Chapter 2 – Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Questions and Answers

Content Structure

A. Exercise Questions and Answers
- Answer the following question
- Tick the correct answer.
- Match the following:
- State whether the given statement is true or false. If true, write the reasons.
B. Additional question & answer
- Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
- Fill in the blanks
- True or false
- Match the following
- Short-type questions and answers
- Long-type questions and answers

A. Exercise Questions and Answers

Answer the following question

(i) Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation?
Ans: The two main climate factors responsible for soil formation are temperature and rainfall.
a. Temperature: It impacts how quickly rocks break down and how organic matter in the soil decomposes.
b. Rainfall: It shows how soil formation affects erosion, nutrient leaching, and water content in the soil.

(ii) Write any two reasons for land degradation today.
Ans: Two reasons for land degradation are deforestation and climate change.
a. Deforestation: Cutting down trees for agriculture, construction, and other purposes leads to soil erosion and the loss of natural nutrients.
b. Climate Change: Changes in weather patterns, excessive rainfall, and floods cause soil erosion and the loss of fertile soil.

(iii) Why is land considered an important resource?
Ans: Land is considered an important resource because it is used for various purposes, such as building houses, parks, playgrounds, offices, and farming, which are essential for human activities and development.

(iv) Name any two steps that the government has taken to conserve plants and animals.
Ans: Two steps that the government has taken to conserve plants and animals are:
a. Establishing Protected Areas: Setting up national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves to protect plants and animals.
b. Awareness and Education: Promoting education and awareness campaigns to teach people the importance of conserving biodiversity and protecting wildlife habitats.

(v) Suggest three ways to conserve water.
Ans:
a. Turn off taps: Always close taps immediately after use to prevent wastage.
b. Rainwater harvesting: Collect rainwater for purposes like gardening, washing, and cleaning.
c. Fix leaks: Repair leaking taps or pipes promptly to avoid water wastage.

Tick the correct answer.

(i) Which one of the following is NOT a factor of soil formation?
(a) time
(b) soil texture
(c) organic matter

Ans: (b) Soil texture.

(ii) Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check
soil erosion on steep slopes?
(a) shelter belts
(b) mulching
(c) terrace cultivation

Ans: (c) Terrace cultivation

(iii) Which one of the following is NOT in favour of the conservation
of nature?
(a) switch off the bulb when not in use
(b) close the tap immediately after using
(c) dispose of poly packs after shopping

Ans: (c) Dispose of polypacks after shopping.

Match the following:

(i) Land use	(a) Prevent soil erosion
(ii) Humus	(b) Narrow zone of contact between the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
(iii) Rock dams	(c) productive use of land
(iv) Biosphere	(d) organic matter deposited on topsoil
	(e) Contour ploughing

Ans :

(i) Land Use	(c) productive use of land
(ii) Humus	(d) organic matter deposited on topsoil
(iii) Rock dams	(a) Prevent soil erosion
(iv) Biosphere	(b) Narrow zone of contact between the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere

State whether the given statement is true or false. If true, write the reasons.

(i) Ganga–Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region.
Ans: True.
Statement: The Ganga–Brahmaputra plain is the most densely populated region due to its fertile soil and availability of water, which support agriculture and human settlements.

(ii) Water availability per person in India is declining.
Ans: True.
Statement: Water availability per person in India is declining due to population growth.

(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement are called intercropping.
Ans: False.
Statement: Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement are called windbreaks.

(iv) Human interference and climate changes can maintain the ecosystem.
Ans: False.
Statement: Human interference and climate change disturb the ecosystem, causing deforestation, pollution, habitat destruction, and global warming.

B. Additional question & answer

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

(i) Which resources cover about three-fourths of the earth’s surface?
(a) Land
(b) Soil
(c) Air
(d) Water

Ans: (d) Water.

(ii) The uneven distribution of population is due to –
(a) Land and Climate
(b) Climate
(c) Vegetation
(d) Settlements

Ans: (a) Land and climate.

(iii) An example of a common property resource is –
(a) community land
(b) individual building
(c) The Parliament House
(d) None of these

Ans: (a) Community land

(iv) What low-lying areas are risky?
(a) Earthquakes
(b) Landslides
(c) Flooding
(d) Tsunamis

Ans: (c) Flooding

(v) The lower layer of the soil is
(a) Weathered rock
(b) Parent rock
(c) Subsoil
(d) None of these

Ans: (b) Parent rock

(vi) Which of these physical features are best suited for living?
(a) Plains and river valleys
(b) Mountains
(c) Deserts
(d) Lakes and rivers

Ans: (a) Plains and river valleys

(vii) Which of the following is not used for soil conservation?
(a) Mulching
(b) Shelter belts
(c) Contour ploughing
(d) Climate

Ans: (d) Climate

(viii) What is the majority of land in India used for?
(a) Cultivation
(b) Pasture
(c) Forests
(d) None of these

Ans: (a) Cultivation

(ix) Which is not an example of groundwater?
(a) Water flowing in rivers
(b) Water through wells
(c) Water through hand pumps
(d) Water through a submersible pump

Ans: (a) Water flowing in the river

(x) What are the reasons for the destruction of forests and farmland?
(a) Growing demand of population
(b) Growing population
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these

Ans: (c) Both (a) and (b)

(xi) Which of these countries is covered with forest land?
(a) Brazil
(b) USA
(c) Both b and c
(d) None of these

Ans: (c) Both b and c

(xii) Due to what feature is ocean water unfit for human consumption?(a) Poisonous
(b) Salinity
(c) Water temperature
(d) None of these

Ans: (b) Salinity

Fill in the blanks

(i) The process responsible for soil formation is called ______.
(ii) ____ areas landslides have been a major and widely spread natural disaster.
(iii) Soil becomes fertile due to the right mix of ____ and _________.
(iv) .97% of total water is in the form of _____ and ______.
(v) The colour, texture, etc. of soil is determined by ______.
(vi) Climate factors influencing the rate of weathering include _____ and ____.
(vii) 70% of freshwater exists as ________.

Ans:
(i) Weathering
(ii) Hilly
(iii) Minerals and organic matter
(iv) Ocean and sea
(v) Parent rock
(vi) Rainfall and temperature
(vii) Ice

True or false

(i) Major factors of soil formation are nature, climate and parent rock.
Ans: True.

(ii) Land has similar features all over the earth’s surface.
Ans: False.

(iii) Landslides are defined as the mass movement of rock.
Ans: True.

(iv) Hilly areas are best for living and agriculture.
Ans: False.

(v) Plains and valleys are densely populated because of soil fertility.
Ans: True.

(vi) Natural resources are essential for the economic development of a country.
Ans: True.

(vii) Population and technology are important factors in land patterns.
Ans: True.

(viii) Silkworms are obtained from mulberry trees.
Ans: True.

(ix) Forest and other vegetation promote surface run-off.
Ans: False.

(x) Water is a non-renewable natural resource.
Ans: False.

(xi) The earth is called a water planet.
Ans: True.

Match the following

Column A	Column B
(i) Terrace farming	(a) Protection from soil wash
(ii) Intercropping	(b) Agriculture, building purpose
(iii) Contour ploughing	(c) Retaining soil moisture
(iv) Mulching	(d) Reducing surface runoff
(v) Shelter belts	(e) Prevention of water flowing down the slope
(vi)The breaking up and decay of exposed rocks.	(g) Parks, Offices
(vii) Community land	(h) Watering
(ix) Land use	(h) Checking wind movement

Ans:

Column A	Column B
(i) Terrace farming	(e) Prevention of water flowing down the slope
(ii) Intercropping	(a) Protection from soil wash
(iii) Contour ploughing	(d) Reducing surface runoff
(iv) Mulching	(c) Retaining soil moisture
(v) Shelter belts	(h) Checking wind movement
(vi) The breaking up of rocks	(f) Watering
(vii) Community land	(g) Parks, Offices
(viii) Land use	(b) Agriculture, building purpose

Short-type questions and answers

1. What human factors determine land use patterns?
Ans: Human factors that affect land use patterns are Technology, population, economic activities, and government policies.

2. Define soil?
Ans: Soil is a thin and upper layer on the Earth’s surface. It is made of tiny pieces of rocks, minerals, and decomposed organic matter from plants and animals.

3. What is weathering?
Ans: Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks and minerals on the Earth’s surface into smaller particles due to factors such as temperature changes, water, wind, plants, and animals.

4. What is required to make the soil fertile?
Ans: Organic matter, proper moisture, minerals and nutrients are needed to make the soil fertile.

5. What is parent rock?
Ans: Parent rock is an original rock that is broken down through weathering, and natural processes.

6. What are the factors of soil formation?
Ans: Major factors of soil formation are the nature of the parent rock and climate.
Other factors of soil formation are topography, the role of organic material and the time taken for the composition.

7. Give 5 examples of soil conservation methods.
Ans:
a. Mulching
b. Contour barriers
c. Rock dams
d. Terrace farming
e. Intercropping

8. Why is the Earth called a water planet?
Ans: Earth is called the “water planet” because 70% of its surface is covered by water.

9. How much water is wasted in a year?
Ans: A dripping tap wastes 1,200 litres of water in a year.

10. What method of soil conservation is used in coastal and dry religion?
Ans: The shelter belt method is used in coastal and dry regions.

11. What are the factors threatening soil as a resource?
Ans: The factors that threaten soil as a resource are soil erosion, deforestation, overuse of chemicals, and overgrazing.

12. Name some regions of water scarcity in the world.
Ans: The religions of water scarcity in the world are – Africa, West Asia, South Asia, parts of western USA, parts of South America, and northwest Mexico.

13. In what forms is fresh water found on the earth?
Ans: Freshwater is found in the forms of groundwater, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and ice caps.

14. Give an example of 3 types of purpose of land.
Ans:
a. Agriculture
b. For living
c. For community purposes, like parks, offices, and playgrounds.

15. What is Vanamahotsava?
Ans: Vanamahotsava is an annual tree plantation programme celebrated in India, it explains the importance of forests and how to protect the environment.

16. What is the name of the process involved in rain formation?
Ans: The process involved in rain formation is called the water cycle.

17. Name the method to save the surface run-off.
Ans: Water harvesting is the method to save surface run-off.

18. How is a bird-like vulture important for the ecosystem?
Ans: A vulture feeds on dead livestock so it cleanses the environment.

19. Name 4 of the major types of vegetation in the world.
Ans: The major types of vegetation in the world are –
a. Desert vegetation
b. Forest vegetation
c. Grasslands
d. Tundra vegetation

20. Give one example of how to control water pollution.
Ans: Properly manage waste and don’t throw garbage in the rivers, and lakes can help control water pollution.

21. Why land is a valuable resource?
Ans: Land is a valuable resource because it is used for multiple purposes, such as farming, agriculture, housing, and industrial development.

22. Why do people live in plains and river valleys area?
Ans: People live in plains and river valley areas because of fertile soil, availability of water, and flat land suitable for agriculture and settlement.

23. What factors are used on how the land is used?
Ans: Land use depends on natural factors such as climate, soil type, and fertility, as well as human factors like population and technology.

24. Why water is an essential resource?
Ans: Water is essential for life and is used for drinking, growing crops, raising animals, cleaning, and industrial purposes.

Long-type questions & answers

1. What is the conservation of land resources?
Ans: Conserving land resources means using them carefully and responsibly to ensure their availability for future generations. Some effective steps for land conservation are:
a. Stopping soil erosion: Plant trees and adopt proper farming methods to protect the soil.
b. Reducing pollution: Manage waste and chemicals responsibly to avoid harming the land.
c. Crop rotation: Practice crop rotation to maintain soil fertility.
d. Organic farming: Use organic farming methods to reduce chemical usage and keep the land healthy.
e. Terrace farming: Prevent soil erosion on slopes by practising terrace farming.

2. What is weathering?
Ans: Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks and minerals on the Earth’s surface due to factors like temperature changes, water, wind, plants, and animals. Weathering occurs in three main types:

a. Physical weathering: Physical weathering occurs when rocks break into smaller pieces due to temperature changes (like expansion and contraction), frost action, or the force of wind.
b. Chemical weathering: Chemical weathering happens when rocks undergo chemical changes due to interactions with water, air, or acids. For example, the formation of rust on rocks containing iron is a result of chemical weathering.
c. Biological weathering: Biological weathering is caused by living organisms such as plants, animals, and microbes. For instance, plant roots can grow into cracks in rocks, causing them to break apart over time.

3. What are the methods of soil conservation?
Ans: Both Human and natural factors are related to soil degradation, causes of soil damage are cutting trees, overuse, chemical fertilizer, rain wash, landslides, and floods.

a. Mulching: Mulching is a method of covering the soil. It helps to retain soil moisture and improve soil quality.
b. Contour barriers: It’s a structure. They are made from Stones, grass, and soil. Trenches are made in front of barriers to gather water.
c. Rock dam: A rock dam is a barrier made of rocks across the river to block water flow.
d. Terrace farming: Terrace farming is a method of farming where steps are cut into a slope to create flat surfaces for growing crops. Which helps reduce soil erosion and save water.
e. Intercropping: Crops are grown at different times in alternative rows to protect the soil from washing by rain.
f. Contour ploughing: Contour ploughing is the practice of ploughing along the natural curves of the land. It helps soil erosion and save water.
g. Shelter belts: Shelter belts are rows of bushes planted to protect crops and soil from wind.

4. What is water? what are the problems with water availability?
Ans: Water is a colourless liquid that is essential for all forms of life. Water makes up about 71% of the Earth’s surface, so the Earth is s often referred to as the “water planet.”

Problems of water availability
Many parts of the world, such as West Asia, South Asia, and Northwest Mexico, face water shortages. These regions often experience water scarcity due to their location in arid or semi-arid climate zones.

a. Increasing human consumption: Rapid population growth and urbanization lead to higher demand for water.
b. Climate change: Changes in weather patterns result in droughts, reduced rainfall, and uneven water distribution.
c. Natural disasters: Floods and droughts disrupt water supply and cause scarcity in some areas.
d. Overuse of water: Excessive use of water for agriculture, industries, and households deplete water resources.
e. Water pollution: Contamination of water bodies by industrial waste, chemicals, and garbage reduces the availability of clean, usable water.

5. Write a short note on natural vegetation.
Ans: Natural Vegetation is the group of plants that grow naturally in a particular area without human help. This includes forests, grasslands, shrubs, and other types of plants. They are found in different parts of the world based on climate and soil, for example- dense forests grow in areas with heavy rainfall.
Natural vegetation is important because it gives us oxygen, food, wood, and medicine, and also provides shelter for animals and keeps the environment healthy. Protecting natural vegetation is essential for saving plants, and animals, and maintaining the ecosystem.

6. Write short not wildlife?
Ans: Wildlife refers to all animals, birds, insects, and other living organisms that live in their natural habitats without human care or domestication. They live in their natural homes, like forests, oceans, or deserts. These creatures provide us various important products like, milk, meat, hides and wool. Bees give us honey, which helps pollination. Birds like, vultures are scavengers and they help the environment clean. Protecting wildlife is crucial for preserving biodiversity and ensuring the smooth functioning of ecosystems.

7. What are the dangers to plants and animals in nature?
Ans: Forests and wildlife are vital resources that support life on Earth by maintaining ecological balance. However, climate change and human activities are severely impacting the natural habitat of plants and animals, leading to habitat loss and environmental degradation.
These problems are reducing biodiversity and damaging ecosystems, which are vital for maintaining environmental balance. To preserve vegetation and wildlife, we must take proactive measures such as protecting forests, reducing pollution, enforcing stricter laws against illegal hunting, and addressing climate change.

8. Which step has been taken by the government to conserve plants and animals?
Ans: The government has taken several steps to conserve plants and animals.

a. Protected Areas: Establishing national parks, and biosphere reserves to protect animals and their natural habitats from human activities.
b. Planting Programs: Planting trees to restore forests and improve vegetation cover.
c. Awareness Campaigns: Teach people about the importance of protecting plants and animals.
d. Eco-development Projects: Supporting sustainable development to reduce pressure on forests and wildlife
e. Water Conservation: Protecting water sources like rivers and wetlands, which are vital for plants and animals.