VELAMMAL VIDHYASHRAM

AGRICULTURE GRADE 8

I . CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER:

Q1- Across the globe, more than ___% of people are engaged in agriculture
A) 25
B) 40
C) 50
D) 30
Q2- ____ is a primary activity.
A) Oil refining
B) Food processing
C) Agriculture
D) Pesticide preparation
 
Q3- Around ___ of Indian population depends on agriculture.
A) 2/3
B) 1/5
C) 4/5
D) 1/3
 Q4- Arable land is
A) land where crops are grown.
B) land where trees are cut.
C) land which is cleared for agriculture
D) land where mining takes place.
 
Q5- Jhumming is practised in ____ India.
A) North – East
B) South
C) West
D) South- west
 
Q6- This animal is a part of the nomadic herd
A) camel
B) ox
C) cats
D) rabbits
 
Q7- Which of the following physical input is required in agriculture?
A) labour
B) slope
C) rainfall
D) Sunlight
 
Q8- One of the inputs required in farming is
A) slope
B) crops
C) Human Resource
D) Machinery
 
Q9- Cultivation of grapes is defined as
A) Horticulture
B) Viticulture
C) Sericulture
D) Agriculture
 
Q10- An example of tertiary activity is
A) Advertising
B) Hunting
C) Agriculture
D) fishing
 
Q11- Fishing is an example of
A) Primary activity
B) Secondary activity
C) Tertiary activity
D) Agriculture activity
 
Q12- The word ‘agriculture’ has been derived from Latin word
A) ageri
B) ager
C) agre
D) agar
 
Q13- Growing flowers are identified under
A) Horticulture
B) Pisciculture
C) Sericulture
D) Viticulture
 
Q14- Seeds are one of _____ of agriculture.
A) process
B) output
C) input
D) labour
 
Q15- Shifting Cultivation is known as ____ in Malaysia.
A) Kharif
B) Jhumming
C) Ladang
D) Rabi
 
Q16- Roca is an agricultural practices followed in
A) Brazil
B) Indonesia
C) China
D) Malaysia
 
Q17- Nomadic Herding is practised in which of the following states
A) Rajasthan
B) Tamilnadu
C) Kerala
D) Telangana
 
Q18- If someone starts rearing silkworms, this practise is called
A) Horticulture
B) Viticulture
C) Agriculture
D) Sericulture
 
Q19- In the USA, _____ is grown excessively.
A) Millet
B) Wheat
C) Rice
D) Maize
 
Q20- In India, wheat is grown during ____ season.
A) Spring
B) Autumn
C) Winter
D) Summer
 
Q21- Extraction and production of natural resources is identified under _______ activity.
A) Primary
B) Secondary
C) Tertiary
D) Non-renewable
 
Q22- Agriculture is most favourable in _____ regions
A) Plain
B) desert
C) mountain
D) rocky
 
Q23- _____ is one of the important inputs of farming.
A) Fertilizers
B) crops
C) plain region
D) fruits
 
Q24- The art and science of soil cultivation to rear crops is called
A) Agriculture
B) Viticulture
C) Sericulture
D) Horticulture
 
Q25- Shifting Cultivation is primarily practised in the regions where ________ takes place.
A) tsunami
B) heavy rainfall
C) dry weather
D) cutting of trees
 
Q26- In Sahara desert, _____ takes place.
A) shifting cultivation
B) nomadic herding
C) heavy rains
D) horticulture
 
Q27- ______ is one of the crops grown under commercial farming.
A) potato
B) onion
C) Wheat
D) Tomato
 
Q28- Mixed farming is practised in _______.
A) New Zealand
B) Zambia
C) Egypt
D) Belarus
 
Q29- ______ is a plantation grown in tropical regions of the world.
A) Rubber
B) Silk
C) Millet
D) Jute
 
Q30- Growing ______ is a type of plantation.
A) Rice
B) Wheat
C) coffee
D) maize

II . Answer the following questions.

1. What is agriculture?
Ans: The word agriculture is derived from the Latin words agri—meaning soil—and culture—
meaning cultivation or tilling of soil. It is defined as the science and art of cultivation of soil,
raising crops and rearing livestock.
2. Name the factors influencing agriculture.
Ans: The factors influencing agriculture are favourable topography of soil and climate.
3. What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
Ans: Shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn cultivation is a type of farming activity which
involves clearing a plot of land by felling trees, burning the felled trees, mixing the ashes with
soil, and then growing crops like maize, yam, potatoes and cassava on the cleared land. After the
soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves on to a new plot .
 This type of farming has the following disadvantages.
(a) Leads to deforestation
(b) Soil becomes susceptible to erosion due to deforestation
(c) Soil loses its fertility due to the erosion of the top soil
4. What is plantation agriculture?
Ans: Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where a single crop of tea, coffee,
sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton is grown. Large amount of labour and capital is
required in this type of farming. The produce is either processed on the farm itself or in nearby
factories. Major plantations are found in the tropical regions of the world, like rubber in
Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, tea in India and Sri Lanka, etc.
5. Name the fibre crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.

Ans: Cotton and jute are the fibre crops.

Climatic conditions required for the growth of cotton:

(a) High temperature

(b) Light rainfall

(c) 210 frost-free days

(d) Bright sunshine

Climatic conditions required for the growth of jute:

(a) High temperature

(b) Heavy rainfall

(c) Humid climate

6. Why in India agriculture is a primary activity?

Two-third of India’s population is dependent upon agriculture. Hence, in India, agriculture is a
primary activity.
 Why are different crops grown in different regions?
The type of crops grown is dependent upon the type of soil and the type of climate of a region.
Different regions have different soil types and climatic conditions. This is why a crop may have
favourable factors of growth in one region and adverse factors of growth in another. The demand
for the produce, labour and level of technology are also some factors that decide the type of
crops grown in a particular region.
 What is the difference between Primary activities and Tertiary activities .
Primary activities Tertiary activities
Connected with the extraction and production of Provide support to the primary and
natural resources secondary sectors
Example: Agriculture, fishing ,Mining Example: Services such as banking and
transport
Subsistence farming Intensive farming
Practised to meet the needs of the farmer’s A type of subsistence farming; involves
family; involves the use of low levels of the annual cultivation of a small plot of
technology and household labour for producing a land using simple tools and more labour
small output
 What is the difference between Subsistence farming and Intensive farming

10. What is the difference between Commercial grain farming and plantation agriculture.
Commercial grain farming: Commercial Grain Farming is an extensive agricultural activities
whereby crops are grown for commercial purpose. Most commonly commercial grown grains are
wheat and maize
Plantation agriculture: Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming in which a single
crop is grown for the entire year. The crop production may be further processed on the farm itself
where it is grown or in nearby factories or small scale industries.
11. Secondary and tertiary activities.
Secondary activities: The processing of the primary resources is called secondary activities. E.g:
tinned fish, making biscuits, baking breads.
Tertiary activities: Tertiary activities provide support to primary and secondary activities. This is
also called as service sector. E.g: banking, transport, communication etc
12. What do you understand by agricultural development?
 Agricultural development refers to efforts made to increase production in farms so as to
meet the ever growing demand of the population.
 The activities that come under this development are increasing the cropped area, growing
more crops, improving irrigation, using fertilizers, sowing HYV (high-yielding variety)
of seeds, and promoting mechanization.
 Mechanization ensures that little labour is done by the farmers; instead, machines are
used to provide efficiency.
13. What is Nomadic herding ?
Domesticating animals and moving with them in search of fodder and water. It is followed
in semi-arid or arid regions .
14. What is Mixed farming ?
Cultivation of crops and rearing of livestock done on the same land. E.g: Eastern USA, South
Africa, New Zealand, Argentina .
15. What is Organic farming ?
Growing crops using manure and natural pesticides instead of chemicals . No genetic
modification is done to increase the yield of the crop .

By Lourdus Valarmathi