Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What are the controls affecting the climate of India?
(ii) Why does India have a monsoon type of climate?
(iii) Which part of India does experience the highest diurnal range of temperature and why?
(iv) Which winds account for rainfall along the Malabar coast?
(v) What are Jet streams and how do they affect the climate of India?
(vi) Define monsoons. What do you understand by “break” in monsoon?
(vii) Why is the monsoon considered a unifying bond?
1. The elements which are affecting the climate are: temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation.
2. India comes in the inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) also with several other factors like the EI nino, jet stream and coriolois force are the main reasons for monsoon type of climate in India.
3. Northwestern part of india experiences the highest diurnal temperature range. This happens because of the presence of thar desert and also because this region doesn't contain the moderating influence of the ocean.
4. Malabar coast gets rains from depressions and cyclones.
5. Jet streams are high velocity westerly winds that are blowing through a narrow zone in the upper troposphere layer. The westerly flows are responsible for the western disturbances that is experienced in the north western parts of the country. The easterly jet streams cause the tropical depressions during the monsoon as well as October-november months.
6. Monsoon refers to the seasonal wind direction reversal. Monsoon break refers to the happening of wet and dry spells during the rainy season. The monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a particular time.
7. Although there are wide variations in weather patterns across India, the monsoon bring some unifying influence on India. The Indian landscape, its flora and fauna etc. are highly influenced by the monsoon. Most of the festivals in India are related to agricultural cycle.
Describe the regional variations in the climatic conditions of India with the help of suitable examples.
Give reasons as to why.
(i) Seasonal reversal of wind direction takes place over the Indian subcontinent?
(ii) The bulk of rainfall in India is concentrated over a few months.
(iii) The Tamil Nadu coast receives winter rainfall.
(iv) The delta region of the eastern coast is frequently struck by cyclones.
(v) Parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the leeward side of the Western Ghats are drought-prone.
Why does the rainfall decrease from the east to the west in Northern India.
Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.
Discuss the mechanism of monsoons.
Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.
Choose the correct answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) Which one of the following places receives the highest rainfall in the world?
(a) Silchar (c) Cherrapunji
(b) Mawsynram (d) Guwahati
(ii) The wind blowing in the northern plains in summers is known as:
(a) Kaal Baisakhi (c) Trade Winds
(b) Loo (d) None of the above
(iii) Which one of the following causes rainfall during winters in north-western part of India.
(a) Cyclonic depression (c) Western disturbances
(b) Retreating monsoon (d) Southwest monsoon
(iv) Monsoon arrives in India approximately in:
(a) Early May (c) Early June
(b) Early July (d) Early August
(v) Which one of the following characterises the cold weather season in India?
(a) Warm days and warm nights
(b) Warm days and cold nights
(c) Cool days and cold nights
(d) Cold days and warm nights
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through
(a) Rajasthan (c) Chhattisgarh
(b) Orissa (d) Tripura
(ii) The easternmost longitude of India is
(a) 97° 25' E (c) 77° 6' E
(b) 68° 7' E (d) 82° 32' E
(iii) Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim have common frontiers with
(a) China (c) Nepal
(b) Bhutan (d) Myanmar
(iv) If you intend to visit Kavarati during your summer vacations, which one of the following Union Territories of India you will be going to
(a) Puducherry (c) Andaman and Nicobar
(b) Lakshadweep (d) Diu and Daman
(v) My friend hails from a country which does not share land boundary with India. Identify the country.
(a) Bhutan (c) Bangladesh
(b) Tajikistan (d) Nepal
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) A landmass bounded by sea on three sides is referred to as
(a) Coast (c) Peninsula
(b) Island (d) none of the above
(ii) Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India forming its boundary with Myanmar are collectively called as
(a) Himachal (c) Purvachal
(b) Uttarakhand (d) none of the above
(iii) The western coastal strip, south of Goa is referred to as
(a) Coromandel (c) Kannad
(b) Konkan (d) Northern Circar
(iv) The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
(a) Anai Mudi (c) Mahendragiri
(b) Kanchenjunga (d) Khasi
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) Which one of the following describes the drainage patterns resembling the branches of a tree?
(a) Radial (c) Centrifugal
(b) Dendritic (d) Trellis
(ii) In which of the following states is the Wular lake located?
(a) Rajasthan (c) Punjab
(b) Uttar Pradesh (d) Jammu and Kashmir
(iii) The river Narmada has its source at
(a) Satpura (c) Amarkantak
(b) Brahmagiri (d) Slopes of the Western Ghats
(iv) Which one of the following lakes is a salt water lake?
(a) Sambhar (c) Wular
(b) Dal (d) Gobind Sagar
(v) Which one of the following is the longest river of the Peninsular India?
(a) Narmada (c) Godavari
(b) Krishna (d) Mahanadi
(vi) Which one amongst the following rivers flows through a rift valley?
(a) Mahanadi (c) Krishna
(b) Tungabhadra (d) Tapi
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
(i) To which one of the following types of vegetation does rubber belong to?
(a) Tundra (c) Himalayan
(b) Tidal (d) Tropical Evergreen
(ii) Cinchona trees are found in the areas of rainfall more than
(a) 100 cm (c) 70 cm
(b) 50 cm (d) less than 50 cm
(iii) In which of the following state is the Simlipal bio-reserve located?
(a) Punjab (b) Delhi
(c) Odisha (d) West Bengal
(iv) Which one of the following bio-reserves of India is not included in the world
network of bioreserve?
(a) Manas (c) Gulf of Mannar
(b) Nilgiri (d) Nanda devi
(i) Migrations change the number, distribution and composition of the population in
(a) the area of departure (c) both the area of departure and arrival
(b) the area of arrival (d) none of the above
(ii) A large proportion of children in a population is a result of
(a) high birth rates (c) high death rates
(b) high life expectancies (d) more married couples
(iii) The magnitude of population growth refers to
(a) the total population of an area
(b) the number of persons added each year
(c) the rate at which the population increases
(d) the number of females per thousand males
(iv) According to the Census 2001, a “literate” person is one who
(a) can read and write his/her name
(b) can read and write any language
(c) is 7 years old and can read and write any language with understanding
(d) knows the 3 ‘R’s (reading, writing, arithmetic)
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian sea.
(ii) Name the countries which are larger than India.
(iii) Which island group of India lies to its south-east?
(iv) Which island countries are our southern neighbours?
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What are tectonic plates?
(ii) Which continents of today were part of the Gondwana land?
(iii) What is the bhabar?
(iv) Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south.
(v) Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhyan ranges?
(vi) Name the island group of India having coral origin.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is meant by a water divide? Give an example.
(ii) Which is the largest river basin in India?
(iii) Where do the rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin?
(iv) Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the Ganga?
(v) Why does the Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt, despite a longer course?
(vi) Which two Peninsular rivers flow through trough?
(vii) State some economic benefits of rivers and lakes.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Define an ecosystem.
(ii) What factors are responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in India?
(iii) What is a bio-reserve? Give two examples.
(iv) Name two animals having habitat in tropical and montane type of vegetation.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Why is the rate of population growth in India declining since 1981?
(ii) Discuss the major components of population growth.
(iii) Define age structure, death rate and birth rate.
(iv) How is migration a determinant factor of population change?
Compare the east flowing and the west flowing rivers of the Peninsular plateau.
Write short notes on the following.
(i) The Indian Desert
(ii) The Central Highlands
(iii) The Island groups of India
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) Which one of the following describes the drainage patterns resembling the branches of a tree?
(a) Radial (c) Centrifugal
(b) Dendritic (d) Trellis
(ii) In which of the following states is the Wular lake located?
(a) Rajasthan (c) Punjab
(b) Uttar Pradesh (d) Jammu and Kashmir
(iii) The river Narmada has its source at
(a) Satpura (c) Amarkantak
(b) Brahmagiri (d) Slopes of the Western Ghats
(iv) Which one of the following lakes is a salt water lake?
(a) Sambhar (c) Wular
(b) Dal (d) Gobind Sagar
(v) Which one of the following is the longest river of the Peninsular India?
(a) Narmada (c) Godavari
(b) Krishna (d) Mahanadi
(vi) Which one amongst the following rivers flows through a rift valley?
(a) Mahanadi (c) Krishna
(b) Tungabhadra (d) Tapi
Why are rivers important for the country’s economy?
Below are given names of a few lakes of India. Group them under two categories – natural and created by human beings.
(a) Wular (b) Dal
(c) Nainital (d) Bhimtal
(e) Gobind Sagar (f) Loktak
(g) Barapani (h) Chilika
(i) Sambhar (j) Rana Pratap Sagar
(k) Nizam Sagar (l) Pulicat
(m) Nagarjuna Sagar (n) Hirakund
Discuss the significant difference between the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.
Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) A landmass bounded by sea on three sides is referred to as
(a) Coast (c) Peninsula
(b) Island (d) none of the above
(ii) Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India forming its boundary with Myanmar are collectively called as
(a) Himachal (c) Purvachal
(b) Uttarakhand (d) none of the above
(iii) The western coastal strip, south of Goa is referred to as
(a) Coromandel (c) Kannad
(b) Konkan (d) Northern Circar
(iv) The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
(a) Anai Mudi (c) Mahendragiri
(b) Kanchenjunga (d) Khasi
Describe how the Himalayas were formed.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is meant by a water divide? Give an example.
(ii) Which is the largest river basin in India?
(iii) Where do the rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin?
(iv) Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the Ganga?
(v) Why does the Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt, despite a longer course?
(vi) Which two Peninsular rivers flow through trough?
(vii) State some economic benefits of rivers and lakes.