Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources

Q20. What is national park?

Ans. National park is a natural area designated to protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations.

Q21. How is soil formed?

Ans. Soil is made up of organic matter, minerals and weathered rocks found on the earth. This happens through the process of weathering.

Q22. What is weathering?

Ans. Weathering is the breaking up and decay of exposed rocks, by temperature changes, frost action, plants, animals and man.

Q23. Why are plains and river valleys densely populated?

Ans. Plains and river valleys offer suitable land for agriculture. Hence, these are the densely populated areas of the world.

Q24. Why Ganga Brahmaputra plain of India is an over populated region?

Ans. Ganga Brahmaputra plain of India is an over populated region because it has even topography and highly fertile soil.

Q25. What are the different types of soil found in India?

Ans. Different types of soil found in India are alluvial, black, red, laterite, desertic and mountain soil.

Q26. Why is fresh water the most precious substance on earth?

Ans. Fresh water is the most precious substance on earth because only 1 per cent of freshwater is available and fit for human use.

Q27. What is rain water harvesting?

Ans. Rain water harvesting is the process of collecting rain water from roof tops and directing it to an appropriate location and storing if for future use.

Q28. Write any two reasons for land degradation today?

Ans. Reasons for land degradation are:

                           i.        Deforestation

                          ii.        Overuse of chemical feritilisers or pesticides

Q29. What has led to a large scale destruction of forest cover and arable land?

Ans. Growing population and their ever growing demand has led to a large scale destruction of forest cover and arable land.

Q30. How to prevent surface runoff?

Ans. Forest and other vegetation cover slow the surface runoff and replenish underground water. Water harvesting is another method to save surface runoff.

Q31. Suggest one way to control water pollution.

Ans. Water pollution can be controlled by treating sewage, agricultural chemicals and industrial effluents suitably before releasing them in water bodies.

Q32. What is intercropping?

Ans. Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice in which different crops are grown in alternate rows and are sown at different times to protect the soil from rain wash.

Q33. Why Earth is called water planet?

Ans. Water is a vital renewable natural resource. Three-fourth’s of the earth’s surface is covered with water. It is therefore appropriately called the ‘water planet’.

Q34. What is biosphere?

Ans. Natural vegetation and wildlife exist only in the narrow zone of contact between the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere that we call biosphere.

Q35. What do you mean by ecosystem?

Ans. In the biosphere living beings are inter-related and interdependent on each other for survival. This life supporting system is known as the ecosystem.

Q36. What is termed as Land use?

Ans. Land is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries. This is commonly termed as Land use.