Class 8 Geography Chapter 2 Land, Soil, Water Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources InText Questions and Answers
Let’s do (Page 7)
Question 1.
Observe the land, type of soil, and water availability in the region you live. Discuss in your class, how it has influenced the lifestyle of people there.
Answer:
Students do themselves according to the region they live in.
An example is given for the student of Delhi. (Vast plains lead to the establishment of factories, residential buildings, and a dense network of roads and railways. Water is available from River Yamuna. Underground water is also available. People enjoy urbanised lifestyle. Most of the people are engaged in secondary and tertiary activities.
Activity (Page 8)
Question 1.
Talk to some elderly person in your family or neighbourhood and collect information about changes in the land use over years, where you live. Display your findings on a bulletin board in your classroom.
Answer:
In my neighbourhood there were big fields where farming used to be done. There were two wells which were used to irrigate fields. Some people reared cattle and sell milk in the market. Now huge buildings have been built. Broad metaled roads have been constructed for smooth transport.
Activity (Page 12)
Question 1.
In India, soils could be alluvial, black, red, laterite, desertic, and mountain soil. Collect a handful of different types of soil and observe how they are different?
Answer:
Students do yourselves.
[Hints: Soils can be differentiated on the basis of their colour, texture, etc.]
Activity (Page 13)
Question 1.
Take two trays A and B of the same size. Make six holes in. the end of these trays and then fill them with the same amount of soil. Leave the soil in tray A bare while growing grass in tray B. When the grass in tray B has grown few centimeters high, place both the trays in such a way that they are on a slope. Pour one mug of water from the same height into trays. Collect the muddy water that trickles down the holes of both trays in two separate containers and compare how much soil is washed out of each tray?
Answer:
More soil is washed from tray A and less soil is washed from tray B.
Activity (Page 14)
Question 1.
An average urban Indian uses about 150 liters of water every day.
| Us? | Litres per person per |
| Drinking | 3 |
| Cooking | 4 |
| Bathing | 20 |
| Flushing | 40 |
| Washing clothes | 40 |
| Washing utensils | 20 |
| Gardening | 23 |
| Total | 150 |
Can you suggest some ways to bring down this use?
Answer:
Ways to bring down the use of water :
- Water used for washing clothes and utensils can be used in the toilet. Thus, the water used for the flushing can be saved.
- Water used while cooking for washing vegetables, dais or rice can be used for gardening. In this way, the water used for gardening can be saved.
Activity (Page 18)
Question 1.
Read the news item and find out how the fire started in California? Could it avoid?
Answer:
The fire started due to the careless behaviour of a child. While playing with the match^tick it must have fallen on the straw, sticks, or wood which converted into a massive fire. Such fire accidents can be avoided by creating awareness among the masses through campaigning in local languages.
Class 8 Geography Chapter 2 Land, Soil, Water Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Exercise Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Answer the following questions:
(i) Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation?
Answer:
Temperature and rainfall
(ii) Write any two reasons for land degradation today
Answer:
Reasons for land degradation (Any two):
- Soil erosion
- Soil depletion
- Deforestation
- Overgrazing
- Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
- Rainwash
- Landslides
- Floods.
(iii) Why is land considered an important resource?
Answer:
The land is considered -an important resource because we, human beings five on it and use it for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, miring, building houses, roads, and setting up of industries.
(iv) Name any two steps that the government has taken to conserve plants and animals.
Answer:
(a) National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves are made to protect our natural vegetation and wildlife.
(b) Awareness programs like social forestry and van Mahotsav are encouraged at the regional and community level.
(c) Suggest three ways to conserve water.
Answer:
(a) Trees must be planted as vegetation cover slows down the surface run-off and replenish underground water.
(b) Sprinkling irrigation must be practiced. It checks the water losses through seepage and evaporation.
(c) Water harvesting is another method to save surface run-off.
Question 2.
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
Answer:
(b) Soil texture
(ii) Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes?
(a) Shelterbelts
(b) Mulching,
(c) Terrace cultivation
Answer:
(c) Terrace cultivation
(iii) Which one of the following is NOT in the factor of the conservation of nature?
(a) Switch off the bulb when not in use
(b) Close the tap immediately after using
(c) Dispose poly of packs after shopping
Answer:
(a) Switch off the bulb when not in use
Question 3.
Match the followings :
| Land use | Prevent soil erosion |
| Humus | Narrow zone to contact between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere |
| Rock dams | Productive use of land |
| Biosphere | Organic matter deposited on topsoil |
| Contour ploughing |
Answer:
| Land use | Productive use of land |
| Humus | Organic matter deposited on topsoil |
| Rock dams | Prevent soil erosion |
| Biosphere | Narrow zone to contact between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere |
Question 4.
State whether the given statement is true or false. If true, write the reasons.
(i) Ganga – Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region.
Answer:
True, because these are fertile plains which offer suitable land for agriculture.
(ii) Watch, availability per person in India is declining.
Answer:
True, because of over-exploitation and contamination of water sources.
(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement are called intercropping.
Answer:
False
(iv) Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem.
Answer:
False
Activity
Question 5.
Discuss some more reasons which are responsible for’1 feta ages of land use pattern. Has your place undergone any change in the land use pattern in recent years? Find out from your parents and elderly people. You can conduct an interview by asking the following questions.
Answer:
| Place | When your grandparents were in their 30 s | When your parents were in their 30 s
| Why do you think this is happening? appearing? disappearing? | Are common areas and open spaces |
| Rural | ||||
| Number of cattle and poultry owned | Cattle-25 Poultry-50 | Cattle-10 Poultry-100 | Urbanization | Yes |
| Number of trees and ponds in the village | Numerous trees and 2 ponds | Very few trees and no ponds | Technological development | Yes |
| The main occupation of the head of the family | Agriculture | Manager in a company | Urbanization/Increased size of family/Migration | Yes |
| Urban Number of cars owned | Nil | 1 | standard of living | Yes |
| Number of rooms in the house | 2 | 4 | Increase in the number of family members | Yes |
| Number of metaled roads | Very few | Increased | technological Development | Yes |
| Number of flyovers in the city | Nil | 6 to 7
| Increase in Population | Yes |
| Number of parks and playgrounds | Many | Very few | Urbanization/Increase in population | Yes |
Based on the table you have just completed, draw a picture of land use patterns that you foresee in your neighbourhood after 20 years. Why do you think that land-use patterns change over the years?
