainfall in north-west India and deflect them into the Bay of Bengal making the north-east monsoon stronger. 8. Name the months of the following. a. Cold weather season December, January and February b. Hot weather season March, April and May c. South West Monsoon season June, July, August and September d. Retreating monsoon season October and November 9. Give reasons for the following. a. Thiruvananthapuram is warmer than Agra in December. Thiruvananthapuram is closer to the equator than Agra. For this reason, it is warmer than Agra in December, when the sun rays are directly overhead in the southern hemisphere. b. Deccan plateau is cooler than the northern plains in summer. The Deccan plateau is higher than the northern plains. As altitude increases, temperature decreases. Hence, it is cooler than the northern plains in summer. c. The south west monsoon approaches Uttar Pradesh from the east. The winds which bring rainfall to Uttar Pradesh are the Bay of Bengal Branch of the south-west monsoons which upon deflection by the Arakan Yoma Range, travels north-westward into India. So, these winds would approach Uttar Pradesh from the east. d. Delhi has a higher annual range of temperature than Mumbai. Delhi is in the interior of India where the moderating influence of the sea is absent. Mumbai on the other hand lies closer to the sea. Hence, the annual range of temperature in Delhi is more than the annual range of temperature in Mumbai. e. Shillong experiences lesser rainfall than Mawsynram. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 6 Mawsynram lies in the funnel shaped depression caused by the Khasi range in Meghalaya. The Bay of Bengal branch of monsoons is trapped in it, causing heavy rainfall. Shillong, on the other hand, lies on the leeward side of the Khasi hills and gets lesser rainfall. f. Punjab gets winter rainfall Punjab lies on the foothills of the Himalayas. The western disturbances originating over the Mediterranean Sea in winter travel eastward towards India where are forced to shed their moisture in Punjab. Therefore, Punjab receives rainfall in the winter. g. Bikaner has a high diurnal range of temperature. Bikaner lies on the edge of the Thar Desert. The land has little vegetation cover so it absorbs heat quickly in the day and loses it quickly in the night. For this reason, it is very hot during the day and quite cold during the night. Hence, Bikaner is said to have a high diurnal range of temperature. h. Thar desert gets little or no rainfall The Aravallis are parallel to the direction of the Arabia Sea branch of the South West Monsoon. Hence there is no rainfall in Rajasthan due to this branch. On the other hand, the Aravallis block the Bay of Bengal branch towards their east which is why there is little or no rainfall in the western part of Rajasthan where the Thar Desert lies. i. Western Rajasthan is the region where the pressure is lowest in May. Rajasthan is away from the moderating influence of the sea. As a result, the monthly mean temperature is very high in May and June. The hot air rises and creates a regime of extremely low pressure. j. In spite of extremely low pressure over the northern plains in summer, monsoon winds are not drawn into the Indian sub-continent. As the peninsular plateau is at an altitude, the summer temperatures are lower than in the northern plains. This creates an area of slightly higher pressure over the peninsular plateau which does not allow the monsoons to come over India. k. The monsoon winds in India are divided into two components. Due to the triangular shape of the Indian peninsula and the fact that the western part of the peninsular tip is higher, the south-west monsoon winds are divided into two components the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 7 l. South East Trade winds are attracted into India. In June, India becomes extremely hot which is why the entire Indian subcontinent becomes a region of extremely low pressure. This causes the South East Trade Winds (which usually blow only till the equator) to cross the equator, be deflected due to Coriolis force and enter India. m. Tamil Nadu gets winter rainfall. Tamil Nadu lies on the leeward side of the Western Ghats because of which it does not receive any rainfall in summer due to the south-west monsoon. However, in winter, the north-east monsoon (joined by the western disturbances) picks up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and sheds rainfall in Tamil Nadu. n. Mumbai receives more rainfall than Chennai. Mumbai lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats where the southwest monsoons strike first and are forced to shed their moisture. Chennai lie on the east which does not receive any rainfall due to the south-west monsoon. The rainfall in winter is substantially less than Mumbai. o. Mangalore and Chennai are on the same latitude yet both these cities receive rainfall in different months. Mangalore gets rainfall between June to September because it is on the windward side of the Western Ghats. It receives rainfall from the south-west monsoon winds. Chennai which lies in the rain-shadow area of the Western Ghats, gets a little rainfall from the south-west monsoon winds. It gets rainfall from the north-east winds in winter because Chennai faces the north-east monsoon. It is situated on the windward side of the Eastern Ghats. p. North Eastern Part of Kashmir receives practically no rainfall. North Eastern Kashmir lies on the other side of the mighty Himalayas. None of the branches of the south-west monsoon are able to cross them and as a result, north-east Kashmir receives practically no rainfall. q. Patna gets heavier rainfall than Agra. Patna is in the middle Ganga valley while Agra is in the upper Ganga Valley. By the time the Bay of Bengal branch of the south-west monsoon reaches Agra, it has lost much of its moisture and therefore, Agra receives lesser rainfall than Patna. r. Mawsynram receives the highest rainfall in the world. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 8 Mawsynram lies in the funnel shaped depression caused by the Khasi range in Meghalaya. The Bay of Bengal branch of monsoons is trapped in it and causes heavy rainfall. s. The monsoon rain is unevenly distributed over India. Because of the uneven relief of India due to the presence of a number of hill ranges, the monsoon is not able to shed its moisture evenly over India. Windward sides receive more rainfall and leeward sides receive less rainfall. t. Most of the rainfall of the Indian sub-continent is received only in four months of the year. In spite of being in the Trade Wind belt, India is unaffected by the Trade Winds due to the presence of the Himalayas. Instead, India receives rainfall due to the monsoon winds which are seasonal in nature and are on-shore winds only in four months June to September. For the remaining part of the year, they are off-shore winds and do not bring rainfall. u. The Indo-Gangetic plain gets some rain during December and January. The western part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains receives rainfall due to the western disturbances originating over the Mediterranean Sea in December and January. v. Nainital is cooler than Agra. Nainital is cooler than Agra because of its altitude (2700 m). w. The Coromandel Coast gets most of its rain in the winter season. Coromandel Coast lies on the leeward side of the Western Ghats because of which it does not receive any rainfall in summer due to the south-west monsoon. However, in winter, the north-east monsoon (joined by the western disturbances) picks up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and sheds rainfall on the Coromandel Coast. 10. Why do the monsoons retreat? After the monsoons have shed their moisture over India, the land becomes cool. In addition, the sun now moves from the equator towards the Tropic of Capricorn. India becomes cooler and the initial low pressure which existed over the Indian subcontinent now changes to high pressure. As a result, the intensity of the south-west monsoons decreases and they follow a systematic withdrawal from India. The southwest monsoon then called Retreating South West Monsoon . 11. Explain the mechanism of the westerly depressions. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 9 In winter, the sub-tropical high pressure belt moves over the Mediterranean Sea, which is why the Westerlies blow in the form of shallow cyclonic depressions from the Mediterranean Sea north-eastward into Europe. The north-western part of the Indian sub-continent lies in the Westerlies wind belt. These western disturbances arrive in this region and cause winter rainfall. 12. State the characteristics of the following. a. The advancing south west monsoon season. Following are the characteristics of the advancing south-west monsoon season. 1. They occur from June to September. 2. They give rainfall to almost entire India. 3. They are very strong and moisture laden. b. The retreating south west monsoon season. Following are the characteristics of the retreating south-west monsoon season. 1. They occur in October and November. 2. They give rainfall only to peninsular India. 3. They are not strong and contain little moisture. 13. List three differences between a. The Retreating south west monsoons and the North East monsoons. Retreating south west monsoon North East monsoon Months October and November December, January and February Direction From South West to North East (sea to land) From north-east to south-west (land to sea) Rainfall West Coast East Coast b. The Arabian Sean branch and the Bay of Bengal Branch Arabian Sea branch Bay of Bengal Branch Source of moisture Arabian Sea Bay of Bengal Direction South west to north east South-east to north-west Rainfall Western India Eastern and Central India c. Equable and Extreme climate Equable Climate SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 Extreme climate 10 1 Moderating influence of sea present Moderating influence of sea absent 2 Characteristic of coastal areas Characteristic of interior regions 3 Annual Range of Temperature is low Annual Range of temperature is high d. Precipitation and Rainfall Precipitation Rainfall 1 May occur in many forms such as snow, hail, sleet, etc. Occurs as descending droplets of water 2 Occurs in specific areas only Occurs almost everywhere 3 Cloud formation not necessary in some cases Cloud formation essential 14. State the economic importance of the following. a. Relief rain in Tamil Nadu Relief rainfall in Tamil Nadu (Palni, Javadi and Shevaroy hills) is beneficial for the millets and rice crops. b. Cyclonic Rainfall in Punjab Cyclonic rainfall in Punjab during winter is highly useful for rabi crops in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. c. Mango Showers in Kerala Mango showers on the Kerala coast are early Pre-monsoon showers before the south-west monsoons which are good for the mango trees. 15. State the salient features of the monsoon rainfall in India. Following are the salient features of the monsoon rainfall in India. a. It occurs in mostly in summer b. It is erratic and unpredictable. c. It is very unevenly distributed d. The rainfall is mainly orographic (relief) in nature. e. Rainfall also occurs due to cyclones and convection currents. 16. Study the climate data given below and answer the questions that follow. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 11 Station A B Months Jan Temp ( C) Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 14.4 16.7 23.3 30.0 33.3 33.3 30.0 29.4 28.9 25.6 19.4 15.6 Rainfall (cm) 2.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.8 7.4 19.3 17.8 11.9 1.3 0.2 1.6 Temp ( C) 24.4 24.4 26.7 26.7 30.0 28.9 27.2 27.2 27.2 27.8 27.2 25.0 Rainfall (cm) 0.2 0.2 ---- 1.8 50.6 61.0 36.9 24.8 4.8 1.0 ---- ---- 1. Calculate the annual rainfall for Station A. The annual rainfall for Station A is 67.6 cm. it is calculated by adding the rainfall received in a year. 2. What is the annual range of temperature at Station B? The annual range of temperature at Station B is 5.6 C. it is the difference between the highest and the lowest temperatures in a year. 3. In which hemisphere do you think Station A lies? Station A lies in the Northern Hemisphere. This is because it has summers in June and winter in December. 4. Which of these Stations has an equable climate? Station B has an equable climate because the annual range of temperature is small (5.6 C). Summers are not very hot and winters are not very cold. Soils of India SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 12 General 1. State or name a. Soil which is formed by decomposition of metamorphic rocks Red Soil b. Soil which is agriculturally most significant Alluvial Soil c. Soil which forms in situ due to weathering of basalt Black Soil d. Soil which forms as a result of leaching Laterite Soil e. Older alluvial soil Bhangar f. Younger alluvial soil Khadar g. Soil which is also called regur Black Soil h. Soil which lies at its place of origin Sedentary Soil i. Soil which has more than 60% clay and less than 10% sand Clayey Soil j. Soil which has more than 60% sand and less than 10% clay Sandy Soil k. Soil which has sand and clay in an even proportion Loamy Soil 2. Name the soil which is a. Rich in iron but poor in silica Laterite Soil b. Rich in humus Deltaic Alluvial Soil c. Rich in potash but poor in phosphorous Alluvial Soil d. Rich in lime, iron, magnesium, calcium carbonate, alumina and potash but poor in nitrogen and phosphorus Black Soil SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 13 e. Suitable for dry farming Red Soil f. Difficult to cultivate as it becomes sticky during the rains Black Soil 3. Name the Soil which is found in a. Coastal strip of Deccan Plateau Coastal Alluvial Soil b. Windward side of the Western Ghats Laterite Soil c. Chhota Nagpur Plateau Laterite Soil, Red Soil d. Delta of Krishna Deltaic Alluvial Soil 4. Define Soil. Soil is the thin (5-8 metres) uppermost layer of the earth s crust, which is capable of supporting life on earth. 5. List the steps through which soil formation occurs. Soil formation is called pedogenesis. It involves the following steps. Step 1: Rocks are weathered either physically or chemically Step 2: Dead organic matter present on the earth is decayed and disintegrated by bacteria forming humus. This process may happen simultaneously with weathering Step 3: Weathered rock material and humus are mixed together due to the action of percolating water, which distributes minerals through the soil. 6. List the four main components of soil and their significance. Component Significance Minerals Give colour and texture to the soil Humus Gives fertility to the soil Air Used by plant roots for respiration Moisture Plants can absorb minerals if dissolved in water; also safeguards against erosion 7. Briefly describe the factors affecting soil formation. a. Parent rock: It determines its mineral composition, texture, and colour. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 14 b. Climate: Climate is responsible for the weathering processes, moisture content and humus content of the soil. c. Topography: Areas of high relief, i.e. mountains will have a thin soil cover. On the other hand, areas of low relief, i.e. plains and valleys will have a thick soil cover. d. Time: A layer of soil 1 metre thick would usually take between 3000 to 12000 years to form. The maturity of the soil would therefore depend upon the time taken for its formation. 8. State the two most important factors that determine the types of soils found in India. Climate and parent rock are the two major factors determining the types of soils found in India. 9. What do you understand by humus? It is the organic matter which is formed by the decomposition of plant remains, dead animals and manure. Humus contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which determines the fertility of the soil. 10. How is soil important to man? Most of our food items like cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, clothing, etc., are obtained directly or indirectly from the soil. A large number of human and economic activities depend on the soil. Fertile soil attracts a large number of people and human settlements. 11. What are the major types of soils found in the Indian Subcontinent? a. Alluvial soil b. Regur or Black soil c. Red Soil d. Laterite soil e. Desert soil f. Mountain soil g. Peaty and Marshy soil h. Saline and Alkaline soil 12. Place in two broad categories the soils of India on the basis of their formation. a. Residual or Sedentary soils: These are found where they are formed; hence they are called in situ . Black soil, Red soil, and Laterite soil are the examples of residual soils. b. Transported soil: These are carried down by agents of gradation such as rivers and wind. Alluvial soil, Desert Soil and Loess are the examples of transported soils. Alluvial Soil 13. How are alluvial soils formed? SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 15 Alluvial soils are formed from materials like silt, gravel and sand, brought down and deposited by rivers. In the coastal plains, the sea also leaves deposits of silt which results because of sea wave erosion. The silt, in turn, mixes up with humus and forms alluvial soil. 14. Why are the alluvial soils important agriculturally? Agriculturally, the alluvial soils are the most important as they are rich in minerals, especially potash and lime. In addition, they have a loamy texture which facilitates the retention of water as well as respiration by plant roots. 15. What are three different types of alluvium found in India? a. Deltaic alluvium in West Bengal and Orissa. b. Coastal alluvium in Peninsular India. c. Inland alluvium in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Orissa. 16. What are the two types of alluvial soils? Where are they found in India? a. Khaddar (Newer alluvium): It is found in the lower lands in the plains. It is loamy, porous and more fertile than Bhangar as new layers are deposited year after year during floods. b. Bhangar (Older alluvium): It is found in the higher parts of the plains on river terraces away from rivers. It contains lumps, is clayey, non-porous and less fertile than Khaddar. 17. Mention the main characteristics of alluvial soils. a. Alluvial soils are transported soils as they have come into existence because of the silt deposition brought by the rivers and wind. b. They are fertile as they are rich in minerals like potash and lime. c. They have a loamy texture. d. Deltaic alluvial soil is rich in humus content. Other alluvium is poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. e. Alluvium of the Ganga valley is faint yellow and consists of a mixture of sand, clay and organic matter. f. Alluvium of the Godavari and Krishna valleys is clayey, non-porous and brown in colour as these rivers flow over black soil. g. Alluvial soils cover an extensive area. Black Soil 18. How are Black soils or Black Cotton soils or Regur soils formed? Black soils are formed by in situ weathering of lava (basalt) rocks. Hence, they are also known as volcanic or lava soils. These are sedentary soils. 19. What is the advantage of clay contents in Black soils? Clay contents increase the capacity of black soils to retain moisture. 20. State the salient features of Black soils. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 16 a. Black soils are widely spread over the Deccan Plateau, comprising large areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. b. They vary in colour from deep black to chestnut brown. c. They are rich in iron contents and, hence, are black in colour. d. During rains, they become sticky and during dry days, they develop cracks. Hence they are difficult to cultivate. e. They hold moisture which is released to the plants during the dry period. f. These soils are best-suited for cotton and sugarcane cultivation. g. They are rich in lime, iron, magnesium, calcium carbonate, alumina and potash (LIMCAP), but deficient in phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter. h. They are also known as Regur soils in Maharashtra and Black Cotton soils in Peninsular India. Red Soil 21. Mention some properties of Red soils. a. Red soils are formed in situ by weathering of the ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks. b. Red soils are rich in iron; hence, they are red in colour. c. They are less fertile as they lack nitrogenous, phosphorous and organic matter. d. The productivity of the red soils increases with regular use of fertilizers. e. They have a good moisture retention capacity. f. They are suited for dry farming as it does not require much moisture. 22. Where are Red soils found in India? Red soils are found in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, eastern part of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau of Jharkhand. Laterite Soil 23. How are Laterite soils formed? Laterite soils are formed in situ as a result of leaching of essential silicates under typical monsoonal conditions in hilly areas where there are high temperatures and heavy rainfall with alternating wet and dry seasons. 24. Where are Laterite soils found in India? In India, laterite soils are found on the highland areas (windward side) of the Western Ghats, Kerala, Chhota Nagpur Plateau and the hills of Assam and Meghalaya. 25. What are the salient characteristics of Laterite soils? a. Laterite soils are leached soils because alternating dry and wet spells cause the soluble silica to be removed. b. They are acidic in nature and coarse and crumbly in texture. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 17 c. In the upper layers, the compounds of iron and aluminium become higher giving a reddish colour to the soil. d. Lack of nitrogen, potassium and organic matter make these soils unsuitable for cultivation. e. These soils support pastures and scrub forests. f. With the use of manures, coffee, rubber, cashew, etc., can be grown on these soils. Soil Erosion and Conservation 26. What do you understand by the following terms? a. Sheet Erosion b. Rill Erosion. c. Gully Erosion d. Stream Bank Erosion e. Slip Erosion i. Sheet Erosion: When a surface layer of the top soil is removed over a large area by running water, it is called sheet erosion. ii. Rill Erosion: In the second stage of sheet erosion, small finger-like rills begin to appear on the surface. With the passage of time, these rills become deeper and wider. They reduce area under cultivation. iii. Gully Erosion: When soil is eroded by water flowing along definite paths along the slope or in channels, it is called gully erosion. iv. Stream Bank Erosion: In times of floods, the continuously flowing water erodes the banks of streams and rivers. Gradually the bed of the river widens. v. Slip erosion: During heavy rains, water percolates into the soil until it is unable to penetrate further by the underlying impervious rock. On steep land, the heavy, moisture laden soil often comes down badly, resulting in a landslide. 27. Briefly explain the following terms. a. Deforestation b. Deccan Traps c. Leaching d. Soil Erosion e. Contour Ploughing f. Strip Cropping g. Crop Rotation SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 18 a. Deforestation: The removal of trees of an area of land by felling or burning is called deforestation. The process of deforestation is deliberate in order to make the land available for other uses. b. Deccan Traps: The word trap is Swedish which means steps. The term describes the step-like rock formation that covers the north-western part of the Deccan Plateau. c. Leaching: It is the downward movement of material in solution or colloidal suspension within the soil profile due to heavy rainfall. This phenomenon is responsible for the removal of essential silicates from the top soil resulting in laterite soil. d. Soil Erosion: It is the process of removal of soil, either mechanically or chemically. Wind, water and human activities are the main agents of soil erosion. e. Contour Ploughing: It is the cultivation of soil according to contour lines, i.e., at the right angles to the hill slopes. f. Strip Cropping: It is the cultivation of crops in strips to check the fastblowing winds. g. Crop Rotation: It is the cultivation of crops in a year in such a sequence that the fertility of the soil is not reduced. 28. What are the main causes of soil erosion? The main causes of soil erosion are a. Natural Causes i. Topography such as steep slopes ii. Torrential Rainfall iii. Strong Winds iv. Nature of soil such as dry and loose soil b. Human Causes i. Deforestation ii. Overgrazing iii. Improper farming techniques 29. State the causes of soil erosion in a. Shiwaliks or the Outer Himalayas b. North-eastern parts of India c. Arid regions of India d. Hilly areas of the south e. Northern Madhya Pradesh Following are the causes of soil erosion in the above mentioned areas. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 19 a. Shiwaliks or the Outer Himalayas: Destruction of vegetation cover has resulted into large scale soil erosion. A large amount of debris comes down the slopes of Siwaliks and chokes up the rivers and causes floods. Here, land slides and land slips are very frequent. b. North-eastern parts of India: Frequent floods due to heavy rains and stream bank cutting are very common. These are the main causes of soil erosion in Assam, West Bengal and hilly regions of North-east. c. Arid regions of India: Rajasthan, southern Punjab and south-western areas of Haryana are subjected to soil erosion by wind action. d. Hilly areas of the south: Here steep slopes, heavy rainfall and unscientific methods of cultivation are responsible for the soil erosion. e. Northern Madhya Pradesh: In northern M. P. (Chambal River Valley) very long dry spells followed by sudden rainfall causes excessive gully erosion along the ravines of the Chambal River giving rise to a characteristic landscape of badlands called beehad . 30. What is soil conservation? It is an effort made by man to prevent soil erosion, or at least to reduce the rate of soil erosion, to retain the fertility of the soil. 31. Why should we take steps to conserve soil? Soil is the mother of all plants without which no human being can survive, so we must take necessary steps for its conservation. 2.5 cm thick layer of soil takes thousands of years to form. 32. What are the different methods of soil conservation? a. Afforestation or planting of trees in deforested areas saves the soil from erosion caused both by water and wind. b. Construction of check-dams is an important method of checking soil erosion in the upper course of the rivers. c. Overgrazing should be checked. Grazing should be limited according to the size of the pasture. d. Gullies should be plugged by stone dams, wire netting or by raising trees across gullies to check the flood water. e. Shelter belts of trees and shrubs should be planted to check wind velocity in arid regions. f. Proper farming techniques, i.e., strip cropping, contour ploughing and terracing of hills should be adopted for soil conservation. 33. Briefly describe some soil conservation schemes implemented in India. They are as follows a. Integrated Watershed Management The objective of this scheme is to divert large quantities of rain water into artificial reservoirs, which will in turn reduce the silt load in the rivers, help control floods and prevent soil erosion. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 20 b. Reclamation and development of Ravine areas This is joint initiative undertaken by the governments of M.P., Rajasthan and Gujarat which aims at reducing soil erosion in the Chambal Valley through i. Afforestation in ravine areas ii. Reclamation of shallow ravines by filling mud and rocks iii. Building bunds across hill slopes to prevent further development of ravines. c. Control of Shifting Agriculture Jointly undertaken by the governments of the seven north-eastern states, this programme aims at reducing shifting agriculture and subsequent waste of agricultural land by afforestation and helping tribal people i. To practice terraced farming ii. To raise horticultural plantations Questions asked in ICSE papers 1. Name one area where laterite soil is found on a large scale. [1991] Laterite soil is found on the summits of the Western Ghats, particularly the windward side which receives heavy rainfall. 2. Why is laterite soil unsuitable for agriculture? [1992,1999] This soil is not fertile as many of the essential components like lime and silica are washed away by the process of leaching. In addition, this soil has a crumbly texture and is acidic in nature. 3. What is the type of soil which is widely distributed over the Ganga plain? [1994] Alluvial soil. 4. Answer the following i. Name one soil of volcanic origin commonly found in India. Black soil or Regur soil. ii. Name one crop widely grown on this soil. [1995] Cotton is grown widely on this soil. 5. What is the leached soil? Name one Indian soil that has been formed by leaching. [1995] After harvesting, farmers leave the soil bare for some time. During rainfall, some of the nutrients of the soil are leached or washed away. Such soil is called leached soil. Laterite soil is formed by leaching. 6. What is the most widespread transported soil of India? [1995] Alluvial soil is most widespread transported soil in India. 7. Name the soil known for its self-ploughing quality and the capacity to hold moisture. Name two cash crops for which it is specially suited. [1996,2000] Black soil. The two crops for which it is specially suited are cotton and sugarcane. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 21 8. Name the transported soil most widely found in India. State two sub-categories into which it is generally divided. What are their local names and which one of them is superior to the other? [1996] Alluvial soil. The two sub-categories in which it is divided are newer alluvium and older alluvium. The local name of newer alluvium is Khadar and that of older alluvium is Bhangar. Khadar is superior to Bhangar. 9. Give a single word for each of the following: i. The loose rock material, together with humus, forming the uppermost layer of the earth s crust and serving as a source of food and moisture for plants. Soil ii. The process of percolation by which valuable mineral nutrients are washed down from the top layer of the soil only to deposit them in the lower layers, making thereby the topsoil infertile . [1996] Leaching 10. How are laterite soils formed and where are they found in India? [1996] Laterite soils are formed under typical monsoon conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. They are mainly found in the highland areas of the Peninsular Plateau. 11. Name four major soil types found in India, leaving out desert and mountain soils. [1996] The soil types found in India are i. Alluvial soil ii. Red soil iii. Black soil and iv. Laterite soil. 12. Give two characteristics features of the soil found most suitable for growing cotton and sugarcane in Maharashtra. [1997] 13. The most suitable soil for growing cotton and sugarcane in Maharashtra is black soil. i. It is rich in iron, potash, lime, calcium carbonate, aluminium and magnetism. ii. Its self-ploughing characteristic helps in aeration due to deep and wide cracks during dry season. 14. Which soil is found suitable for growing coffee in Karnataka? [1997, 2000] In Karnataka, laterite soil is suitable for growing coffee. 15. State how destruction of vegetation cover increases the soil erosion. [1998] Vegetation cover protects the soil from erosion as the roots of the trees and plants hold the soil particles together and strengthen the soil. Therefore, the destruction of vegetation cover increases the chances of soil erosion. 16. Name the soil which is found due to high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternating wet and dry periods. Name two states where this type of soil is found. [1998] Laterite soil. The two states where this soil is found are Karnataka and Kerala. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 22 17. Name one state where laterite soil is found. [1999] Karnataka. 18. Answer the following questions. i. Which soil do you associate with the Deccan Trap? ii. State one of the advantages of this soil. i. Lava or Black soil. ii. This soil can hold water. 19. State two methods of soil conservation. [1999] Afforestation and Controlled grazing 20. How does the soil of Ganga-Yamuna plain differ from that of central Maharashtra? [2000] The soil of the Ganga-Yamuna has been deposited by the sediments brought by rivers. This soil is rich in potash but poor in nitrogen, whereas the soil of central Maharashtra is black soil which contains lime, iron, magnesium, calcium carbonate, alumina and potash. The soil of the Ganga-Yamuna plain is loamy while the soil of central Maharashtra is clayey. 21. Name the type of soil found on the summit of the Eastern Ghats. [2000] On the summit of Eastern Ghats, the main soil is laterite soil. 22. With reference to the red soil in India. i. Name two states where it is found. ii. In India, the two states where red soil is found are Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. iii. State two disadvantages of the above named soil. [2000, 2001] 1. Red soil is less fertile as it is deficient in phosphorous, nitrogen, lime and humus. 2. It is coarse and crumbly in texture. iv. Mention two advantages of black soil. [2002] 1. Clay contents in black soil have increased its capacity to retain moisture. 2. During dry period, it develops deep cracks which help in aeration or air circulation. 23. Define leaching . In which region, south of the Tropic of Cancer can one find soil formed by leaching? [2003] Leaching is the movement of the organic matter and mineral salts from the upper region of the soil into the lower region of the soil due to heavy rainfall. On the highland areas of Western Ghats on can find the laterite soil formed by leaching. 24. State two main differences between alluvial soil and red soil. [2005] Two main differences between alluvial and red soils are as follows: SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 23 i. Alluvial soil is a transported soil while red soil is residual. ii. Alluvial soil is very fertile while red soil is not. 25. State two differences between Khadar and Bhangar soils. [2004] They are Khaddar soil 1. It is newly deposited alluvial soil. Bhangar soil 1. It is old deposition of alluvial soil. 2. It is more fertile and found in 2. It is less fertile and found in lower upper layer. layer. 26. Why is laterite soil unsuitable for the cultivation of crops? Name an area in India where this soil is found. [2005] Laterite soil is unsuitable for cultivation due to leaching which renders the topsoil infertile. An area in India where laterite soil is found is the summits of Western Ghats and Meghalaya. 27. How is Regur soil formed? Mention four important properties of Regur soil. Regur soil is formed due to denudation of lava rocks. are as follows. [2005] Its four important properties i. It is self-irrigatory ii. It is a deep fine grained soil iii. It is dark in colour iv. It is rich in lime, iron and potash. 28. Differentiate between sheet erosion and gully erosion. [2005] When topsoil gets eroded from very large areas due to fast flowing rivers it is called sheet erosion. Gully erosion occurs when running water etches out deep rivers creating badland topography in an otherwise normal landscape. 29. State two differences between black soil and alluvial soil. [2006] Black soil is formed by weathering of volcanic rocks and alluvial soil is a transported soil is a transported soil. 30. Mention three ways by which soil can be provided nitrogen artificially. [2006] i. By growing leguminous plants. ii. By providing manure or fertilisers like urea, NPK or CAN. iii. By providing the soil with manure. 31. Explain the need for soil conservation in India. State two methods of soil conservation. [2006] Soil conservation is important in India because of large repletion and increase in population. Two methods of soil conservation are SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 24 i. Proper farming techniques ii. Afforestation 32. How is red soil formed? State two reasons for the low productivity of red soil. [2006] Red soil is formed by the decomposition of old crystalline or metamorphic rocks. Two reasons for the low productivity if red soil are i. Leaching takes place frequently ii. It is deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and lime. 33. Mention two important characteristics of laterite soil. [2007] i. Laterite soils are caused by leaching of silicates in hilly regions which receive heavy rainfall. ii. As a result of leaching, laterite soils become deficient in lime and silicates and enriched in iron and alumina. 34. Name an area of black soil in India. Mention two crops which can be grown in this soil. [2007] An area where black soil is found in India is the Deccan Plataeu (Maharashtra, Karnataka, M.P.). Two crops which can be grown on this soil are cotton and groundnut. 35. How is alluvial soil formed? Why is this soil agriculturally important? [2007] Alluvial soil is formed when transported sediments brought by rivers mix up with humus. This soil is agriculturally important as it responds well to irrigation and manuring and is good for the growth of both kharif and rabi crops. 36. Name two important agents of soil erosion. For each stat one method of controlling the erosion caused. [2007] Two important agents of soil erosion are running water and wind. To prevent erosion by running water, dams and barrages can be built which can check the speed of water down the slope. To prevent erosion by wind, indiscrimate felling of trees must be stopped. Also, strip cropping can control soil erosion by wind. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 25 Minerals of South Asia 1. Define the term mineral . Commercially, a mineral may be defined as a substance obtained from the earth s crust which can be used for industrial and economic purposes. 2. What role do minerals play in the economic development of a country? Modern machines are made up of steel which is in turn processed from iron ore. The energy required in running industries and transport comes from coal or petroleum. Minerals are therefore, the basis of industrialisation. Industrialisation results in the economic development of the country. In other words, minerals play a key role in the economic development of a country by effecting industrialisation. 3. State the need for conserving minerals. Minerals obtained from the earth s crust are exhaustible. Therefore mankind cannot afford the relentless extraction of minerals. Therefore there is a need to use them in the most economic manner. This can be achieved by a. Efficiency in mining technology b. Government control over a country s mineral resources c. Re use and recycling of minerals 4. What do you mean by the term ore ? An ore is a substance from which metals can be extracted in a profitable manner. 5. Name two important ores of iron. Haematite and Magnetite 6. Appreciate the use and importance of iron. Iron is alloyed with manganese to produce steel. Steel is in turn used for making machines, buildings, vehicles, farming and mining equipment, etc, which results in industrial development. 7. Name the iron ore which is most abundant in India. Haematite 8. What is the status of India with regard to the extraction of iron ore? India is the fourth largest producer of iron ore in the world. It is estimated that 20% of the world s iron ore reserves are in India. India also exports large quantities of iron ore. 9. Which state produces the largest amount of iron ore in India? Name two important places in this state where iron ore is found. Orissa produces the largest amount of iron ore in India. Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj are the two important places in Orissa where iron ore is found. 10. Which place has the largest deposit of iron ore in India? In which state is it located? Name one more place from this state which produces iron ore. Chirla in Singhbhum district, Jharkhand has the largest deposit of iron ore in India. Iron ore is also found in Palamau in Jharkhand. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 26 11. Name two places each in the following states where iron ore is extracted. a. Chhattisgarh b. Karnataka a. Chhatisgarh Durg and Bastar Districts b. Karnataka Kundremukh, Bellary, Shimoga and Bababudan Hills 12. Name two ports in India from where iron ore is exported. Which country is the largest buyer of Indian iron ore? Iron ore is exported from the Vishakhapatnam and Paradeep ports. Japan is the largest buyer of Indian iron ore. 34. Name two ores of manganese. Pyrolusite and Psilomelane 35. What is the principal use of manganese? List two other uses to which manganese can be put to. Manganese is alloyed along with iron to produce steel because it makes the steel tough and does not rust easily. It can also be used for making paints and glass. 36. What is India s position with regard to the production of manganese? India stands seventh in the world production of manganese. It is self sufficient and also exports some quantities of manganese. 37. Which state produces the largest amount of manganese in India? Name two places in this state where there are extensive deposits of manganese. Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of manganese in India. There are extensive deposits of manganese in the Chhhindwara and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh. 38. Name two places each in the following states where there are deposits of manganese. a. Orissa b. Maharashtra c. Karnataka a. Orissa Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj b. Maharashtra Nagpur and Bhandara c. Karnataka Shimoga and Bellary 39. What is bauxite? What is India s position with regard to the production of bauxite? Bauxite, or hydrated aluminium oxide, is the principal ore of aluminium. India is the second largest exporter of bauxite in the world. 40. Which properties of aluminium make it such an important metal? The following properties of aluminium make it an important metal. a. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat. b. It is non-corrosive. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 27 c. It is light weight. d. It is strong and durable. e. It has a high melting point. f. It is highly malleable and ductile g. It has a good aesthetic appeal. 41. Name two places each in the following states which produce bauxite. a. Madhya Pradesh b. Jharkhand c. Gujarat d. Tamil Nadu e. Orissa a. Madhya Pradesh Amarkantak Plateau and Balaghat districts b. Jharkhand Ranchi and Palamau c. Gujarat Jamnagar and Surat d. Tamil Nadu Salem and Coimbatore e. Orissa Kalahandi and Sambalpur 13. Explain the formation of coal. Coal is formed when dead remains of plants are decayed by bacteria under fresh water conditions and subsequently buried and subjected to pressure. 14. List the four varieties of coal based on the extent of carbonisation. i. Peat 50% carbon ii. Lignite 65% carbon iii. Bituminous 75% carbon iv. Anthracite 90% carbon 15. What do you mean by the following? a. Gondwana Coal Coal formed about 350 million years ago in the Carboniferous age is called Gondwana Coal. The Gondwana coal is a laminated bituminous coal within which dull and bright layers alternate. Gondwana coal is almost free from moisture, but it contains variable quantities of sulphur and phosphorus. In general, Gondwana coal is good steam or gas coal. b. Tertiary Coal Coal formed about 50 million years ago in the Tertiary period is called Tertiary coal. This coal consists mostly of lignite and peat. 16. Name the states where Gondwana coal and Tertiary coal is found. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 28 Gondwana coal is found in West Bengal, Jhakhand and Orissa. Tertiary coal is found in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Assam. 17. What is the status of India with regard to the production of coal? India is at present the third largest producer of coal with 7% of the world s reserves. 18. What is anthracite? What are its uses? Where in India is it found? Anthracite is the purest form of coal with 90 to 95 % carbon. Since it is smokeless, it is ideal for domestic fuel. In addition, it is used in the iron and steel industry and railways. In India, it is found only in Jammu and Kashmir. 19. What are the uses of bituminous coal? Name three states in India where it is found along with two major coal fields in each state. Bituminous coal is used for producing coke, coal gas and steam coal. Coke is used for the smelting of iron ore. In India, bituminous is found in the following states. 1. Bihar Ramgarh and Karanpura 2. Jharkhand Jharia and Bokaro 3. West Bengal Raniganj and Durgapur 4. Orissa Sonhat and Talcher 20. Where is lignite used? Name two state along with specific location where there are lignite reserves. Lignite is used in the production of thermal electricity. It is found in the following states. 1. Tamil Nadu Neyveli and Veeranam 2. Gujarat - Umarsar and Panandhro 3. Rajasthan - Palna 21. Which is the largest coal field in India? Jharia Coal Field 22. How is petroleum formed in nature? Why is petroleum prospecting so difficult? Petroleum is formed when dead remains of animals are decayed in shallow marine conditions. Since it migrates through porous rocks after formation, it is extremely difficult to prospect for petroleum. 23. What is the status of India with regard to petroleum production? India is not able to meet its requirements of petroleum and has to import 70% of its requirement. 24. Write short notes on ONGC, GAIL, LPG and CNG a. ONGC ONGC stands for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (earlier Commission) Ltd. It was set up in 1956. It is the apex body which undertakes prospecting and refining crude oil in India. b. GAIL GAIL stands for Gas Authority of India Ltd. It was set up in 1984 and is the largest organisation in India handling post exploration activities SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 29 relating to transmission, processing and marketing of natural gas and its byproducts. It owns and operates about 5000 km of gas pipeline. c. LPG LPG or Liquefied Petroleum Gas is a clean fuel which does cause pollution. It has a high calorific value (50 kJ). In addition, it does not produce any poisonous gases while burning and is easy to store and transport. d. CNG CNG or Compressed Natural Gas is used for running vehicles and produces negligible amounts of nitrogen and sulphur when burnt. CNG can be easily transported. It is fast replacing petrol and diesel as a fuel for vehicles. 25. Name two important oil fields in each of the following regions. Also state the approximate contribution of each region in India s petroleum production a. North East India b. Western India c. Off Shore d. North East India Digboi and Naharkatiya; 16% e. Western India Cambay and Ankleshwar; 18% f. Off Shore Bombay High; 63% 26. Mention a few recent discoveries of crude oil and natural gas in India. a. Oil has been found near Ankleshwar in Gujarat. b. Natural gas has been found in the Krishna Godavari basin 200 km offshore from Vishakhapatnam. c. Natural gas has also been discovered in Barmer in Rajasthan and Mehsana in Gujarat. 27. What is the function of oil refineries? How many major oil refineries are there in India? Mention five major oil refineries India. Oil refineries produce petroleum products like kerosene, diesel, petrol, etc through a process called fractional distillation. At present there are 18 oil refineries in India, chief among them are a. Mathura in Uttar Pradesh b. Koyali near Baroda in Gujarat c. Kochi in Kerala d. Haldia near Kolkata in West Bengal e. Bongaigaon and Nunamati near Guwahati in Asssam f. Mumbai in Maharashtra 2 refineries 28. What is the rationale behind setting up oil refineries near the coast? Oil refineries are set up near the coast for two reasons namely a. Imported crude oil can be refined. b. Transport becomes easier between ports. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 30 29. Name two refineries in India which process crude from a. Naharkatiya oil fields - Nunamati and Digboi refineries b. Ankleshwar oil fields - Mumbai and Koyali refineries INDIA Mineral Iron Ore Manganese Limestone Bauxite Coal Petroleum State Location Orissa Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar Jharkhand Singhbhum and Palamau Chhatisgarh Durg and Bastar districts Maharashtra Nagpur and Bhandara Orissa Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar Madhya Pradesh Jabalpur and Chhindwara Madhya Pradesh Jabalpur and Satna Chhatisgarh Bilaspur and Raipur Andhra Pradesh Vijaywada and Cuddapah Orissa Kalahandi and Sambalur Jhakhand Ranchi and Palamau Gujarat Jamnagar and Surat Jharkhand Jharia and Bokaro Orissa Sambalpur and Talcher West Bengal Raniganj and Durgapur Assam Digboi and NaharKatia Bombay High Bombay High Gujarat Ankleshwar and Kalol SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 31 Natural Vegetation of India 1. What do you mean by natural vegetation? Vegetation that grows without the interference of man and adapts itself to the limitations of the natural environment 2. Today natural vegetation is found only in remote areas . Why? Natural vegetation has been cleared from accessible areas due to the growth of population; to make space for settlement, agricultural land, industries and infrastructural development 3. What are the geographical factors affecting the natural vegetation of a place? Geographical factors affecting the natural vegetation of a place are climate, soil and topography. 4. Give three characteristics feature of the trees that are found in the evergreen forests? The three characteristics of trees in the evergreen forests are 1. Dense growth of vegetation 2. Broad leaves 3. Dense canopy 4. Trees not found in pure strands (massive variety) 5. Provides valuable hardwood 5. Name two varieties of trees that are found in evergreen forests. Rosewood and Shisham 6. Mention any two places where this forest is found in India. Evergreen forests are found in western slopes of Western Ghats, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands 7. Why is the floor of evergreen forest dark? The floor of evergreen forest is dark as sunlight cannot penetrate through the broad, dense and interlocking canopy 8. Mention three characteristic features of tropical deciduous forest. 1. Trees shed their leaves in spring season. 2. Wood is found in pure strands. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 32 3. Trees are economically very important. 9. Name five trees of the Monsoon forest. Teak, Sal, Semal, Sandalwood, Myrobalan 10. Name any three states where this forest is found. MP, Chattisgarh, Assam, Orissa, Karnataka 11. Why are the deciduous forests economically more important than the evergreen forests? 1. 2. 3. 4. Trees are not densely spaced so they are easy to cut. Wood is of good quality Wood is cheap and readily available There are many uses of the forest products 12. Mention one use of the following : Sal , Teak , Sandalwood, Semal, Myrobalan Sal Teak Sandalwood Semal Myrobalan : : : : : Used to make railway sleepers Used for making furniture & ship Oil used for perfumery Match boxes & packing cases Dyeing of cotton, silk and wool 13. Mention any three adaptations made by the trees of desert along with justification. 1. Long roots to tap ground water from greater depth 2. Small leaves and spines to reduce water loss through transpiration 3. Spines to protect themselves from predators 14. Name two trees found in the tropical deserts of India. Babul & Kikar 15. Which states of India has this type of vegetation? Gujarat & Rajasthan. 16. What is the function of the stilted roots in the Tidal forest? Stilted roots help in respiration of the trees since soil is waterlogged all the time. 17. Name one place in India which is famous for this type of forest. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 33 Ganga Brahmaputra delta 18. Name any two trees that are found here. Sundari & Golpatta 19. Why does the vegetation change with elevation? This is because climate, soil and topography change with elevation. 20. Name any three trees that belong to Mountain forest. Pine,deodar and fir. 21. Mention the uses of these trees. Pine Fir Deodar : : : Making of turpentine and tea chest Making of matchbox, paper and pulp. Making of railway sleepers. 22. What is forest conservation? Proper and sustainable use of forest resources without causing any adverse effect on our economy or environment 23. Name any two forest conservation programmes. Vanamahotsava and Chipko Movement. 24. Mention the objectives of forest conservation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Check indiscriminate deforestation Prevent overgrazing Control shifting cultivation Carry out deforestation and reforestation in quick succession Efficient utilization of forest products 25. Name the four major natural vegetation belts of India 1. Tropical Evergreen forests 2. Tropical Dry forests 3. Delta or Tidal forests SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 : : : Windward Part of Western Ghats Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab Sunderbans 34 4. Mountain Vegetation : 5. Tropical Deciduous or Monsoon Forests : Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir Rest of India 26. What is the rainfall range of (i) Tropical evergreen rain forests and (ii) Thorn and scrub forests? Tropical evergreen rain forests Thorn and scrub forests : : 200cm less than 25cm. 27. Name the type of forests found in the Sundarbans of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Tidal Mangrove Forest. 28. What is the difference between afforestation and reforestation? Afforestation - Planting trees in any place. Reforestation - Planting trees in deforested areas. 29. Explain, why Deciduous Monsoon Forest are found on the eastern part of South India? Being on the leeward side of the Western Ghats, the region receives rainfall of 100-200 cm which supports the growth of deciduous forest. 30. Where are dry thorn forests found in India? Name two important trees that grow in these forests. Dry thorn forests are found in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The two important trees are Babul and Kikar. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 35 Water Resources of India 42. Mention six major uses of water. Water is used for 1. Domestic purposes 2. Agriculture 3. Industries 4. Generating hydro electricity 5. Navigation 6. Recreation 43. Mention four ways in which water is important for a country like India. 1. The population of India is growing at a rapid rate. People need water for domestic use. 2. With growing population, the demand for food increases. To grow more food crops, we require more water. 3. Agriculture alone cannot support the needs of the growing population. For economic growth, more industries are required and industries require water. 4. Industries require power. Flowing water can provide cheap hydro electricity. 44. What do you mean by irrigation? Irrigation is the artificial means of availing water for various purposes 45. Emphasize the need for irrigation in India. 1. 2. 3. 4. Rainfall in India is seasonal, uncertain, uneven and sporadic. Different crops have different water requirements. It is indispensible in semi arid regions of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan etc. It is necessary to extend the frontiers of cultivation in order to fulfil the food requirements of a growing population. 46. Mention 3 primitive and 3 modern modes of irrigation. Primitive Wells, Tanks and Inundation Canals Modern Perennial Canals, Tube wells and Dams 47. What is a well? A well is a hole or shaft in the earth dug or drilled to tap an underground supply of water. 48. State two conditions required for a well. 1. The ground water table must be high. 2. The underlying rocks must be soft, porous and permeable. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 36 49. Mention 2 ways of drawing water from a well. Persian Wheel, Shaduf and Mohte 50. Mention 3 states in India where well irrigation is prominent. Why are wells common in these states? Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana & Punjab. This is because the water table is high and country rock is soft, porous and permeable. 51. Mention 3 advantages of well irrigation. 1. 2. 3. It is the cheapest source of irrigation. It can be dug at any convenient place, regardless of topography. It is an independent source of irrigation. 52. Mention 3 disadvantages of well irrigation. 1. 2. 3. 4. It may fail to provide water during the dry summer months A well can provide water only to 1 to 2 hectares of land. Drawing water out is time consuming. Water in a well is stagnant and therefore prone to contamination. 53. What is a tank? A tank is a natural or artificial pool or pond used for water storage. 54. State two conditions required for a tank. 1. There should be a natural depression. 2. The underlying rock should be non-porous 55. Mention 3 states in India where tank irrigation is prominent. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu 56. Why are tanks common in the Deccan Plateau? 1. Due to uneven topography, the Deccan Plateau has many natural depressions. 2. The plateau is made up of hard, non-porous igneous and metamorphic rocks. 57. Mention 3 advantages of tank irrigation. 1. It stores rain water and prevents surface run-off 2. It irrigates a larger area compared to wells 3. It helps in raising the underground water level 58. Mention 3 disadvantages of tank irrigation. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 37 1. 2. 3. 4. It occupies large area which otherwise could have been used for cultivation Many tanks dry up in the dry months Silting of tank is a problem Water is lost by evaporation 59. Mention 2 types of canals. Inundation canals and Perennial canals 60. What is an inundation canal? An inundation canal is an artificial spillway for mitigating flood water out of rivers. 61. What is the greatest advantage of inundation canals? They are useful in controlling floods 62. Mention 3 disadvantages of inundation canals. 1. There is uncertainty of water supply 2. Only low lands areas are irrigated 3. They can be used only during floods 63. Mention 3 ways in which perennial canals may have water. Perennial canals may have water through perennial rivers, dams and reservoirs. 64. Mention 3 advantages of perennial canals. 1. They are perennial source of irrigation 2. They can irrigate a very large area 3. Irrigation through perennial canals is quite cheap in the long run 65. Mention 3 disadvantages of perennial canals. 1. Cost of construction is high 2. Prone to water pollution 3. Can irrigate only low lying areas 66. What advantages do modern methods of irrigation have over primitive methods? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. They provide water round the year They can irrigate a much larger area. They are more reliable. They are easy to operate. Large amount of water can be pumped by electric or diesel driven motor. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 38 67. Mention 3 important canal systems each in North India and South India along with the states irrigated. Canal Systems in North India 1. Ganga Canal 2. Nangal Dam Canal 3. Indira Gandhi Canal - UP & Bihar Punjab and Haryana Dry areas of western Rajasthan Canal Systems in South India 1. Godavari Canal 2. Tungabhadra Dam Canal 3. Hirakud Dam Canal 4. Periyar Project Canal 5. Mettur Project Canal - Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh Orissa Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu 68. Why are canals not found in the Deccan plateau? Canals are not found in the Deccan Plateau because the topography is uneven. 69. Mention 3 differences between an ordinary well and a tube well. Parameters Well Tubewell Width More Less Depth Less More Quantity of water drawn Less More Quality of water Prone to contamination Generally good 70. What conditions are essential for a tube well? 1. The ground water table must be high. 2. The underlying rocks must be soft, porous and permeable. 71. Mention 3 advantages of tube wells. 1. 2. 3. 4. Quantity and duration of water availability compared to normal wells is greater Private ownership, convenient to use Quality of water is good No loss of water due to evaporation 72. Mention 3 disadvantages of tube wells. 1. The water table depletes ate a fate rate 2. Salt water ingression in coastal areas may happen SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 39 73. How does salt water ingression happen in tube wells? Due to increased pumping of water from tubewells in coastal areas, the water table is falls below sea level and pores in the aquifer become empty. If the aquifer is connected to the sea, the pores in the aquifer are then filled with salt water. 74. Mention 3 states in India where tube wells are common. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab 75. What purposes are served by a multipurpose project? 1. 2. 3. 4. Irrigation Hydro electricity Flood control Recreation 76. Mention any 6 multipurpose projects in India and fills details about each one in the following table. The first one has been done for you. Project River States irrigated Sardar Sarovar project Narmada Gujarat, MP Bhakra Nangal dam Sutlej Punjab, Haryana, UP Maithon dam Damodar West Bengal Hirakud dam Mahanadi Orissa Rihand dam Rihand U. P. & Bihar Tungabhadra dam Tungabhadra Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka 77. What is the environmental impact of huge dams? 1. Several species of wild animals like the River Dolphin and Hilsa fish have been pushed into threatened status. 2. The downstream part of a dam is often affected by the ingress of salt water from the sea during high tides. 3. The creation of dams has flooded over 5000 sq. km. of forest land in India. 78. What do you mean by conservation of water? Water conservation refers to reducing the wastage of water using water available in an efficient manner storing it for future use. SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 40 79. Emphasize the need for water conservation in India. In India, water needs to be conserved due to the following reasons. 1. Uncertain rainfall 2. Increasing population leading to reduction in per capita availability of water 3. Rapid industrialisation leading to pollution of water 80. Mention 3 approaches taken to conserve water. 1. Rain Water Harvesting 2. Reducing water pollution 3. Technology for efficient use of water 81. Mention 3 advantages of sprinkler and drip irrigation. 1. Minimum loss of water due to seepage or evaporation 2. Greater yield 3. Reduces the chances of weeds 82. What is a watershed? A watershed is a basin-like landform defined by highpoints and ridgelines that descend into lower elevations and stream valleys. 83. What do you mean by watershed management? Watershed management is the process of creating means and methods of reducing surface run-off, and conserving water within the watershed for future use. 84. Which irrigation method is an outcome of watershed management? Tank 85. Mention 3 advantages of watershed management. 1. Reducing surface run-off 2. Recharging groundwater 3. Irrigation 86. What is rooftop rainwater harvesting? What purposes does it serve? Collecting rainwater from rooftops is known as rooftop rainwater harvesting. The water can be a. Stored for future use b. Used to recharge groundwater 87. State the objectives of the National Water Policy. Creation of a national water grid Conservation of water Reducing water pollution Reduce surface run off and river bed silting Recharging of groundwater Provide water to deficit areas SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 41 OUTLINE MAP OF INDIA FOR PRACTICE SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 42 SNK/Department of Geography/ Std 10/2010-11 43

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Additional Info : Geography Question Bank :Climate, Soils, Minerals, Water Resources and Natural Vegetation of India
Tags : ICSE Class 10 Geography Question Bank, Climate of India, Soils of India, Minerals of India, Water Resources of India, Natural Vegetation of India,  

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