GLOBES AND MAPS

Geography Unit 1

I Question and Answers:-

1. What is a globe?
Ans. A globe is a small-scale three-dimensional model of the spherical Earth.

2. How is a globe useful to us?

Ans. A globe is useful to us in many ways.
- It shows us the exact shape of the Earth.
- The shapes of the continents and the oceans are shown quite accurately.
- The different physical features and location of places are also marked more or less
clearly on the globe.

3. Mention few disadvantages of a globe.

Ans. A globe has few disadvantages also.
- A globe is bulky and cannot be stored easily.
- It cannot show the details of landforms, location of small towns.
- It cannot provide detailed information about climate, vegetation, agriculture and
many other aspects.

4. What is a map?
Ans. A map is an essential tool of a geographer. It is a representation of the earth as a
whole, or a part of the Earth drawn on a flat surface according to a given scale. It can
show continents, countries, cities and even a local area, with all the details.

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a map?

Ans. A map can show continents, countries, cities and even a local area, with all the
details. It is easy to handle and carry as it can be rolled up or folded. A flat map
cannot accurately show the curved surface of the Earth. When a map is drawn, the
shapes and sizes of the continents and oceans get distorted.

6. Why are maps called the essential tool of geographers?

Ans. Maps are called the essential tool of geographers because it is a representation of the
Earth as a whole, or a part of the earth drawn on a flat surface according to a given
scale. It can show continents, countries, cities and even a local area, with all the
details.
7. What is the science of map making called? What is the meaning of this term?
Ans. The science of map-making is called cartography. In the word cartography, carte in
French means map and graphic means drawing.

8. What is a map projection?

Ans. Map projection is a method of representing curved surface of the Earth on a flat map.

9. What is a sketch?
Ans. A sketch is a rough drawing without a scale or any conventional symbols.

10. What is cartography?

Ans. The science of map-making is called cartography (carte in French means map and
graphic means drawing).

11. Who are cartographers?

Ans. Cartographers show the curved surface of the Earth on a flat map by a method called
map projection.

12. What are the advantages of electronic maps?

Ans. The electronic maps are accurate and updated as they are generated by computer
using satellite images.

13. What is a plan?

Ans. A plan is a detailed drawing of a small area drawn on a very large scale, based on
actual measurements taken on the ground.

14. How can we study the different regions of the Earth?

Ans. The different regions of the Earth can be studied with the help of pictures, diagrams,
sketches and maps.

15. Who is Gerardus Mercator?

Ans. Gerardus Mercator was a seventeenth century geographer, cartographer and
mathematician. In 1636, Mercator along with Jodocus Hondius, a Dutch cartographer
made the first attempt to publish a collection of maps in the form of a book.

16. What is an atlas?

Ans. An atlas is a book of maps.
17. Why is an atlas called so?
Ans. In 1636, Mercator along with Jodocys Hondius, a Dutch cartographer published a
collection of maps in the form of a book with its cover containing a picture showing
Atlas, the Greek mythological giant holding the earth. Since then atlas was called so.

18. What are the different types of maps?

Ans. Maps are of various types, providing different kinds of information. Some of the
most widely used are as below:-
(i) Political maps: It shows the boundaries of administrative units such as
countries, states and districts.
(ii) Physical maps: It shows the landforms and water bodies on the Earth’s surface,
such as mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, lakes and seas.
(iii) Topographical maps or contour maps: They show great details of both natural
and man-made features of a small area, with the help of conventional symbols.
(iv) Climatic maps: They show weather conditions like temperature, pressure, wind
direction and rainfall.
(v) Tourist maps: It shows details of hill stations, historical places and other places
of tourist interest.
(vi) Thematic maps: It shows the distribution of forests, crops, minerals and
industries.

19. List down few uses of maps.

Ans. Maps are useful for all people.
- They are easy to handle and can be carried everywhere.
- Maps provide a lot of information for planning of roads, residential complexes,
factories and parks.
- Maps are useful to sailors, pilots, drivers, miners, surveyors, engineers,
environmentalists and many other people.
- Even the strategies of an army depend on the information provided in maps.

20. What are contours?

Ans. Imaginary lines joining places which have the same height above the sea level are
called contours.

21. What are contour lines used for?

Ans. Contour lines are used to show the relief features.
22. What kind of maps are used by the following?
Ans. (i)Pilots – Climatic maps (ii)Farmers – Thematic maps
(iii)Truck drivers – Political maps

23. Which types of maps would you use to show the following?
Ans. i)State boundaries – Political maps
ii)mountain peaks –Physical maps
iii)Distribution of rainfall –Climatic maps
iv)Rivers – Physical maps
v)national parks – Tourist maps
vi)Places of tourist interest – Tourist maps
vii)National highways and ports -

24. Differentiate between map, sketch and plan.

Ans. The differences between map, sketch and plan are
Area Scale Details Shown

Map - Covers a large area Usually drawn on a Cannot show too

small scale many details
Sketch - May cover a small or a Not drawn to scale, Does not show all
large area it is a rough drawing details but only the
necessary ones

Plan - Covers a small area Drawn on a large scale Shows all details
accurately
25. Differentiate between a map and a globe.
Ans. Map Globe
1)A map is a visual representation of 1)A globe is round and three
the Earth drawn on a flat base. dimensional
2)A map shows a small or a large area 2)A globe is a true model of the Earth
3)A map can give details of a small 3)A globe cannot give details of a small
area area
4)A map cannot be turned to explain 4) A globe can be turned to show
rotation rotation
5)The entire Earth can be seen at a 5)The entire Earth cannot be seen at one
glance on a world map glance on a globe
6)A map is very easy to carry 6)A globe is not easy to carry
26. Differentiate between a globe and an atlas.
Ans. Globe Atlas
1)A globe is round and three dimensional 1)Atlas is a collection of maps in a book
form and is two dimensional
2)It provides limited and basic information 2)It provides detailed information

27. Differentiate between a map and a sketch.

Ans. Map Sketch
1)A map is drawn to a scale 1)A sketch is not drawn to a scale
2)A map can have conventional signs 2)A sketch does not have conventional
and colours signs; it can have landmarks
3)A map can be of a small or a large area 3)A sketch is usually of a small area and
is used to give directions about how to
reach from point A to B
4)There are physical, political and subject- 4)Sketches are not of so many kinds
specific maps
5)Maps take a long time to be drawn 5)A sketch can be drawn quickly from
one’s memory

28. Differentiate between a political and a physical map.

Ans. Political Map Physical Map
1)It shows the location of nations, their 1)It shows geographic features of
capitals, other cities and towns an area like mountains, deserts,
plains
2)It shows populations and where things 2)It shows higher and lower
comes from altitudes
3)It shows boundaries of cities and country 3)It shows earth tones and natural
borders stuff

II Choose the correct option:-

1. A globe is a small-scale ________________.

(a)map (b)sketch (c)model of the earth (d)plan

2. A plan is ______________.
(a)not drawn to scale (b)a rough drawing
(c)used to show necessary details (d)drawn on a large scale
3. The curved surface of the Earth is shown on a flat map by map ___________.
(a)flattening (b)projection (c)curvature (d)production
4. The first person to publish a book of maps was _______________.
(a)Mercator (b)Mercedes (c)Merchant (d)Merpheus

III Fill in the blanks:-

1. A globe is an exact replica of the Earth.
2. A map is a representation of the earth or a part of it on a flat surface.
3. On a world map the minimum distortions in the shape of continents occur in the
equator region.
4. Electronic maps are generated by computers using satellite images.
5. A thematic map shows distribution of forests, crops and minerals.
6. Topographical maps are also called contour maps.
7. A sketch is a rough map drawn without a scale and without any conventional
symbols.
8. A scale is drawn based on actual measurements taken on the ground.
9. A plan is a detailed drawing of a small area drawn on a very large scale.
10.Cartographer is a person who makes maps and cartography is the science of map-
making.
11.Map projection is a method of representing curved surface of the earth on a flat
map.
12.The different regions of the Earth can be studied with the help of pictures, diagrams,
sketches and maps.
13.A map is an essential tool of a geographer.
14.Electronic maps are accurate and updated as they are generated by computers using
satellite images.
15.Gerardus Mercator was a seventeenth century geographer, cartographer and
mathematician who first published a collection of maps in the form of a book which
was called atlas.
16.The first collection of maps in the form of a book had a cover picture showing Atlas,
the Greek mythological giant holding the Earth.
17.A plan is a detailed drawing of a small area drawn on a large scale while sketch is a
rough drawing.
 ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF MAPS
Geography Chapter - 2
I Question and Answers:-

1. Name the five essential features of maps. Why are they called so?
Ans. The five essential features of maps are title, direction, scale, legend and grid. They
are called essential features of maps because they act as aids or tools and help us to
read and understand the information presented in it.

2. Briefly explain the five essential features of maps.

Ans. The five essential features of maps are
(i)title: Title is the heading of the map that says what kind of information is given in
it.
(ii)Direction: The four cardinal directions north, south, east and west help us to easily
locate a place on the map.
(iii)Scale: It is the ratio between the distance on a map and the actual distance on the
ground.
(iv)legend: Legend also known as the key, contains the list of conventional signs and
symbols used in a map and their explanations.
(v)Grid: Grid is a network formed by the criss-crossing of vertical and horizontal
lines on a map or globe to locate a place.

3. What would a map titled ‘Europe: Physical’ show?

Ans. A map titled ‘Europe: Physical’ would show the major physical features of Europe.

4. Define the North Line.

Ans. There is a line with an arrow and the letter N printed above it, at the upper right hand
corner of a map. It is called the North Line because the arrow points towards the
geographical north.

5. What does the scale of a map show?

Ans. A scale is the ratio between the distance on a map and the actual distance on the
ground.

6. Which type of scale helps us to measure the distance between two places directly
from the map?
Ans. A linear scale helps in the direct measurement of distance on a map.
7. Define the conventional symbols.
Ans. The common signs and symbols that are internationally accepted and used in maps
are called conventional symbols.

8. What is a grid?
Ans. Grid is a network formed by the criss-crossing of vertical and horizontal lines on a
map or globe to locate a place.

9. What are the two components of a grid system? Differentiate between them.
Ans. The two components of a grid system are the horizontal lines (parallels of latitude)
and the vertical lines (meridians of longitude).

Parallels of latitude Meridians of longitude

i)They are imaginary circular lines drawn
horizontally between the two poles.
ii)The lines are parallel to each other
iii)They run in the east-west direction
i)They are imaginary lines drawn
Vertically from the North Pole to South
pole.
ii)Lines of longitude are not parallel.
iii)They run in the north-south direction

10. Describe the three types of scales that are commonly used in maps.
Ans. The three types of scales that are commonly used in maps are
- Verbal statement: In this type of scale, the units of distance are mentioned on the
map.
- Linear scale: It helps in direct measurement of distance on a map.
- Representative Fraction: The ratio between the map distance and the ground
distance is represented as a fraction (representative fraction or RF)

11. What is the need for scale, direction, legend, grid and title in a map?
Ans. Scale, direction, legend, grid and title is needed to act as aids or tools and help us to
read and understand the information presented in the map.

12. What are cardinal directions?

Ans. Cardinal directions are the four main directions, which are North, South, East and
West.

13. What are intermediate directions?

Ans. Intermediate directions are the directions in between the cardinal directions, i.e.
north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west.
II Fill in the blanks:-

1. The essential features of a map are title, direction, scale, legend and grid.
2. A map titled India-Agriculture shows crop distribution in India.
3. The four cardinal directions are north, south, east and west.
4. The line with an arrow and the letter N printed at the upper right hand corner of a
map is called the North Line.
5. The intermediate directions are north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west.
6. The three types of commonly used scale are verbal statement, linear scale and
representative fraction.
7. Every map has a legend or a key which explains the different colours and symbols
used in it.
8. The horizontal lines are called parallels of latitude while the vertical ones are called
meridian of longitude.
9. A grid is a network formed by the criss-crossing of vertical and horizontal lines on a
map or globe to locate a place.
10.Conventional symbols are common signs and symbols that are internationally
accepted and used in maps.
 OUR EARTH IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Geography Chapter - 3
I Question and Answers:-

1. What are celestial bodies? Give some examples.

Ans. All the objects that we see in the sky, including the stars, planets, satellites, asteroids,
meteors and comets are called celestial bodies.

2. As per the astronomers how was the universe formed?

Ans. According to most astronomers, the universe started with a gigantic explosion – the
Big bang about 15 billion years ago. Atoms, later molecules were formed as a result
of this explosion. They ultimately formed a giant cloud of gases and tiny dust
particles which is called nebula. Fragments of the nebula attracted to one another
collided at tremendous speed which gave out enormous amount of heat resulting in
the birth of glowing bodies such as stars.

3. What is the universe made up of?

Ans. Universe consists of billions of galaxies, each filled with billions of stars. Around
some of those stars, planets and their moons trace orbits. And in between those large,
spherical bodies, lie irregular shaped objects, ranging in size from huge asteroids to
rock size meteoroids to tiny particles not larger than a grain of dust.

4. What are stars?

Ans. Celestial bodies that produce their own heat and light are called stars. Each star is a
huge mass of hot gases.

5. Why do the stars appear to sparkle in the sky?

Ans. The stars appear as tiny dots of light in the sky. When their light travels through the
many layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, the light of the start gets refracted many times
and in random directions. These random refractions results in the star appearing to
sparkle in the sky.

6. What helps us to determine the north direction during the night?

Ans. The brightest star in the night sky is the pole star or the North Star. It appears to
remain in the position in the sky. It is almost directly above the North Pole andthus
helps us to determine the north direction during the night.
7. What is a constellation? Give examples.
Ans. A group of stars that are connected together, forming a pattern is called a
constellation. Examples are Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, Canis Major and hydra.

8. What is a galaxy? Give an example.

Ans. Million of stars together make a galaxy. Example is Akash Ganga.

9. Name the unit of measurement of distance in the universe. Define it.

Ans. The unit of measurement of distance in the universe is light years. A light year is a
unit of distance, which is equivalent to the distance that light travels in a year, at a
speed of 3,00,000 km per second.

10. What is the solar system?

Ans. The solar system is the family of the sub. The word ‘solar’ is derived from the Latin
word sol meaning the Sun. It consist of the Sun at the centre, the eight planets, their
satellites, the asteroids, meteors and comets, all of which move around the Sun.

11. What is the Sun made up of? What is its approximate temperature?
Ans. The Sun is at the centre of our solar system and also its largest member. The Sun is
made up of intensely hot, burning gases, primarily hydrogen and helium. It is the
vital source of heat and light energy required by all forms of life on the Earth. Its
approximate temperature is about 6000 C.

12. What is the meaning of the word ‘planet’? Whyare planets so named?
Ans. The word ‘planet’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘wanderer’. Planets are
named so because they revolve around the Sun.

13. Name the planets of our solar system.

Ans. There are eight planets in the solar system. The planets in order of their distances
from the Sun are mercury, Venus, earth, mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

14. Why do planets shine even though they do not have their own heat and light?
Ans. Planets do not have their own heat and light, as they are made up of solid materials
and gases. They shine with the light reflected from the Sun.

15. What are gas giants? State their names.

Ans. The outer planets are chiefly made of gases so they are also called gas giants. The gas
giants are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
16. What are terrestrial planets? State their names.
Ans. The inner planets are also called the terrestrial planets because they are rocky. The
terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.

17. Which planet is considered the brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the
Moon? Why is it so?
Ans. Brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon is Venus. It’s brightness is due
to the thick cloud cover that reflects the light of the Sun from its surface.

18. Which planet is called the morning and evening star and why?
Ans. Venus is called the morning and Evening star because it is seen in the sky before
sunrise and after sunset.

19. What are rotation and revolution?

Ans. Rotation: The movement of the Earth on its axis is known as rotation. The earth
rotates from west to east. Rotation causes day and night. It takes 24 hours to complete
one rotation. Rotation has an impact on the direction of the flow of water in the
oceans and the direction of the winds.
Revolution: The movement of the earth around the sun on its orbit is known as
revolution. It takes 365 days and six hours to complete one revolution. Revolution
causes seasons.

20. What is orbit?

Ans. The path of revolution of each planet which is egg-shaped or elliptical is known as its
orbit.

21. Describe the conditions that make the Earth a special planet.
Ans. The conditions that make the Earth a special planet are
(i)Moderate temperature: The Earth is neither too far from the Sun nor too close to it
which make the Earth a planet with moderate temperature which is favourable for
plant and animal life.
(ii)Suitable atmosphere: The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air called the
atmosphere which contains several gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide
and ozone which are necessary for plant and animal life. The atmosphere also acts as
a protective layer against the Sun’s harmful rays.
 (iii)Presence of water:Due to favourable temperature, water can exist on Earth in all
three forms – solid, liquid and gas. Due to the water cycle, water in the liquid form is
available continuously to all living beings.

22. Why is the Earth called the Blue Planet?

Ans. The Earth looks blue from outer space because about two-thirds of its surface is
covered with water. That is why the Earth is called the Blue Planet.

23. What are satellites? Give examples.

Ans. Satellites are small celestial bodies that revolve around the planets. They do not have
any heat or light of their own. They shine by reflecting the light from the sun. E.g. is
the largest satellite of Jupiter is named Ganymede while the largest satellite of Saturn
is named Titan. The moon is a satellite of the Earth.

24. Describe the moon.

Ans. The Moon is the only satellite of the Earth. Its diameter is about one-fourth of the
Earth’s diameter. It had no light of its own. It shines by reflecting the light from the
Sun.

25. What is the surface of the Moon like?

Ans. The surface of the Moon is made up of rocks and there is no soil. The mountain
peaks, plains and craters which make the surface extremely rugged.

26. Why do we see some dark spots on the surface of the Moon?
Ans. The Moon contains mountain peaks, plains and craters which makes its surface is
extremely rugged. Due to this the reflection of sunlight from every part of the
Moon’s surface is not uniform and because of this we see some dark spots on its
surface.

27. Why is the weight of a person different on Moon and on Earth?

Ans. The weight of a person on the earth is six times his weight on the moon as the
gravitational force of the earth is six times more than the gravitational force of the
moon.

28. What are asteroids?

Ans. Asteroids or planetoids are small celestial bodies that are similar to planets. They
revolve around the Sun in their own elliptical orbits. These asteroids are believed to
bethe fragments of a former planet which exploded after its formation.
29. Where is the asteroid belt located? Name the largest asteroid.
Ans. The asteroid belt is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The largest
asterioid is Ceres.

30. What are meteoroids?

Ans. Meteoroids are small pieces of rock which revolve around the Sun. Some of the
particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere with great velocity and due to the friction, get
heated up and start glowing.

31. What is a meteor? What is a meteor shower? What are meteorites?

Ans. Meteor is a streak of light which is also known as a shooting star.
When a group of meteors are observed to radiate from a single point in the sky, the
phenomenon is called meteor shower.
Most Meteoroids burn out, but some are quite large and fall on the Earth’s surface
creating a hollow or a crater. They are called meteorites.

32. What are comets? Give an example of a periodical comet.

Ans. Comets are glowing celestial bodies revolving around the Sun in elongated orbits.
They are mostly made up of dust, ice particles and gases. Most comets have a head, a
nucleus and a tail. When they approach the Sun, the gases get heated up and start
glowing.

33. What are the different kinds of comets?

Ans. The different kinds of comets are periodical or non-periodical. Periodical comets can
be seen at fixed intervals while non-periodical comets appear for a short period and
then disappear suddenly.

34. Differentiate between stars and planets.

Ans. Stars Planets
(i)Stars are made of hot, burning gases (i)Planets are made of solid materials
and gases.
(ii)Stars produce their own heat and (ii)Planets shine with light reflected
light. from the Sun.

35. Differentiate between Planets and Satellite.

Ans. Planets Satellites
(i)Planets revolve around the Sun. (i)Satellites revolve around the Planets.
 (ii)Planets occur naturally. (ii)Satellites can be both natural as well
as be constructed by human beings.
II Fill in the blanks:-
 MAJOR LANDFORMS AND WATER BODIES OF THE EARTH
Geography Chapter - 4
I Question and Answers:-

[Y]1. What is the surface of the Earth made up of?

Ans. The surface of the Earth is made up of both land and water. The outermost solid layer
of the Earth is called the lithosphere. It is made up of rocks and layers of soil. About
71% of the total area of the lithosphere is covered by water. The remaining 29% is
occupied by land.

[Y]2. What are landforms? Give examples.

Ans. Landforms on the Earth’s surface include mountains, plateaus, plains, peninsula,
isthmus and island.

[Y]3. What are continents? Name the continents.

Ans. The large masses of land are called continents. There are seven continents – Asia,
Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Antarctica.

[Y]4. What are oceans? Name them.

Ans. The vast bodies of water surround the continents are called oceans. There are five
major oceans – Pacific Ocean, Atlantic ocean, Indian ocean, Arctic ocean and
Antarctic Ocean.

5. Write a brief about the continents.

Ans. [Y](1) Asia: Asia is the largest continent of the world. It lies between 10 S and 80 N
latitudes and 25 E and 170 W longitudes. It occupies about one-third of the Earth’s
total land area. Asia is surrounded by oceans on its three sides – Arctic ocean in the
north, Pacific ocean in the east and Indian ocean in the south. It is separated from the
continent of Europe by the Ural Mountains, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.

(2) Africa: Africa is the second largest continent of the world. It lies between 37 N
and 35 S latitudes and 17 W and 50 E longitudes. The Tropic of cancer, the Equator
and the Tropic of Capricorn pass through Africa. The Prime Meridian too passes
through this continent. Africa is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the north,
Indian Ocean in the east and Atlantic ocean in the west.

[Y](3) North America: North America is the third largest continent of the world. It
lies between 7 N and 84 N latitudes and 20 W and 180 W longitudes. North America
is bound by the Arctic ocean in the north, the Atlantic ocean in the east and the
 Pacific ocean in the west. The Panama Canal separates North America from South
America.

[Y](4) South America: South America is the fourth largest continent of the world. It
lies between 12 N and 55 S latitudes and 35 W and 81 W longitudes. South America
is surrounded by oceans on all sides.

[Y](5) Europe: Europe is the sixth largest continent of the world. It lies between 35 N
and 73 N latitudes and 25 W and 65 E longitudes. Europe is joined to the continent of
Asia in the east. It is bound in the north by the Arctic ocean and in tehw est by the
Atlantic ocean. Its southern shores are washed by the Mediterranean Sea.

[Y](6) Australia: Australia is the smallest continent. It lies between 10 S and 44 S

latitudes and 112 E and 154 E longitudes. Australia is surrounded on all sides by seas
and ocean. It is thus commonly known as the Island continent.

[Y](7) Antarctica: Antarctica is the fifth largest continent of the world. It lies in the
extreme end of the Southern Hemisphere, with the South Pole almost at the centre of
it. It is permanently covered with thick ice and thus called the frozen continent or
white continent. It is the only continent where people do not live on a permanent
basis.

6. What are the major divisions of major and minor landforms? [Y]
Ans. There are three major divisions of the major landforms. They are mountains, plateaus
and plains. There are three divisions of the minor landforms. They are Peninsula,
isthmus and island.

7. What are mountains? Give examples. [Y]

Ans. A mountain is a large mass of land that rises to a great height, much above the
surrounding area. The top of a mountain is called a peak. It may be sharp or rounded.
It slopes down to the base, which is generally wide.
Some major mountain ranges are Karakoram range, Alps, Himalayas, etc.

8. What are the different types of mountains? Write their characteristics.

Ans. There are four types of mountains. They are
- Fold mountains: They are formed due to compression and folding of horizontal
layers of sediments. They are very high, with steep slopes, sharp and have pointed
peaks. E.g. Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Rockies.
 - Block mountains: They are formed due to upliftment or subsidence of blocks
along the faults formed on the crust due to forces of compression or tension. They
are shaped like a block. E.g. Vosges, Black Forest, Vindhya, Satpura.
- Volcanic mountains: They are formed due to cooling and solidification of hot,
molten lava. They are shaped like a cone. E.g. Mt Vesuvius, Mt Kilimanjaro.
- Residual mountains: They are formed due to continual action of the forces of
erosion. They are low, with gentle slopes. E.g. Aravalli, Sierra Nevada.

9. What is the importance of mountains?

Ans. Mountains are useful to us in various ways
- Mountains are a very important natural resource. The glaciers in the mountains
give rise to many perennial rivers which are a source of water for irrigation and
generation of hydroelectricity.
- The river valleys and the gentle slopes of the mountains are used for cultivation of
crops and fruits.
- Mountains provide minerals for industries and stones for construction.
- The mountains are covered with dense forests which provide timber, firewood,
fodder and other products.

10. What are anticlines and synclines?

Ans. anticlines and synclines are the upward and downward folds that normally occur
together and are caused by stress due to compression.

11. What is orogeny?

Ans. The process of mountain formation, especially by folding and faulting of the Earth’s
crust and by volcanic eruption, is called orogeny. The long chains of mountains often
seen on the edges of continents are formed through orogeny.

12. What are plateaus? Give example.

Ans. A plateau is a large mass of comparatively flat land that rises abruptly from the
surrounding area. Its surface is undulating and it usually has steep slopes on one or
more sides. It is also called a tableland.

13. What are the different types of plateaus?

Ans. Plateaus can be classified into three types – tectonic plateaus, residual plateaus and
volcanic plateaus.
 (i) Tectonic plateaus: During the continental drift, the ancient landmass got
separated and today it exists as continental blocks in various continents. These
are called tectonic plateaus. Example: Chhotanagpur in India
(ii) Residual plateaus: Old fold or block mountains, worn down by millions of
years of erosion, sometimes get converted to plateaus. These are called residual
plateaus. Example: Cumberland in USA
(iii) Volcanic plateaus: Volcanic eruption leads to formation of layers of lave sheets
these solidify to form volcanic plateaus. Example: Deccan in India.

14. What are the different types of tectonic plateau?

Ans. Tectonic plateaus can be divided into three types depending on their location. They
are
- Continental: These plateaus rise abruptly form the adjacent lowland or sea. E.g.
Chhotanagpur in India.
- Intermontane: These plateaus are enclosed by mountain ranges. E.g. Great Basin
in USA.
- Piedmont: These plateaus are formed at the foot of the mountains. E.g. Patagonia
in Argentina.

15. What is the importance of plateaus?

Ans. Plateaus are useful to us in the following ways:-
- Plateaus are a storehouse of minerals.
- Rivers in the plateau regions form a number of waterfall as they drop abruptly
down the steep slopes.
- Volcanic plateaus extremely fertile and good for cultivation of cotton and sugar
cane.
- The natural beauty of the plateau areas also attracts many tourists.

16. What are plains?

Ans. A plain is a low-lying, flat land surface with a very gentle slope. In some regions
plains are absolutely level while in others the surface is undulating. Plains are
generally not more than 200 m above the mean sea level.

17. What are the different types of plains?

Ans. The different types of plains are
- Structural plains: These plains have been formed in those areas where the rock
layers on the Earth’s crust are aligned almost horizontally. They are also called
tectonic plains. Example: Russian platform.
 - Erosional plains: These plains have been formed as a result of the continuous
wearing down of highlands by the agents of erosion. Example West Siberian
- Depositional plains: These plains have been formed by the deposition of silt, sand,
clay by rivers in low-lying areas. Example: Northern Plains of India

18. What is the importance of Plains?

Ans. Plains are useful to us in many ways
- Most plains have fertile soil and provide ideal conditions for agriculture.
- The flat surface of plains helps in the construction of transport networks, buildings
and industries.

19. Explain the different minor landforms. Give examples for each.
Ans. The different minor landforms are
- Peninsula: It is a long, narrow piece of land surrounded by water on three sides
and joined to a larger landmass on one side. Example: Southern part of India,
Californian Peninsula, Jutland Peninsula.
- Isthmus: It is a narrow strip of land that joins two large landmasses and has water
on two sides. Example: The Isthmus of Suez joins Africa and Asia and separates
the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea.
- Island: It is a piece of land that is surrounded by water on all sides. E.g.
Greenland, Australia, Great Britain, Madagascar.

20. What makes up the hydrosphere?

Ans. All the water bodies such as oceans, seas, rivers and lakes together make up the
hydrosphere. The hydrosphere also includes the ice sheets in the polar and high
mountain regions, underground water and water vapour in the air.

21. Write short notes on different Oceans.

Ans. (i)Pacific Ocean: The Pacific ocean is the largest and deepest ocean in the world. The
world’s deepest trench, the Mariana trench, lies in the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded
by the continents of North America and South Americain the east and Asia and
Australia in the west. In the north it is joined to the Arctic ocean through the Bering
Strait. In the south it merges with the Atlantic and the Indian oceans.

(ii) Atlantic Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean in the world. It is
shaped like the letter ‘S’. The continents of North America and South America border
this ocean in the west, while Europe and Africa make up its eastern boundary. In the
 north it stretches upto the Arctic Circle and in the south it merges with the Pacific and
the Indian oceans.

(iii)Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world. This is the
only ocean to be named after a country and that is our homeland- India. It’s shape is
roughly triangular. The Indian Ocean is bound in the north by the continent of Asia.
India lies at the head of this ocean. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are the
two northward extensions of the Indian Ocean. To the east of this ocean lies Australia
and to the west lies Africa. In the south it merges with the Atlantic and the Pacific
oceans.

(iv)Arctic Ocean: The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean. It lies around the North
Pole and extends southward upto the Arctic circle. North America, Europe and Asia
are the three continents that border this ocean in the south. The Arctic ocean merges
with the Atlantic between Greenland and Scandinavia. It is lined to the Pacific
through the narrow Bering Strait. Most parts of this ocean remain covered with thick
ice throughout the year.

(v)Antarctic Ocean: The continent of Antarctica is surrounded by a water body which

is actually an extension of the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. It is known
as the Southern Ocean. It lies in the Southern Hemisphere.

22. What is the importance of Oceans?

Ans. Oceans are useful to us in a number of ways
- Ocean waters are home to a great variety of marine life.
- Oceans are an enormous source of energy. Tides and waves can be harnessed to
generate power.
- Oceans serve as means of transport.

23. What are seas? Give examples.

Ans. Water bodies that are smaller in size than oceans are called seas. Some seas are
partially surrounded by land. The Mediterranean Sea is an extension of the Atlantic
Ocean while the South China Sea is a part of the Pacific Ocean. Seas may also be
completely surrounded by land, for example, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

24. Briefly explain the different minor water bodies with examples for each.
Ans. The different minor water bodies include
- Bay: It has a curved indentation of a sea or a lake into the land, with a wide
opening. Examples: The Bay of Bengal, the Hudson Bay and the Bay of Biscay.
 - Gulf: Gulfs have large inlet of a sea cutting deep into the land. Examples: The
Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mexico, the gulf of California and the Gulf of
Carpentaria.
- Strait: Straits are narrow stretch of water that joins two large water bodies and
separates two landmasses. Examples: The Bering Strait joins the Pacific ocean and
the Arctic ocean and separates the continents of Asia and North America.

25. Briefly explain the different inland water bodies with examples for each.
Ans. The different inland water bodies include
- Lakes: Lakes are small water bodies surrounded by land on all the sides.
Examples: Lake Baikal, Lake Superior, Lake Victoria, Lake Titicaca and Lake
Wular.
- Lagoons: Lagoons are shallow body of salt water separated from the sea by a low
sandbank or coral reef. Example: Lake Chilka in Odisha.
- Rivers: River is a body of water that flows in a channel down the slope of the land
towards a sea or a lake or another river. Examples: Ganga, Brahmaputra.

26. Name the smallest continent of the world. Why is it special?

Ans. Australia is the smallest continent and is special because it is also an island. Also, of
all the continents, Australia is the only one that consists of one nation and is not
divided into different countries.

27. Why is Antarctica called the frozen continent?

Ans. Antarctica is permanently covered with thick ice and thus called the frozen continent
or white continent.

28. Why do people not live in Antarctica on a permanent basis?

Ans. People do not live in Antarctica on a permanent basis because the continent is
permanently covered with thick ice and life is very difficult because of it.

29. What are the occupation of inhabitants in the different types of landforms?
Ans. The types of landform of a place always influences the occupation of its inhabitants.
Forestry and pastoral activities are practiced in hilly areas; mining and industrial
activity are common in the plateau region; agricultural and allied activities are ideal
in the plains.

II Name the following:-

 1. Mountain range that separates Europe and Asia – Ural Mountains
2. Fifth largest continent – Antarctica
3. Deepest trench of the world – Mariana Trench
4. Only ocean named after a country – Indian Ocean
5. Home of the wandering albatross– Antarctic Ocean
6. Strait that separates North America and Asia – Bering Strait
7. Minor landforms – Peninsula, isthmus and island
8. Minor water bodies – Bays, gulf and straits
9. Inland water bodies – Lake, lagoon, river

III Give examples of the following:-

1. Fold Mountains – Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Rockies

2. Block mountains – Vosges, Black forest, Vindhya, Satpura
3. Volcanic mountains – Mt. Vesuvius, Mt Kilimanjaro
4. Residual mountains – Aravalli, Sierra, Nevada
5. Continental plateau – Chhotanagpur in India
6. Intermontane plateau – Tibet, Bolivia, Great Basin in USA, Iran
7. Piedmont plateau – Patagonia in Argentina
8. Residual plateau – Cumberland in USA
9. Volcanic plateau – Deccan in India
10.Water falls – Victoria Falls in Africa, Niagara falls in North America and the Jog
Falls in India
11.Structural plain – Russian platform
12.Erosional plain – West Siberian
13.Depositional plain – Northern parts of India
14.Peninsula – Southern part of India, Californian Peninsula, Jutland Peninsula
15.Isthmus – Isthmus of Suez joins Africa and Asia
16.Island – Greenland, Australia, Great Britain, Madagascar, Cuba, Sri Lanka
17.Bay – The Bay of Bengal, Hudson Bay, Bay of Biscay
18.Gulf – The Persian Gulf, The Gulf of Mexico, The Gulf of California
19.Strait – The Bering Strait,
20.Lake – Lake Baikal, Lake Superior, Lake Victoria, Lake Titicaca, Lake Wular
21.Lagoon – Lake Chilka in Odisha
22.River – Ganga, brahmaputra

III Fill in the blanks:-

1. About 29% of the Earth’s surface is land and about 71% of the Earth’s surface is
covered with water.
2. Asia is the largest continent and the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world.
3. Europe lies entirely in the northern Hemisphere.
4. Europe is a small continent and is separated from Asia by the Ural Mountains.
5. Australia is the smallest continent
6. Australia is the only continent which is also a country and an island. It lies
completely in the Southern Hemisphere.
7. Antarctica is the fifth largest continent and is sometimes called frozen desert or
white continent.
8. Antarctica has no permanent human habitation.
9. Antarctica is the windiest, driest and iciest part of the Earth.
10.Antarctica has six months of light and six months of darkness.
11.Few important physical features of Antarctica are Mount Vinson, nunataks, dry
valleys and ice shelves.
12.Few important animals of Antarctica are penguin, blue whale, seal and albatross.
13.North America is the third largest continent and is separated from Asia by the
Bering Strait.
14.The northern part of North America continent lies in the Arctic Circle.
15.The important physical features of North America are Great Lakes, Rockies and
Appalachian mountain ranges, Grand canyon.
16.South America is the fourth largest continent and lies mainly in the Southern
Hemisphere.
17.The Isthmus of Panama connects Central and South America.
18.Africa is the second largest continent which has many forests.
19.The Isthmus of Suez is the narrow strip of land that connects Asia and Africa.
20.Asia is the world’s largest continent.
21.Asia has the ten highest mountain peaks in the world including Mt Everest.
22.There are more than 20,000 islands located in the Pacific Ocean.
23.The name of the Pacific Ocean means Peaceful Sea.
24.The world’s deepest trench, the Mariana Trench lies in the Pacific Ocean.
25.The Pacific Ring of Fire is made up of a number of active volcanoes, which
surrounds the Pacific Ocean.
26.The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean in the world and is half the size of
the Pacific Ocean.
27.The Mid-Atlantic Ridge divides the Atlantic sea-bed in halves.
28.The Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic is 9000 miles long and is also called the Deadly
Sea.
29.The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world and has many well known
tropical islands.
30.Indian Ocean is one of the busiest trade routes of the world and the most important
trade route is between the Middle East and other countries.
31.The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean and lies in the Arctic Circle.
32.The North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Circle.
33.The Antarctic Ocean is the fourth largest ocean and is also known as the Southern
Ocean.
34.Most of the Antarctic Ocean is covered with ice and lies in the Southern
Hemisphere.
35.Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an underwater mountain range found in the Atlantic Ocean.

It is about half the size of the Pacific Ocean. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge divides the
Atlantic sea-bed in halves. The Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic is 9000 miles long. It is
also called the ‘Deadly Sea’.
 AUSTRALIA – LAND, CLIMATE AND NATURAL VEGETATION
Geography Chapter - 6
I Question and Answers:-

1. Where is Australia located and what is its size?

Ans. Australia, or the island continent is located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere
between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. It is the world’s smallest
continent and occupied by a single country. It is the sixth largest country of the world
and is almost double the size of India. The continent stretches from 10 S to 44 S and
from 112 E to 154 E longitude.

2. Who discovered Australia?

Ans. Australia was first sighted by the Dutch navigator William Janszoon in 1606. Captain
James Cook, British seaman, reached the eastern coast of Australia in 1770 and
named it New South Wales.

3. Discuss the physical features of Australia.

Ans. The entire continent of Australia presents a flat lowland topography. It does not have
high mountains like the Himalayas. The mean elevation of the land in Australia is
only 300 m above sea level. Only 5 % of the continent is more than 600m above sea
level. It has a long coastline. There are two major indentations – the Gulf of
Carpentaria in the north and the Great Australian Bight in the south. Australia is
divided into three major physical divisions – the Western plateau, the Central
lowlands and the Eastern Highlands.

4. What is the importance of the Australia Act?

Ans. The Australia Act is important because with the passing of Australia Act all
constitutional ties between Australia and Britain ended and Australia could manage
its own political affairs without any interference from Britain.

5. Mention the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of Australia.

Ans. Australia stretches from 10 S to 44 S latitude and from 112 E to 154 E longitude.

6. Describe the physical features of the Western Plateau of Australia.

Ans. The western part of Australia is a vast plateau made up of very hard rocks. It includes
Western Australia, the Northern territory and the larger part of South Australia. Few
mountain ranges that rise from the flat plateau are the darling range, the Hamersley
range, the Macdonnel range and the Musgrave range. The Western plateau is rich in
 mineral resources. It has deposits of iron ore, uranium, lead, copper, nickel and zinc.
Cultivable land and livestock stations are located in the southern part of the plateau.

7. Describe the physical features of the Central Lowlands.

Ans. The low lying region between the Western Plateau and the Eastern Highlands is
known as the central Lowlands. It extends form the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north
to Encounter Bay on the southern shores. The central Lowlands can be divided into
three smaller regions – The Great Artesian Basin, Lake Eyre Basin and Murray-
darling Basin.

8. Describe the physical features of the Eastern Highlands.

Ans. This region consists of a long arc-shaped range of mountains called the Great
dividing Range. They run parallel to the east coast – from cape York Peninsula in the
north to the Bass Strait in the south. The average altitude is about 900 m. The
important ranges include Blue Mountains and the Australian Alps. A number of
rivers descended from these mountains, including big rivers such as Murray and
Darling. Off the north-east coast of Australia lies the Great Barrier Reef. Mt
Kosciusko is the highest peak and is located in the Eastern Highlands.

9. Why is Christmas celebrated in the summer season?

Ans. The seasons in Australia are exactly opposite to that of the contents of the Northern
hemisphere. Summer season is from December to February, autumn is from March to
May, winter occurs between June and August and spring is from September to
November. Therefore in Australia, Christmas is celebrated in the summer season.

10. Which is the most common tree found in Australia? What is it also called?
Ans. The eucalyptus is the most common tree found in Australia. It is a tall evergreen tree,
with grey green leaves. It is also known as the gum tree. Numerous varieties of
eucalyptus grow in Australia, depending on the climatic conditions.

11. Explain the factors that affect the climate of Australia.

Ans. The two factors that affect the climate of Australia are its latitude and direction of the
mountain ranges.
(i) Latitude: The Tropic of Capricorn passes through the middle of Australia and
so the northern part of the country experiences tropical climate while the
southern part has temperate climate.
(ii) Direction of the mountain ranges: The eastern coastal region receives very
heavy rainfall because the winds that come form the ocean strike against the
 mountain and shed all their moisture. Suring the summer months, due to a rise
in temperature, a low pressure are develops over the western plateau which
attracts the monsoon winds from south-east Asia. Which give rainfall to the
northern coast.

12. Describe the Murray-Darling Basin.

Ans. The Murray darling Basin derives its name from its two major rivers – the Murray
River and the Darling River. Both the rivers originate in the Eastern Highlands and
drain into the southern seas in a south-westerly direction. The Murrumbidgee which
is a major tributary of the Murray river, also drains this basin. The Murray-Darling
Basin is the most fertile part of Australia.

13. Describe the Great Artesian Basin.

Ans. The Great Artesian Basin is located mainly in the states of Queensland and New
South Wales. It is the world’s largest artesian basin known for groundwater reserves
extensively tapped for irrigation purposes.

14. Explain the structure of an artesian basin.

Ans. An artesian basin is a flat land where a layer of permeable or porous rock is
sandwiched in a saucer like formation between two layers of impermeable rocks.
Rainwater falling on the Earth’s surface gets absorbed into the porous rock and flows
down the slope. It gets trapped between the layers of impermeable rock and acts as a
huge reservoir called an aquifer. As water keeps its level, it gushes out of a hole
drilled in the centre of the artesian basin called a well. The water keeps flowing out
of this well continuously and automatically like a fountain called an artesian well.

15. Describe the Great Barrier Reef. How has it been formed?
Ans. The Great barrier reef lies in the north-east coast of Australia. It is the largest coral
reef in the world. It is a unique physical feature of the continent. The Great Barrier
reef is a tourist’s paradise but it is also a great hazard to navigation.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world. Corals are tiny sea
animals that live near the sea floor in the warm shallow water. The animal secretes
calcium carbonate, which gets consolidated into rocks. With the passage of time a
great-ridge like structure was formed below the sea level. This is how the Great
Barrier Reef was formed.

16. Write a note on the animals and birds found in Australia. What is unique about
them?
Ans. The animals and birds found in Australia are unique and some of them are not found
in any other part of the world. Most Australian native mammals are marsupials. The
koala is another famous native animal of Australia. The duck-billed platypus has four
webbed feet and a duck-like beak. The dingo is a wild dog that inhabits the dry plains
and forests of Australia. The lyrebird is typical of Australia. The emu is a large
flightless bird very common in Australia. The kookaburra’s laughing call is one of
the best known sounds of the animal world.

17. What are the different climatic regions of Australia?

Ans. The climatic regions of Australia can be broadly divided into tropical monsoon type,
temperate type, desert type and Mediterranean type.
(i)Tropical monsoon climate: This climate is found in North and north-east Australia.
Few characteristics of this climatic type are
- alternate wet and dry season
- summers are warm and wet
- winters are cool and dry
- 100 cm of rainfall in summer season
The natural vegetation is tropical deciduous forests. Example, bamboo, palm and
eucalyptus.

(ii)Desert: This climate is found in Western plateau, including the Great sandy
Desert, the Great Victoria Desert, Gibson Desert. Summers are hot and winters are
cool. Rainfall is very scanty (<25cm). It has thorny bushes for example wattle,
acacia, saltbush, porcupine grass.

(iii)Mediterranean: It is found in southern coast. Summers are hot and dry while
winters are cold and wet westerly winds blow. Short evergreen trees and bushes are
found for example, eucalyptus, karri, jarrah.

(iv)Temperate: It is fund in Murray-Darling Basin, Tasmania. Summers are hot and

moist, winters are cold. It receives moderate rain throughout the year. Temperate
deciduous forests are found here example pine, birch, eucalyptus, grasslands known
as Downs found in areas of less rainfall.

18. What is an aquifer?

Ans. Rainwater falling on the Earth’s surface gets absorbed into the porous rock and flows
down the slope. It gets trapped between the layers of impermeable rock and acts as a
huge reservoir. This is known as an aquifer.
19. What is an artesian well?
Ans. As water keeps its level in an aquifer, it gushes out of a hole drilled in the centre of
the artesian basin called a well. The water keeps flowing out of this well continuously
and automatically like a fountain. Such a well is called an artesian well.

20. Describe the Lake Eyre Basin.

Ans. The Lake Eyre Basin is a large areas of inland drainage in eth central part of the
lowlands. Inland drainage area is an area where rivers disappear without reaching the
sea. Lake Eyre is a shallow salt-water lake. Though it covers a large area, it remains
dry with a white saltpan on the surface.

21. How has climate influenced the natural vegetation of Australia?

Ans. The different climatic regions of Australia have their own unique natural vegetation.
Numerous varieties of eucalyptus grow in Australia depending on the climatic
conditions. The natural vegetation of northern part of Australia is tropical deciduous
forests because of tropical monsoon climate. The western plateau has thorny bushy
plants because of the desert climate. The southern coat has short evergreen trees and
bushes due to the Mediterranean climate and the Murray Darling Basin has temperate
deciduous forests due to the temperate climate.

22. Why is the Great Barrier Reef a great hazard for ships?
Ans. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world in which the corals live
near the seal floor in the warm shallow waters. Corals secretes calcium carbonate
which gets consolidated into rocks and with the passage of time a great ridge-like
structure is formed below the sea level and therefore poses a great hazard for ships or
navigation.

II Name the following:-

1. Capital of Australia - Canberra

2. Neighbouring countries of Australia –East Timor, Indonesia, Papua New Guniea,
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
3. Self governing states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia,
Western Australia and Tasmania
4. Capitals of the six states of Australia
Queensland – Brisbane
New South Wales – Sydney
 Victoria – Melbourne
South Australia – Adelaide
Western Australia – Perth
Tasmania - Hobart
5. Centrally administered territories – Northern territory and Australian Capital
territory
6. Deserts of Australia – the Great sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert, the Great
Victoria Desert and the West Australian Desert
7. Gulf located to the north of Australia – Gulf of Carpentaria
8. Two most important rivers of the continent – The darling river, the Murray river
9. Major indentations of Australia – Gulf of Carpentaria in the north and the Great
Australian Bight in the south
10.Major physical division of Australia – the Western Plateau, the central Lowlands
and the Eastern Highlands.
11.Mountain ranges of Western Plateaus of Australia – Darling range, the Hamersley
range, the Macdonnel range and the Musgrave range.
12.Mountain ranges of Eastern Highlands - Blue Mountains and the Australian Alps
13.A perennial river of Australia – The Murray
14.Major tributary of Murray river – Murrumbidgee
15.Longest river of Australia – The Darling
16.Most fertile part of Australia – Murray-darling Basin
17.Largest saltwater lake in India – Lake Sambhar in Rajasthan
18.Highest peak in Australia – Mt Kosciusko
19.World’s largest coral reef – Great Barrier Reef
20.Most common animal of Australia - Kangaroo
21.Climatic regions of Australia – Tropical monsoon type, temperate type, desert
type and Mediterranean type
22.Common tree of Australia - Eucalyptus
23.Famous native animal of Australia – Koala
24.Animals of Australia – Koala, Duck billed platypus, lyrebird, emu and
kookaburra
25.Another name for Eucalyptus – Gum tree
26.An inland drainage in Australia – Lake Eyre

III Choose the correct option:-

1. The Indian ocean lies to the _____________ of Australia.

(a)north (b)south (c)east (d)west
2. Which of the following is not a self-governing state of Australia?
(a)Queensland (b)Auckland (c)Victoria (d)New South Wales

3. The southern coast of Australia comes under the influence of _____winds.

(a)westerly (b)polar (c)trade (d)monsoon

4. The temperate grasslands of Australia are called ___________.

(a)Prairies (b)Pampas (c)Downs (d)Steppes

5. The ________ is also known as the laughing jackass.

(a)kookaburra (b)emu (c)lyrebird (d)platypus

6. Acacia and saltbush are typical to ________ regions of Australia.

(a)tropical (b)Mediterranean (c)temperate (d)desert

IV Mark the wrong statements and correct them.

1. Captain James Cook reached the western coast of Australia in 1770. True
2. The Darling Range is located in the Eastern Highlands. True
3. The Lake Eyre basin is the most fertile part of Australia. False [The Murray-darling
basin is the most fertile part of Australia]
4. Northern Australia experiences tropical monsoon climate. True
5. Acacia and wattle trees are found in the eastern coast of Australia. False. [Acacia and
wattle trees are found in the western coast of Australia.
6. The southern Ocean lies between Australia and Asia. False [The Southern Ocean lies
between Australia and Antarctica.]
7. Queensland and New South Wales are the centrally administered territories of
Australia. False [Queensland and New South Wales are the self governing states of
Australia.]
8. Mt Kosciusko is the highest peak in Australia. True
9. Two of the largest drainage basins in Australia are the Murray-Darling Basin and the
Lake Eyre Basin. True
10.The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of Australia. False [The Tropic of
Capricorn passes through the middle of Australia]

V Fill in the blanks:-

1. Australia is the sixth largest country of the world.
2. Australia is the only island continent and is located in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. Australia is double the size of India.
4. The major physical divisions are the Western Plateau, the Central Lowlands and
the Eastern Highlands.
5. The four climatic regions of Australia are tropical, temperate, Mediterranean and
desert type.
6. Australia is separated from Indonesia by the Arafura Sea.
7. The name Australia is derived from the Latin word Australis, meaning southern.
8. Australia has been colloquially referred as Oz since the early twentieth century.
9. Mt Kosciusko, the highest peak in Australia is located in the Eastern Highlands.
10.On 1 January 1901, the commonwealth of Australia was established as a dominion
of Britain.
11.Great Artesian Basin is located in the states of Queensland and New South Wales.
12.The dingo is a wild dog that inhabits the dry plains and forests of Australia.
13.Murrumbidgee is a major tributary of the Murray river.
14.Northern Australia has alternate wet and dry seasons.
15.Most of the Australian native mammals are marsupials.
16.In an artesian well a layer of porous rock lies between two layers of impermeable
rocks.
17.The climatic regions of Australia can be divided into temperate type, desert type,
monsoon type and Mediterranean type.
18.The Koala feeds on the leaves and bark of the eucalyptus tree.
19.An underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock is called aquifer.
20.A ridge-like underwater structure made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals is
called coral reef.
21.The temperate grasslands of Australia that provide fodder for cattle and sheep are
called Downs.
22.An area drained by a particular river system is called drainage basin.
23.An area where the rivers disappear into the ground instead of reaching the sea is
called inland drainage.
24.Most of the Australian native mammals are marsupials.
25.Animals that carry their young ones in a pouch near the stomach are called
marsupials.
26.The koala feeds on the leaves and bark of the eucalyptus.
27.In an artesian well, a layer of porous rock lies between two layers of impermeable
rocks.
28.A natural or man made lake or storage pond used to store water is called reservoir.
29.The Central Lowlands can be divided into three smaller regions called the Great
Artesian Basin, Lake Eyre Basin and Murray-darling Basin
30.Eyre is a shallow salt-water lake which remains dry with a saltpan on the surface.
 AUSTRALIA – RESOURCES AND THEIR UTILISATION
Geography Chapter - 7
I Question and Answers:-

1. Describe the soil condition of Australia.

Ans. The Murray-darling basin and the south-east coastal plain are the only fertile regions
of Australia. In the tropical forests and grasslands, the soil is poor quality and in the
desert region soil cover is almost absent.

2. Write a short note on the water resources of Australia.

Ans. The continent of Australia is not particularly well endowed in water resources.
Annual rainfall is low in most of the regions. Only the tropical region in the north, the
Eastern Highlands, the south-western coasts and Tasmania receive moderate to high
rainfall. The Murray-darling Basin is the largest river basin in Australia. The Great
Artesian Basin of Australia is known for its abundant groundwater reserves. Australia
has many coastal lakes, freshwater lakes, volcanic lakes as well as man-made lakes.

3. Write a brief note on lakes of Australia.

Ans. Australia has many lakes. It has coastal lakes like Lake Alexandria, freshwater lakes
like Lake George, volcanic lakes like Blue Lake and man-made lake like Blowering
dam. The largest lakes in Australia are Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens while St Clair is
the deepest.

4. Briefly describe the forests of Australia.

Ans. Australia has very little forest cover. Tropical forests are found in the north and
north-east while temperate forests are found in the Eastern Highlands and Tasmania.
Timber obtained from these forests is used to produce furniture, wooden boards and
paper.

5. Write a note on the farming practices of Australia.

Ans. Only 4% of Australia’s total area is under cultivation. The main agricultural regions
lie in the Murray-darling Basin in the south-east and the Mediterranean region in the
south-west, where the soils are fertile and water supply is adequate. In the areas of
less rainfall, crops are grown with the help of irrigation. Artesian wells are
extensively used to irrigate the fields. The farms in Australia are characteristically
very large and mechanized. The land is almost level. This facilitates the use of
modern machines for various agricultural operations.

6. What are the main crops of Australia?

Ans. Wheat is the most important crop of Australia. Rice is grown in the irrigated areas
along the Murray River and the heavy rainfall areas in the north. Sugarcane is grown
in the coastal region of Queensland, where there is plenty of rain during monsoon.
Maize, barley, oats and tobacco are also grown. Tropical fruits like banana, papaya
and pineapple are grown in the northern tropical region while the Mediterranean
regions of Australia grow citrus fruits like grapes and oranges. Apples are grown in
plenty in Tasmania.

7. Write a brief note on sheep rearing of Australia.

Ans. Sheep rearing is the most important pastoral activity in Australia, where nearly 60%
the land is under pastures. Sheep are reared for wool and meat. The country has the
largest number of sheep in the world. It is also the biggest producer of wool in the
world. New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia are the
min sheep rearing states. Extensive sheep rearing has resulted in the growth of the
woolen textile industry in Australia. The Australian Merino sheep provides the finest
quality wool in the world.

8. Explain the following:-

Ans. (i)Sheep stations: A sheep station is a very large farm where sheep rearing is
practiced. A sheep station is divided into a number of fields with the help of fences.
These are paddocks. The workers look after the sheep with the help of dogs, mostly
dingoes.
(ii)Shearing: Shearing is the removal of fleece from the body of the sheep. It is done
by expert shearers with the use of electric shearing machines.

9. Describe the working of dairy and cattle farms of Australia.

Ans. The dairy farms are managed with the help of advanced technology. Most of the milk
is processed and converted into milk products, such as butter, cheese, milk powder
and condensed milk. Cattle farms near big cities supply fresh milk to city dwellers.
Advanced refrigeration facilities have helped to transport dairy products to distant
places.

10. Describe the mineral resources of Australia.

Ans. Australia has vast deposits of minerals. The major mineral deposits found in the
country are coal, iron ore, bauxite, gold, lead and petroleum. The principal gold
mining areas are Western Australia and Tasmania. New South Wales is the leading
producer of coal in Australia. South Australia and Western Australia have huge
 deposits of iron ore. Queensland has abundant reserves of bauxite. Important uranium
mines are located in the south.

11. How are the mineral resources of Australia being utilized?

Ans. The availability of vast deposits of minerals has made Australia a leading
manufacturing country in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia is also one of the
leading producers of aluminium in the world. Australia is the third largest producer in
eth world of lead and zinc.

12. Discuss the factors that determine the location of various industries of Australia.
Ans. The factors that determine the location of various industries of Australia are the
availability of raw materials, cheap electricity and transportation networks.

13. Write a brief note on industries of Australia.

Ans. Iron and steel industry, aluminium industry, ship-building, oil refining and chemical
engineering are important mineral based industries of Australia. Cotton and woolen
textile, sugar, dairy products, meat packaging and food processing are important
agriculture based industries. Australia also has a wine industry. Australia is a major
exporter of cotton and woolen garments, dairy products and meat.

14. Write a note on population density and distribution of Australia.

Ans. The density population is low because of the nature of the topography and extreme
climatic conditions. Its population density is only 2 persons per sq km. Population is
mostly concentrated along the eastern and southern coasts, especially in the three
states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

15. Why are the eastern and southern coasts of Australia more populated than other
areas?
Ans. The eastern and southern coasts of Australia are more populated because
- The temperate climate is suitable for human habitation.
- Fertile soil and adequate water supply facilitate agricultural practice.
- Availability of minerals has resulted in the growth of industries which offer job
opportunities to the people.

16. Discuss the transportation network of Australia and its role in connecting its
town and cities.
Ans. The transport network of Australia connects all towns and cities and this is essential
since they are located far away from each other. Railways mainly link the coastal
 cities to the interior. Regular domestic air services are available in cities towns and in
the far and remote areas. The roads in Australia connect all the state capitals and
towns. Ships are an important mode of transport for the movement of bulky goods to
and from other countries.

17. Explain why air transport is considered very important in Australia.

Ans. air transport is considered very important in Australia because it has vast uninhabited
areas where there are no roads or railways and only regular domestic air services are
available in cities, town and in the far and remote areas.

18. What are the major cities of Australia?

Ans. Some major cities of Australia are
- Sydney is the most populous city of Australia. It is often referred to as the
Harbour City and is the most important centre of international trade.
- Melbourne is another important centre of industry, commerce and cultural
activity. It is often called the sporting and cultural capital of Australia.
- Canberra is the capital of Australia and houses the Parliament, the High court and
many government department and agencies.

II Short answer questions:-

1. What are the waters of the Murray-Darling river system used for?
Ans. The waters of the Murray-Darling river system is used for irrigation, generation of
hydro-electricity and other purposes.

2. Name four large lakes in Australia.

Ans. The four large lakes of Australia are
- Lake Eyre
- Lake Torrens
- Lake St Clair
- Lake George

3. Which are the main agricultural regions of Australia?

Ans. The main agricultural regions of Australia are the Murray-Darling Basin in the south-
east and the Mediterranean region in the south west.

4. Why has sheep rearing flourished in Australia?

Ans. Sheep rearing has flourished in Australia because nearly 60% of the land is under
pastures.

5. Why does Australia have low population density?

Ans. Australia have low population density due to the nature of the topography and
extreme climatic conditions.

6. What is the Trans-Australian Railway?

Ans. The Trans-Australian Railway rund from Perth in eth west to Sydney in the east is the
only trans-continental railway linking the entire length of the continent.

7. Name the regions in Australia that receive moderate to high rainfall.

Ans. Tropical region in the north, the Eastern Highlands, the south-eastern and south
western coasts and Tasmania receive moderate to high rainfall.

8. Name the densely populated cities of Australia.

Ans. The densely populated cities of Australia are Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

9. State the busiest and largest seaport in Australia.

Ans. Sydney is the busiest and largest seaport in Australia.

10. Where in Australia is sugarcane cultivated?

Ans. Sugarcane is cultivated in the coastal region of Queensland.

11. Where in Australia are oil and natural gas found?

Ans. Oil and natural gas are found in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and
the Bass Strait.

12. Where in Australia are citrus fruits cultivated?

Ans. Citrus fruits are cultivated in the Mediterranean regions of Australia.

III Name the following:-

1. Capital City of Australia – Canberra
2. Big cities of Australia – Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra
3. Sporting and cultural capital of Australia – Melbourne
4. Harbour City – Sydney
5. Tourist attractions in Sydney – Sydney Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge
6. Places of cultural interest in Canberra – National Gallery of Australia & National
Museum of Australia
7. Iconic building of Australia – Sydney Opera House
8. Largest and busiest seaport in Australia – Sydney
9. Longest highway in Australia – Stuart Highway
10.Australia’s only international airline – Qantas
11.International airports of Australia – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin
12.Organization that provides medical care in remote areas – Royal Flying Doctor
Services
13.Only trans-continental railway linking entire length of the continent – Trans-
Australian Railway
14.Maximum foreign settlers are – European
15.Native people of Australia is known as – Indigenous Australians
16.Most populated states of Australia – New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
17.Dead heart of Australia – regions of Western Australia, Northern territory,
Queensland and South Australia
18.Main industrial centres of Australia – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane
and Darwin
19.Major exporter of – cotton and woolen garment, dairy products, and meat
20.Items of import are – clothes, computers, toys, games, machinery, transport
equipment, telecom equipment, crude oil and petroleum products
21.Mineral based industries – Iron and steel industry, aluminium industry, ship-building,
oil refining and chemical engineering
22.Agriculture based industry – Cotton and woolen textile, sugar, dairy products, meat
packaging and food processing industries
23.Main industrial states of Australia – New South Wales & Victoria
24.Major mineral deposits of Australia – Coal, iron ore, bauxite, gold, lead and
petroleum
25.Principal mining areas of Australia – Western Australia and Tasmania
26.Leading producer of coal in Australia – New South Wales
27.Famous fishing spot of Australia – Darwin Harbour
28.The world’s third largest fishing zone - Northern Territory of Australia
29.Largest producer and exporter of beef in Australia – Northern Queensland and
Northern Territory
30.Provide the finest quality wool in the world – Australian Merino sheep
31.Main sheep rearing states – New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and
Western Australia
32.Most important crop of Australia – Wheat
 33.Main wheat producing states – New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia
34.Major crops of Australia – Wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize, barley, oats and tobacco
35.Pastoral activities – Sheep and cattle rearing
36.Language – Australian English
37.Tropical fruits of Australia – Banana, papaya, pineapple, grapes, oranges and apples
38.Main agricultural regions – Murray-darling Basin and Mediterranean region
39.Fertile regions of Australia – Murray darling Basin and the south-east coastal plain
40.Coastal Lake – Lake Alexandria
41.Freshwater lake – Lake George
42.Volcanic lake – Blue Lake
43.Man-made lake – Blowering Dam
44.Largest lake of Australia – Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens
45.Deepest Lake – St Clair
46.Tropical forests are found in – northern Australia
47.Temperate forests are found in – Eastern highlands and Tasmania

IV Fill in the blanks:-

1. The Great Artesian Basin is known for its abundant groundwater reserves.
2. Tropical forests are found in the northern parts of Australia.
3. Workers in the sheep stations are called sheerers.
4. New South Wales is the leading producer of coal in Australia.
5. St Clair is the deepest lake of Australia.
6. Rice is grown in the irrigated areas along the Murray River and sugar cane is grown
in the coastal region of Queensland.
7. Alfalfa is a nutritious grass given to sheep.
8. Northern Queensland and Northern territory are the largest producers and
exporters of beef in Australia.
9. Dairy cattle are reared in the wet plains of southern Queensland, while beef cattle
are reared on the savanna grasslands of northern Queensland.
10.Sydney is the most populous city of Australia.
11.

V True or False:-

1. Australia is rich in water resources. False [Australia is not rich in water resources.]
2. Blowering Dam is a coastal lake. False [Blowering Dam is a man-made lake]
3. Tasmania is famous for tropical fruits. False [ Tasmania is famous for apples]
4. Australia has abundant forest cover. False [Australia has very little forest cover]
5. Australia is four times the size of India. False. [Australia is double the size of India]
6. Canberra is referred to as the Harbour City. False [ Canberra is referred as the capital
city]
7. Cashew nuts produced in Australia have a great demand all over the world. False
[Macadamia nuts produced in Australia have a great demand all over the world.]
8. Australia is the leading producer of coal and bauxite in the world. False. Australia is
the leading producer of aluminium in the world.]
9. Australia has the world’s sixth largest fishing zone in the world. False. [Australia has
the world’s third largest fishing zone in the world.]
10.Maize is the primary crop of export. False [Wheat is the primary crop of export]
11.New South Wales is the leading producer of bauxite in Australia. False [Queensland
is the leading producer of bauxite in Australia.
12.The Trans-Australian Railway runs from Perth to Sydney. True
 AFRICA – LAND, CLIMATE AND NATURAL VEGETATION
Geography Chapter - 11

I Question and Answers:-

1. Why did the Europeans coin the term ‘Dark Continent’ for Africa?
Ans. The Europeans coined the term Dark Continent for Africa because very little was
known about the continent till the middle of the nineteenth century till the famous
explorers David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley and Mungo Park opened Africa
to the outside world.

2. What were the reasons that travelers and traders did not venture into Africa?
Ans. The travelers and traders did not venture into Africa due to the hot and humid
climate, the dense forest and marshes teeming with wild animals and dangerous
insects. The explorers who managed to land on the continent, could not travel to the
interior because the rivers were not navigable as these, big, swift rivers dropped
down the steep slopes of the plateaus forming huge waterfalls. Also the vast Sahara
Desert in the northern part of the continent was another obstacle. The fear of diseases
like malaria and sleeping sickness also kept them away from the continent.

3. Write a note on the size and location of Africa.

Ans. Africa is the second largest continent after Asia and occupies more than one-fifth of
the Earth’s land area. Africa is surrounded by water on almost all sides. It almost
touches Europe in the north-west at the strait of Gibralter and Asia in the east at the
Strait of Babel-Mandeb. The Isthmus of Suez in the north-east used to join Africa and
Asia but not the Suez Canal cuts through it and joins the Mediterranean Sea with the
Red Sea, thus separating the two continents.
 SUGARCANE CULTIVATION IN QUEENSLAND
Geography Case Study

1. What are the main characteristics of the sugar cane tree?

Ans. The main characteristics of the sugar cane plantations are
- It is a tropical crop with a hard, thick stem and a leafy top.
- It grows to a height of 2.5 to 3m or more.
- It is grown from pieces of mature sugar cane cut into lengths of about 40 cm.

2. Name the sugar cane growing belt in Australia.

Ans. The sugar cane growing belt in Australia stretches almost continuously along the east
coast, from north Queensland to northern New South Wales.

3. What are the conditions required for the growth of sugar cane?
Ans. The conditions that help the growth of sugar cane in Australia are
- Summer temperature of 25 C to 30 C and at least 150 cm of annual rainfall
- Mandatory irrigation
- Plenty of water during the growing period
- Lot of sunshine towards the end of the growing season and during harvesting
- Rich alluvial or lava soil
- Plenty of labour during the harvest season.

4. Why is sugar cane cultivation confined to Queensland in Australia?

Ans. Sugar cane cultivation is confined to Queensland in Australia because
- It has a hot and wet climate and gets bright sunshine nearly throughout the year.
- The annual rainfall varies from 100 cm to 175 cm in the plains and from 250 cm
to 275 cm in the mountains.

5. Describe the planting of sugar cane.

Ans. The main planting season for sugar cane is autumn. Before planting, the soil is
ploughed and prepared for cultivation. Sugar cane is grown from pieces of mature
sugar cane cut into lengths of about 40 cm. These cuttings are called setts. Machines
drop these setts into furrows made in the soil, add fertilizer and cover them with soil.
Insecticides are also sprayed simultaneously. After a few weeks new shoots grow. It
takes about ten months for sugar cane plants to mature. During this period it needs
plenty of water.
6. Describe the process of harvesting of sugar cane.
Ans. The harvesting season extends from June to September. The litter and dead leaves are
cleared before cutting the cane. In Australia, sugar cane is grown on big farms,
Groups of four or five cutters work in eth farms by rotation. Harvesters and loaders
are used for harvesting.

7. Describe the processing of sugar cane.

Ans. After cutting, the cane is sent to the factories for extracting juice as fast as possible,
because it dries up within sixteen hours and the sucrose content of the cane decreases.
Railway tracks link the farmlands to the sugar mills. Here the juice is squeezed out
form the cane and processed to make raw sugar. It is then transported to the bulk
sugar terminals.

8. Name the various by-products obtained from sugar mills. Mention their uses.
Ans. The various-by products obtained from sugar mills are
- Bagasse: It is used for generating electricity and for making paper and paper
boards.
- Boiler ash and filter mud: They are used as fertilizers in cane farms and gardens.
- Molasses: It is used for feeding livestock and for making alcohol and fertilizers.
- Pressmud: It is used for making shoe polish, carbon paper and for the extraction of
wax.
- Ethanol: It is used in a number of products like perfumes, cosmetics and shoe
polish.

9. Name the countries that buy sugar from Queensland.

Ans. The largest buyers of sugar from Queensland are Canada, Japan and Malaysia. The
United States, Russia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Mexico, Egypt, Bulgaria and
UAE are the other countries that buy sugar from Queensland.

10. What is ratooning?

Ans. Ratooning or green cane harvesting is a method by which, while harvesting, the root
with a small stalk is left in the soil. This gives rise to a new crop the next year.

II Mark the wrong statements and correct them.

1. Sandy soil is ideally suited for sugarcane. False

[Rich alluvial or lava soil is ideally suited for sugar cane.]
2. Molasses is used for making perfumes and cosmetics. False
[Ethanol is used for making perfumes and cosmetics.]

III Choose the correct option:

1. Sugar cane is grown in regions with ___________ climate.

(a)tropical (b)temperate (c)Mediterranean (d)Highland

2. Queensland is often known as the ______________________.

(a)Sugar cane state (b)Sugar bowl State (c)Sunshine State (d)Summer State

3. Sugarcane is planted in ___________________.

(a)Spring (b)Summer (c)Autumn (d)winter

4. Which of the following by products of sugar is used to generate electricity?

(a)Ethanol (b)bagasse (c)press mud (d)boiler ash

IV Fill in the blanks:-

1. Sugar is obtained from sucrose or the juice stored in the stem of the sugar cane plant.
2. Harvesting of sugar cane is done by modern machines like harvesters and loaders.
3. Soft drink manufacturers and confectioners are the largest users of refined sugar.
 THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EQYPT
Geography Case Study

I Question and Answers:-

1. Why is Egypt called the Gift of Nile?

Ans. Egypt is called the Gift of Nile because the Nile River has a significant influence on
the life and economy of the people of Egypt. Every year the river overflows its banks
and leaves behind rich silt, making the area very fertile.

2. Where is Egypt located?

Ans. The Arab Republic of Egypt is the second populous country of Africa. It is situated at
the junction of Africa and Asia. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the north
and the Red Sea in the east. The countries of Sudan and Libya share boundaries with
Egypt in the south and in the west, respectively.

3. Write short note on the physical features of Egypt.

Ans. The greater part of Egypt lies in the Sahara Desert. The Nile River flows through the
entire length of the country and divides the desert land into two unequal parts. To the
east of the river lies the narrow Arabian Desert, while to the west is the larger Libyan
Desert. The small Sinai Desert is in the north-eastern corner. Most of the Arabian
Desert is a rugged plateau. The Libyan Desert contains a number of oases.

4. Describe the climatic conditions of Egypt.

Ans. The Major part of the country has a tropical desert type of climate. In the months of
April and May, hot, dry, sand-laden winds called khamsin blow across Egypt from
the Sahara. There is great difference between day and night temperatures. Days are
extremely hot while nights are quite cold. Rainfall is very scanty. The northern part
of the country has a Mediterranean type of climate. This region receives slight
rainfall in winter.

5. Name the two water bodies that are connected by the Suez Canal?
Ans. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez.

6. Write short note on the Suez Canal.

Ans. The Suez Canal opened in 1869. Egypt became an important centre in the oceanic
trade route between the East and the West. The Suez Canal reduced the sailing
distance to a great extent. After the Suez Canal came under the control of the
 Egyptian government, all foreign ships passing through the canal had to pay a fee to
Egypt, thus became a big source of income for the country.

7. How has the Suez Canal benefited the economy of Egypt?

Ans. All the foreign ships passing through the canal have to pay a fee to the government of
Egypt. Thus it is a big source of income for the country and benefited the economy of
Egypt greatly.

8. In which direction does River Nile flow?

Ans. The River Nile flows from north through Tanzania, Lake Victoria, Uganda to South
Sudan.

9. Name the largest dam constructed across the Nile.

Ans. The largest dam constructed across the Nile is Aswan High dam.

10. Write short note on the following:

Ans. (i) Natural vegetation of Egypt: Egypt has a desert type of vegetation, consisting
mainly of thorny bushes, shrubs and scrubs. Date palms are found in the Nile valley,
the delta region and in oases.

(ii)Wildlife: The camel is the most common animal found in the deserts. Antelopes,
jackals, rabbits, desert foxes and cats, lizards, snakes, rats, spiders and scorpions are
also common.

11. Briefly explain the agriculture of Egypt.

Ans. Although the agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Egypt, farm lands
are confined only to the Nile valley and the delta. Since rainfall is very low,
agriculture depends on irrigation. They grow wheat, barley, vegetables, figs, melons,
pomegranates. Egypt is famous for its superior quality long-staple cotton, which is
mostly exported. Date palms are grown in the oases and citrus fruits grow well in the
Mediterranean region.

12. What are the irrigation methods practiced in Egypt?

Ans. The irrigation methods practiced in Egypt are canals and dams constructed across the
River Nile.

13. Briefly explain the following:

Ans. (i) Minerals: Petroleum is the most important mineral resource of the country, found
in the Sinai peninsula and along the Red Sea coast. Natural gas is also found along
with petroleum. Iron ore, phosphate and manganese are the other important minerals.

(ii) Industries: Cotton textiles and food processing are the major industries. The
other industries include iron and steel, fertilizers, cement, oil refineries, chemicals,
paper, engineering and consumer goods. Cairo and Alexandria are the major
industrial centres. Many industries have also developed around the Aswan region
mainly because of the availability of cheap hydroelectricity power.

14. Write short note on the transport of Egypt.

Ans. The Nile and many of its canals provide inland water transport. The roads and
railways mostly run along the Nile. In the delta region there is a dense network of
transport. Transport system has also developed in the coastal plains along the
Mediterranean Sea. Port Said is an important port at the northern head of Suez Canal.
Egypt Air, is the national airlines which operated both domestic and international
flights. Cairo and Alexandria have international airports.

15. Write a brief about the people of Egypt.

Ans. Egypt’s total population is about 78 million. More than 90% of the people live in the
Nile Valley, because it is the centre of all economic activities. Most of the Egyptians
are Arabs and Arabic is the official language. Islam is the state religion. Christianity
is also practiced by some people. About 2.3 million Bedouins inhabit the desert
regions of Egypt.

II Mark the wrong statements and correct them:

1. Egypt is the most populous country of Africa. False

[Egypt is the second most populous country of Africa.]
2. The Qattara Depression is a large oasis. True

3. Many industries have developed around the Aswan region because of the availability
of coal. False
[Many industries have developed around the Aswan region because of the availability
of cheap hydroelectricity.]
4. Egyptian airways is the national airways of Egypt. True.

5. Alexandria is the chief port of Egypt. False

 [Alexandria is the major industrial centre of Egypt.]
III Choose the correct option:

1. The humid climate of the Nile Delta favours the growth of _____________.
(a)tea (b)coffee (c)jute (d)cotton

2. The world famous pyramids are located at _________________.

(a)Giza (b)Aswan (c)Alexandria (d)Suez

3. Port said is located at the __________________ end of the Suez Canal.

(a)northern (b)southern (c)eastern (d)western

IV Fill in the blanks:-

1. Egypt is called the Gift of the Nile because it has a significant influence on the life
and economy of the people of Egypt.
2. The Arab Republic of Egypt is the second most populous country of Africa.
3. Egypt is situated at the junction of Africa and Asia.
4. Egypt is bound by the Mediterranean in the north and the Arabian desert in the
East.
5. The countries of Sudan share the boundary with Egypt in the south and Libya in the
west.
6. The greater part of Egypt lies in the Sahara desert.
7. The Nile River flows through the entire length of Egypt dividing the desert land into
two unequal parts.
8. To the east of the River Nile lies the narrow Arabian Desert, the larger Libyan
Desert lies in the west while the small Sinai desert lies in the north-eastern corner.
9. The highest point of Egypt is Gebel Katherina and is located in Sinai desert.
10.Most of the Arabian Desert is a rugged plateau, broken up by numerous dried-up
river beds called wadis.
11.The Libyan Desert contains a number of oases.
12.The Qattara Depression is a large oasis in Egypt which is below sea level.
13.The River Nile is the longest river in the world.
14.The White Niles rises in Lake Victoria, the blue Nile rises from Lake Tana in the
Ethiopian Highlands and meets the White Nile at Khartoum in Sudan.
15.Egypt is called the Gift of the Nile because every year the river overflows its banks
and leaves behind rich silt making the area very fertile.
16.The major part of Egypt has a tropical desert type of climate.
17.In the months of April and May, hot, dry, sand-laden winds called khamsin blow
across Egypt from the Sahara.
18.The Nile and many of its canals prove inland water transport.
19.Arabic is the official language of Egypt.
 LIFE OF BUSHMEN
Geography Case Study

I Question and Answers:-

1. Who were the Bushmen?[y]

Ans. The Bushmen were the original inhabitants of the East African Highlands from where
they travelled across the continent to settle in the Kalahari Desert. The vast Kalahari
Desert which covers 70% of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa is
home to the Bushmen who are the oldest inhabitants of southern Africa, where they
have lived for almost 20,000 years.

2. What do the Bushmen look like?[y]

Ans. The Bushmen are generally short in height and have brown skin and woolly black
hair.

3. Write short notes on the following:-[y]

(i) Occupation of Bushmen
Ans. The Bushmen are hunter-gatherers who are nomadic in nature.

(ii) Food
Ans. The daily diet of the Bushmen consists of fruits, nuts and roots which they
gather from the desert. They also gather beehives, ostrich eggs and lizard,
frogs, tortoises and insects.

(iii) Dwellings
Ans. The Bushmen make their own temporary homes around waterholes. They live
in dome-shaped crude shelters made of wood, twigs, grass and animal skins.

(iv) Society
Ans. The Bushmen move in small groups consisting of about 25 people including
women and children. Men hunt while women gather. They society is based on
equality. They use click languages called Khoisan to communicate with each
other.

(v) Religion and beliefs

 Ans. The Bushmen believe in the existence of the spirit world and the material
world. The shamans establish contact between the spirit world and the material
world.

(vi) Rights of Bushmen

Ans. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve was created in 1961 to preserve the
Bushmen and their homelands. The Bushmen of Botswana are seeking legal
action to prevent the Government from removing them form eth Central
Kalahari Game Reserve which is their ancestral homeland. Survival
International is lobbying for the human and land rights of all Bushman peoples
across southern Africa.

4. What type of climate and vegetation is found in the Kalahari Desert?

Ans. The summers in the Kalahari Desert are extremely hot and winters are cool. There is
a great difference between day and night temperatures. Rainfall is very scanty. Strong
winds are common during the day.
Since the climate of Kalahari desert is hot and dry, the vegetation consists of very
few trees. They have natural adaptations like long roots, waxy stems and spiny leaves
to survive in such conditions.

5. Who are shamans? Explain their importance in the Bushmen society.

Ans. Shamans are traditional healers. The Bushmen believe in the existence of the spirit
world and the material world and the shamans play an important role. Shamans
establish contact between the spiritual and the materials worlds and cure illness.

6. Discuss the various conflicts faced by the Bushmen.

Ans. The conflicts faced by the Bushmen are
- The homelands of the Bushmen have been invaded by cattle herding Bantu tribes
and by European settlers.
- They have also faced discrimination and oppression.

II Choose the correct option:

1. Which of the following countries is not inhabited by Bushmen?

(a)Botswana (b)Namibia (c)South Africa (d)Nigeria

2. The Bushmen use click languages to communicate with each other.

(a)sign languages (b)click languages (c)pictorial script (d)numerical script
III Fill in the blanks:-

1. The Bushmen were the original inhabitants of the East African Highlands who
travelled across the continent to settle in the Kalahari Desert.
2. The Kalahari Desert covers 70% of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South
Africa.
3. The Bushmen are generally short in height and have brown skin and woolly black
hair.
4. The Bushmen are hunter-gatherers who are nomadic in nature.
5. The Bushmen mainly hunt various kinds of antelopes.
6. The Bushmen often use trained dogs to chase their pray while hunting and
sometimes they also trap the animals.
7. The Bushmen make their own temporary homes around waterholes.
8. Bushmen live in dome-shaped crude shelters made of wood, twigs, grass and
animal skins.
9. The Bushmen move in small groups consisting of about 25 people including women
and children.
10.In the Bushmen, the men hunt while women gather.
11.Bushmen society is based on equality.
12.The Bushmen use click languages called Khoisan to communicate with each other.
13.The Bushmen believe in the existence of the spirit worlds and the material world.
14.The shamans are traditional healers who help the Bushmen to establish contact
between the spirit world and the material world.
15.The homelands of the Bushmen have been invaded by cattle herding Bantu tribes
and by European settlers.
16.The Central Kalahari Game Reserve was created in 1961 to preserve the Bushmen
and their homelands.
17.Survival International is lobbying for the human and land rights of all Bushman
peoples across southern Africa.

IV Mark the wrong statements and correct them:-

1. The Bushmen use trained dogs to hunt animals. True
2. They move in large groups of about 100 people. False
[They move in small groups of about 25 people.]
3. The Bushmen are known for their rock paintings. True
4. In the 1980s, gold was discovered in the central Kalahari Game Reserve. False
[In the 1980s, diamonds was discovered in the Central Kalahari game Reserve.]
 COCOA CULTIVATION IN GHANA
Geography Case Study

I Question and Answers:-

1. What is cacao?
Ans. Cacao is a tropical tree which grows in the equatorial regions of Central America and
Africa. Cacao is processed to form cocoa, which is used to make chocolates.

2. What are the main characteristics of the cacao tree?

Ans. The main characteristics of the cacao tree are
- The cacao tree grows to a height of 10m in its wild state.
- It is trimmed to a height of 6m so that the plucking of pods becomes easy for the
workers.
- The tree bears flowers that develop pods each of which contains 30-50 beans.

3. Name the areas of Africa which grows cacao.

Ans. In Africa, cacao is grown extensively in areas bordering the Gulf of Guinea in West
Africa which include the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Liberia.

4. Where in Ghana is the maximum concentration of cocoa plantations found?

Ans. The maximum concentration of cocoa plantations are found in the equatorial belt of
Ghana.

5. How did cacao originate?

Ans. Cacao was an indigeneous plant found in the rainforests of Central and South
America. It was introduced to Ghana and other West African countries by the
Europeans in the late 19th century.

6. What are the conditions required for the growth of the cacao tree?
Ans. The conditions required for the growth of the cacao tree are as follows:-
- A warm and wet climate
- Average rainfall of 125cm throughout the year
- Shelter form sunlight and strong winds
- Deep, porous soil that is rich in clay.

7. Describe the process of planting of cacao trees.

Ans. Cacao trees are grown in large plantations. First, the bush and undergrowth are
cleared. Then the seeds are sown in nurseries. When the seedlings are about 4-5 cm
tall, they are transplanted 2-4 m apart. Shady trees are also grown in between the
rows, to protect the young cacao plants from direct sunlight and strong winds. It is
only after about ten years that a full yield can be expected. Occasional weeding and
fertilizing improve the quality of the beans and increase the lifespan of the trees.

8. Describe the way in which cocoa is harvested.

Ans. In Ghana, there are two harvests of cacao every year. Work begins early in the
morning and continues until sunset. The ripe pods are removed from the trunk and
branches with a long knife and piled up near a main road or a railway line so that they
can be quickly transported to the processing factories.

9. Describe the cocoa processing.

Ans. Each cocoa pod contains about thirty to fifty small beans. The pods are split open
with a sharp knife. The beans and the sticky pulp covering them are scrapped out and
placed in heaps on the ground. They are then covered with large banana leaves and
left for three to seven days for fermentation. The pulp become soft and is easily
removed. The fermented beans are then washed, cleaned and thoroughly sun dried.
When the beans are dry, they are sorted according to quality.

10. Why are the cocoa beans fermented for a few days?
Ans. The cocoa beans are fermented for a few days because during fermentation that the
typical chocolate flavor develops. Also the pulp becomes soft and is easily removed.

11. How is chocolate made from the cocoa beans?

Ans. The cocoa beans are cleaned and roasted and their husks are removed. Then they are
ground into a powder called cocoa powder which is used to make delicious drinks.
During the process of grinding, the fatty matter called cocoa butter is removed. It is
used to make cosmetics, drugs and chemicals. Chocolate is made by grinding the
cocoa powder very fine.

12. Why has the cocoa production in Ghana declined?

Ans. The cocoa production in Ghana has declined due to a number of factors like
- Many of the trees have grown old and their yield has declined.
- Plant diseases destroy cocoa production
- Some farms are poorly managed and more attention is given to food crops like
maize.
13. List the steps taken by the Government of Ghana to increase cocoa production.
Ans. The steps taken by Government of Ghana to increase cocoa production are
- Spraying of insecticides to control plant diseases
- Liberal use of fertilizers
- Developing high-yielding varieties of cocoa plants

II Choose the correct option:

1. Cacao was an indigenous plant in the rainforests of Central and South America.
(a)highlands (b)rainforests (c)coastal areas (d)deserts

2. Cocoa production has been destroyed in many places because of plant diseases.
(a)forest fires (b)deforestation (c)labour problems (d)plant diseases.

III Fill in the blanks:-

1. Cacao is a tropical tree which grows in the equatorial regions of Central America
and Africa.
2. In Africa, cacao is grown extensively in areas bordering the Gulf of Guinea in West
Africa which include the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Liberia.
3. The seeds of the cacao tree are the cocoa beans.
4. Cacao originated in the rainforests of Central and South America.
5. Cacao was introduced to Ghana and other West African countries by the Europeans
in the late 19th century.
6. The cacao tree grows to a height of 10m in its wild state but is trimmed to a height of
6m to enable easy plucking of pods by workers.
7. Cacao tree needs an average rainfall of 125 cm.
8. Cacao trees are grown in large plantations.
9. Shady trees are grown in between the rows of cacao trees to protect the young cacao
plants from direct sunlight and strong winds.
10.Occasional weeding and fertilizing improve the quality of the cacao
11.Cocoa is a popular drink made form the seeds of the cacao tree.
12.The cacoa trees continue to yield for ten years.
13.Tumbadors are cocoa pickers in Ghana.
14.Chocolate is made by grinding the cocoa powder very fine.

IV Mark the wrong statements and correct them.

1. Cocoa was introduced to Europe by the British. False
[Cocoa was introduced to Ghana and other West African countries by the Europeans.

2. Cacao trees are grown in large plantations. True

3. In Ghana cacao is harvested annually. False

[In Ghana cacao is harvested twice every year.]

4. The largest buyer of cocoa from Ghana is China. False

[The largest buyer of cocoa from Ghana is USA.]