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.
(i) Due to internal heat of the earth, the currents of the semi- molten rocks starts to move towards the crust and crush it apart dividing it into the larger fragments which is known as lithospheric or tectonic plates. There are seven such major plates namely, South America, North America, Pacific, Indo–Australian, Eurasian, African and Antarctic.
(ii) Gondwana land is the name which is given to the hypothetical ‘super- continent’ that is located in Southern hemisphere. It include South America, some part of Africa (south Africa including Madagascar), part of Asia (India, Arabia, Malaya), Australia and Antarctica, prior to its break- up under forces causing the continental-drift.
(iii) The ‘Bhabar’ is that narrow belt of the plain that is covered with the pebbles and lies along the foothills of the Shiwaliks from Indus river to the Teesta. This belt is laid down by numerous streams descending down the hills.
(iv) The great or the inner Himalayas or the himadri the middle Himalayas or the himachal and outer himalayas or the shivaliks.
(v) The Malwa plateau ranges between the aravali and the vindhya ranges.
(vi) Lakshdweep islands is the islands group of India which is having coral origin.
Write short notes on the following.
(i) The Indian Desert
(ii) The Central Highlands
(iii) The Island groups of India
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.
Name different types of Vegetation found in India and describe the vegetation of high altitudes.
The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
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?
Give the characteristics and effects of the monsoon rainfall in India.
Describe how the Himalayas were formed.
Discuss the mechanism of monsoons.
Why are rivers important for the country’s economy?
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.
Distinguish between
(i) Converging and diverging tectonic plates
(ii) Bhangar and Khadar
(iii) Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
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?
Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.
(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)
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.
What are the advantages of having a healthy population?
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
Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.