ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

SEMESTER QUESTION BANK

CLASS 9TH
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
LESSON NO 1
Q.1. Answer in short: - (2 marks each)
1. Define:- 1. Environment 2. Environmental science
Ans:-
1. Environment: - Environment can be defined as the sum total of all the forces,
materials and influences around us at a given point of time and place.
2. Environmental science:- It is the field of science that studies the interactions of
physical, chemical and biological components of the environment and also the
relationships and effects of these components with the organisms in the environment.
2. Write two effects of thermal pollution.
Ans:-
 Thermal pollution cause the death of aquatic organisms.
 The decay of aquatic organisms consume much of dissolved oxygen thereby
leading to eutophication.
3. Why is nuclear pollution the most dangerous amongst all types of pollution?
Ans:-
• Nuclear pollution is the most dangerous amongst all because it remains in the
atmosphere for a very long time and spread too far off places.
• They cause somatic and genetic variation in human beings.
4. List any two harmful effects of air pollution.
Ans:-
• The climate change is mainly due to air pollution. Air pollution damage trees, crops,
other plants, lakes, and animals. They damage the natural environment.
• It causes respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, pollution also damage
buildings, monuments and statues.
5. Write any four important causes of the environmental problems.
Ans:- Some of the most important causes of the environmental problems are listed below
(any four):
• i. Population growth
 • ii. Urbanization
• iii. Industrialization
• iv. Transportation
• v. Mining
• vi. War
• vii. Construction of dams
6. Give any two ways by which we misuse water resources.
Ans:-
• The quality of water is under threat from the fast growing population. We have
polluted our water resources.
• The increased use of underground water in coastal regions results in the intrusion of
salt water.
7. Mention any two harmful effects of ground water pollution.
Ans:-
 The contamination of ground water lead to metabolic diseases and organ failure.
 Chemical fertilizers and pesticides get biomagnified along the food chain and often
become lethal.
8. Write short note on population crisis and consumption crisis.
Ans:-
• Rapid growth of population has resulted in increased demand for food, water and
shelter. This has added pressure on the land because the resources on the land are
limited and take a long time to renew. Some of them are non renewable.
• Increasing population also increased the demand for water which is being fulfilled by
pumping up of ground water. This has lead to reduction in the level of water table.
9. Write any two effects of resource depletion.
Ans:-
• Increase in demand for food leads to overuse of agricultural land which exhaust them
of the necessary nutrients. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and
over irrigation leads to degradation of soil.
• The depletion of mineral resources will leave us and our future generation with few
options to consumer products. The production of goods will decrease and the
economy will decline.
10. Enumerate any two causes of water pollution.
Ans:-
• The chemicals released from the chemical industries are toxic to the aquatic life as
well as cause metabolic diseases in humans.
• The garbage thrown into the water bodies choke the aquatic animals.
Q.2. Answer in brief:- (5 marks each)
1. What is meant by sustainable development? Write four sustainable development goals.
Ans:- Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.
Four sustainable development goals are:-
• Need for policy makers to define a clear mandate and process for developing a set of
universal SDGs at Rio+20.
• Political commitment and foster further efforts towards achieving sustainable
development.
• Voluntary commitments from both developed and developing countries are crucial in
order for SDGs to be promoted based on common goals, shared interests.
• SDGs address economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable
development as part of a broader framework dealing with overarching issues such as
poverty eradication, but with enhanced environmental considerations.
2. Why is sustainable development a challenge in the developing countries? Write four
strategies for attaining sustainable development.
Ans:- Due to environmental issues in developing countries there has been deterioration
in areas such as water, soil and biodiversity. Extreme poverty still ravages the life of
quarter of population in the developing nations. Thus, sustainable development a
challenge in the developing countries
Four strategies for attaining sustainable development are:-
• Input efficient technology can reduce the exploitation of resources.
• Using of Environmental friendly Sources of Energy, such as LPG and CNG which
are eco- friendly fuel can reduce the greenhouse gases.
• To focus on renewable sources of energy like solar and wind for energy
requirements in country like India, where there is enough sun light, to convert
sun light into solar energy and solar energy in electricity.
 • Awareness and responsibility of the citizens to take initiatives at personal level to
conserve national assets for intergenerational equity.
3. Explain how pollution causes environmental degradation.
Ans:-
• Air pollution:- The climate change is mainly due to air pollution. Air pollution
damage trees, crops, other plants, lakes, and animals. They damage the natural
environment. It causes respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, pollution
also damage buildings, monuments and statues.
• Water pollution:- The chemicals released from the chemical industries are toxic to
the aquatic life as well as cause metabolic diseases in humans. The garbage
thrown into the water bodies choke the aquatic animals.
• Ground water pollution:- Ground water is used for drinking, hence the
contamination of ground water lead to metabolic diseases and organ failure.
• Soil pollution:- Toxic chemicals in the soil which may have come from the
household garbage or chemical industries or mines or chemical fertilizers and
pesticides get biomagnified along the food chain and often become lethal.
• Nuclear pollution:-Nuclear pollution is the most dangerous amongst all because it
remains in the atmosphere for a very long time and spread too far off places. They
cause somatic and genetic variation in human beings.
4. What does the study of environmental science include?
Ans:- The study of environmental science involves the following:
• The study of the origin and functioning of the natural system and its correlation with
the living world.
• The understanding that human beings, plants and animals are part of a natural
phenomenon and are interdependent.
• The study of influence of human activity on natural processes.
• The understanding of how local environments contribute to the global environment.
• The study of wise planning of development that leads to sustainable development.
5. What is meant by extinction of species? What are the four causes of extinction?
Ans:- Extinction is the process in which groups of organisms die out and not even a single
organism of that species is alive.
Four causes of extinction are:-
• Species that is unable to survive or reproduce in its environment and unable to move
to a new environment, dies out and becomes extinct.
 • Global warming
• May occur gradually over thousands or millions of years, such as when a species
gradually loses out in competition for food to better adapted competitors or predators.
• Habitat loss in form of degradation, fragmentation or being taken up for a different
land use are the leading factors that cause wildlife extinction.
• Spread of disease and epidemic.
6. What is soil pollution? Enumerate its effects.
Ans:- Soil pollution is degradation or destruction of earth’s surface and soil, directly or
indirectly due to human activities, which makes it unfit for the designated use such as
agriculture, grazing, forestry, housing, etc.
Effects:-
• The decomposing garbage emits foul smell and spoils the esthetics of the place.
• They become breeding grounds for micro organisms, insects and rats, thus help in
spread of diseases.
• Toxic chemicals in the soil which may have come from the household garbage or
chemical industries or mines or chemical fertilizers and pesticides get biomagnified
along the food chain and often become lethal.
7. What are the ill effects of population explosion on resources?
Ans:-
• The unprecedented rise in population is one of the most important causes of resource
depletion.
• The rise in population increases the demand for food, shelter, clothing, water,
electricity, transportation, health care, educational institutions etc.
• Increase in demand for food leads to intensive cropping, leading to decrease in soil
fertility and conversion of forests into cropland.
• Infrastructure development leads to change in land use pattern.
• There is increase in demand of fossil fuel and more generation of waste.
8. Explain a global perspective of environmental problems with reference to developed
and developing countries.
Ans:- Views of developed countries on environmental problems:-
• The developed countries also referred as north are of the opinion that the south
developing countries are responsible for major environmental degradation because of
their large population.
 • Environmental problems are caused by poverty because in quest to earn living they
cause deforestation for fuel wood and other forest products, overgrazing, excessive
use of water etc.
• The developing countries in process of accelerating development generate
environmental problems by overuse of resources, deforestation, creating more
pollution as the control methods might be costly.
• Views of developing countries on environmental problems:-
• Developing countries like India, China, and Brazil insist that developed countries like
the U.S. and much of Europe have an extended history of polluting industry which
makes them the primary culprits and therefore primarily responsible for making the
necessary carbon emission cuts.
• Developing countries also argue that even though the population of the developing
nations is more than the developed nations, their consumption is much less; hence
they contribute less towards environmental degradation.
• The north is responsible for degradation of environment by the debt services the
developing countries have to pay against loans offered by World Bank and IMF.

POVERTY
LESSON NO 11
Q.1. Answer in short:- (2 marks each)
1. Define:- (a). Poverty (b). PPP
Ans:-
(a). Poverty:- Poverty is the lack of basic human needs, such as clean water,
nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter because of the inability to
afford them.
(b). PPP:- PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) is defined as a method of measuring the
relative purchasing power of different countries currencies over the same types
of goods and services.
2. When is the International Day for eradication of poverty celebrated? What is its aim?
Ans:-
• 17 October every year is celebrated as International day for eradication of poverty.
• Aim:- To promote awareness of need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all
countries, particularly in developing countries.
 3. Give two reasons why the third world neglects environment.
Ans:- The third world neglects the environment because of two main reasons:
• Rapid economic growth
• Lack of concern for the future as immediate survival is a priority
4. How does The World Bank defines poverty in absolute terms?
Ans:- The World Bank defines poverty in absolute terms.
• The bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than US$1.25 per day (PPP), and
moderate poverty as less than $2 a day.
5. Write four factors for economic inequality.
Ans:- Some of the factors for economic inequality are (any four):-
• Globalization,
• Technological changes
• Computerization
• Increased technology
• Ethnic discrimination
• Gender discrimination
• Plutocracy
• Nepotism
Q.2. Answer in brief:- (5 marks each)
1. Explain the wealth gap between the developed and developing countries.
Ans:-
• In developing countries, we continue to see a wide gap and in some cases — widening
gap between rich and poor to the access to essential amenities.
• This means that access to good schools, healthcare, electricity, safe water and other
critical services still remains elusive for many people who are living in developing
economies.
• A strong economy in a developed nation doesn't mean much when a significant
percentage of the population is struggling to survive. For example the US for a long
time had the largest gap and inequality between rich and poor compared to all the
other industrialized nations.
• Developing countries still remain mired in economic crisis as the disparities between
North and South become increasingly pronounced.
 • The gap between rich and poor has doubled in the past 30 years. This means that
we now live in a world in which 20% of its people consume more than 80% of its
wealth.
2. Write three causes and two effects of poverty.
Ans:- Three causes of poverty are:-
• Illiteracy can be counted as one of the reasons for poverty.
• High birth rate in the under developed countries is another factor leading to
poverty.
• Growing population with less job opportunities also lead to poverty.
• Two effects of poverty are (any two):-
• Illiteracy & poor nutrition
• Poor health and sanitation.
• It leads to migration and development of slums.
3. Explain the monetary and non monetary indicators of poverty.
Ans:- The non monetary indicators of poverty are:-
• Life expectancy
• Child mortality,
• Global literacy,
• Child labour,
• Access to clean water and electricity
The monetary indicators of poverty are:-
 Income level or consumption level for particular kinds of goods and services.
4. Explain how environment and poverty are related.
Ans:-
• Poverty and third world debt had resulted in many environmental problems like
resources depletion.
• Just to survive or pay off debt the third world countries neglects the environment.
• Growth is not a choice but an absolute necessity for them.
• There is a fundamental link between the healthy environment, healthy society and
economy.
• For rapid economic growth and for immediate survival the physical environment
is damaged which in turn reinforces poverty and threathens the health of their
own people and the future generation.
•
 5. Write briefly on international inequity.
Ans:-
• Economic disparities between developed and the developing countries is
considerable.
• According to research, global income inequality peaked in the 1970s when world
income was distributed bimodally into "rich" and "poor" countries.
• Since then inequality have been rapidly decreasing, and this trend seems to be
accelerating.
• The major component of the world's income inequality consists of two groups of
countries called the "twin peaks".
• The first group has 13% of the world's population and receives 45% of the world's
PPP income. This group includes the United States, Japan, Germany, United
Kingdom, France, Australia and Canada.
• The second group has 42% of the world's population and receives only 9% of the
world PPP income. This group includes India, Indonesia and rural China.
URBANIZATION
LESSON NO 12
Q.1. Answer in short:- (2 marks each)
1. Employment opportunities in urban areas lead to migration from rural areas.
Explain.
Ans:-
• Rural areas are mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.
• In India and other developing countries are dependent on monsoon for agriculture
and in case of drought and other natural calamities, people have no option than
migrating to the urban centers for employment.
• Cities offer innumerable job opportunities to the rural migrants.
2. Urbanization leads to loss of fertility of the agricultural land. Explain.
Ans:-
• Apart from conversion of agricultural land for settlements and infrastructure
development, it is also over cultivated to fulfill the needs of the growing population.
• Due to over cultivation the soil loses its fertility. Increased use of chemical fertilizers
and pesticides cause soil salinity.
• This results in the loss of agricultural productivity and economic disparity.
 3. State any two social factors that lead to urbanization.
Ans:-
• Social factors like better standard of living, better educational, attraction and
glamour of cities, need of status etc enhance the migration to the cities.
• Cities are also hubs of creativity, innovation, technology development and higher
education.
4. Write any four pull factors for urbanization.
Ans:- Pull factors (any four):-
• Rapid economic development in the developing countries.
• The Industrial Revolution
• The urban bias
• Better housing
• Education
• General appeal of living in a city.
• Employment opportunities
• Modernization
5. Write any four push factors for urbanization.
Ans:- Push factors (any four):-
• The inability of households to sustain livelihoods in rural areas for economic
reasons
• Conflicts
• Natural disasters
• Environmental changes such as desertification and saltwater intrusion.
• The Green Revolution
• Rural poverty
6. Write short note on urban bias development strategies.
Ans:-
• The Government focuses on the development of urban areas for developmental
and political reasons.
• The urban areas develop greatly in terms of employment, education, health and
other facilities tend to attract the youth to the urban areas.
7. Write a short note on rural- urban transformation.
Ans:-
• The people in the rural areas like to adapt to the urban materialistic culture rather
than retaining their unique rural culture.
• The transformation of the rural areas can be seen in their sense of dressing,
enlightenment of women, use of modern technology in communication and transport,
infrastructure growth like bank, post office, roads and health centers, active
involvement in politics and increased awareness in different spears like
consumerism, trade, etc.
8. How can urbanization lead to problem of housing?
Ans:-
• Inadequate housing and uncontrolled housing development due to poor planning
systems lead to the development of slums or shanty settlements.
• It leads to extension of the urban boundaries to the out skirts of the cities referred to
as sprawls which are dispersed development unit outside compact urban and village
centers along highways.
• The need of land for settlements and infra structure development leads to conversion
of agricultural land and forest.
Q.2. Answer in brief:- (5 marks each)
1. Define urbanization. Explain any four causes of urbanization.
Ans:- The migration of people from rural areas to urban areas in search of job and
better living conditions resulted in concentration of population in cities. This is
known as urbanization.
Four causes of urbanization are as follows:-
(Explanation of each point must be taken from text book page no 100, 101 & 102. Any
four points can be considered)
• Industrialization
• Employment opportunities
• Social factors
• Modernization
• Urban bias development strategies
• Economic reasons
• Rural urban transformation
 2. What is meant by informal sector? Write two major reasons for the development of
informal sector. Write its two impacts.
Ans:- The informal sector are unorganized sector that comprise of business typically
operating on streets and in other public places, are often seen as eye-sores and
undesirable activities.
Two major reasons for the development of informal sector are:-
• One of the reasons for the development of informal sector is the inability of formal
sector to accommodate large number of workforce available as a result of migration.
• The other reason of development of informal sector is the ineffective and
unresponsive urban planning.
Two impacts of informal sector are:-
• Conflicts arise between urban authorities trying to keep their cities clean and the
urban informal sector operators who need space for their activities.
• Informal sector may lead to environmental degradation as well.
3. What are slums? What are the impacts of slum development?
Ans:- A slum is a heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing
and squalor generally built by poor migrating people.
Impact of slum development are (any four):-
• Dwellings made of non-durable material
• Lack of access to clean water
• Unreliable power supply
• Lack of access to improved sanitation (a toilet, uncollected garbage, poor drainage
etc)
• Poor health and disease
• Slums dwellers are poor and often indulge in crime and violence
4. Explain any five impacts of urbanization.
Ans:-
• Growth of slums:- Extreme overcrowding, high mortality and fertility are the
demographic characters of the slums, where are they are characterized by extreme
poverty, unemployment, low level of productivity and large unorganized sector as
economic features. The people lack access to basic amenities like water, sanitation,
electricity, clean environment etc.
 • Growth of informal sector:- Conflicts arise between urban authorities trying to keep
their cities clean and the urban informal sector operators who need space for their
activities. Informal sector may lead to environmental degradation as well.
• Pressure on civic amenities:- Extension of the water pipes and drainage system to the
slums and city extension units sprawls becomes difficult for the city planners with
limited fund with them. The government hospitals and health centers are unable to
cater to the needs of the growing needs in terms of medical care and supply of
medicines and vaccines.
• Degradation of human resource and growing sense of despair:- With the degradation
of environment, depletion and pollution of water resources, land degradation, climate
change, deforestation and increased vulnerability to natural disasters are the
outcomes of rapid urbanization. In the urban centers there is increased people's
vulnerability to water scarcity, water borne disease, poverty, food insecurity and
deprivation.
• Loss of agricultural land:- Apart from conversion of agricultural land for settlements
and infrastructure development, it is also over cultivated to fulfill the needs of the
growing population. This results in the loss of agricultural productivity and economic
disparity.
5. How does urbanization lead to pressure on the civic amenities?
Ans:-
• Extension of the water pipes and drainage system to the slums and city extension
unit sprawls becomes difficult for the city planners with limited fund with them.
• Improper discharge of sewage and untimely disposal of garbage pose a serious threat
to the human life in form of diseases and epidemic.
• The roads seem to be narrow to accommodate the growing transport leading to
congestions and traffic jams. Public transport is not sufficient and an overcrowded
state run bus is not an unusual sight.
• The government hospitals and health centers are unable to cater to the needs of the
growing needs in terms of medical care and supply of medicines and vaccines.
• Government educational schools and centers, playground, recreational centers and
open spaces have become a victim of neglect and policy myopia.
 AGRICULTURE
LESSON NO 13
Q.1. Answer in short:- (2 marks each)
1. Name the traditional methods of agriculture.
Ans:- The traditional methods of agriculture are shifting cultivation, mixed subsistence
farming, alternate cropping and crop rotation.
2. Write any two disadvantages of monoculture.
Ans:-
• Monocultures can lead to the spread of pests and diseases in very less time, where a
specific species of crop is susceptible to a certain pathogen.
• Mono culture has a greater draining effect on soil nutrients. Huge problem with
growing any crop in a monoculture is that once the land has been used to cultivate a
single species, soil fertility diminishes greatly.
3. What is the contribution of green revolution towards food security?
Ans:-
• The world population has grown up by about 4 billion since the beginning of the
Green Revolution and it is believed that, without the Green Revolution, there would
have been greater famine and malnutrition.
• India saw annual wheat production rise from 10 million tons in 1960's to 73 millions
in 2006.
• Between 1950 to 1984, Green Revolution transformed agriculture around the globe.
• World grain production increased by over 250%.
4. Who is Norman Borlaug? What is his contribution?
Ans:-
• Norman Borlaug is known as the father of Green Revolution.
• He developed the high yielding variety of seeds (HYV), expanded irrigation and
proposed the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
• He is credited with saving millions of people from starvation by proper crop
management and modernized agriculture.
5. Write any four diseases of the ecotope.
Ans:- Diseases of the ecotope, which include erosion, loss of soil fertility, depletion of soil
nutrient reserves, salinization and alkalinization, pollution of water systems
including ground water, loss of fertile croplands to urban development (any four).
 6. Write any four diseases of the biocoenosis.
Ans:- Diseases of the biocoenosis, which include loss of crop, wild plant, and animal
genetic resources, elimination of natural enemies of pests, pest attack, pathogenic
diseases and genetic resistance to pesticides, chemical contamination and destruction of
natural control mechanisms (any four).
7. List any two impacts of chemical fertilizers.
Ans:-
• Excess nitrates in drinking water either sourced from the water bodies or ground
water (wells and bore wells) cause cancer of stomach, bladder and esophagus.
• The excessive use of chemical fertilizers has also been linked to the acidification or
salinization of soils rendering it uncultivable.
8. What is eutrophication?
Ans:-
• Chemical fertilizers supply nutrients to the water bodies and cause algal bloom.
• The supply of oxygen and light is reduced causing death of organisms underneath.
• The decay of the dead animals cause depletion of oxygen from the water bodies,
resulting in eutrophication.
9. What is green revolution?
Ans:- The introduction of high yielding varieties of seeds after 1965 and the increased
use of fertilizers and irrigation are collectively known as the green revolution.
10. Mention any two disadvantages of chemical pesticides.
Ans:-
• The chemicals seep into the water bodies and enter the food chain.
• The chemical pesticides kill the useful and non target organisms. They also kill the
natural enemies of the pests
Q.2. Answer in brief:- (5 marks each)
1. What is agriculture? Give the advantages of traditional agriculture.
Ans:- Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi, and other life forms for food,
fiber and other products used to sustain life.
The advantages of traditional agriculture are:-
• Traditional methods of agriculture are eco friendly and do not harm human beings.
• Farmers safeguarded their production by growing more than one crop or variety on a
field at a particular time.
• Traditional methods provided insurance against pest outbreaks.
 • Inputs of nitrogen were gained by rotating main crops with legumes.
• Crop rotation also suppressed insects, weeds and diseases by effectively breaking the
life cycles of these pests.
2. What is monoculture? Give four advantages of monoculture.
Ans:- Monoculture is the agricultural practice of producing or growing a single crop or
plant species over a wide area and for a large number of consecutive years.
Four advantages of monoculture are:-
• It reduces plant competition for nutrition, space and solar radiation.
• It reduces the cost of specialized machinery for agricultural operations for different
crops which may be planted on the same field.
• Controls the growth of undesirable and unprofitable plants.
• Maximizes the profit for the farmers as they cultivate high gross margin crops.
3. What is modern agriculture? Write the advantages of modern agriculture.
Ans:- The method of agriculture that involves the use of mechanization, reliance on
monoculture farming and agro industrial inputs such as capital-intensive technology,
pesticides and chemical fertilizers is called modern agriculture.
The main advantages of modern agriculture are:-
• Modern agriculture was very successful in meeting the growing demand for food by
the world's population.
• Yields of primary crops such as rice and wheat increased dramatically
• The price of food declined.
• It reduced the number of people going hungry.
4. Modern agriculture requires a lot of water for irrigation. What are its disadvantages?
Ans:-
• With modern methods of agriculture, irrigation has become the largest abstractor and
predominant consumer of groundwater resources.
• The water deficient areas are often planted with water intensive crops for monetary
gains which further deplete the ground water resources.
• In many arid and drought prone areas, unconstrained use of water for irrigation is
causing serious aquifer depletion and environmental degradation, and cropping
practices also exert a major influence on groundwater recharge and quality.
• It is also causing conflicts in rural and urban drinking water provision as most of the
water is diverted for irrigation.
 • Depletion of ground water may also lead to serious consequences like salinization of
ground water and land subsidence.
• Over irrigation has also led to leaching of the soil nutrients.
5. Write any five environmental impacts of green revolution.
Ans:-
• 20% of the sampled wells showed nitrate levels above the safety limit. The ground
water also contained nickel and selenium, while the tap water had high concentration
of lead, nickel and cadmium.
• The exploitation of ground water resources allowed farmers to double crop and to
grow water intensive crops such as rice and tobacco in areas that were traditionally
unsuited for their production. This resulted in salinization of the soil.
• The growth in irrigation also led to an alarming drop in the water table in a number
of key agricultural Indian states, such as Punjab.
• The soil fertility also decreased because of the excessive use of chemical fertilizers,
chemical pesticides and over irrigation.
• The introduction of high yielding variety of seeds (HYV) introduced all over the
country and cash driven agriculture destroyed traditional farming.
TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM
LESSON NO 5
Q.1. Answer in short:- (2 marks each)
1. Write two features of desert ecosystem.
Ans:- Two features of desert ecosystem are (any two):-
• Annual rainfall is usually less than25cms and not uniform throughout the year.
• The hot deserts have high day temperature and nights are cold.
• The soil is coarse and sandy type.
2. What are deserts? Name one hot desert and one cold desert.
Ans:- Deserts are the dry lands with very less annual precipitation.
Cold desert:- Atacama desert.
Hot desert:- Thar desert.
3. What are the adaptations of the animals surviving in the deserts?
Ans:- Adaptations of animals surviving in the desert:-
• These are the burrowing and nocturnal rodents, reptiles, insects and arachnids for
example scorpions, spiders.
• The insects and arachnids have waxy coat and cuticles to reduce the water loss.
4. Write any two features of Tundra ecosystem?
Ans:- Two features of Tundra ecosystem are:-
• The region of arctic tundra is under permafrost.
• The summers are short and cool and winters are long and bitter.
• Annual precipitation is less than 15 inches.
5. Distinguish between Lentic and Lotic ecosystem.
Ans:- Lentic ecosystem:-
• The fresh standing water ecosystem is called lentic ecosystem.
examples:- lake, ponds, marshes or swamps.
• Lotic ecosystem:-
• The fresh running water ecosystem is called lotic ecosystem.
examples:- rivers and springs.
6. What is coral bleaching?
Ans:- Coral bleaching is whitening of the corals due to the death of the symbiotic algae
indicating the death of the coral itself.
7. What is estuary?
Ans:-Estuary is a transition zone between the freshwater environment and the marine
water environment. It is the place where the river meets the sea or ocean.
8. Why are corals known as the ‘’Rain forest of the sea’’?
Ans:- Coral reefs are often termed as the ‘’Rainforest of the sea’’ because they support one
of the most diverse ecosystems on the earth.
9. Write any four threats to wildlife.
Ans:- Global warming, diseases, habitat loss, invasive species, oil spills, overexploitation,
pollution, climate change, illegal hunting and poaching, urban development, increase in
production of waste, the ongoing growth of human population (any four).
10. Explain any two zones of pond ecosystem.
Ans:- (any two)
• Littoral zone is the upper most zone of shallow water where the phytoplankton are
present and the aquatic plants are rooted.
• Limnetic zone is the middle layer and ranges from the end of littoral zone to the
depth of light penetration. Most of the marine organisms are found in this region.
• Profundal zone it is also known as aphotic zone which makes up the deepest layer.
This layer hardly receives any light. It sustains very little life and organisms like
snail, crab, mussels etc are found.
Q.2. Answer in brief:- (5 marks each)
1. What is a forest? What are the features of forest ecosystem?
Ans:- Forests are complex ecosystem consisting of mainly trees which are habitat for a
large number of flora and fauna.
The features of forest ecosystem are:-
• The forests have a dense vegetation and a canopy.
• The forests comprise of a complex collection of different kinds of fauna and flora.
• Suitable temperature and soil moisture is necessary for proper growth of forests.
• The soil makes the abiotic component of the forest. The forest soil is rich in humus
due to the decaying organic matter from the fallen leaves.
2. Explain forest ecosystem in terms of its biotic components.
Ans:-
• Producers- Trees are the main producers (autotrophs) of the forest ecosystem
although it also supports a wide variety of herbs and shrubs as the understory. They
trap the energy of the sun and convert it into chemical energy which is passed on to
the primary consumers. They are at the first trophic level.
• Primary consumers— Herbivores like deers, antelopes, giraffe, monkey etc make the
primary consumers of the forest ecosystem. There eat the leaves and fruits from the
forest and thus the energy is passed on from the producers to the next trophic level
in the food chain. These organisms are present at the second trophic level.
• Secondary consumers— These consist of the carnivores that feed on the primary
consumers or the herbivores. Examples are tiger, lion, wolf, hyena etc. the secondary
consumers are at the third trophic level.
• Tertiary or top consumers -Depending on who eats whom there might be tertiary or
top consumer in a forest food chain which is generally a tiger or a lion. They are
placed at the fourth trophic level.
• Decomposers- The bacteria and fungi are the main decomposers of the forest
ecosystem. They break down the dead organic matter and convert to humus which
enriches the soil.
3. Write any five threats to rainforest.
Ans:- The main threats to rainforest are human activities like:
• Deforestation for obtaining wood and commercial logging.
• Mining and drilling activities
• Conversion to agricultural lands to produce more crops for the growing population
 • Shifting agriculture & cattle ranching
• Building of hydroelectric dams and other infra structure development.
4. What is a grassland? Name two types of grassland. Write two features of grassland
ecosystem.
Ans:- Grassland is a terrestrial ecosystem where the vegetation is dominated by grasses
and other non woody plants.
The two types of grassland are:-
• Temperate grasslands
• Tropical grasslands
Features of grassland ecosystem are:-
• Grasses are the dominant vegetation where as large shrubs and trees are absent.
• They have a diverse variety of animals. They are home to large number of grazing
animals
5. Explain grassland ecosystem in terms of its biotic and abiotic components.
Ans:-
• Abiotic components are the atmospheric gases, water and soil rich in humus. They
also experience low annual precipitation.
• Biotic components of grassland are:-
• Producers- Grasses are the producers which are prone to wild fires in hot dry
summers. The seeds are fire resistant. These grasses are at the first trophic level.
• Primary Consumers— Grazing animals like zebra, deer, bison, antelopes, kangaroo
etc are the primary consumers. Burrowing animals like Rabbit, squirrels, insects and
worms make up the primary consumers. They are at the second trophic level.
• Secondary consumers- include the members of cat family like lions, tigers and
leopards. They also include dogs, jackals, foxes, wolf, snakes, predatory birds etc.
These herbivore eaters are at the third trophic level.
• Tertiary or top consumers- the tiger, lion or the predatory birds might be at the
fourth trophic level sometimes, depending upon the food chain and hence can be
termed as the tertiary or top consumers.
• Decomposers include the bacteria and fungi which decompose the organic matter
and bring back the mineral nutrients to the soil. Fungi like Penicillium, Mucor,
Aspergillus, Rhizophus etc are common.
 6. Write any five threats to temperate grassland.
Ans:- The main threats to the temperate grasslands are as follows:
• Due to climate change these grasslands are often facing drought conditions. The
drought is not only detrimental to the vegetation but also threaten animal life as they
lose their food as well as home.
• Severe dry condition due to climate conditions also lead to wild fires.
• Human activities play an influential role as these grasslands are being converted into
farmland for producing more food for the growing population.
• The Grasslands are also used as grazing lands. Over grazing of the grassland leads to
denudation of the soil making it prone to soil erosion.
• The conversion of grasslands to other land use like urban development is also a
major threat to this biome.
7. What are the adaptations of the plants surviving in the deserts?
Ans:- Adaptations of plants surviving in the desert:-
• Plants comprise of thorny deciduous bushes, and succulent plants with waxy coating
to prevent water loss like the cacti.
• Some desert shrubs have adapted by growing deep roots that reach the underground
water.
• Some plants, such as desert lily remains dormant during the dry seasons and grow
rapidly when the water is available.
• Leaves of the cacti are modified into spines to prevent water loss through
transpiration.
• The stems of the cacti are green, thick and fleshy and do the process of
photosynthesis.
8. What are the threats to Tundra ecosystem?
Ans:-
• The melting of the permafrost as a result of global warming could radically change
the landscape and the species that survive there. The exposed dark land surface
absorbs more heat radiation than the white surface of the snow causing a rise in
temperature known as Albedo effect.
• Ozone depletion at the North and South Poles allows stronger ultraviolet rays to enter
which harm the tundra.
• Air pollution can cause smog clouds that harm lichen, a significant food source for
many animals.
 • Exploration of oil, gas, minerals and construction of pipelines and roads cause
physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation of the tundra ecosystem.
• Buildings and roads put heat and pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt.
• Overhunting had led to the addition of many animals of this region like moose,
wolves and arctic fox to the endangered list.
9. What is wetland? Write any four importance of wetland.
Ans:- Wetland is a land area saturated with water permanently or seasonally. It is an
interface between the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem.
Wetland are ecologically important for the following reasons (any four):-
• They prevent flooding
• They replenish ground water
• Shoreline stabilization and storm protection
• Water purification
• Rich in biodiversity
• Ecotourism and recreational hotspot
• The wetlands are the breeding and nesting place for a large number of aquatic
animals, fishes, water birds etc.
10. List any five threats to coral reefs.
Ans:-
• The coral reefs are threatened due to global warming as they are temperature
sensitive.
• Water pollution from industries
• Agricultural runoff
• Thermal pollution & eutrophication
• Overfishing
• Over extraction for construction purpose