GEOGRAPHY 6 Chapter 5 Natural Disasters

Short Questions: Page 72

Q1: Define Natural disasters.

Ans: Natural disasters are violent events that arecaused by the forces of nature and may
result in loss of life, injury, and damage to property.
Q2: write any three impacts of droughts.
Ans: i. Vegetation is dried due to loss of water content.
ii. Food Crisis
iii. Economic loss
Q3: Write the primary impacts of natural disasters.
Ans: i. Food Scarcity
ii. Damage of Infrastructure
iii. Migration of Population
Q4: How does global warming cause natural disasters?
Ans: High temperature changes the weather patterns, causing the dry areas to get drier and
wet areas to get wetter. Thus, increasing the frequency of disasters like floods, droughts etc.
Q5: What is meant by natural disasters?
Ans: Natural disasters are violent events that are outside the control of humans. They are
caused by the forces of nature and may result in loss of life, injury, and damage to property.
Q6: What is meant by three R’s(Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle)?
Ans: Reduce means to cut back on the amount of trash we generate.
Recycling is easily using the material again, once it is finished.
Reusing is discovering a new, alternate way to utilize the trash instead of discarding it.

Long Questions: Page 72

Q1: what do you know about natural disasters? Write the effects of any three natural
disasters.
Ans: Natural disasters are violent events that arecaused by the forces of nature and may
result in loss of life, injury, and damage to property.
1. Earthquakes:
i. Earthquakes can cause the ground to shake violently, leading to the collapse of
buildings and infrastructure.

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ii. The shaking can trigger landslides on steep slopes, endangering communities living
in hilly or mountainous regions.
iii. Underwater earthquakes can generate tsunamis, massive ocean waves that can
flood coastal areas, causing extensive damage.
2. Hurricanes (Tropical Cyclones):
i. Hurricanes bring powerful winds that can uproot trees, destroy homes, and
damage power lines.
ii. Intense rainfall associated with hurricanes can lead to flooding, causing rivers to
overflow and low-lying areas to be submerged.
iii. Hurricanes can cause storm surges, where ocean water is pushed ashore, leading
to coastal flooding and erosion.
3. Floods:
i. Excessive rainfall, melting snow, or storm surges can lead to flooding, submerging
large areas of land.
ii. Floodwaters can damage or destroy homes, crops, and infrastructure, resulting in
significant economic losses.
iii. Flooding often forces people to evacuate their homes, leading to the displacement
of communities and the need for emergency shelters.

Q3: Which types of human activities are responsible for natural disasters?
Ans: some human activities can play a role in making the impact of these disasters more
severe. Here are a few examples:

1. Deforestation:
Cutting down large numbers of trees can contribute to landslides and flooding during
heavy rainfall. Trees help absorb rainwater and stabilize soil.

2. Urbanization:
Rapid and unplanned growth of cities can lead to increased vulnerability to natural
disasters. Poorly designed infrastructure can worsen the effects of events like floods or
earthquakes.
4. Climate Change:
Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, contribute to climate
change. Changes in climate patterns can influence the frequency and intensity of certain
natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and droughts.

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 5. Poor Land Use Practices:
Improper use of land, such as building in flood-prone areas or constructing structures
without considering geological risks, can increase the impact of natural disasters like
floods or earthquakes.
6. Mining:
Extracting minerals from the Earth can alter the landscape and contribute to soil erosion,
leading to increased susceptibility to landslides.

GEOGRAPHY 6 Chapter 6 Changing Earth and Human Activity

Short Questions: Page 84

Q1: Define Weathering and erosion.

Ans: Weathering is the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on Earth’s surface.
Once a rock has been broken down, a process called erosion transports the bits of rock and
minerals away.
Q2: Write the names of any four landforms made by coastal erosion.
Ans: i) Caves ii) Bays iii) Sea Arches iv) Sea Cliffs
Q3: What do you know about chemical weathering?
Ans: Chemical weathering slowly decomposes or decays rocks and minerals. It is caused by
rain water reacting with the mineral grains in rocks, to form new minerals and soluble salts.
Q4: Differentiate arches and stack.
Ans: Sea arches are sea caves with openings on both sides while Sea stacks are isolated wall-
like structures created by the thrashing action of sea waves.
Q5: Define Wind erosion.
Ans: Wind erosion is the breakdown and movement of rocks and other land debris by the
wind's force.
Q6: Enlist the agents of weathering.
Ans: Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature.

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Long Questions: Page 84
Q2: What are the different types of weathering? Explain each of them.
Ans: There are three main types of weathering:
i. Physical or Mechanical weathering
ii. Chemical weathering
iii. Biological Weathering

1. Physical or Mechanical Weathering:

Mechanical weathering, also known as physical weathering, involves the physical breakdown
of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.
2. Chemical Weathering:
Chemical weathering involves the alteration of the chemical composition of rocks, leading to
their breakdown and transformation into new substances.
3. Biological Weathering:
Biological weathering is a type of weathering that involves the breakdown of rocks and
minerals through the actions of living organisms. Living organisms, such as plants, animals,
and microorganisms, play a role in altering the physical and chemical composition of rocks
over time
Q4: Evaluate the role of human activities in erosion of land.
Ans:
1. When people cut down a large number of trees in a forest (deforestation), the
protective covering that trees provide to the soil is lost. Without this cover, rain can
wash away the soil, causing erosion.
2. Sometimes, when there are too many animals (like cows or sheep) eating grass in one
area, they can remove the protective grass cover. This makes the soil vulnerable to
being blown away by the wind or washed away by rain.
3. When we build houses, roads, or cities, we often remove plants and trees. This can
lead to more rainwater running off the surfaces and carrying soil away, especially if
there are no plants to hold the soil in place.
4. When we dig into the earth to extract minerals like coal or metals, it can expose large
areas of soil. Without proper care, rain can wash away the soil, causing erosion.
5. If farmers don't take care of their fields properly, things like plowing in the wrong
direction or not planting crops to protect the soil can lead to erosion.

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