geography Class 8 Solutions

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Interpreting Topographical Maps

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

ICSE Solutions Class 8 GeographyHistory & CivicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks

1. A contour line is an imaginary line that connects all points having the same height above sea level.
2. In a grid system of a topo sheet, the lines that run vertically are called eastings.
3. Contour lines do not intersect one another.
4. The contour lines of a hill are evenly spaced in the form of concentric circles.
5. Houses or huts in scattered settlement are far apart from one another.

B. Match the following columns

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The contour lines for this feature are evenly spaced in the form of concentric circles.

1. conical hill
2. plateau
3. ridge
4. saddle

2. The contours for this feature are oval with contours close to each other indicating steepness.

1. conical hill
2. plateau
3. ridge
4. saddle

3. This feature can be identified by a drop in height of the contours.

1. conical hill
2. ridge
3. col
4. gap

4. The green area in a topo sheet contains

1. settlement
2. barren land
3. cultivated land
4. vegetation

5. On the topographical map these water bodies are shown in black colour.

1. Dry Nadi
2. Tank
3. Settlement
4. River

D. State whether the following are true or false 

1. A contour line is an imaginary line that connects all points having the same temperature.
Answer. False.
A contour lines is an imaginary line that connects all points having the same height.

2. The lines that run vertically are called nothings.
Answer. False.
The lines that run vertically are called eatings.

3. Contour lines are drawn at fixed intervals.
Ans. True.

4. A gap is a low lying depression or a valley which cuts through a range of hills.
Answer. True.

5. The spot height is indicated on the map with a small triangle followed by the number.
Answer. False.
The triangulated stations is indicated on the map with a small triangle followed by the number.

E. Answer the following questions in brief

Question 1.
What do topographical maps show ?
Answer:
Topographical maps are large scale maps that show both natural features (such as mountains, hills, rivers, plateaus, ridges, etc) and human-made features (such as roads, railway tracks, temples, bridges, buildings, etc).

Question 2.
What is a contour line ?
Answer:
A contour line is an imaginary line on a map connecting points at the same height above sea level.

Question 3.
Distinguish Vertical Interval and Horizontal Equivalent.
Answer:
The difference in height between two adjacent contour lines is known as the Vertical Interval (V.I.). Whereas the distance between any two adjacent contour lines is called the Horizontal Equivalent (H.E.). The Horizontal Equivalent is calculated with the help of the scale of the map. The value of the H.E. is less when the slope is steep and more when the slope is gentle.

Question 4.
What is a ridge ? How do you identify a ridge on a topo sheet ?
Answer:
A ridge is a long and narrow elevation that has steep slopes on either side and stands out from the surrounding lowlands. It also acts as a watershed to rivers that flow down narrow

valleys on both of its sides. A ridge could also have several peaks of various elevations.
On a toposheet, the contours of a ridge are oval with contour close to each other indicating steepness.

Question 5.
What is a saddle ? Draw a diagram to show a saddle.
Answer:
A saddle is a shallow depression at a high elevation between two peaks or ridges. The depression is formed by streams or by glaciers flowing close to each other. A saddle need not have a river or stream flowing through it.

Question 6.
What is a linear settlement ? Where would you normally find a linear settlement ?
Answer:
Linear settlements are those settlements that develop in a line. Houses, shops, dhaba’s, petrol pumps and garages develop along the sides of the roads, railway lines or river banks. Gradually, these linear settlements grow in size. These settlements gradually develop into trading centres. Examples:

1. If such a settlement is near a railway track, and over a period of time, a need for a railway station is felt, then it becomes a railway stop.
2. hen located on main roads, such settlements become important stops for travellers as dhabas, tyre and car repairing shops and petrol pumps open up.
3. On rivers and coasts, they become places where boats can unload goods and passengers.

Question 7.
How would you recognize a metalled road and an un metalled one on a topographical map?
Answer:
Vehicles such as trucks, buses, cars, jeeps, and other modem means of transport move over metalled roads. There are also cart tracks, pack tracks and footpaths, which are unmetalled roads. Cart tracks and pack tracks connect small village settlements in rural areas.

F. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs.

Question 1.
What is a cliff and how can we identify it on a toposheet ? Draw a diagram to show a cliff.
Answer:
A cliff is a vertical or near vertical land feature. The landform rises vertically from the lower ground. On a contour map, the contour lines are very close together or merge into a single line in other words, contour lines overlap. This indicates a cliff.

Question 2.
How is waterfall formed? Draw a diagram to show it.
Answer:
A waterfall is formed when there is a sudden drop in the river valley. It is like a cliff where the drop is almost perpendicular. Waterfalls are formed in the upper regions of river valleys. When contours on a map are very close to one another or sometimes touch each other as they cross a river or stream, it indicates the presence of a waterfall.

Question 3.
Where are V-shaped valleys and U-shaped valleys formed? How can these be identified on a topo sheet?
Answer:
V-shaped valleys : V-shaped valleys are found in the upper course of a river where the slopes on either side of the river are steep. A V-shaped valley is easily identified on a contour map with the contour lines close to each other and a very dominant V.

U-shaped valleys : U-shaped valleys are found in regions where the action of ice (or glaciers) has widened the valleys so that the valleys take the shape of a “U” These are also found in the lower regions of a river where the erosion of valley walls by the river widens the valley to make them look U-shaped. The contour lines of these valleys are bent in a distinct U-shape.

Question 4.
What are the different factors that determine the location and the type of settlements?
Answer:
Many factors determine the location and the type of settlements:

1. Settlements grow in areas that are flat and where the land is cultivable. Settlements do not grow on steep hillsides or marshy lands.
2. Settlements grow in places where water is available in plenty for both agricultural and domestic purposes. Settlements, therefore, also grow on the confluence of rivers or the banks of rivers.
3. Settlements also thrive on a plateau because of the flat surface of the plateau and the availability of land for cultivation.
4. They develop and grow in places where the climate is suitable or pleasant to live in. Extremely hot, cold, wet or dry places are not attractive settlement sites.
5. Settlements are formed where there are prospects for employment. Mines and industries in the area are potential sources of employment and encourage growth of settlements. Such places are usually near places of abundant raw materials for the growth of industries.
6. They develop in places that are easily accessible by various kinds of roads, rivers, and railway lines. Easy access to and from the settlements will allow movement of people and goods from one place to another.

Question 5.
How can transport and communication of an area be inferred directly from a topographical sheet?
Answer:
On a topographical map you will notice some black lines that cross the map. These lines are symbols of roadways and railway tracks and indicate the type of communication in the area. They depict the various modes of transport being used in the area.
Communication and transport lines indicate the importance of a place. When many roads and railway lines converge in a village or a town, it indicates the importance of a place. It could be for several reasons such as the economic activity of the region or the region could be a tourist hot spot of it could be because of the presence of industries and factories leading to plenty of job opportunities.
Airports are also an important form of travel and communication but airports are confined to large cities only. The conventional sign of an aeroplane indicates the presence of an airport or an airstrip.

G Picture study.

Question 1.
Identify the type of settlement shown in the picture.
Answer:
Nucleated settlements

Question 2.
Write two characteristics of this type of settlement.
Answer:

(i) Linear settlements — Linear settlements are those
settlements that develop in a line. Houses, shops, dhaba’s, petrol pumps and garages develop along the sides of the roads, railway lines or river banks. Gradually, these linear settlements grow in size. These settlements gradually develop into trading centers.
Examples:

(a) If such a settlement is near a railway track, and over a period of time, a need for a railway station is felt, then it becomes a railway stop.
(b) When located on main roads, such settlements become important stops for travellers as dhaba’s, tyre and car repairing shops and petrol pumps open up.
(c) On rivers and coasts, they become places where boats can unload goods and passengers.

(ii) Scattered settlements — They are also known as dispersed settlements. Houses or huts in this type of settlement are far apart from one another. On map, such settlement is indicated by long distances between houses. Such areas show sparse population and the absence of proper roads. Houses or huts are usually connected by cart tracks or paths. Cattle rearing is common as each household has cattle that is allowed to graze in the open fields. The land is not very fertile to support big populations.

Let’s Do Something
Identify the relief features shown by the following contour diagrams:

Answer:

(a) A Ridge
(b) A conical hill
(c) A Saddle
(d) A Plateau
(e) A Gap
(f) A Pass

Extra Questions

Question 1.
What do you mean by eastings and northings in a topographical map ?
Answer:
In a grid system of a topo sheet, the lines that run vertically across a topographical map are called eastings. They are measured eastwards from the origin of the grid.
In a grid system of a topo sheet, the lines that run horizontally across a topographical map are called northings. They are measured eastwards from the origin of the grid in northerly direction.

Question 2.
Mention features of a grid system of a topo sheet.
Answer:
Features of the grid system :

1. The lines that run vertically are called eastings and those that run horizontally are called northings.
2. Eastings and northings cross each other to form a square called as a grid square.
3. The starting point or the reference point is the exteme south-west grid or the one at the bottom left corner.
4. The numerical value of eastings increases eastwards beginning from the south-west corner. Similarly, the numerical value of northings increases northwards.
5. Eastings and northings are always given in two digit numbers. Even 0 is read as 00. (For example, 01, 02, 03, 98, 99.)
6. When referring to a grid, eastings are always stated first.
7. Eastings and northings on a topo sheet drawn on a scale of 1 : 50,000 are always 2 cm apart, which means they represent a distance of 1 km on the ground. So, the area of 2cm × 2cm on the map represents 1 km × 1 km on the ground.
8. There are two types of grid references :

(a) The four – figure reference
(b) the six-figure reference.

Question 3.
Explain the two types of grid references.
Answer:
There are two types of grid references —

1. The four-figure reference : The four-figure reference is used to locate places that fall within the numbered grid square, for example, the grid reference for the shaded square in the diagram below is 1705.
   
2. The six-figure grid reference :
   
   A church shown with the help of a six-figure grid reference The six-figure grid reference is used to locate an object such as wells, post offices, milestones or temples within the square with greater accuracy. In the six-figure grid reference, the first three figures are the eastings while the last three are the northings. To get the six-figure grid reference, we need to divide the grid square on the topo sheet into ten equal parts vertically and horizontally. These figures will give us the third figure for the eastings and the sixth figure for the northings, for example, the grid reference for the church in the diagram is 213052.

Question 4.
Which is the most common method of showing relief or elevation on topo sheets ?
Answer:
Contour lines.

Question 5.
List some basic characteristics of contour lines.
Answer:
Some basic characteristics of contour lines are :

1. Contour lines are drawn at fixed intervals, for example 20 m. This is called Vertical Interval (V.I).
2. Contour lines do not intersect each other. They could meet and touch but not cross one another.
3. On a topographical map, every fifth line is accentuated or drawn thick. This is known as contour index.
4. The spacing between the contour lines determines the nature of the slope. Close contour lines indicate steep slope and far apart indicate gentle slope of land. Contour lines drawn at equal intervals indicate that the slope is neither steep nor gentle but is a uniform slope.

Question 6.
How are topo sheets prepared for India ?
Answer:
Topo sheets are prepared three mainly in groups in India :

1. The million sheet, where the scale of the sheet is 1:1,000,000 or 1 cm : 10 km ; there are total of 36 of these sheets covering the entire country.
2. The quarter inch sheet has a scale of 1: 250,000 or 1 cm : 2.5 km, each of these sheets is numbered separately from A to P.
3. The one inch sheet has a scale of 1 : 50,000 or 2 cm : 1 km.

Question 7.
How would you identify the following on a topo sheet:

1. Gentle slope and steep slope
2. Plateau
3. Hill
4. Col
5. Pass
6. Gap

Answer:

1. Gentle slope and steep slope — In a steep slope, the contours are drawn close to one another while in a gentle slope they are wide apart.
   
   
2. Plateau — A plateau or a table land is an uplifted piece
   
   of flat land with slopes on all sides. On a contour map, plateaus are marked by contour lines very close to each other on all sides while there are none or very few lines at the centre.
3. Hill — A hill is of a lower elevation than a mountain. It has uniform steepness on all sides. The contour lines of a hill are evenly spaced in the form of concentric circles.
   
4. Col — A col is formed when land has been cut considerably between two streams in a watershed. A col can be identified by a drop in height of the contours.
   
5. Pass — Passes are low valleys or opening lying between two peaks in a range of hills. A pass is indicated by a drop in height of contours.
   
6. Gap — A gap is a low lying depression or a valley which cuts through a range of hills It is often occupied by a river.
   

Question 8.
What do you mean by settlements ? Explain temporary and permanent settlements.
Answer:
Settlements are groups of houses, usually in villages or towns, where people live. The size of settlements depends on the availability of roads, railways, hospitals, police station, administrative buildings, etc. Settlements grow over a period of time. A settlement can be permanent or temporary.
Temporary settlements : Settlements that are constructed and occupied for a short time are called temporary settlements. They are built by people engaged in hunting and gathering, shifting cultivation and transhumance. Tents and huts are the most common forms of shelter in temporary settlements. In urban area, it is built next to a construction site such as a bridge or a flyover. A temporary settlement can become permanent with time.
Permanent Settlements : In this, people build permanent houses. With time, several such structure develop and form a settlement. The availability of water and land for cultivation are important reasons for such settlements growing. Other factors are communication lines such as roads and railways, police stations, post office, hospital, market, health center, etc.

Question 9.
What are the three main types of settlement patterns on a topo sheet ?
Or
Explain types of settlements.
Answer:
The three main types of settlement patterns on a topo sheet are:

(i) Nucleated settlements — In such settlements, buildings and huts are in a compact cluster. They are usually found in plains or valleys. This kind of settlement indicates that the community is living on an area where the land is fertile and good for agriculture. Such settlements generally have a well- knit and large community. Apart from houses, essential facilities like hospitals, police stations, post offices, schools and administrative buildings are found. They are also known as clustered settlements.

(ii) Linear settlements—Linear settlements are those settlements that develop in a line. Houses, shops, dhaba’s, petrol pumps and garages develop along the sides of the roads, railway lines or river banks. Gradually, these linear settlements grow in size. These settlements gradually develop into trading centres.
Examples :

(a) If such a settlement is near a railway track, and over a period of time, a need for a railway station is felt, then it becomes a railway stop.
(b) When located on main roads, such settlements become important stops for travellers as dhaba’s, tyre and car repairing shops and petrol pumps open up.
(c) On rivers and coasts, they become places where boats can unload goods and passengers.

(iii) Scattered settlements — They are also known as dispersed settlements. Houses or huts in this type of settlement are far apart from one another. On map, such settlement is indicated by long distances between houses. Such areas show sparse population and the absence of proper roads. Houses or huts are usually connected by cart tracks or paths. Cattle rearing is common as each household has cattle that is allowed to graze in the open fields. The land is not very fertile to support big populations.

Question 10.
Compare Nucleated settlement and scattered settlement.
Answer:
Nucleated settlement :

1. The buildings and huts are in compact cluster.
2. These are mostly found in plains or river valleys.
3. These are also called as clustered settlements.
4. The land is fertile and good for agriculture.
5. The generally have a well- knit and large community.
6. They have dense population.
7. Essential facilities like hospitals, schools, police stations, post offices, etc are found
8. Proper communication lines such as roads and railways lines are present.

Scattered settlement :

1. The houses and huts are far apart from one another.
2. These are mostly found in hilly areas, thick forests and regions of extreme climate.
3. These are also called as dispersed settlements.
4. The land is not very fertile.
5. They don’t have a very close-knit large community.
6. They have sparse population.
7. Essential facilities like school hospital, police station, etc. are not found.
8. Proper roads are absent houses are connected by cart tracks or paths.

Question 11.
List the aspects that you should keep in mind while studying a topographical map.
Or
Name some elements of a topo sheet or topographical maps.
Answer:
Some of the elements of a topo sheet are :

1. Sheet number — This number refers to a specific geographical area. It is written on the top of the sheet.
2. Scale — The scale is not the same for all maps. It can be 1 : 10,00,000 1 cm : 10 km], 1 : 250,000 [i.e. ; 1 cm = 2.5 km] or 1 : 50,000 [i.e. 2 cm = 1 km] It is written at the bottom of the sheet.
3. Grid — The sheets have grid lines in red called eastings and northings which help in locating places easily.
4. Direction on map sheet — The top half of a topographical map is always the north and the bottom half is the south. The right hand is the east and left hand is the west. The eastings and northings are read from the southwest corner.
5. The eastings and northings — Their numbers should be remembered before reading a map.
6. Four-figure grid reference and six-figure grid reference squares — The four-figure grid reference will have four digits and six-figure grid reference will have six digits.
7. Legend and keys — Legends contain conventional signs and symbols in the form of keys. They provide the vital information to interpret the map correctly.
8. Contour interval — (Vertical interval) It is the vertical distance between two consecutive contour lines. It remains same for a given scale of topo sheets.
9. Spot heights — These indicate the actual elevation of a spot above mean sea level.
10. Triangulated stations — These also indicate the height on maps. They are indicated on the map with a small triangle followed by the number.
11. Contour index — Every fifth contour line is bolder than the other lines for easy identification of contour lines.
12. Places marked with letters DEP (depression) indicate land at a lower level than the surrounding area.
13. Dry and wet streams — On the map, black streams are dry and blue streams have water.
14. Contour features — Like saddle, hill, pass, gentle and steep slope, ridge, etc can be seen on topo maps.
15. Colours — Green coloured area contains vegetation and forests, yellow coloured area is cultivated land and white portion is barren land.

Question 12.
What do you mean by Vertical Interval (V.I.) in a topo sheet ?
Answer:
The vertical distance between two consecutive contour lines on a topographical map is called as Vertical Interval (VI). They are drawn at fixed intervals and do not change on the map. This interval depends on the scale of the map and the range of elevation in the area of the map.
Example : VI in all topo sheets of 1 : 50,000 is 20 m.

Question 13.
Mention what do the following indicate on a topographical map —

1. Black stream
2. Blue stream
3. Green area
4. Yellow area
5. White area

Answer:

1. Black stream — It indicates that the stream is dry and has no water.
2. Blue stream — It indicates that the stream has water.
3. Green area — I indicates vegetation, mainly forests.
4. Yellow area — It indicates the area of cultivated land.
5. White area — It indicates barren land. No crops are grown in this land.

14. Fill in the blanks

1. Eastings and northings cross each other to form a square known as a grid square.
2. When referring to a grid, eastings are always stated first.
3. Using contours is the most common method of showing relief or elevation on topo sheets.
4. On a topographical map, every 5th line is drawn thick and known as the contour index.
5. If contour lines are drawn close together, it indicates steep slope of the land and if they are drawn far apart, it indicates gentle slope.
6. Settlements are groups of houses where people live, such as villages or towns.
7. Tents and huts are the most common forms of shelter in temporary settlements.
8. Nucleated or clustered settlement indicates that the large community is close knit and living on a fertile land.
9. Linear settlement develop in a line on either side of a road or a railway track.
10. scattered or dispersed settlement is indicated by long distances between houses on map.
11. Triangulated stations are indicated on the topo sheet with a small triangle followed by the number.
12. Settlements are always shown by red squares.
13. The grid on the south-west corner of a topographical map is always the reference point or the starting point.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Model Test Paper 1

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

ICSE Solutions Class 8 GeographyHistory & CivicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

A. Fill in the blanks

1. In a grid system of a topo sheet, the lines that run vertically are called easting
2. In India, 60 cities have been selected as Smart Cities
3. The collision of the earth’s plates caused the earthquake in Nepal in April 2015.
4. Brain drain is also known as human capital flight.
5. Urban areas generally have a higher population density.

B. Match the following columns

Answer:

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The green area in a topo sheet contains

1. settlement
2. barren land
3. cultivated land
4. vegetation

2. One of the advantages to the migrant’s home country is

1. loss of skilled labour
2. increased foreign exchange
3. fall in demand of certain goods and services
4. political uncertainly

3. In 1986, an accidental explosion at a nuclear plant at in the former USSR caused radiation to spread across Ukraine and other regions, killing over 12,000 people.

1. Kiev
2. Chernobyl
3. Astana
4. St Petersburg

4. Which of these is a part of the demographic structure of a population ?

1. Age composition
2. Sex ratio
3. Rural and urban populations
4. All of these

5. Migrants willing to happily take up unskilled jobs are known as

1. cheap labour
2. technical labour
3. businessmen
4. agricultural labourer

D. State whether the following are true or false

1. Contour lines are drawn at fixed intervals.
Answer. True.

2. Slums are usually located on land not owned by the slum dwellers.
Answer. True.

3. An adverse sex ratio shows the high position given to women in society.
Answer. False.
An adverse sex ratio shows the low position given to women in society.

4. Immigrants don’t bring rich cultural diversity and traditions to their new country.
Answer. False.
Immigrants bring rich cultural diversity and traditions to their r new country.

5. West Bengal is most vulnerable to floods.
Answer. False.
Bihar is most vulnerable to floods.

E. Answer the following questions in brief

Question 1.
What is a saddle? Draw a diagram to show a saddle.
Answer:
A saddle is a shallow depression at a high elevation between two peaks or ridges. The depression is formed by streams or by glaciers flowing close to each other. A saddle need not have a river or stream flowing through it.

Question 2.
What is primitive migration?
Answer:
Primitive migration is one in which people respond to an unfavourable environment by leaving it for more favourable one.

Question 3.
Briefly mention the aspects of urban life which serve as the basis for the smart cities.
Answer:
The different aspects of urban life which are normally the basis of smart cities are economy, environment, governance, human capital, international outreach, mobility and transportation, public management, social cohesion, technology, and urban planning.

Question 4.
Mention any two factors that cause population growth in a developed country.
Answer:
In the developed countries of the world, the population increased earlier due to :

1. Economic growth and prosperity as a result of industrialization.
2. Improved medical techniques and health care facilities.
3. Immigration because of better job opportunities and better living conditions.

Question 5.
What should people do in the event of a nuclear disaster ?
Answer:
In the event of a nuclear disaster, one should close all the doors and windows of their houses and remain indoors as radiation does not penetrate solid structures. People should not go out until the government makes arrangements for their rescue.

F. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs.

Question 1.
What are the different factors that determine the location and the type of settlements?
Answer:
Many factors determine the location and the type of settlements:

1. Settlements grow in areas that are flat and where the land is cultivable. Settlements do not grow on steep hillsides or marshy lands.
2. Settlements grow in places where water is available in plenty for both agricultural and domestic purposes. Settlements, therefore, also grow on the confluence of rivers or the banks of rivers.
3. Settlements also thrive on a plateau because of the flat surface of the plateau and the availability of land for cultivation.
4. They develop and grow in places where the climate is- suitable or pleasant to live in. Extremely hot, cold, wet or dry places are not attractive settlement sites.
5. Settlements are formed where there are prospects for employment. Mines and industries in the area are potential sources of employment and encourage growth of settlements. Such places are usually near places of abundant raw materials for the growth of industries.
6. They develop in places that are easily accessible by various kinds of roads, rivers, and railway lines. Easy access to and from the settlements will allow movement of people and goods from one place to another.

Question 2.
What are the causes of brain drain ?
Answer:
Causes of Brain Drain :

• Push factors — They include economic factors such as the inability to find suitably paying jobs in a person’s own country, poverty or no prospect of improving one’s standard of living, political instability that causes uncertainity, political favouritism, and religious and social discrimination.
• Pull factors — They include higher income and more comfortable lifestyles in the new country, better economic prospects, better educational opportunities including training and research, greater chances of promotion without partiality or discrimination, a liberal and stable government, better working conditions and medical facilities.

Question 3.
What makes Bihar the most flood-prone state among all north Indian states ?
Answer:
Bihar is the most flood-prone state among all north Indian states because many of the rivers flowing through Bihar, such as the Kosi, Bagmati and Gandak, flow through the high mountainous region of Nepal, before crossing very small distances and rapidly reaching the plains of Bihar, making them far more forceful. When it rains heavily in Nepal, the extra water enters these river channels and rushes into the plains of Bihar. As the rivers break their banks and overflow into the adjoining areas, large area of land and thousands of people and livestock are affected. More than 76% of the population in Northern Bihar live under the threat of floods
every year.

Question 4.
Explain the different types of migrations.
Answer:
There are different types of migration :

1. Internal migration—People move from one place to another within the country.
2. External migration — People move to a new country or continent.
3. Temporary migration — It includes migration which is annual, seasonal or daily. For example, people may move to lower regions from mountains during harsh winter months.
4. Emigration — When a person leaves his or her own country and moves to another. The person who emigrates is known as an emigrant from his or her own country. For example, when a person leaves India and goes to Canada to settle there, that person is said to have emigrated from India to Canada.
5. Immigration — When a person arrives in a new country after leaving his or her own country. For example, when a person arrives in Canada from India that person is said to have immigrated to Canada and is known as an immigrant in Canada.

Question 5.
Write the positive as well as negative effects of under population.
Answer:
Impace of Under population

Under population has several positive effects :

1. There are sufficient employment opportunities for everyone.
2. There are fewer instances of overcrowding.
3.  There are lower levels of poverty.
4. There are adequate educational, medical and other facilities to meet everyone’s needs.
5. There are sufficient natural resources to meet the requirements of the population.
6. There is lesser pressure on the environment, and hence, lower rates of environmental degradation.

However, there are also some negative effects of under population :

1. The lack of adequate labour leads to low productivity.
2. In some instances, a higher proportion of the population is either too young or too old to work.
3. There are lesser taxpayers, leading to low income for the government.
4. There are not enough people to develop the natural resources of the country.

G Picture study 

This is the picture of a smart city.

Question 1.
What is shown in the photograph?
Answer:
A smart city is shown in the photograph. It is an urban region which is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability.

Question 2.
Mention any three essential infrastructure requirement of a smart city.
Answer:
In a smart city, information technology (IT) is the core infrastructure and the basis of providing essential services to all residents. Other essential infrastructure, apart from IT in a smart city, would include :

1. Proper sanitation and waste management systems.
2. Round the clock electricity supply.
3. Round the clock and adequate water supply.
4. Efficient urban mobility and public transport with a network of good, well-connected roads.
5. Well-designed and affordable housing which even people in the low-income brackets can buy.
6. Good governance, particularly e-governance where everything and everyone is connected digitally.
7. Sustainable environment with more than adequate green cover.

Question 3.
Mention any five smart cities of India?
Answer:
Smart Cities: Hyderabad, Vadodara, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durgapur, Indore, Gwalior, Rourkela, Jabalpur and Bhopal.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Model Test Paper 2

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

ICSE Solutions Class 8 GeographyHistory & CivicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

A. Fill in the blanks

1. The tropical rain forests of Asia are dense and impenetrable.
2. A few regions of South-west Asia receive winter rainfall from the temperate cyclones that originate over the Mediterranean Sea.
   (tropical cyclones, temperate cyclones, north-east winds, south-east winds)
3. Depression that causes winter rainfall in north-west India: Western disturbance
4. Scientists and doctors are example of skilled human resources.
5. The working population of a country includes both skilled and unskilled human resources.

B. Identify who I am

1. I am a mountain range in South-west Asia that separates Asia from Europe : Caucasus mountains
2. I am a small zone from which several mountain ranges appear to radiate out: Pamir Knot.
3. I am a physical feature that divides India into two halves: Tropic of Cancer
4. I am a vast sandy low-lying plain in north-west Rajasthan: The Thar Desert.
5. I am the state that first receives the monsoon rains : Kerala.

C. Choose the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is nto a north-flowing river?

1. Ob
2. Yenisei
3. Lena
4. Huang

2. Ankara is the capital of which country?

1. Turkey
2. Syria
3. Cyprus
4. Tajikistan

3. This is the deepest sea in Asia.

1. South China Sea
2. Sea of Japan
3. Arabian Sea
4. Caspian Sea

4. This is the largest country in Asia.

1. Russia
2. Turkey
3. India
4. China

5. Which of these is not a country in West Asia?

1. Turkey
2. Qatar
3. Georgia
4. Tajikistan

D. State whether the following are true or false

1. Most of the Asian countries gained independence only after World War I.
Answer. False.
Most of the Asian countries gained independence only after World War II.

2. Babool and kikar trees are mainly found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.
Answer. False.
Babool and kikar trees are mainly found in Rajasthan, Punjab, and on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.

3. Increase in height is responsible for the changing vegetation in the Himalayas.
Answer. True.

4. Thorn forests occupy the largest area in India.
Answer. False.
Tropical Monsoon deciduous forests occupy the largest area in India.

5. IT professionals are unskilled resources.
Answer. False.
IT professionals are skilled resources.

E. Answer the following questions in brief:

Question 1.
Name the rivers of the Great Siberian Plain.
Answer:
Rivers Ob, Yenisey and Lena have together built the Great Siberian Plain.

Question 2.
Name some wildlife species found in the taiga region, the tundra region, and the tropical deciduous forests of Asia.
Answer:
Wildlife species found in the taiga region are fox, sable, bear, mink, lynx and squirrel. Wildlife species found in the tundra region of Asia are polar bears, reindeer, foxes, seals and walruses.
Weldlife species found in the tropical deciduous forests of Asia are rhinoceros, elephants, bears, deer, apes, lions, tigers, leopards, etc.

Question 3.
What do you know about the Purvanchal ranges ?
Answer:
The hills of the north-east India are collectively called the Purvanchal ranges. They lie along the eastern borders of India. Their average elevation is less than 3,000 m. They consist of several hill ranges such as Patkai Bum, Naga, Mizo, Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

Question 4.
Mention any five biosphere reserves in India.
Answer:
Some important biosphere reserves in India are :

1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve located in Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills in South India.
2. Gulf of Mannar Bisophere Reserve located between India and Sri Lanka, forming part of the Laccadive Sea.
3. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal.
4. Nanda Devi Biosphere in north-eastern Uttarakhand.
5. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in the West Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
6. Pachmari Biosphere Reserve in the Satpura Range in Madhya Pradesh.
7. Similipal Biosphere Reserve in north-eastern Odisha.
8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve located in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
9. Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve located in Nicobar Islands.

Question 5.
Define sex ratio.
Answer:
Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males.

F. Answer the following questions in detail.

Question 1.
Describe the Northern Lowlands of Asia.
Answer:
The Northern Lowlands of Asia extend from the Ural Mountains in the west up to the Bering Strait in the north-east. These lowlands are triangular in shape and widest in the west. Lying between the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Central Mountains in the south,they form the world’s greatest continuous plains. Three rivers which flow northwards into the Arctic Ocean — Ob, Yenisei and Lena, have together built this plain. These marshy and swampy lowlands are also called as the Great Siberian plain. The lower courses and mouths of the rivers freeze in winter. So, water coming from the upper courses in warmer latitudes spreads out over large part of the plains. Another low lying land exists south of the Siberian Plains in Central Asia called as the Turan Plain. This plain is an area of inland drainage and is drained by rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya.

Question 2.
Write about the Mediterranean climate experienced in Asia.
Answer:
The Mediterranean Climate in Asia is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Since these areas experience drought-like conditions in summer, the natural vegetation has adapted to the climate by developing long roots and spongy barks. The evergreen vegetation of oak, acacia, laurel, chestnut, walnut and olive trees is common. Orchards of citrus fruits such as lemons, and oranges, vineyards and farm grains have replaced the natural vegetation. In the absence of natural habitat, not much wildlife is found. Mostly domesticated animals such as donkeys, cattle and sheep are found.

Question 3.
Explain how the Himalayas have greatly influenced the life of the people of India.
Answer:
The Himalayas exert a significant influence on the life of the people of India in several ways.

• They form a natural boundary between India and China.
• They serve as a climatic barrier by preventing the entry of the cold winds from Central Asia and preventing the rain-bearing monsoon winds from leaving India.
• They are a source of perennial rivers such as the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra and their tributaries.
• Their rugged terrain is ideal for hydroelectric power generation.
• The mountain slopes are forested. These forests provide different types of timber and forest products.
• The Himalayas have beautiful hill Stations Shimla, Daijeeling, Mussorie, etc.

Question 4.
Why is south India warmer than north India?
Answer:
Because it is nearer to the equator.

Question 5.
Explain the importance of monsoon.
Answer:
A good monsoon is important for the entire country for these reasons :

1. A good monsoon brings economic prosperity for the whole country and boosts the Indian economy as agriculture contributes around 16 per cent of its total Gross domestic product (GDP).
2. High temperature and heavy rainfall in the summer months are important for different types fo kharif crops. The winter rain supplemented by irrigation is important for rabi crops.
3. A normal rainfall is important for adequate agricultural production in order to maintain food prices. Food prices depend upon the agricultural output. In the absence of a good monsoon, the entire nation may be destabilized because of food inflation.
4. Several dams, reservoirs, rivers and canals in India are rain- fed and depend upon the monsoon rains.
5. Other economic activities like forestry and fishing are also influenced directly by the amount of rainfall.
6. Monsoon rain gives us respite from the high and intolerable summer heat and brings back life to the living earth.
7. Monsoon also has a role to play in the social-cultural unity of India. People of India, particularly the farmers, eagerly wait for the monsoon rains. We know that the monsoon winds provide water for the various agricultural activities. The agricultural calendar, and the social-cultural life of the people including their festivities, revolve around the monsoon phenomena and in a way binds the people of India together. Different harvest festivals in our country such as Bihu in Assam, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Onam in Kerala and Lohri in Punjab are celebrated to mark a good harvest. If the rainfall is good, the entire country celebrates and if the monsoon fails, it brings famines and a year of sorrow for everyone.

G Picture study

Question 1.
Identify the type of forest shown in the photograph.
Answer:
Tropical Evergreen Rainforests.

Question 2.
Write two characteristics of this type of forest.
Answer:

• These forest have broad-leaved hardwood trees.
• These are dense evergreen forests which have trees growing up to 60 m.
• The trees form distinct layers.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Natural and Man-made Disasters With Case Studies

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

ICSE Solutions Class 8 GeographyHistory & CivicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks

1. Some disasters like droughts may begin slowly and later increase in extent and intensity.
2. Earthquake is an example of a major natural disaster.
3. Cyclones are low-pressure areas that occur over warm ocean waters of temperate and tropical regions.
4. The collision of the earth’s plates caused the earthquake in Nepal in April 2015.
5. The Bhopal gas tragedy was caused by the accidental leakage of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate from the Union Carbide factory.

B. Match the following columns

Answer:

C. Choose the correct answer 

1. Droughts are caused by insufficient _______ over a long period of time.

1. flood
2. storm
3. rainfall
4. sunlight

2. In 1986, an accidental explosion at a nuclear plant at ________ in the former USSR caused radiation to spread across Ukraine and other regions, killing over 12,000 people.

1. Kiev
2. Chernobyl
3. Astana
4. St Petersburg

3. Chemical disasters are caused by _______.

1. gases
2. germs
3. pollen
4. virus

4. Biological disasters occur when______, which are grown in laboratories, get released in the air.

1. chemical
2. germs
3. pollen
4. blossoms

5. Chemicals from ______ kill marine life and coral reefs and also affect birds and mammals.

1. cyclones
2. drought
3. earthquakes
4. oil spills

D. State whether the following are true or false

1. Earthquakes also trigger landslides, avalanches, and tsunamis.
Answer. True

2. Floods wash away the top layer of the soil, which is the most infertile.
Answer. False.
Floods wash away the top layer of the soil, which is the most fertile.

3. West Bengal is most vulnerable to floods.
Answer.False.
Bihar is most vulnerable to floods.

4. Oil spills harm marine life.
Answer. True.

5. The attacks carried out on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during World War II were an example of unintentional nuclear disaster.
Answer. False.
The attacks carried out on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during World War II were an example of intentional nuclear disaster.

E. Answer the following questions in brief

Question 1.
How are earthquakes caused ?
Answer:
The surface of the earth is made up of interlocking plates of
rock that float on a semi-liquid layer called the mantle. When two floating plates collide, the vibrations pass through the , earth’s surface or the crust. This makes the crust and everything on it shake uncontrollably and causes earthquake.

Question 2.
What causes floods ? What kind of environmental damage does a flood cause ?
Answer:
A flood occurs when a sudden influx of water submerges land, posing a danger to life and property. They are mostly caused due to overflowing of rivers in the monsoon. It occurs almost every year. Floods wash away the top layer of the soil which is the most fertile and hence causes soil erosion.

Question 3.
What is a drought ? What are the effects of a drought ?
Answer:
Droughts are caused when a region receives insufficient rainfall for a long period of time. Shortage of water in drought- prone areas leads to a fall in the water table, crop failure, shortage of food, fodder and employment. As people begin to starve, they migrate to other places and become homeless. It occurs almost every year bringing with them epidemics and causing human suffering.

Question 4.
What should people do in the event of a nuclear disaster ?
Answer:
In the event of a nuclear disaster, one should close all the doors and windows of their houses and remain indoors as radiation does not penetrate solid structures. People should not go out until the government makes arrangements for their rescue.

Question 5.
How do chemical disasters occur ?
Answer:
Chemical disasters occur by the accidental release of toxic chemicals or gases into the environment from factories or other establishments. The hazardous substances released into the environment travel very fast and cause large-scale devastation.

Question 6.
How do biological disasters occur?
Answer:
Biological disasters are caused by germs developed in laboratories and released in the air to kill a large number of people. When these microbes are inhaled by a person, or get absorbed in his/her system through a cut or wound, they can infect him/her . Even a few drops of the smallpox or plague virus could start an epidemic, killing thousands of people.

Question 7.
Give some examples of travel-related disaster.
Answer:
Some examples of travel-related disasters are air crashes, train collisions and derailments, capsizing of boats and ships, etc. All these travel related disasters adversely impact a large number of people.

F. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs

Question 1.
Write a short note on the earthquake zones of India.
Answer:
The entire Himalayan belt is on the boundary between the Eurasian and the Indian plates and is, therefore, prone to earthquakes. It falls under the very high risk zone (Seismic Zone V). Because of frequent seismic activity, it cause severe damage to life and settlements in the area. Kachchh in Gujarat and the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin are in the high risk zone (Seismic Zone IV).

Question 2.
How is a cyclone caused ? Which coastal region of India is cyclone-prone ?
Answer:
Cyclones are low-pressure areas that occur over warm ocean waters of temperate and tropical regions. Seen as swirling atmospheric disturbances they are accompanied by heavy rain, huge waves and powerful winds blowing at a velocity of 300 km per hour. Storm surges during the high tide, called storm tides, cause enormous damage to coastal regions. Cyclone-prone areas of India are West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Question 3.
What are the conditions people face during a drought ?
Answer:
Droughts are caused when a region receives insufficient rainfall for a long period of time. Shortage of water in drought- prone areas leads to a fall in the water table, crop failure, shortage of food, fodder and employment. As people begin to starve, they migrate to other places and become homeless. It occurs almost every year bringing with them epidemics and causing human suffering.

Question 4.
Briefly explain the various causes of fire.
Answer:
Fires usually occur due to poor wiring and faulty electrical equipment, leakage of cooking gas or a carelessly thrown matchstick. The most common cause of a fire in a building is poor electrical wiring and faulty equipment. Electrical wiring must be regularly checked. If the wiring is worn-out, it must be replaced immediately by standard quality wires and electrical fittings to avoid any short-circuit. Fire can also be caused due to gas leakage. Gas pipes, regulators and stoves should be regularly checked to ensure there is no leakage. Regular maintenance checks in gas pipelines should also be mandatory. Fire is also commonly caused by carelessly thrown matches and cigarettes. It is also one of the common causes of forest fires. There is also fire-related disasters in areas where wood is used in construction activities. The loss of life is more if a fire breaks out in crowded areas.

Question 5.
Why is nuclear disaster so harmful?
Answer:
Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and leads to mass destruction of life and property. The adverse effects of nuclear radiation through the use of these weapons leaves thousands of people crippled for life. Several thousands suffer throughout life due to exposure to radiation. A nuclear
explosion is so bright that it can make people blind if they see it with naked eyes. The explosion is followed by a heat wave and a huge cloud formation at the blast site. In such a disaster, radioactivity is the silent killer whose effects continue for a very long time after the incident. The energy released in the form of particles from the radioactive elements such as uranium, plutonium, etc. is called radioactivity. It spreads in the area and causes nausea, dizziness, vomiting and disorientation. It is very harmful to human health and causes serious illnesses like cancer. The worst type of man-made disaster, it can cause the collapse of social, political and economic establishments across the globe. Crises of this kind could occur intentionally as well as unintentionally.

Question 6.
Which man-made nuclear disaster shook the world during World War II ? Give details.
Answer:
Man-made intentional nuclear disaster which shook the world during World War II was the attacks carried out on Hiroshima and Nagasaki of Japan by the United States in August 1945. The two atomic bombs dropped on Japan killed around one lakh people and injured an equal number. The two bombs were nicknamed ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Man’. It caused the collapse of social, political and economic establishments across the globe.

Question 7.
Write a short note terror attacks attacks with examples.
Answer:
This kind of disaster occurs in the event of a terror strike, either through the use of explosives, guns, or chemical and biological weapons. Most of these disasters are brought about by misdirected elements who think that social, political, or religious goals can be achieved by killing people. Terrorists also hijack planes and destroy public infrastructure, such as railway tracks and bridges, to cause massive devastation. The attack on the World Trade Center in the US on 11 September 2001, when terrorists hijacked planes to spread terror, resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths. The most destructive terror attacks in India include the attack on Parliament on 13 December 2001, and the Mumbai attacks on 26 November 2008.

Question 8.
Write a short note on the Nepal earthquake of 2015.
Answer:
The Nepal earthquake was a devastating earthquake that struck near Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal on April 25, 2015. Nearly 9000 people were killed and several thousands more injured. The earthquake destroyed over 600,000 small and large buildings and structures in Kathmandu. The magnitude on Richter scale was 7.8 with two large aftershocks of magnitudes 6.6 and 6.7 within an hour of the main quake. The collision of earth’s plates caused the earthquake in Nepal. Nepal lies on the fault called thrust fault. Where the Indian plate jumped over the Eurasian plate. The earthquake caused devastating damages to life and infrastructure and tremors were felt across India Bangladesh, Pakistan and Southwest China.

Question 9.
What makes Bihar the most flood-prone state among all north Indian states ?
Answer:
Bihar is the most flood-prone state among all north Indian states because many of the rivers flowing through Bihar, such as the Kosi, Bagmati and Gandaki, flow through the high mountainous region of Nepal, before crossing very small distances and rapidly reaching the plains of Bihar, making them far more forceful. When it rains heavily in Nepal, the extra water enters these river channels and rushes into the plains of Bihar. As the rivers break their banks and overflow into the adjoining areas, large area of land and thousands of people and livestock are affected. More than 76% of the population in Northern Bihar live under the threat of floods every year.

G Picture study.

Question 1.
Identify the type of disaster as shown in the picture.
Answer:
It is droughts lead to acute shortage of water and crop failure, resulting in people having to migrate to other places.

Question 2.
Is it man-made or natural?
Answer:
Its man made as well as natural as droughts are caused by shortage of rainfall and also due to deforestation, misuse of ground water, unscientific agricultural practices, etc.

Question 3.
What are the causes of this kind of disaster?
Answer:
Droughts are caused by shortage of rainfall and also due to deforestation, misuse of ground water, unscientific agricultural practices, etc.

H. Map work

On an outline map of India mark the following :

1. Earthquake zones with moderate damage risk and high damage risk.
2. Any two flood-prone areas
3. Any two cyclone zones
4. Any two drought-prone areas

Answer:

1. (a) Earthquake zones with moderate damage risk are : Jabalpur, Ratnagiri.
   (b) Earthquake zones with high damage risk are : Chamoli, Sikkim.
   (c) Earthquake zones with very high damage risk are: Kangra, Bhuj.
2. Two floods prone areas are : Rivers of Punjab, River Krishna.
3. Two cyclones zone are : Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
4. Two drought prone areas are : Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Extra Questions

Question 1.
What do you mean by disasters ? How are they classified?
Answer:
Disasters are incidents that cause significant physical damage or destruction to life and property or result in a drastic change in the environment.
Disasters can be broadly categorised into :

1. Natural disasters — It includes floods, cyclones, earthquakes
   and droughts that happen with natural forces and no human intervention.
2. Man-made disasters — It includes train accidents, plane crashes, nuclear or industrial accidents, biological disasters, terrorist attacks, use of weapons and mass destruction which are caused by human acts.

Question 2.
Which countries are more adversely affected by disasters? Why?
Answer:
Disasters affect people living in underdeveloped countries more adversely than those in developed countries because underdeveloped countries do not have proper disaster management systems in place.

Question 3.
What do you understand by natural disasters ?
Answer:
Natural disasters are events caused by natural forces that have major effects on the human population, infrastructure and biodiversity in an area. Earthquakes, floods, cyclones and droughts are some of the major natural disasters.

Question 4.
What is the difference between a hazard and a disaster ?
Answer:
Hazard means dangerous or risky natural phenomena that may lead to a disaster. Disaster is the incident that causes great damage and destruction of life, property and environment. For example, a cyclone near a coastline or the rising level of a river may be termed as a hazard because it could become a disaster for people living near it. A disaster usually causes death, injury, damage to infrastructure and property, loss of livelihood and environmental damage.

Question 5.
What is an earthquake ? What are its effects ?
Answer:
An earthquake is a sudden, violent movement of a portion of the earth’s crust caused by a disturbance under the earth’s surface. At times, earthquakes take a heavy toll on life and property. Extensive damage is caused to houses, large buildings, bridges, dams, rail lines and power lines, communication networks etc. An earthquake can also act as a hazard by triggering landslides, avalanches and tsunamis.

Question 6.
Name the states worst affected by water scarcity in India.
Answer:
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha.

Question 7.
What do you mean by man-made disasters ?
Answer:
Crises caused by a human act, intentionally or unintentionally are man-made disasters. The leakage of a hazardous gas from a chemical factory or fire in a restaurant can be classified under the unintentional man-made disaster whereas the effects of a planned nuclear explosion or a terrorist attack can be classified under the intentional man-made disaster.

Question 8.
What causes fire ? Give one example.
Answer:
Fire usually occur due to poor wiring and faulty electrical equipment, leakage of cooking gas or a carelessly thrown matchstick. One such incident was the Uphaar cinema hall tragedy in New Delhi on 13 July 1997.

Question 9.
Give an example of the intentional nuclear disaster and unintentional nuclear disaster.
Answer:
An example of intentional nuclear disaster is the attacks carried out on Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities in Japan by the United States during World War II. An example of unintentional nuclear disaster is an accidental explosion at a nuclear plant in Chernobyl in the former USSR in 1986 which caused radiation to spread across Ukraine and other regions. As many as 12,000 Ukrainians died in the chernobyl disaster.

Question 10.
Give an example of a chemical disaster.
Answer:
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy in Madhya Pradesh in 1984 is considered the world’s worst industrial disaster. It was caused by the accidental leakage of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate from the Union Carbide factory. It left 2,500 people dead and its effects continue to harm the future generations.

Question 11.
What are biological disasters ?
Answer:
Biological disasters are caused by germs developed in laboratories and released in the air to kill a large number of people. When these microbes are inhaled by a person, or get absorbed in his system through a cut or wound, they can infect him. Example — Even a few drops of the smallpox or plague virus could start an epidemic, killing thousands of people.

Question 12.
How and why are terror attacks carried out ? Give examples.
Answer:
Terror attacks occur in the form of a terror strike through the use of explosives, guns or chemical and biological weapons. Terrorists also hijack planes and destroy public infrastructure such as railway track and bridges to cause massive devastation. Most of the attacks are brought about by misdirected elements who think that social, political or religious goals can be achieved by killing people.
For example :

1. The attack on the World Trade Center in the US on 11 September 2001, when terrorists hijacked planes to spread terror, resulting in nearly 3000 deaths.
2. The terror attack on Parliament in India on 13 December 2001.
3. The Mumbai attacks on 26 November 2008.

Question 13.
Name the world’s worst industrial disaster.
Answer:
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

Question 14.
What causes travel-related disasters ?
Answer:
Accidents during train, road and flight journeys are common. It becomes a disaster when a large number of people die. Most of such incidents occur due to equipment failure, loss of radar transmission in planes, or failure of brakes in buses, human error. Example : driver falling asleep while driving or missing a railway signal, fuel leakage or natural phenomenon like earthquake, storms or landslide.

Question 15.
How do oil spills occur ? What are its effect ?
Answer:
Oil spills occur when large quantities of oil are discharged into oceans or seas during drilling operations, cleaning of tankers and leaks from pipelines and storage tanks, an accident or explosion on a tanker or an offshore drilling rig. Most cases of oil spills are almost always a severe case of man-made disaster as they cause long term damage to the ocean and its marine life.
Effects — Some of the chemicals from the oil kill many forms of marine life and coral reefs. Other chemicals leave a residue black layer on the feathers of birds and the fur of mammals, causing them to die or drown. If an oil reaches the coast, it destroys fishing and tourism.

Question 16.
Which disaster is considered to be one of the worst spills to have happened in recent times ? Elaborate.
Answer:
The offshore Macondo oil rig called Deepwater Horizon had an explosion and tragically killed 11 workers besides injuring 16 more. Also known as the BP oil spill (since it was owned by British Petroleum), it is considered the largest spill in the history of the petroleum industry. An estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil was discharged into the water. The spill resulted in severe environmental, health and economic consequences. There was extensive damage to marine wildlife, fishing and tourism industries were adversely affected. The long term effects could be felt till 2013 and dolphins and other marine life continued to die in record numbers.

Question 17.
Name two state of India where floods cause massive damages every year.
Answer:
Assam and Bihar.

Question 18.
Name two wildlife sanctuaries of Assam.
Answer:
The Kaziranga National Park and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Question 19.
Define —

1. Avalanche
2. Tsunami
3. Epidemic
4. Storm surge
5. Water table

Answer:

1. Avalanche — It is a fall or slide of a large mass as of snow or rock, down a mountain side.
2. Tsunami — It is a long, high sea wave caused by an undersea earthquake or other disturbance.
3. Epidemic — It is an outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely.
4. Storm surge — It is an abnormal rise in the level of the sea along a coast caused by the onshore winds of a severe cyclone.
5. Water table — It is the level below which the ground is saturated with water.

20. Fill in the blanks

1. Disasters are incidents that cause significant damage or destruction to life and property.
2. While most disasters happen suddenly like earthquake, nuclear explosion, others like droughts may have a slow beginning and later increase in extent and intensity.
3. Disasters affect people living in underdeveloped countries more adversely.
4. Earthquakes usually occur without warning.
5. An earthquake is a sudden violent movement of a portion of the earth’s crust.
6. Floods are mostly caused due to the overflowing of rivers in the monsoon.
7. About 30 per cent of the land area in India is drought-prone.
8. Droughts lead to acute shortage of water and crop failure.
9. Unintentional nuclear disasters mostly occur due to accidents in nuclear power reactors.
10. The Bhopal Gas tragedy is an incident of chemical disaster.
11. The terror attack on Parliament of India took place on 13 December 2001.
12. Nepal lies on the fault called Thrust Fault.
13. Deep water horizon explosion is the largest oil spill in the history of petroleum industry.
14. Heavy rainfall in Assam causes the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries to overflow.
15. Bihar is the most flood-prone region amongst the great northern plains of India with almost 73 per cent of the state affected by floods.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – India: Climate, Natural Vegetation, Forests and Wildlife

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

ICSE Solutions Class 8 GeographyHistory & CivicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Class 8

Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks

1. The state that first receives the monsoon rains : Kerala.
2. A place that receives the heaviest rainfall in India and the world: Mawsynram
3. Depression that causes winter rainfall in north-west India : Western disturbance.
4. In mixed deciduous forests : Sal and Oak trees are found.

B. Write true or false. Correct the false statements

1. Babool and kikar trees are mainly found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.
Answer. False.
Babool and kikar trees are mainly found in Rajasthan, Punjab, and on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.

2. Increase in height is responsible for the changing vegetation in the Himalayas.
Answer. True.

3. Thorn forests occupy the largest area in India.
Answer. False.
Tropical Monsoon deciduous forests occupy the largest area in India.

4. Hogla is mainly found in the tidal forests.
Answer. True.

C. Give geographical reasons for each of the following :

Question 1.
South India is warmer than north India.
Answer:
South India is warmer than North India as it is close to the equator. It has equable climate throughout the year neither very hot nor very cold as it is close to the coast. The north India is far from the equator and is hot in summer and cold in winter (extreme climate) because it is away from the coast.

Question 2.
The south-west monsoon is divided into two branches.
Answer:
The south-west monsoon is divided into two branches because of the peninsular shape of India. The Arabian Sea causes rainfall in the western part and the Bay of Bengal brings rainfall in north-eastern India.

D. Answer the following questions in brief

Question 1.
What type of climate does the Indian subcontinent have ?
Answer:
The Indian subcontinent has a tropical monsoon climate. The temperatures are high with monsoon laden summers. India has distinct wet and dry seasons.

Question 2.
State two ways in which the Himalayas act as a climate barrier.
Answer:
Two ways in which the Himalayas act as a climate barrier are:

1. Himalayas prevent the cold winds of Central Asia from entering India. This prevents India from experiencing very cold winters.
2. The Himalayas also prevent the rain-bearing monsoon winds from leaving the country, thus allowing the country to receive sufficient rainfall.

Question 3.
Why does India have a tropical monsoon climate ?
Answer:
India has a tropical monsoon climate due to the presence of the Himalayas which do not allow the cold winds of Asia to reach the temperate northern parts of India and trap the monsoon which bring rain to the whole of country.

Question 4.
Name two states of north India that receive rainfall in winter. What is the cause of winter rainfall in these states?
Answer:
States of North India that receive rainfall in winter are Punjab, Kashmir, Himacha Pradesh and western Uttar Pradesh. The western disturbances cause the winter rainfall in north-western parts of India. Western disturbances are cyclones or depressions originating from the Mediterranean
region.

Question 5.
Where would you find the following in India:
Asiatic lion, Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, and red panda?
Answer:

• Asiatic lion is found only in the Gir forests of Gujarat.
• Royal Bengal tiger in mainly found in the forests and foothills of the Himalayas and Sunderbans of the Ganga Delta.
• One-horned rhinoceros is found in Assam and West Bengal.
• Red panda is found in the snow-covered mountains of the Himalayas.

Question 6.
Mention any three national parks in India.
Answer:
India’s national parks play an important role in conserving the country’s forests and wildlife. Some of the well-known national parks are mentioned below :

1. Kaziranga National Park : It is located in Assam and gives protection to the one homed-rhinocerous.
2. Ranthambore National Park : Located in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, this park is dotted with banyan, dhok and mango trees and also has evergreen belts. It plays in important role in tiger protection in the country.
3. Sundarbans National Park : It is located in West Bengal and is a major tiger reserve in the country.
4. Bandhavgarh National Park : Located in Madhya Pradesh, this park is another safe haven for tigers.
5. Kanha National Park : It is supposed to be the most well- maintained park in the country. It provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous work, The Jungle Book.

Question 7.
Mention any five biosphere reserves in India.
Answer:
Some important biosphere reserves in India are :

1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve located in Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills in South India.
2. Gulf of Mannar Bisophere Reserve located between India and Sri Lanka, forming part of the Laccadive Sea.
3. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal.
4. Nanda Devi Biosphere in north-eastern Uttarakhand.
5. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in the West Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
6. Pachmari Biosphere Reserve in the Satpura Range in Madhya Pradesh.
7. Similipal Biosphere Reserve in north-eastern Odisha.
8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve located in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
9. Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve located in Nicobar Islands.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs.

Question 1.
Describe the seasons experienced in India and also state the months and their duration.
Answer:
The tropical monsoon climate of India has three main seasons 

1. The Hot Dry Season — March to May
2. The Hot Wet Season — June to October
3. The Cool Dry Season — November to February

1. The Hot Dry Season: The temperature starts to rise by March, reaching the highest in May in the desert region going above 48°C. Northern Plains are at about 35° to 40°C. The places at higher altitudes and coastal regions have moderate temperatures. The high temperature leads to local storms accompanied by convectional showers at times like loo in Rajasthan, Mango showers in Kerala, Kalbaisakhi in Assam and West Bengal.

2. The Hot Wet Season Rainy Season : By June, the high temperature leads to the formation of a low pressure area and blowing of high pressure winds from the sea to the land occurs which brings rainfall to the land. These winds are called summer monsoons or the south-west monsoons that bring heavy rain along with thunder and lightning. Temperature decreases by 3°-6°C. Kerala is the first state to receive the rain. The south-west monsoons are divided into two branches—
(a) The Arabian Sea Branch — It is stronger and causes heavy rain in the western ghats, moving to Deccan Plateau and the interiors of peninsular which gets hardly 50-60 cm of rainfall.
(b) The Bay of Bengal Branch — It brings heavy rain in the north-eastern India, then all over the Northern Plains (by taking turn along the Himalayas). By the time they reach north-west India, the wind becomes dry and hence very low rainfall is experienced in this region.
By the end of September, India starts to cool again as the sun’s direct rays move towards the equator and the Tropic of Capricon. The air above land is cool (at high pressure) and air above water bodies is warmer (low pressure), so the winds reverse the direction and blow from the land to the sea. These winds are called retreating monsoons. Tamil Nadu receives less rainfall in summer and more rainfall in winters from the north-east monsoon.

3. Cold Dry Season : The winter season begins from November and lasts till February. Temperatures are lower in north India and the interiors are dry. The average temperatures go below 10°C in north-west India and around 21°C in the plains. Some areas at high altitude as Shimla and Srinagar experience snowfall. South India remains warmer due to closeness to equator. Severe cold waves are common in Northern India. Rainfall is scanty all over India as winds blow from land towards the sea and hence are dry. The north-west India and the Coromandel Coast receive winter rainfall due to north east monsoons. Hence, Tamil Naidu receives winter rainfall. Western disturbances also bring cyclonic rainfall in the north west India states like Punjab, Kashmir Himachal Pradesh and western Uttar Pradesh Winter rainfall is low but very important for rabi or winter crops such as wheat and barley.

Question 2.
Which winds bring rainfall to the Western Ghats ? Why is the Deccan Plateau relatively dry during the rainy season? Why do Punjab and Rajasthan get very little rainfall during the monsoons ?
Answer:
The moisture laden south-west monsoon winds from die Arabian Sea branch causes heavy rainfall to the windward side of the Western Ghats.
The Deccan Plateau which lies on the leward side receives very little rainfall and hence remains relatively dry during ;he rainy reason.
The Bay of Bengal Branch of the south-west monsoons brings heavy rainfall to the north-eastern region of India. The Himalayas prevent them from leaving India and divert these O west, through the Ganga Plains. The amount of rainfall received steadily decreases in the north- west direction and wind becomes dry. As a result, Punjab and Rajasthan get very little rainfall during monsoons. Punjab is the last state to receive the monsoon rains.

Question 3.
Explain the importance of monsoon.
Answer:
A good monsoon is important for the entire country for these reasons :

1. A good monsoon brings economic prosperity for the whole country and boosts the Indian economy as agriculture contributes around 16 per cent of its total Gross domestic product (GDP).
2. High temperature and heavy rainfall in the summer months are important for different types of kharif crops. The winter rain supplemented by irrigation is important for rabi crops.
3. A normal rainfall is important for adequate agricultural production in order to maintain food prices. Food prices depend upon the agricultural output. In the absence of a good monsoon, the entire nation may be destabilized because of food inflation.
4. Several dams, reservoirs, rivers and canals in India are rain- fed and depend upon the monsoon rains.
5. Other economic activities like forestry and fishing are also influenced directly by the amount of rainfall.
6. Monsoon rain gives us respite from the high and intolerable summer heat and brings back life to the living earth.
7. Monsoon also has a role to play in the social-cultural unity of India. People of India, particularly the farmers, eagerly wait tor the monsoon rains. We know that the monsoon winds provide water for the various agricultural activities. The agricultural calendar, and the social-cultural life of the people including their festivities, revolve around the monsoon phenomena and in a way binds the people of India together. Different harvest festivals in our country such as Bihu in Assam, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Onam in Kerala and Lohri in Punjab are celebrated to mark a good harvest. If the rainfall is good, the entire country celebrates and if the monsoon fails, it brings famines and a year of sorrow for everyone.

Question 4.
List the different types of vegetation found in India. Describe any two.
Answer:
The different types of vegetation found in India are :

Based on variation of rainfall

• Tropical evergreen forests
• Tropical deciduous forests
• Thorn and desert forests

Based on variation of relief

• Tidal or mangrove forests
• Mountain or Alpine forests

Tropical evergreen rain forests : These forests are found in areas that receive an annual rainfall of over 300 cm and are very humid. The temperature varies between 25° and 27° C or above. The windward side of the Western Ghats in western Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, hills of north-eastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have these forests. The forests have broad-leaved hardwood trees. These are dense evergreen forests with trees upto 60 m tall. The trees form distinct layers. Thick undergrowth makes commercial exploitation difficult Shisham, ebony, rosewood, telsar, tun or red cedar, teak gurjans, mahogany and bamboo are the common species of trees growing here.
Monsoon deciduous forests : These forests are found in areas that receive an annual rainfall between 100 and 200 cm, have distinct dry and wet seasons, and a low range of temperature. These forests arc found in large part of India- from the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats up to the Shivalik Range in the north, north-eastern region and the Deccan Plateau. The trees shed their leaves during the dry season to conserve water. The trees do not grow very close to each other, are not very tall and have long roots. The trees growing here are of great economic importance like teak, sal, mahua, Khair, sandalwood, jack fruit, semal, myrobalan and banyan.

Question 5.
How are the tropical evergreen forests different from the tropical deciduous froests ?
Answer:

Question 6.
Where are the tidal forests found in India ? What are the characteristics of these forests ? Name a few trees found in. these forests.
Answer:
The tidal or mangrove forests are found in the deltas of all major rivers – Ganga – Brahmaputra Delta (the Sunderbans), the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri. These areas receive more than 200 cm of annual rainfall. The forests developed in the lowlands that get flooded and submerged under salty sea water during high tide. The forests are dense and the trees have hardwood. The trees have stilt-like supporting roots that can take in oxygen. They have glossy aftd evergreen leaves. The vegetation found here is – Sundari trees, gorjan, lintal, casuarina, golpata, hogla (elephant grass), hetal and recdsr Thfcse forests are also called mangroves. They are a very impotant part of the coastal ecosystem.

Question 7.
Give an account of the biosphere reserves in India.
Answer:
India biosphere reserves are large areas of natural habitat and often include one or two national parks and/or reserves that are open to some economic uses. In these reserves, protection is given not only to the flora and fauna of the region but also to the local communities and their way of life. Biosphere reserves are divided into three zones which have specific roles to play in the conservation of wildlife.
Core zone is the legally protected zone wherein land and water is not to be disturbed by human activity. The main function of this zone is to conserve biodiversity and allow scientific research that does not adversely affect the wildlife in the zone. Buffer zone is the area surrounding the core zone wherein activities like environmental research and recreation are allowed in a manner that does not affect the wildlife. Transition zone is the area wherein human activities such as farming, grazing and any other activities of the indigenous people are permitted.

F. Map work 
On an outline map of India, do as directed :

1. Mark with red arrows the paths of the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch of the south-west monsoon.
2. Shade in yellow the rain shadow regions of the Western Ghats.
3. Colour with light green the areas of India that receive moderate rainfall between 100-200 cm annually.
4. Mark the Kaziranga and Kanha national parks, and the Nokrek biosphere reserve.

Answer:
1.

2.

3. and 4.

G. Picture Study

Question 1.
Identify the type of forest shown in the photograph.
Answer:
Tidal or Mangrove forest.

Question 2.
Write two characteristics of this type of forest.
Answer:

1. The forests are dense and the trees have hardwood.
2. Trees have stilt type supporting roots to take in oxygen.
3. Leaves are glossy and evergreen.

Extra Questions

Question 1.
Which latitude divides India into two nearly equal parts ?
Answer:
The Tropic of Cancer at 23 1/2° N latitude divides India into two nearly equal parts the northern temperate zone and the southern tropical zone.

Question 2.
What are monsoons ?
Answer:
Monsoons are the seasonal winds that blow across the Indian subcontinent and bring rain to the whole of India.

Question 3.
What are the factors affecting the climate of India ?
Answer:
Factors affecting the climate of India are :

1. Latitude — The areas close to the equator, i.e. southern India, has warm and equable climate. The northern India which is away from the equator has extreme climate-hot in summer and cold in water.
2. Height above sea level — Temperature decreases with increase in height above sea level. Very low temperatures are recorded in high Himalayan regions and Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and Kodaikanal in the Western Ghats.
3. Northern Mountains — They prevent the cold winds of Central Asia from entering India and hence India is protected from severe winters. They also prevent the rain-bearing monsoon winds from leaving the country and thus allowing the country to receive sufficient rainfall.
4. Distance from the Sea — Places in the interior like Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have very hot summers and cold dry- winters as they are far from the influence of the sea. Places near the coast, such as Mumbai and Chennai, have moderate summers and winters.

Question 4.
Why do places at higher altitudes and the coastal regions have moderate temperatures in summers ?
Answer:
Places at high altitude have moderate temperatures due to their height above sea level (temperature decreases with increase in height above sea level).
Places at coastal regions have moderate temperatures due to their closeness to the sea.

Question 5.
Name :

1. The hottest place in India
2. The coldest place in India.
3. The wettest place in India.

Answer:

1. Hottest place in India : Briyawali in Bikaner, Rajasthan (56°C)
2. Coldest place in India : Dras in Jammu and Kashmir (-56°C)
3. Wettest place in India : Mawsynram in Meghalaya (average annual rainfall 1,187 cm)

Question 6.
What do you mean by western disturbances ?
Answer:
Western disturbances are cyclones originating in the Mediterranean region and arriving into India from the north- west. They bring winter rainfall in the north-west India.

Question 7.
How are evergreen and deciduous trees different ?
Answer:
Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the dry season to conserve water, eg. Teak, sal. sandalwood, banyan, etc. whereas evergreen trees remain green throughout the year and do not shed their leaves in any season, eg. shisham, ebony, rosewood, mahogany, bamboo, etc.

Question 8.
What do you mean by mangrove ?
Answer:
Mangrove is a forest that is found in the tropical and sub-tropical coastal areas which are subject to being submerged in salty sea water by high tides.

Question 9.
What is loo ?
Answer:
Loo is hot dusty wind blowing over northern India in summers.

Question 10.
Name the showers that help in the ripening of mangoes in Kerala ?
Answer:
Mango showers.

Question 11.
Why are storms in Assam and West Bengal called Kalbaisakhi ?
Answer:
Kalbaisakhi means ‘calamity of the month of Baisakh (April) as they sometimes damage trees and property.

Question 12.
Which is the first and the last state to receive monsoon in India ?
Answer:
Kerala is the first state and Punjab is the last state to receive monsoon in India.

Question 13.
Name few festivals of India which celebrate the arrival of monsoons, changes in seasons and the harvest season.
Answer:
Adi Perukku and Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Baisakhi in north India.

Question 14.
What do you understand by retreating monsoons ?
Answer:
By the end of September, the Indian subcontinent starts to. cool and monsoon winds become dry. Since the air above the land is cold and heavy, a high pressure region is created over land. The air above the surrounding water bodies are relatively warmer and have low pressure region. Now, the dry monsoon winds reverse their direction and start blowing from the land to the sea. These winds are called retreating monsoons.

Question 15.
Why does Tamil Nadu receive rainfall in winter ?
Answer:
Tamil Nadu receives less rainfall in summer from the south-west monsoon as it lies in the leeward side of the Western Ghats. During winters, the north-east winds are dry but as they blow over the Bay of Bengal they pick moisture and bring rainfall in Tamil Nadu as north-east monsoons.

Question 16.
Name two area in India which receive winter rainfall.
Answer:
The Coromandel Coast and north-west India.

Question 17.
On what factors does rainfall at a place depend on ?
Answer:
The amount of rainfall depends on the location of a place, i.e. whether it is located near the coast or in the interior and whether it is on the windward side (wet side) or the leeward side (dry side). The direction of the mountain ranges is also of great significance.

Question 18.
Write short notes on :

1. Thorn and Desert forest
2. Mountain or Alpine forest
3. Afforestation or Vana Mahotsava

Answer:

1. Thorn and Desert forest — These forests are found in the north-western part of India and on the leeward side of the Western Ghats as Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The average rainfall is less than 50 cm. The vegetation cover is not dense. Stunted, thorny trees and bushes grow here. The plants have long roots to tap the underground water and modified stems to store water. Trees found here are date, palms, acacia, palas, cacti, kikar and babool.
2. Mountain or Alpine forest — These forests are mainly found in Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. Different types of vegetation occur at different altitudes. The lower foothills have deciduous forests and the middle slopes have mixed deciduous conifers. Grass grows on very high slopes. Coniferous forests have softwood evergreen trees like sal, oak, ash, beech, chir pine, silverfir, chestnut, cedar and deodar.
3. Afforestation or Vana Mahotsava — Growing of trees/forest (afforestation) has been taken up as Vana Mahotsava in India which is a tree planting ceremony started to maintain the ecological balance and prevent the depletion of the ozone layer. The following activities are undertaken on Vana Mahotsava :

(a) Tree planting to increase area under forests
(b) Care of trees already planted
(c) Protection of trees from insects and pests.
(d) Planting trees on hill slopes and wasteland.
(e) Preventing illegal felling of trees.
(f) Free distribution of saplings.

Question 19.
Name few important species of wildlife found in India.
Answer:
The variety of animals found in India are tiger, Royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, panthers, cheetahs, snow leopards, elephants, Nilgai (blue bull), swamp deer, barasingha, hangul, bears, red panda, Himalayan Black bear, one-horned rhinoceros, crocodile, gharial (gangetic crocodile).
The variety of birds found in India are swallow, mynah, owl, kite, parrot, pigeon, dove, crow, sparrow, bulbul, goose, duck, kingfisher, crane and heron.

Question 20.
List some direct and indirect advantages from forests.
Answer:
Direct Advantages :

1. Forests provide timber for construction purposes, furniture, toys, railway sleepers, sports goods, and wood carving ; and softwood, bamboo, and grass for pulp, paper, and plywood.
2. Forests also provide products such as fruits, flowers, medicinal herbs and plants, beeswax, honey, turpentine oil, lac, and resin.
3. Forests provide fodder for cattle.
4. Forests are a shelter or natural habitat for wildlife.
5. Forests are major tourist attractions.

Indirect Advantages :

1. Forests moderate the temperature of a place.
2. Forests protect land from soil erosion by reducing the flow of flood waters.
3. Forests help in increasing soil fertility by providing humus.
4. Forests help in increasing water vapour in the atmosphere, thereby helping in cloud formation that causes rainfall.

Question 21.
Define with examples :

1. Sanctuary
2. National Park
3. Biosphere reserve.

Answer:

1. Sanctuary — A sanctuary is a protected area where wild animal can live in their natural surroundings. Hunting, entry with weapons, lighting a fire and using substances injurious to wildlife are prohibited while fishing and grazing of livestock may be allowed on a controlled basis. Entry or residence in it may be granted for the purpose of photography, Scientific research or tourism. For example – Sanjay Gandhi Bird Sanctuary, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Periyar Bird Sanctuary, etc.
2. National Park — A national park is a protected area where animals live in their natural surroundings. Commercial exploitation of animals and natural resources is illegal. Cattle grazing is prohibited. Tourists can enter their with permission. For example – Jim Corbett National Park, Gir forest, Rajaji National Park, Sariska National Park, Kaziranga National Park, etc.
3. Biosphere reserve — They are protected areas that have been set up to preserve genetic diversity, promote research on ecological conservation and facilitate training to create an awareness of the biosphere. For example — Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, Manas Biosphere Reserve, etc.

22. Fill in the blanks

1. The areas away from the coast experience extremes of temperature while those near the coast have equable climate throughout the year.
2. The southern part of India is warm all year round.
3. Agriculture, forestry and fishing are directly influenced by the amount of rainfall.
4. Temperature decreases with increase in height above sea level.
5. The Himalayas protect our country from the cold winds of Central Asia.
6. The highest temperatures are recorded in the desert regions of north-west India.
7. The winter rainfall is very important for the cultivation of rabi crops such as wheat.
8. The Arabian Sea branch of south-west monsoon winds cause heavy rainfall to Western Ghats.
9. The Bay of Bengal branch of south-west monsoon bring heavy rainfall to the north-east India Ganga plains and north-west India.
10. There are about 5,000 species of plants and animals in India.
11. Mangrove forests are a very important part of the coastal ecosystem.
12. Tiger is the national animal and peacock is the national bird of India.
13. The total forest area in India was at 21.34 per cent in 2015.
14. There are 514 wildlife sanctuaries and 100 national parks in India.
15. India receives most of its rainfall from the south-west monsoons from June to October.
16. The north-east monsoons cause rainfall on the Coromandel Coast during winter months.
17. The western disturbances cause rainfall in the north-west India in winters.

Map Skills

Question 1.
Mark some important biosphere reserves, bird sanctuaries and national parks of India ?
Answer:

Question 2.
On an outline map of India, show the path of the north – east monsoons with arrows.
Answer:

Question 3.
On an outline map of India, show the annual distribution of rainfall.
Answer: