2.

When the igneous and sedimentary rocks are subjected to heat and pressure they change into
metamorphic rocks.
3. The Red Fort is made of red sandstone.
4. The process of transformation of the rock from one to another is known as the rock cycle.
5. The remains of the dead plants and animals trapped in the layers of rocks are called fossils.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Rocks are used for many purposes but some of them that we can see in our daily life are cited below:
• Making Cement (Limestone) (Sedimentary Origin)
• Writing (Chalk) (Sedimentary Origin)
• Building Material (Sandstone) (Sedimentary Origin)
• Bath Scrub (Pumice) (Igneous Origin)
• Kerb Stone (Granite) (Igneous Origin)
2. When the igneous and sedimentary rocks are subjected to heat and pressure they change into
metamorphic rocks. The metamorphic rocks which are still under great heat and pressure melt down
to form molten magma.
3. When the molten magma cools, it becomes solid. Rocks thus formed are called igneous rocks. They
are also called primary rocks. There are two types of igneous rocks: intrusive rocks and extrusive
rocks

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Lava is actually fiery red molten magma coming out from the interior of the earth on its surface.
When this molten lava comes on the earth’s surface, it rapidly cools down and becomes solid. Rocks
formed in such a way on the crust are called extrusive igneous rocks. They have a very fine-grained
structure. For example, basalt. The Deccan plateau is made up of basalt rocks. Sometimes the molten
magma cools down deep inside the earth’s crust. Solid rocks so formed are called intrusive igneous
rocks.
2. Rocks roll down, crack, and hit each other and are broken down into small fragments. These smaller
particles are called sediments. These sediments are transported and deposited by wind, water, etc.
These loose sediments are compressed and hardened to form layers of rocks. So, these types of rocks
are called sedimentary rocks.

Worksheet-3
Based on Complete Chapter
I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. - (c); 2. - (d); 3. - (b); 4. - (b); 5. - (c); 6. - (c)

II. Fill in the blanks

1. crust; 2. 6371 km; 3. basalt rocks; 4. settle down; 5. igneous rocks

III. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Sedimentum is the Latin word for sedimentary.

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2. Because of extreme heat and pressure, limestone undergoes a change in its form and turns into marble.
3. The Taj Mahal is made of white marble.
4. Metamorphose is the Greek word for metamorphic.

IV. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Coal, natural gas and petroleum are used in industries.
2. Igneous and sedimentary rocks can change into metamorphic rocks under great heat and pressure.
For example, clay changes into slate and limestone into marble.
3. The major visible difference between the two are crystal size, intrusive rocks have a larger crystal/
grain texture due to the slow cooling of magma below the earth surface which encourages the growth
of larger crystals, while extrusive rocks, because of the rapid cooling at/above the earth’s surface
does the opposite.

V. Long Answer Type Questions

1. If coal and petroleum and other minerals get exhausted life on Earth will come to an end. Wars will
take place. The extinction of minerals will lead to havoc. If the mineral resources get exhausted in
nature -- the industries would have no resources for production of products. Plants need a number
of minerals for healthy growth, if the minerals are exhausted in the soil the plants will eventually die.
2. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past.
Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as decomposition of buried dead plants and animals.
Amongst the three major types of rock, fossils are most commonly found in sedimentary rock. Unlike
most igneous and metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks form at temperatures and pressures that do
not destroy fossil remnants. Sedimentary rocks are formed by the deposition of sediments layer by
layer making it easy to contain fossils and fossil fuels. Sedimentary rocks are soft rocks. Thus, it does
not destroy the fossils and in a longer run we get the fossil fuels like coal and petroleum products,
which are very important for human life.

3 Our Changing Earth

Worksheet-1
Major Landforms
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Sand dune is a hill of sand near an ocean or in a desert that is formed by the wind.
2. As the river enters the plain it twists and turns forming large bends known as meanders.
3. The grains of sand are very fine and light, the wind can carry it over very long distances. When such
sand is deposited in large areas, it is called loess.
4. As the river approaches towards the sea, the speed of the flowing water decreases and river begins to
break up into a number of streams called distributaries.
5. The sea waves deposit sediments along the shores forming beaches.
6. A volcano is a vent (opening) in the earth’s crust through which molten material erupts suddenly.

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II. Short Answer Type Questions
1. The material carried by the glacier such as rocks big and small, sand and silt get deposited. These
deposits form glacial moraines.
2. When the river tumbles at steep angle over very hard rocks or down a steep valley side it forms a
waterfall.
3. Due to continuous erosion and deposition along the sides of the meander, the ends of the meander
loop come closer and closer. In due course of time the meander loop cuts off from the river and forms
a cut-off lake, also called an ox-bow lake.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. Stacks are formed as a result of the erosional activity of the sea waves. When sea waves continuously
strike rocks, cracks develop in them. As these cracks become larger and wider, hollow caves get
formed on the rocks. These are called sea caves. As the waves keep striking the rocks, the cavities
become bigger and bigger, with only the roof remaining at the end. Such structures are known as sea
arches. Further erosion breaks the roof, and only walls remain. These wall-like features are known as
stacks. Thus, sea caves are ultimately converted into stacks.
2. Landforms are created by sea waves and include stacks, stumps, caves, arches, bays, coves, beaches
and cliffs. It starts with waves hitting vertical faults, or lines of weakness in rock. The water erodes
these faults, making the cracks larger and larger. Eventually, the water causes caves to form in these
areas.

Worksheet-2
Based on Complete Chapter
I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. - (b); 2. - (b); 3. - (a); 4. - (a); 5. - (c); 6. - (d)

II. Fill in the blanks

1. Lithospheric plates; 2. distributaries; 3. crater; 4. centre; 5. Volcano;
6. Valleys; 7. deserts; 8. Angel Falls; 9. Earthquakes; 10. seismograph

III. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Erosion is the wearing away of the landscape by different agents like water, wind and ice.
2. Examples of coastal landforms include beaches, bays, cliffs, and headlands (a thin stretch of land
extending out from a coast).
3. Name of few rivers that form Delta are: Ganga, Yamuna, Amazon, Indus, Nile, Brahmaputra and
Mississippi river.
4. Mountains, hills, plateaus, and plains are the four major types of landforms. Tectonic plate movement
under the Earth can create landforms by pushing up mountains and hills. Erosion by water and wind
can wear down land and create landforms like valleys and canyons.
5. The three types of rocks are: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
6. Water, wind and ice are the major agents of erosion.

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IV. Short Answer Type Questions
1. During floods, layers of fine soil and other material called sediments are deposited on the river bank.
This leads to the formation of a flat fertile flood plains.
2. Some rocks have a shape of a mushroom because the winds erode the lower section of the rock more
than the upper part.
3. Although earthquakes cannot be predicted, some common earthquake prediction methods adopted
locally by people include studying animal behaviour; fish in the ponds get agitated, snakes come to
the surface.

V. Long Answer Type Questions

1. The work of sea water is performed by several marine agents like sea waves, oceanic currents,
tidal waves and tsunamis but the sea waves are most powerful and effective erosive agent of coastal
areas. Sea waves are defined as undulations of sea water characterised by well-developed crests and
troughs.
2. Human activities like mining, oil drilling, explosions and nuclear explosions can cause earthquakes,
depending on their intensity.
A Nuclear bomb or a High thermonuclear explosion can create earthquake of sensible or at most
scary effect.

4 Air
Worksheet-1
Composition of the Atmosphere
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Nitrogen and oxygen are the two gases which make up the bulk of the atmosphere.
2. Carbon dioxide gas creates greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.
3. Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth’s average surface temperature over the past
century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by people burning fossil fuels.
4. Nitrogen and oxygen are two gases which make up the bulk of the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide,
helium, ozone, argon and hydrogen are found in lesser quantities.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. The amount of carbon dioxide released by humans or animals seems to be equal to the amount used
by the plants which make a perfect balance.
2. When air is heated, it expands, becomes lighter and goes up.
3. Bacteria, that live in the soil and roots of some plants, take nitrogen from the air and change its form
so that plants can use it.

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III. Long Answer Type Questions
1. The atmosphere is composed of a mix of several different gases in differing amounts. The permanent
gases whose percentages do not change from day to day are nitrogen, oxygen and argon. Nitrogen
accounts for 78% of the atmosphere, oxygen 21% and argon 0.9%.  Gases like carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxides, methane, and ozone are trace gases that account for about a tenth of one percent of the
atmosphere.
2. Carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere creates a greenhouse effect by trapping the heat radiated
from the earth. It is therefore called a greenhouse gas and without it the earth would have been too
cold to live in. However, when its level in the atmosphere increases due to factory smoke or car
fumes, the heat retained increases the temperature of the earth.

Worksheet-2
Structure of the Atmosphere
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Atmosphere is divided into five layers starting from the earth’s surface. These are Troposphere,
Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere.
2. Troposphere is the most important layer of the atmosphere.
3. One important feature of stratosphere is that it contains a layer of ozone gas.
4. The ionosphere makes radio communications possible.
5. Stratosphere is almost free from clouds and associated weather phenomenon.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere are the layers into which our
atmosphere is divided.
2. In thermosphere temperature rises very rapidly with increasing height.
3. Exosphere is very thin air. Light gases like helium and hydrogen float into the space from here.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Stratosphere extends up to a height of 50 km. This layer is almost free from clouds and associated
weather phenomenon, making conditions most ideal for flying aeroplanes. One important feature of
stratosphere is that it contains a layer of ozone gas. It protects us from the harmful effect of the sun
rays.
2. Air above us presses us with a great force on our bodies. However, we don’t even feel it. This is
because the air presses us from all directions and our body exerts a counter pressure. Air pressure is
defined as the pressure exerted by the weight of air on the earth’s surface. As we go up the layers of
atmosphere, the pressure falls rapidly.

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 Worksheet-3
Weather and Climate
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Isolation refers to separating sick people with a contagious disease from those who are not sick.
2. Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and
then become heavy enough to fall under gravity.
3. That pressure is called atmospheric pressure, or air pressure. It is the force exerted on a surface by
the air above it as gravity pulls it to Earth.
4. The degree of hotness and coldness of the air is known as temperature.
5. The hot and dry wind is called loo.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Humidity level is very high on a humid day, i.e., plenty of water vapour is present in air. In this
condition, air is unable to take up more water vapour. Due to this, clothes take longer to dry on a
humid day.
2. Rainfall is very important for the survival of plants and animals. It brings fresh water to the
earth’s surface. The roots of plants grow deep into the soil, and this helps break and loosen soil
particles to ensure that water seeps even deeper into the soil.
3. Temperature in cities much higher than that of villages because the concrete and metals in buildings
and the asphalt of roads get heated up during the day.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Winds can be broadly divided into three types.
(i) Permanent winds – The trade winds, westerlies and easterlies are the permanent winds. These
blow constantly throughout the year in a particular direction.
(ii) Seasonal winds – These winds change their direction in different seasons. For example, monsoons
in India.
(iii) Local winds – These blow only during a particular period of the day or year in a small area. For
example, land and sea breeze. The hot and dry local wind of northern planes of India is called
loo.
2. Temperature change in the course of a year because the earth’s axis is tilted. Throughout the year,
different parts of Earth receive the Sun’s most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward
the Sun, it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun,
it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Worksheet-4
Based on Complete Chapter
I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. - (b); 2. - (a); 3. - (c); 4. - (c); 5. - (b)

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II. Fill in the blanks
1. Troposphere; 2. denser, heavy; 3. pressure; 4. Highest, decreases; 5. exosphere

III. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Ozone gas protects us from the harmful effect of the sun rays.
2. The movement of air from high pressure area to low pressure areas is called wind.
3. On a humid day our body does not evaporate easily so it makes us feel very uncomfortable.

IV. Short Answer Type Questions

1. The average weather condition of a place for a longer period of time represents the climate of a place.
2. The sun rays fall directly on the equator but they are slanting as they move towards the poles. This is
the reason why the amount of insolation decreases from equator towards poles.
3. The amount of force exerted over an area of surface is called atmospheric pressure or air pressure.
As we go up the layers of the atmosphere, fewer air molecules are above us. So, there will be less
weight of air above us. Hence, atmospheric pressure always decreases as we move upward in
the atmosphere.

V. Long Answer Type Questions

1. When air is heated, it expands, becomes lighter and goes up. Cold air is denser and heavy. That is why
it tends to sink down. When hot air rises, cold air from surrounding area rushes there to fill in the gap.
That is how air circulation takes place.
2. Tropical cyclones are among the most destructive natural phenomena. The impact from cyclones
extends over a wide area, with strong winds and heavy rains. However, the greatest damage to life and
property is not from the wind, but from secondary events such as storm surges, flooding, landslides
and tornadoes.

5 Water
Worksheet-1
Distribution of Water Bodies
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Salinity is the amount of salt in grams present in 1000 grams of water.
2. The major sources of fresh water are the rivers, ponds, springs and glaciers.
3. Dead sea in Israel has salinity of 340 grams per litre of water.
4. The average salinity of the oceans is 35 parts per thousand.
5. Three-fourth of the earth surface is covered by water.

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II. Short Answer Type Questions
1. Water carries nutrients to all cells in our body and oxygen to our brain. Water allows the body to
absorb and assimilate minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose and other substances. Water flushes
out toxins and waste. Water helps to regulate body temperature.
2. Dead sea has salinity of 340 grams per litre of water. Swimmers can float in it because the increased
salt content makes it dense.
3. March 22nd is celebrated as World Water Day when the need to conserve water is reinforced in
different ways.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. The following table gives the distribution of water in percentage.
Oceans 97.3 Saline Water
Ice-caps 02.0
Ground water 0.68
Fresh water lakes 0.009
Fresh Water
Inland seas and salt lakes 0.009
Atmosphere 0.0019
Rivers 0.0001
100.00

Worksheet-2
Ocean Circulation
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. The movements that occur in oceans can be broadly categorised as waves.
2. During a storm, the winds blowing at very high-speed form huge waves.
3. Tsunami is a Japanese word that means “Harbour waves” as the harbours get destroyed whenever
there is tsunami.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. In India, the worst affected were the coastal areas of.
2. The worst affected coastal areas of India in the tsunami of 26 December 2004 are Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
3. The first indication that tsunami is approaching is the rapid withdrawal of water from the coastal
region.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. The movements that occur in oceans can be broadly categorised as: waves, tides and currents.

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 Waves are defined as the energy that moves across the surface of the water. Tides are defined as the
rise and fall of the sea level. Currents are defined as the direction of flow of a body of water. The
intensity of waves is influenced by wind factors.

Worksheet-3
Ocean Currents
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions.
2. The Labrador Ocean current is cold current while the Gulf Stream is a warm current.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. The ocean currents may be warm or cold (Fig. 5.6). Generally, the warm ocean currents originate
near the equator and move towards the poles. The cold currents carry water from polar or higher
latitudes to tropical or lower latitudes.
2. The Labrador Current is a cold current in the North Atlantic Ocean which flows from the
Arctic Ocean south along the coast of Labrador and passes around Newfoundland, continuing south
along the east coast of Canada near Nova Scotia.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. By moving heat from the equator toward the poles, ocean currents play an important role in controlling
the climate. Ocean currents are also critically important to sea life. They carry nutrients and food to
organisms that live permanently attached in one place, and carry reproductive cells and ocean life to
new places.

Worksheet-4
Based on Complete Chapter
I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. - (c); 2. - (b); 3. - (a); 4. - (a); 5. - (c); 6. - (a)

II. Fill in the blanks

1. saline; 2. equator; 3. sodium chloride; 4. Waves; 5. March 22

III. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. It is low tide when water falls to its lowest level and recedes from the shore.
2. Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world.
3. 0.68 per cent of groundwater available on the earth.

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IV. Short Answer Type Questions
1. Terrarium is actually an artificially made greenhouse glass container where sunlight easily passes
through and we give other necessary objects for the plant growth inside the glass container. And
our earth is very similar to the terrarium, our mother nature gives all the necessary objects for plant
growth. That’s why we can call our planet as a natural terrarium.
2. The factors affecting the height of waves are: The high speed of the wind. Pushing action of winds
blowing over the ocean. Duration of wind.

V. Long Answer Type Questions

1. The cycle of water is considered most important criteria to “maintain the water content” on the earth.
The rain water is formed by three important steps like evaporation from the water body, the
condensation in the form of cloud and precipitation in the form of rain.
2. If we prevent water from pollution then we conserve it in the form of fresh water for survival.
Water pollution is one of the biggest threats to the environment today. There are several sources of
water pollution ranging from sewage and fertilisers to soil erosion. The impact of water pollution on
wildlife and their natural habitat can be immense. So, prevention of water pollution is a part of water
conservation.

VI. Map-based Question

Do it yourself.

6
Natural Vegetation and
Wildlife
Worksheet-1
Forests
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Tropical forests are closed canopy forests growing within 28 degrees north or south of the equator.
They are very wet places, receiving more than 200 cm rainfall per year.
2. In the higher latitudes (50° – 70°) of Northern hemisphere the spectacular Coniferous forests are
found. These are also called as Taiga.
3. Hardwood trees like rosewood, ebony and mahogany are common in evergreen forests.
4. Silver fox, mink, polar bear are the common animals found in coniferous forests.
5. The temperate evergreen forests are located in the mid-latitudinal coastal region.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. The woods of coniferous forest are useful for making pulp, which is used for manufacturing paper
and newsprint. Match boxes and packing boxes are also made from softwood. Chir, pine and cedar
are the important variety of trees in these forests.

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2. These forests are also called tropical rainforests. These thick forests occur in the regions near the
equator and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year.
As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether.
3. Tropical deciduous are the monsoon forests found in the large part of India, northern Australia and in
central America These regions experience seasonal changes. Trees shed their leaves in the dry season
to conserve water. The hardwood trees found in these forests are sal, teak, neem and sheesham.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. An evergreen forest is a type of temperate forest. It is characterised by clusters of evergreen trees
in temperate areas with warm summers and mild winters. Often, the soil in these forests is poor in
nutrients. Therefore, these forests show how an arborescent plant community can adapt to conditions
of hydric stress and low availability of nutrients. Temperate evergreen forests can be exclusively
composed of conifers or mixed, with a combination of conifers, evergreen species and deciduous
species.

Worksheet-2
Grasslands
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Campos grassland is found in Brazil.
2. Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards are commonly found in tropical grasslands.
3. Veld Temperate Grassland located in South Africa.
4. Savannah grasslands found in South Africa.
5. Llanos grasslands are found in Venezuela.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Grassland is an area of land that mostly contains grasses. There are wild grasses, and there may be
some trees. Several parts of the world have grasslands.
2. Temperate grasslands are found in the mid-latitudinal zones and in the interior part of the continents.
Usually, grass here is short and nutritious. Wild-buffaloes, bisons, antilopes are common in the
temperate region.
3. The grass can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 metres in height in Savannah grasslands of Africa.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. Tropical grasslands occur on either side of the equator and extend till the tropics. This vegetation
grows in the areas of moderate to low amount of rainfall. The grass can grow very tall, about 3 to
4 metres in height. Savannah grasslands of Africa are of this type. Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer,
leopards are common in tropical grasslands.

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 Worksheet-3
Based on Complete Chapter
I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. - (c); 2. - (b); 3. - (c); 4. - (a); 5. - (b)

II. Fill in the blanks

1. Asia; 2. short and nutritious; 3. Brazil; 4. desertic; 5. N. American

III. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Tropical grasslands can be found in Australia, India, Africa, and South America.
2. Tropical deciduous forest dominates most part of India.
3. Mediterranean regions are known as ‘Orchards of the world’ for their fruit cultivation.
4. The Mediterranean region does not have adequate wildlife because most of the forests have been
cleared for expanding cultivation.
5. Taiga is the other name of coniferous forest.

IV. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests are also called tropical rainforests. These thick forests occur in the regions
near the equator and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout
the year. As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether. This is the
reason they are called evergreen.
2. The polar region is extremely cold. The growth of natural vegetation is very limited here. Only
mosses, lichens and very small shrubs are found here. It grows during the very short summer. This is
called Tundra type of vegetation.
3. One of the chief adaptions of plant life to desert climates has been to reduce leaf and stem size. This
allows the plant to concentrate its water instead of spreading it out over a wider surface area. Desert
trees and shrubs tend to be short, with fewer leaves and branches.

V. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Mediterranean forests are generally composed of broad leaf trees. Forests are often found
in riparian areas, where they receive more summer water. But although there is a wide variety of
habitat, the various Mediterranean forests have common characteristics. Trees, even fully grown, are
often stunted and bush-fires catch easily because of the amount of undergrowth. The forest ecosystem
is also specific, defined by the Mediterranean climate (a hot, dry, season, a cold and wet season,
sometimes brutal rainfall) and by a wide variety of soils, often eroded and poor in humus.
2. Deforestation is the clearing, destroying, or otherwise removal of trees through deliberate, natural, or
accidental means.
Effects of deforestation:
One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant
species due to their loss of habitat. In addition to the loss of habitat, the lack of trees also allows a
greater amount of greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere. The trees also help control

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 the level of water in the atmosphere by helping to regulate the water cycle. In deforested areas, there
is less water in the air to be returned to the soil. This then causes dryer soil and the inability to grow
crops. Further effects of deforestation include soil erosion and coastal flooding. Trees help the land
to retain water and topsoil, which provides the rich nutrients to sustain additional forest life.
As large amounts of forests are cleared away, allowing exposed earth to whither and die and the
habitats of innumerable species to be destroyed, the indigenous communities who live there and
depend on the forest to sustain their way of life are also under threat.

7
Human Environment – Settlement,
Transport and Communication
Worksheet-1
Transport
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Four means of transportation are: Airways, Waterways, Railways, Roadways.
2. In the early days people had to walk and used animals to carry their goods.
3. The most commonly used means of transport especially for short distances are roads.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Transport is the means by which people and goods move. In the early days it took a great deal of time,
to travel long distances. People had to walk and used animals to carry their goods.
2. Invention of the wheel made transport easier. With the passage of time different means of transport
developed but even today people use animals for transport.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. Today’s world is shrinking because today we are going through the process of fast development
of Technology, communication, transport and globalisation. The communication network and high
technology have made the world small. The transport and railways network get people to other part
of the world in no time. The new inventions technology and discoveries are making the world smaller
with every passing day.

Worksheet-2
Roadways, Railways, Waterways and Airways
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Roads built underground are called subways/under paths.
2. Manali-Leh highway in the Himalayan Mountains is one of the highest roadways in the world.
3. Indian railway network is well developed. It is the largest in Asia.
4. Two types of waterways used for transportation are—inland waterways and sea routes.

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5. Some of the important ports of the world are Singapore and Mumbai in Asia, New York, Los Angeles
in North America, Rio de Janeiro in South America, Durban and Cape Town in Africa.
6. Four international airports in India—
• Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.
• Chennai International Airport, Chennai.
• Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
• Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad.
7. Airways is the fastest mode of transportation.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Construction cost of roads is much lower than railway lines. Roads can be constructed easily in hilly
terrains and undulating topography. Roadways act as a feeder to other modes of transport, as they
provide a link between railway stations, air and sea ports.
2. Geographical, economic and political factors are influence the development of railways in a particular
area.
3. There are three types of inland waterways, namely, rivers, rivers which have been modified or
canalised, and specially constructed canals.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Road transport required much less capital Investment as compared to other modes of transport such
as railways and air transport. The outstanding advantage of road transport is that it provides door to
door or warehouse to warehouse service. This reduces cartage, loading and unloading expenses. Road
transport is most suited for carrying goods and people to and from rural areas which are not served
by rail, water or air transport. Road transport has a great advantage over other modes of transport for
its flexible service, its routes and timings can be adjusted and changed to individual requirements
without much inconvenience.
2. Railways are an important source of employment in India. Lakhs of skilled and unskilled people
are employed in operating the railway. The connectivity of Railways to various tourist spots gives
encouragement to tourism. Railways sell circular tickets to the tourists to -remote tourism. During
natural calamities railways help the stranded persons to reach their destinations and these are helpful
during famines by carrying food grains from surplus to affected areas. Railways here tied the people
in on string. They have shortened the distance and developed the outlook of people. By connecting
various areas of the country railways have made internal trade convenient. They carry goods and
passengers to various places easily. Railways have increased the mobility of labour and capital which
has contributed to the rapid industrialisation of the country.

Worksheet-3
Communication
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Communication is the process of conveying messages to others.
2. Mass media is the means used to communicate to the general public.

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3. Through newspapers, radio and television we can communicate with a large number of people. They
are therefore called mass media. The satellites have made communication even faster. Satellites have
helped in oil exploration, survey of forest, underground water, mineral wealth, weather forecast and
disaster warning.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. There’s no question that technology has improved, but also it has had a positive impact
on communication as a whole in many ways. It has increased the reliability of sending messages
to others, made it easier to meet new people and keep in touch with friends and also saved lives.
2. Introduction of the internet and e-mail opened new doors for communication to our society.
We can now talk, chat, video chat and socialize via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, educational
forums etc. Things that once were thought to be of magic or folklore are now achieved
through advancement in communication technology.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. The means of transportation and communication are called the lifelines of a nation and its economy
because they are the pre-requisites for the development of a country. They help to develop active
links between different regions. This facilitates transportation of goods and services from production
units to the demand locales. Fast-developing communication channels between different countries
of the world has given rise to the Globalisation. Today, India is well-linked with the rest of the world
which has been possible only due to transport and communication. Railways, airways, waterways,
television, radio, newspapers, internet, etc., have contributed vastly to the socio-economic progress
of our country. They have also added substantially to growing amenities and facilities improving our
lifestyles.

Worksheet-4
Based on Complete Chapter
I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. - (d); 2. - (a); 3. - (a); 4. - (a), (b); 5. - (c)

II. Fill in the blanks

1. hot; 2. temporary; 3. Transport; 4. plains; 5. site

III. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. A compact settlement is a closely built area of dwellings, wherever flat land is available.
2. The place where a building or a settlement develops is called its site.
3. Thick mud walled houses with thatched roofs are very common in areas of hot climate.
4. Air travel is the most expensive due to high cost of fuels.

IV. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Transhumance is a seasonal movement of people. People who rear animals move in search of new
pastures according to changes in seasons.

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2. We find dwellings made of ice in Arctic zone (Polar region).
These are made by Eskimos and Inuits (people living in Polar region are known by these names). The
dwellings of ice are known as Igloos.
3. In scattered settlement dwellings are spaced over an extensive area. This type of settlement is mostly
found in hilly tracts, thick forests, and regions of extreme climate.

V. Long Answer Type Questions

1. There are many factors that can influence where settlements locate within a region. Physical factors that
influence the location of a settlement include: Water supply —settlements need water,
Defence—Building on high ground allowed people the chance to look out for enemies.
The economic factors include:
Communications — settlements often located next to rivers that allowed bridging points. These
locations allowed maximum communication between different settlements and increased trade and
Resources - early settlers relied upon wood for fuel and building.
2. Increasing population in urban areas has led to the following problems:
Unemployment: Many educated youths are jobless and struggling for getting better opportunities.
They have become a liability to the nation. Many works as casual workers with less pay and no job
security.
Housing problem: There is a severe problem of housing due to excess population. This have given
rise to slums and chawls where excess people reside in small houses.
Water crisis and hygiene problem: There is an acute shortage of water. Most of the drinking water
gets polluted and there is a severe problem of hygiene and sanitation. Garbage gets dumped blocking
the drainage and polluting the environment.
Poverty: Most of the people live below poverty line and are food insecure. They cannot meet the
bare minimum necessities.
Traffic congestion is a growing problem in metropolitan areas. Certain measures need to be taken:
New highway lines and flyovers need to be constructed so that traffic could be controlled to some
extent.
Cars and vehicles should be banned in busy areas such as market places or busy public areas.
Taxes must be imposed on private cars for entering into certain specific areas.
Parking charges for private vehicles must be increased.

VI. Map-based Questions

Do it yourself

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 8
Human Environment Interactions: The
Tropical and the Subtropical Region
Worksheet-1
Life in the Amazon Basin
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Spanish explorers discovered the Amazon river.
2. The place where a river flows into another body of water is called the river’s mouth.
3. The Amazon Basin is the largest river basin in the world.
4. The countries of the Amazon basin through which the Equator passes are Ecuador, Colombia and
Brazil.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. The main river along with all its tributaries that drain an area forms a river basin or the catchment
area.
2. The continent in which the Amazon Basin is located is South America. Crops grown by the people of
the Amazon Basin are – Tapioca, Pineapple, Sweet potatoes, Cassava (manioc), Maize, Coffee and
Cocoa etc.
3. Tropical rain forests, such as Brazil’s Amazon Basin rain forest, are found near the Equator. They
contain more than half of the world’s biodiversity, or variety of plant and animal species. Coniferous
forests have trees with cones and needles instead of leaves.

III. Long Answer Type Question

1. People of Amazon basin cut a few trees and cultivate the land according to their needs and requirements.
Men have occupations like fishing and hunting, while it’s the women who take care of the crops and
fields. The land being near the Amazon river is very fertile which makes it a good for farming.

Worksheet-2
Climate
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries.
2. Hot and wet type of climate is found in Amazon basin throughout the year.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. As the Ganga-Brahmaputra lies in the sub-tropical region of the Northern hemisphere of the
planet, the climate here is hot in summers and cool in winters. Being a monsoon-dominated area,
the basin faces heavy rainfalls between the months of June and September.
2. The Amazon Basin stretches directly on the equator and is characterized by hot and wet climate
throughout the year.

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III. Long Answer Type Question
1. The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries.
The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about 7,500,000 km2 (2,900,000 sq mi), or roughly 40
percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
Most of the basin is covered by the Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia. With a
5,500,000 km2 (2,100,000 sq mi) area of dense tropical forest, this is the largest rainforest in the
world.

Worksheet-3
Rainforests
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. Most of the basin is covered by the Amazon rainforest, also known as Amazonia.
2. Animals like monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs are found in Amazon rainforests.
3. Birds such as toucans, humming birds likely to find in the rainforests of the Amazon.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. The immediate causes of rainforest destruction are clear. The main causes of total clearance are
agriculture and in drier areas, fuelwood collection. The main cause of forest degradation is logging.
Mining, industrial development and large dams also have a serious impact.
2. Bromeliads are a large family of tropical flowering plants that belong to the pineapple family and
come in hundreds of varieties.
3. The forests are in fact so thick that the dense “roof” created by leaves and branches does not allow
the sunlight to reach the ground.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. The tropical rainforest biome has four main characteristics: very high annual rainfall, high average
temperatures, nutrient-poor soil, and high levels of biodiversity (species richness).
A tropical rainforest has four distinct layers: the emergent layer, the canopy, the understorey and
the forest floor. The rivers and streams in a rainforest can also be considered one of the structural
features. The climate of a rainforest is one of its main features.
2. Bromeliads are special plants that store water in their leaves. Animals like frogs use these pockets of
water for laying their eggs. The animals that live in bromeliads bring nutrients to the plant in their
droppings and when they die. The spiky leaves of bromeliads trap forest litter, too. Bromeliads can
absorb nutrients through special leaf pores, which other plants don’t have.

Worksheet-4
People of the Rainforests
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. The cash crops grown by the people of Amazon basin are coffee, maize and cocoa.

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2. The people of Amazon Basin mainly grow tapioca, pine apple and sweet potato.
The large apartment-like houses called “Maloca” with a steeply slanting roof.

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people where flat land is available to grow crops. Men hunt
and fish along the rivers, women take care of the crops. They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and
sweet potato. As hunting and fishing are uncertain it is the women who keep their families alive by
feeding them the vegetables they grow.
2. The manioc is a staple food, also known as cassava that grows under the ground like the potato.
3. Slash and burn farming is a form of shifting agriculture where the natural vegetation is cut down and
burned as a method of clearing the land for cultivation, and then, when the plot becomes infertile, the
farmer moves to a new fresh plat and does the same again. This process is repeated over and over.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. The rainforest is rich in fauna. Birds such as toucans, humming birds, bird of paradise with their
brilliantly coloured plumage, oversized bills for eating make them different from birds we commonly
see in India. These birds also make loud sounds in the forests. Animals like monkeys, sloth and
ant-eating tapirs are found here. Various species of reptiles and snakes also thrive in these jungles.
Crocodiles, snakes, pythons abound. Anaconda and boa constrictor are some of the species. Besides,
the basin is home to thousands of species of insects. Several species of fishes including the flesh-
eating Piranha fish is also found in the river. This basin is thus extraordinarily rich in the variety of
life found there.
2. The developmental activities are leading to the gradual destruction of the biologically diverse
rainforests. It is estimated that a large area of the rainforest has been disappearing annually in the
Amazon basin. This destruction of forests has a much wider implication. The topsoil is washed away
as the rains fall and the lush forest turns into a barren landscape.

Worksheet-5
Life in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin
I. Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. The tributaries of rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra together form the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin in the
Indian subcontinent.
2. The Ganga-Brahmaputra basin lies in the sub-tropical region that is situated between 10°N to 30°N
latitudes.
3. The main crop is paddy. Wheat, maize, sorghum, gram and millets are the other crops that are grown
in the Ganga- Brahmaputra basin.
4. Throughout different places, the Brahmaputra is known by different names: the Yarlung Tsangpo in
Tibet, the Dihang or Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, and the Jamuna in Bangladesh.
5. The population density of Uttarakhand is 189 while the density of West Bengal is 1029 and that of
Bihar is 1102.

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II. Short Answer Type Questions
1. The main features of this basin are:
A fertile belt that includes most of north and east India.
1. Rich source of alluvial soil.
2. Number of ox-bow lakes over the plains.
3. Bounded on the north by the mountains and foothills of the Himalayas.
4. On east, lies the famed Sundarbans delta.
2. Tourism is another important activity of the basin. Taj Mahal on the banks of River Yamuna in Agra,
Allahabad on the confluence of the Rivers Ganga and Yamuna, Buddhists stupas in Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar, Lucknow with its Imambara, Assam with Kaziranga and Manas with wild life sanctuaries and
Arunachal Pradesh with a distinct tribal culture are some of the places worth a visit.
3. The mountain areas with steep slopes have inhospitable terrain. Therefore, lesser number of people
live in the mountain area of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. The plain area provides the most suitable
land for human habitation. The soil is fertile. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people, where,
flat land is available to grow crops. The density of population of the plains is very high.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. The vegetation cover of the area varies according to the type of landforms. In the Ganga and
Brahmaputra plain tropical deciduous trees grow, along with teak, sal and peepal. Thick bamboo
groves are common in the Brahmaputra plain. The delta area is covered with the mangrove forests.
In parts of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, coniferous trees like pine, deodar and fir can
be seen because the climate is cool and the slopes are steep.
2. Agriculture is taken up as the main occupation where flat land is available to grow crops. The main
crop is paddy. The staple diet of the people is fish and rice. Since it requires sufficient water, it is
grown in areas where rainfall is high. The other crops that are grown include wheat, maize, millet
and gram. Cash crops such as sugarcane and jute are also grown. Tea plantations are found in West
Bengal and Assam. Banana plantations are seen in the plains. In Bihar and Assam, silk is produced
by rearing silkworms. Crops are grown on the terraces of the hills that have gentle slopes.

Worksheet-6
Based on Complete Chapter
I. Multiple Choice Questions
1. - (b); 2. - (c); 3. - (c); 4. - (b); 5. - (c); 6. - (c)

II. Fill in the blanks

1. river’s mouth; 2. manioc; 3. birds; 4. coniferous trees; 5. delta area

III. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Ganga basin is the largest fertile river basin of the world.
2. Population density means the number of persons that live in one sq. km. of area.
3. Tributaries are small rivers that join the main river.

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