Question
Question
Question
Answer:
1. Great Indian Desert: The Rajasthan plain or the great Indian Desert covers the
western part of Rajasthan. The area has a number of short seasonal streams which are
no able to reach the sea. therefore, this is an area of inland drainage. The land is
generally rocky and sandy.
2. Central highlands: The central highlands form the northern part. They have a series
of plateaus, such as Malwa, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand and Chotanagpur. These
plateaus are made up had igneous rock. All the rivers from the central highlands join
the Yamuna and the Ganga from the south.
Question: Compare the rivers of the Deccan plateaus with those of the Himalayas.
Answer: Rivers of the Deccan plateau:
1. The river originates from central highlands.
2. These rivers are rain fed and therefore they are seasonal.
3. For Eg: Godawari, Krishna, Kaveri.
Himalayan Rivers:
1. The rivers originates from the Himalayas.
2. These rivers are snow fed as well as rain fed and thus perennial.
3. For Eg- Indus, Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmputra.
Question: Compare the western coastal plains and the Eastern coastal plains.
Answer: Western coastal plains: The northern part of the Western coastal plain is
called the Konkan coast and the southern part is called the Malabar coastal. The
backwaters, locally called kayals, are a special feature of the Malabar coast.
Eastern coastal plains: The northern part of the Eastern coastal plain is called the
Northern Circars and the southern part is called the Coromandel coast. Rivers such as
Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri have formed fertile deltas along the Eastern
coastal plain.
Question: Why is the Ganga-Brahmaputra plain the most fertile region of India?
Answer: They are fertile because they bring deposits of siets and sand along.
Q2. True/False
i. Aravali hill is one of the oldest ranges of the world. True
ii. India has an area of about 1.28 million sq. km. False
iii. The Greater Himalayas are also known as Himadri. True
iv. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes almost halfway through the
country. True
v. India is located in the southern hemisphere. False
Q3. How many time zones are there in USA?
Ans. There are seven time zones in USA.
Q8. Which two major rivers fall into the Arabian Sea?
Ans. The rivers Narmada and Tapi fall into the Arabian Sea.
Q9. Which is the second most populous country of the world after China?
Ans. India is the second most populous country of the world after China.
Q10. In how many parallel ranges The Himalayan Mountains are divided?
Ans. The Himalayan Mountains are divided into three main parallel ranges.
Q29. India shares its land boundaries with seven countries. Name them.
Ans. India shares its land boundaries with seven countries i.e. Pakistan, Nepal, China,
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar.
Q30. Write one point of difference between the western Coastal plains and
the eastern Coastal plains.
Ans. The western coastal plains are very narrow whereas the eastern Coastal plains are
much broader.
Q31. What is the north-south and east-west extent of India?
Ans. The north-south extent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is about 3,200 km. And the
east-west extent from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh is about 2,900 km.
Q32. What is the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India?
Ans. From south to north, main land of India extends between 8°4'N and 37°6' N
latitudes. From west to east, India extends between 68°7' E and 97°25' E longitudes.
Q35. How many States and Union Territories are there in India? Which states
have a common capital?
Ans. India is a vast country. For administrative purposes, the country is divided into 28
States and 7 Union Territories. Delhi is the national capital. Punjab and Haryana have a
common capital i.e. Chandigarh.
Q36. Why do a large number of people live in the Northern plains?
Ans. Northern plains are generally level and flat. These are formed by the alluvial
deposits laid down by the rivers– the Indus, the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and their
tributaries. These river plains provide fertile land for cultivation. That is the reason for
high concentration of population in these plains.
Q37. Name the major physical divisions of India.
Ans. The major physical divisions of India are:
i. The Himalayas
ii. The Northern Indian plains
iii. The Great Indian dessert
iv. The Peninsular plateau
v. The Coastal plains
vi. Two groups of islands –
Lakshadweep Islands
The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands
Q38. Differentiate between Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
Ans. Difference between Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
Western Ghats Eastern Ghats
1. The Western Ghats or Sahyadris border 1. The Eastern Ghats provide the eastern
the plateau in the west. boundary.
2. The Western Ghats are almost 2. The Eastern Ghats are broken and
continuous. uneven.
(1) The Greater Himalayas: They are also known as the Himadri and have an average height of
6,000 metres. They also have some of the highest peaks of the world. They extend into both India
and Nepal. Mount Everest, Lhotse and Annapurna are in Nepal,
while Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat and Nanda Devi are in India.
(2) The Lesser Himalayas: They are also known as the Himachal. With an average height
of 4,500 metres, they are home to several beautiful hill stations,
including Darjeeling, Simla and Mussoorie.
(3) The Outer Himalayas: These mountains are also known as the Shivaliks. With an average
height of less than 1,250 metres, they have several broad valleys called duns. They are made of
loose, soft rocks and are prone to earthquakes and landslides. Dehradun lies in the Outer
Himalayas.
Question 3:Name the major hill ranges that make up the Purvachal mountains.
ANSWER:
The Purvanchal Mountains are an extension of the Himalayas in the northeast part of our country.
They consist of major hill ranges such as the Patkai Bum, the Naga Hills, the Khasi Hills,
the Garo Hills, the Jaintia Hills, the Mizo Hills and the Lushai Hills. The average height of these
hills is around 3,000 metres.
Question 5:Name two rivers of the Peninsular Plateau that flow into the Arabian sea.
ANSWER:
The Narmada and the Tapi are the two major peninsular rivers that flow into the Arabian
Sea. These rivers are rain fed and are thus seasonal.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands situated in the Bay of Bengal are volcanic in origin. They are
the peaks of submerged mountains.
Question 7:What is a delta? Which is the largest delta in the world?
ANSWER:
A delta is formed at the mouth of a river where the river flows into an ocean, estuary or lake. The
river carrying sediments deposits them at its mouth; this leads to the formation of deltas. These
deltas are triangular structures with high fertility. The Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta is the world's
largest delta.
Question 8:Describe the important features of the three ranges of the Himalayas.
ANSWER:
(1) The Greater Himalayas: They are also known as the Himadri and have an average height of
6,000 metres. They also have some of the highest peaks of the world. They extend into both India
and Nepal. Mount Everest, Lhotse and Annapurna are in Nepal,
while Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat and Nanda Devi are in India.
(2) The Lesser Himalayas: They are also known as the Himachal. With an average height
of 4,500 metres, they are home to several beautiful hill stations, including Darjeeling, Simla
and Mussoorie.
(3) The Outer Himalayas: These mountains are also known as the Shivaliks. With an average
height of less than 1,250 metres, they have several broad valleys called duns. They are made of
loose, soft rocks and are prone to earthquakes and landslides. Dehradun lies in the Outer
Himalayas.
The Northern Plains make an extensive area of fertile land that lies to the south of northern
mountains. The region is also known as the Indo-Gangetic Plain, which is formed by the alluvium
deposited by the rivers Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Northern Plains are
further subdivided into the following:
(1) Indus plains: These plains are drained by the Indus River and its tributaries, namely
the Chenab, the Jhelum, the Ravi, the Beas and the Satluj. They mostly flow in Pakistan and India
and drain the present-day Punjab and Haryana.
(2) Ganga plains: They are the most extensive portions of Northern Plains drained by the
river Ganga and its tributaries like the Yamuna and the Kosi. The plains cover the states of Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
(3) Brahmaputra plains: These plains are drained by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries such as
the Manas and the Teesta. Towards the mouth of these rivers, river Ganga joins them to form the
largest delta of the world. This delta is located in West Bengal, of which a major portion lies in
Bangladesh.
Question 10:Describe the Deccan Plateau with reference to its location, formation, rivers and the
hills bordering it.
ANSWER:
The Deccan Plateau is a part of the Peninsular Plateau. It is made of up hard igneous and
metamorphic rocks. It is a large plateau and covers most of southern India, including eight states.
It is separated from northern India by the Vindhyas. Some of its characteristics are as follows:
Location: It is located to the south of the Gangetic Plains and covers massive portions of land
lying between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It is further bounded by the Western Ghats
and the Eastern Ghats.
Formation: The foundation of the Deccan belt was laid down eons ago when lava started getting
deposited on the surface because of extensive volcanic activity. This lava formed many layers,
which resulted in the formation of the Deccan region (also known as the Deccan Trap) in the
northern parts.
Rivers: Most of the northern part is drained by the Godavari and its tributaries. The central part is
drained by the Tungabhadra and the Krishna and their tributaries. The southernmost part is
drained by the Kaveri and its tributaries. The major rivers draining this region like the Mahanadi,
the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri form deltas before draining into the Bay of Bengal.
Surrounding hills: The Deccan Plateau is bounded in the north by the Satpura Range,
the Mahadeo Hills, the Maikal Hills and the Kaimur Hills. Hills bordering it in the west are the
Western Ghats, which consist of the Sahyadari, the Nilgiri, the Anamalai and the Cardamom Hills
and hills forming its eastern edge are called the Eastern Ghats
Our country's physical features have been divided into five broad forms on the basis of
topography. Because of diversity, they have a distinct geographical identity. Each division
complements the other and is dependent on it. This significance can be understood with the
following points:
(1) Northern mountains: The high Himalayan mountains have acted as physical barriers
to intruders in the past. They protect us from the cold Siberian winds flowing in from the north.
They play a major role in the distribution of rainfall and are a source of the perennial rivers.
(2) Northern plains: The Indo-Gangetic Plains are very fertile due to the deposition of alluvium
by the rivers. Hence, this region is considered very good for agriculture and is also called the food
bowl of India.
(3) Peninsular plateau: This region is very rich in minerals. It comprises black soil, which is
used for growing cotton, sugarcane, etc. It also has a great faunal and floral diversity.
(4) Coastal plains: They house all the major ports and harbours. They are also known for their
scenic beauty, which includes a large number of estuaries, lagoons and backwaters.
(5) Island groups: Both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are located in the
critical areas of trade. These islands have extensive floral and fauna diversity. They are also
known for their scenic beauty.
Explanation: The average height of mountains in this region is 6,000 metres. The region is also
home to some of the highest peaks of the world, including Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga
and Nanga Parbat.
Question 15:The Siachen glacier lies in the __________ range.
ANSWER:
Explanation: It is a disputed region between India and Pakistan and is also the highest battlefield
on earth.
Question 16:Teesta is a tributary of __________.
ANSWER:
Explanation: The Teesta flows in India and Bangladesh and is called the lifeline of Sikkim.
Question 17:The northern part of the Western Coastal Plain is called the _________.
ANSWER:
The northern part of the Western Coastal Plains is called the Konkan Coast.
Explanation: Most of the rivers or streams in this region either drain into salt water streams or
disappear into the sand.
Question 19:Ranges − Karakoram, Shiwalik, Aravalli, Vindhya
ANSWER:
Question 23:
Unscramble the following words. The first letter of each word joined together will give you the
name of an important river of India.
RAKAOMKAR ___________
ANSWER:
Explanation: The Karakoram is the northernmost mountain range of our country lying between the
Pamir Knot and the Indus River.
Question 24:
Unscramble the following words. The first letter of each word joined together will give you the
name of an important river of India.
DNAIAUMI ___________
ANSWER:
Explanation: It is located in Kerala and is the highest peak in the Western Ghats.
Question 25:
Unscramble the following words. The first letter of each word joined together will give you the
name of an important river of India.
IYDVNHA _________
ANSWER:
Explanation: The Vindhyas are a chain of mountains and hills in the western central part of India.
Question 26:
Unscramble the following words. The first letter of each word joined together will give you the
name of an important river of India.
REEVSET _________
ANSWER:
Explanation: It is the highest mountain peak in the world. A part of the Greater Himalayas is also
located in Nepal.
Question 27:
Unscramble the following words. The first letter of each word joined together will give you the
name of an important river of India.
VIAR __________
ANSWER:
Explanation: The Ravi River flows through India and Pakistan. It is one of the six tributaries of
the Indus in Punjab.
Question 28:
Unscramble the following words. The first letter of each word joined together will give you the
name of an important river of India.
SINUD _________
ANSWER:
Explanation: The Indus is one of the longest rivers of Asia. It flows through India, Pakistan and
Tibet, originating from Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.
Question A.1:
a. Godwin Austin
b. Kanchenjunga
c. Nanda Devi
d. Dhaulagiri
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (a).
Question A.2:
a. Kanchenjunga
b. Nanga Parbat
c. Mt Everest
d. Nanda Devi
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (c).
Explanation: All the given mountain peaks are located in India except Mount Everest, which is
located in Nepal. It is the highest peak in the world at a height of 8,848 metres.
Question A.3:
a. Rajasthan
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Punjab
d. Haryana
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (a).
Explanation: The Great Indian Desert or the Rajasthan Desert is found in the western part of
Rajasthan. Because of the lack of moisture, this region witnesses scanty rainfall. Also, because
this region is very far from the sea, the rivers of this region have inland drainage.
Question A.4:
Which one of the following states is not a part of thee Ganga basin?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Bihar
c. Rajasthan
d. Punjab
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (d).
Explanation: The Northern Plains of India are drained by several rivers, which make these plains
very fertile. The Ganga Basin covers most part of these plains. It covers the states of Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
Question A.5:
The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet at the ___________ hills.
a. Jaintia
b. Rajmahal
c. Mahadeo
d. Nilgiri
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (d).
Explanation: The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet at the Nilgiri hills. The Western
Ghats surround the Western Coastal Plains and the Eastern Ghats are the broken chain of
mountains surrounding the Eastern Coastal Plains.
Question A.6:
Which one of the following rivers is the longest river of the Peninsular India?
a. Godavari
b. Narmada
c. Krishna
d. Kaveri
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (a).
Explanation: Godavari is the longest river of peninsular India. It is the second longest river of
India after Ganga. It is also known as Old Ganga. It drains into the Bay of Bengal.
Question A.7:
The southern part of the Western coastal plan is called the _______ coast.
a. Konkan
b. Malabar
c. Coromandel
d. Northern Circars
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (b).
Explanation: India has a very long coastal boundary. The northern and southern parts of the
Western Coastal Plains are known as the Konkan Coast and the Malabar Coast, respectively.
Question A.8:
Which one of the following island is the largest of the lakshadweep group of island?
a. Agatti
b. Amindivi
c. Minicoy
d. Kavaratti
ANSWER:
The correct answer is option (c).
Explanation: Lakshadweep Islands are a group of 36 islands. Out of them, Minicoy is the largest
island with an area of almost five square kilometres.
Question B:
Explanation: The Karakoram range extends between the Pamir Knot and the Indus river.
It consists of a number of glaciers, including Siachen and Baltoro.
Explanation: The River Brahmaputra originates from Tibet, where it is known as Tsangpo. It
enters the Indian territory from Arunachal Pradesh.
Explanation: The peninsular plateaus are located in the southern part of the country. They are
composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks and have rounded tops because of the flowing
rivers.
4. The Deccan plateau is bounded by the Western coastal plain and the Eastern coastal plain.
Explanation: The Deccan Plateau is bounded on two sides by the Western and Eastern Coastal
Plains. They extend from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to West Bengal.
5. The Andaman and Nicobar islands are in the Bay of Bengal.
Explanation: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands stretch for a distance of 600 kilometres in the
Bay of Bengal. They are mountainous regions with thick forests.
Question C:
1. The Pamir Knot is popularly known as the 'Roof of the World'. ________
2. The northern plains are located between the Himalayas and the coastal plains. ________
3. River Narmada separates the Central Highlands from the Deccan plateaus. _______
4. The Kayals are mostly found along the Coromandel coast. __________
ANSWER:
1. The given statement is true.
Explanation: The Pamir Knot is also known as the Roof of the World owing to its great height.
Many mountain ranges run from this knot, including the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges.
Explanation: The Northern Plains are fertile lands drained by a range of rivers like Ganga
and Yamuna. They are located between the Himalayas and the Peninsular Plateau.
Explanation: The River Narmada originating from the Amarkantak Plateau divides the
Peninsular Plateau into two parts: the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
Explanation: The southern portion of the Western Coastal Plains is known as the Malabar Coast.
In local language, the Kayals are the backwaters found along the Malabar Coast.
Question D:
Column A Column B
Tributary of
1. Sunderbans a.
Ganga
2. Patkai Bum b. Arabian Sea
Central
3. Ghaghara c.
Highlands
4. Baghelkhand d. Delta
Purvachal
5. Lakshadweep e.
ranges
ANSWER:
Column A Column B
1. Sundarbans d. Delta
2. Patkai Bum e. Purvanchal ranges
3. Ghaghara a. Tributary of Ganga
4. Baghelkhand c. Central Highlands
5. Lakshadweep b. Arabian Sea
Explanation:
The Sundarbans Delta is the world's largest delta formed by the accumulation of silt brought by
the River Ganga and its tributaries. It is a very fertile land formed by the confluence of rivers like
Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna.
Patkai Bum is a low mountain range in the eastern Himalayas. It is located on the northeastern
border of the Indian territory along with Myanmar.
A tributary means a water stream that meets the main river. Ghaghara is a tributary of Ganga. It
plays an important role in the formation of fertile soil in the Northern Plains.
The Peninsular Plateau is divided by the River Narmada into two parts: the Deccan Plateau and
the Central Highlands. The Central Highlands comprise plateaus made of igneous rocks and
Baghelkhand is one of them.
The Indian subcontinent has two groups of islands: the Lakshadweep Islands and
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Lakshadweep Islands are a group of 36 small islands
found in the Arabian Sea.
Question E:
Sindh
Betwa
Ken
Aravallis
Satpuras
Western Ghats
5. Rivers that have formed deltas along the Eastern Coastal Plains
Godavari
Krishna
Kaveri
Question F:
1. Himachal
2. Purvahcal
3. Great Indian desert
4. Ganga basin
5. Central Highlands
ANSWER:
1. The three parallel ranges of the Himalayas are the Himadri, the Himachal and the Shiwaliks.
The Himachal range lies towards the south of the Himadri. The range is also known as the Lesser
Himalayas. A lot of hill stations are located in this range. Some of them are Nanital, Shimla,
Mussoorie, Dehradun, Kullu and Manali.
2. The Purvanchal range is found on the eastern part of the Indian territory. It is made up of soft
rocks, mud and silt. Hence, it is more prone to landslides. It comprises the following low hills:
4. The Northern Plains of the Indian territory are drained by several rivers. Most of the area is
drained by the River Ganga. The silt brought by the river has made the soil in these plains very
fertile. Hence, agriculture is the major occupation of the people living in these plains. The
Ganga Basin covers the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and
West Bengal.
5. The Peninsular Plateau is divided by the River Narmada into two parts: the Deccan Plateau and
the Central Highlands. The Central Highlands comprise plateaus made of igneous rocks. The
rivers flowing from these highlands join the rivers Yamuna and Ganga from the southern
direction.
Question G:
1. Following are the names of the two hill stations located in the Lesser Himalayas:
Shimla
Dalhousie
2. Banihal Pass is located in the Pir Panjal range of the Lesser Himalayas. The Jammu and
Kashmir region is linked with the rest of India by a highway passing through this pass.
3. The Great Indian Desert region of the western Rajasthan has inland drainage.
4. The River Ganga originates from the Gangotri glacier in the Himalayas. Its two head
streams, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, meet at Devprayag and form Ganga.
5. The Peninsular Plateau is the oldest physical feature of the Indian subcontinent. It is triangular
in shape and is surrounded by hills from three sides and by the Northern Plains from one side.
6. The Western Ghats run along the western side of the Indian territory. They are also known as
the Shayadris. They consist of several mountain ranges.
7. Following are the names of the two main island groups of the Indian subcontinent:
Lakshadweep Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Question H.1:
Question H.2:
They are formed by the deposits of alluvium and silt brought by the rivers flowing through
the northern mountains. Hence, the soil is very fertile in these plains, which
makes agriculture a prime occupation of the people living here.
They provide a flat surface for the construction of buildings, roads and many other
infrastructural projects.
The rivers provide water for irrigation and drinking purposes.
The climatic conditions prevailing in these plains also support agriculture here.
Question H.3:
The northern portion of the plateau is bounded by the Aravallis, the Vindhayas,
the Satpuras and the Rajmahal hills.
The western portion is bounded by the Western Ghats that stretch along the western border
of the country.
The eastern portion is bounded by the Eastern Ghats that run discontinuously along the
eastern border of the country.
Question H.4:
Question I.1:
Question I.2:
It is the oldest structure of the Indian subcontinent formed by igneous and metamorphic
rocks.
Because of the continuous action of river water, it has a rounded top Also, hills in this
region are relatively low.
It is surrounded by hills on all three sides, i.e. the Aravallis, the Rajmahal and
the Vindhayas in the north, the Western Ghats in the west and the Eastern Ghats in the
east.
These hills are a source of many rivers like Narmada, Godavari and Krishna.
The soil of the Peninsular Plateau is black and rich in minerals; hence it supports a large
variety of vegetation.
Question I.3:
Compare the rivers of the Deccan plateau with those of the Himalays.
ANSWER:
Rivers of the Himalayas
The source of these rivers is glaciers. Hence, they flow throughout the year.
They flow through high hills and mountains, so the rate of soil erosion is very high.
They are perennial in nature; they are snow-fed and hence are not dependent on rainfall.
Since they flow through high mountains, they have a potential for the generation
of hydroelectricity.
The source of these rivers is not snow. Hence, they are seasonal and dry out during
summer.
They do not flow through high hills, so the rate of erosion is very low.
They move at a slow pace over gentle slopes.
They are much smaller and less deep than the Himalayan rivers.
Question I.4:
Compare the Western coastal plains and the Eastern coastal plains.
ANSWER:
Question I.5:
Why is India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh called the Indian subcontinent?
ANSWER:
A subcontinent is an area that stands out distinctively from the rest of the continent, both
geographically and culturally. India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh are called the Indian
subcontinent because the territories of these lands are separated from the rest of the continent by
the Himalayas. Along with their geographical homogeneity, these countries share a long history.
India had a great cultural influence on these nations. Hence, these nations are collectively referred
to as the Indian subcontinent.
Question I.6:
Question I.7:
Question I.8: