Question 1.- How does the people look different in different parts of the world?

Answer: - All the people living in different parts of the world also look different. Their food habits, clothes and
habitation pattern are also different.

Question 2.- From where does the Amazon Flow?

Answer: - The river Amazon flows through tropical region which lies very close to the equator; between 10°N
and 10°S. So, it is referred to as the equatorial region.

Question 3.- Why is the river Amazon referred to as the equatorial region?
Answer: - The river Amazon flows very close to the equator. So, it is referred to as the equatorial region.

Question 4.- How is the Amazon basin formed?

Answer: - Numerous tributaries join the Amazon River to form the Amazon basin.

Question 5.- Name the cities which are closely associated with Amazon basin.
Answer: - The river basin drains portions of Brazil, parts of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Columbia and a small part
of Venezuela.

Question 6.- Why are the forests thick and dense in the region?
Answer: - In the Amazon basin due to the heavy rainfall, forests are thick and dense.

Question 7.- Why does sunlight not reach to the earth in these forests?
Answer: - These forests are very thick and dense. The leaves of trees make a ‘roof on the upper side of the
forests which do not allow the sunlight to reach the ground.

Question 8.- Name the plants which grow as plant parasites in the region of Amazon basin.
Answer: - Orchids, bromeliads grow as plant parasites.

Question 9.- Name the fruits grown in Amazon basin.

Answer: - They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato.

Question 10.- What do you understand about ‘cassava’:

Answer: - Around the Amazon basin the staple food is manioc which is also known as cassava that grows under
the ground like the potato.

Question 11.- What do you understand about’ Maloca’?

Answer: - In the Amazon basin large houses made of wood is called ‘Maloca’ with a steeply slanting roof.

Question 12.- What is called ‘Maloca’?

Answer: - Large houses made of wood are called ‘Maloca’ with a steeply slanting roof.

Question 13.- What has become an excessive threat for fish ‘Susu’?
Answer: - The untreated industrial and urban wastes with high amount of chemicals are killing this species of
fish.

Question 14.- Why are the rivers polluted?

Answer: - Many cities are located along the various rivers. The rivers are being polluted by the untreated
wastage of cities and industries.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What type of vegetation grows in the Amazon Forest?

Answer: Only shade tolerant vegetation grow here.

2. Name the animals Found in the Amazon forest.

Answer: Monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs.
3. What do men and women of the rainforest do?
Answer: Men hunt and fish along the rivers and women take care of the crops.

4. What do the people of the rainforest grow?

Answer: They grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato.

5. Name the cash crops that people of the rainforest grow.

Answer: Coffee, maize and cocoa.

6. What is the population density of West Bengal and Bihar? .

Answer: The populations density of west Bengal is 904 and that of Bihar is 880.

7. What is susu? What does its presence indicate?

Answer: In the fresh water of River Ganga and River Brahmaputra, a variety of dolphin is found which is
locally known as susu. Its presence indicates the health of the river.

8. How and why are terraces built?              [V. Imp.]

Answer: Tarraces are built on steep slopes to create flat surfaces on which crops are grown.

9. By what names is the river Brahmaputra known in different places.

Answer: Meghna, Padma, Dehang, Debang, Yamuna, etc.

10. What leads to the pollution of the rivers?           [V. Imp.]

Answer: The wastewater from these towns and industries is discharged into the rivers. This leads to the
pollution of the rivers.

11. Name the river on which Tcy Mahal is situated?

Answer: River Yamuna.

12. Name the cash crops grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.

Answer: Sugarcane and jute.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Write a short note on the climate of the Amazon Basin.

Answer: The climate of the Amazon Basin is characterised by hot and wet climate throughout the year. Both
day and night and almost equally hot and humid. It rains almost everyday. The day temperatures are high with
very high humidity. At night the temperature goes down but the humidity remains high.

2. What do you know about the location of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin? Mention the climate of this
Basin.
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin lies in the sub-tropical region that is situated between 10°N to 30°N
latitudes. The tributaries of river Ganga such as the Ghaghra, the son, the Chambal, the Gandak, the Kosi and
the tributaries of Brahmaputra drain it.

The area of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is dominated by the monsoon climate. The monsoon brings rains
from mid-June to mid-September. The summers are hot and the winters are cool.

3. The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin has varied topography. How does it affect the distribution of
population there?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The basin area has a varied topography. As a result, the distribution of the population is not even
everywhere in the area. The mountain areas with steep slopes have inhospitable terrain. Therefore less number
of people live in the mountain area of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. The plain area provides the most suitable
land for human habitation. Therefore, the density of the population of the plains is very high.

4. What is the main activity of the people of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin? Give an account of it.
Answer: The main activity of the people of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is agriculture. Paddy is the main crop
here. Other crops grown here are wheat, maize, sorgham gram and millets. Cash crops like sugarcane and jute
are also grown. Banana plantations are seen in some areas in the plain. In the West Bengal and Assam tea is
grown in plantations. Silk is produced through the cultivation of silkworms in parts of Bihar and Assam. In the
mountains and hills, where the slopes are gentle crops are grown on terraces.

5. How can you say that the life of the people of the Amazon basin is changing?[Imp.]
Answer: Time is moving ahead very fast. This has resulted in the change of the life style of the people
everywhere. The life of the people of the Amazon basin is also changing, though not at fast speed. In the old
days it was difficult to reach the heart of the forest. In 1970 the Trans Amazon highway made all parts of the
rain forest accessible. Aircrafts and helicopters are also used for reaching various places. The indigenous
populations was pushed out from the area and forced to settle in new areas.

6. What do you know about the wildlife of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?     [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is rich in wildlife. A variety of animals are found here. Elephants,
tigers, deer and monkeys are common. The one-horned rhinoceros is found in the Brahmaputra plain. In the
delta region, Bengal tiger, crocodiles and alligator are found. Acquatic life abounds in the fresh river waters, the
lakes and the Bay of Bengal Sea. Popular varieties to fish such as catla, rohu and hilsa can be found here.

7. How is tourism an important activity in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?

Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra plain has several big towns and cities, such as Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi,
Lucknow, Patna and Kolkata. All these places are important from tourism point of view. Taj Mahal on the bank
of river Yamuna in Agra is a famous tourist place. Allahabad is situated on the confluence of the river Ganga
and Yamuna. Several people visit this place everyday to have a holy dip in it. Buddhist stupas in Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar, Lucknow with its Imambara, Assam with Kaziranga and Manas with wildlife sanctuaries are some
other places in the basin where people from different parts of the country and abroad go with great enthusiasm.
1. Answer the following questions briefly:
1. Name the continent in which the Amazon Basin in located.
2. What are the crops grown by the people of the Amazon Basin?
3. Name the birds that you are likely to find in the rain forests of the Amazon.
4. What are the major cities located on the river Ganga?
5. Where are the one-homed rhinoceros found?
Answer:
1. South America.
2. Crops are grown by the people of Amazon Basin:
 Tapioca
 Pineapple
 Sweet-potatoes
 Cassava (manioc)
 Maize, coffee, and cocoa are other important crops.
3. Birds:
 Toucans
 Humming Birds
 Bird of paradise with their brilliantly coloured plumage, oversized bills.

4. Major Cities located on the banks of River Ganga:

 Dev Prayag
 Rishikesh
 Haridwar
 Kanpur
 Allahabad
 Varanasi
 Patna
5. In Assam.
2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) Toucans are a type of
(i) birds                              (ii) animals     (iii) crops.
(b) Manioc is the staple food of
(i)  Ganga Basin                 (ii) Africa   (iii) Amazon.
(c) Kolkata is located on the river
(i)  Orange                          (ii) Hooghly   (iii) Bhagirathi.
(d) Deodars and firs are a type of
(i)  Coniferous trees            (ii) Deciduous trees   (iii) Shrubs.
(e) Bengal tiger is found in
(i)   Mountains                     (ii) Delta area   (iii) Amazon.
Answer: (a)-(i), (b)—(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)—(i), (e)—(ii).
3. Match the following:
(i) Cotton textile   (a) Assam
(ii) Maloca             (b) Terrace farming
(iii) Piranha           (c) Sericulture
(iv) Silk worm        (d) Slanting roof
(v) Kaziranga         (e) Ganga plain     (f) Varanasi  (g)Fish
Answer: (i)—(f), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(g), (iv)—(c),(v)—(a)
4. Give reasons:
1. The rainforests are depleting.
2. Paddy is grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plains.
Answer:
1. The Rainforests are depleting because of the following reasons:
 Developmental activities have been started in a big way, resulting in the cutting
of rainforests for various purposes.
 The indigenous population has been pushed out who practiced conservation
activities of forests and wildlife.
 Industries are being set up after clearing the forests.
 Lumbering has developed.
 Topsoil is washed away during rains and lush green forests turn into barren
lands.
2. Paddy is grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains because of the following:
 Deep loamy soil is found in these plains due to the deposition of silt by the
rivers for thousands of years.
 Rivers in floods spread a new layer of alluvial every year. Hence it does not
require manuring.
 Canals from rivers supply ample water for irrigation of paddy fields during the
dry season.
 The lower portion of the plains receives adequate rainfall.
 Cheap labour is available from the densely populated plains.
 Means of transportation are developed to raise the movement of paddy and rice
to the nearby markets.
 New technologies are being adopted by the farmers because they can afford it
due – to their sound financial position.
5. Map skills.
(i) Art an outline map of the Indian sub-continent, draw the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra from the
source to the mouth Also show the important tributaries of both the rivers.
(ii) On the political map of South America, draw the equator. Mark the countries through which the
equator passes.
Answer: