Human Environment Interactions (The Tropical and the Subtropical Region)

Very Short Q&A:

Q1: The Amazon basin is the largest river basin in the world. (T/F)
Q2: The place where a river flows into another body of water is called the …………….
Q3: Which among the following discovered the Amazon river-?
a.Portuguese b.English c. Dutch d. Spanish
Q4: The Amazon basin lies between………………………………latitude.
Q5: Name the countries of the Amazon basin through which the equator passes?
Q6: Where is one –horned rhinoceros found?
Q7: The famous Taj Mahal lies on the banks of the river……………… in Agra.
Q8: Name the region in which the river Amazon flows through?
Q9: Kaziranga and Manas wildlife sanctuaries is in which of the following states-
a. Bengal b. Assam c. Orissa d. Tripura
Q10: Susu is locally name of which of the following aquatic animal-
a. Whale b. Tortoise c. Fish d. Dolphin
Q11: Silk is produced through the cultivation of silkworms. (T/F)
Q12: Which among the following is a cash crop-?
a. Wheat b. Maize c. Rice d. Sugar cane
Q13: Sloth is the type of –
a. Animal b. Bird c. Fish d. Crops
Q14: Piranha is the type of-
a. Bird b. Fish c. Crops d. Animal
Q15: Amazon basin is characterized by hot and wet climate throughout the year. (T/F)
Q16: Name the tributaries of river Ganga?
Q17: The summer is hot and winter is cold in Ganga Brahmaputra basin.(T/F)
Q18: Bromeliads are special plants that store water in their leaves. (T/F)
Q19: Tapioca, Pineapple, Sweet potato are grown in the area of Amazon basin. T/F
Short Q&A:
Q1: The sunlight does not reach the ground in the rainforest. Why?
Q2: What is Maloca?
Q3: Name the region in which Ganga Brahmaputra basin is located?
Q4: What are the main features of Ganga Brahmaputra basin?
Q5: Name the tropical deciduous trees that grow in the Ganga and Brahmaputra.
Q6: What are bromeliads?
Q7: Name some important cities located on the river Ganga?
Long Q&A:
Q1: What is slash and burn practice?
1. Answer the following questions briefly:
1. Name the continent in which the Amazon Basin is 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-horned rhinoceros found?
A:
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, Hummingbirds, 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.
A: (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
A: (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.
A:
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 subcontinent, 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.
A:

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What type of vegetation grows in the Amazon forest?
A: Only shade tolerant vegetation grows here.
2. Name the animals Found in the Amazon forest.
A: Monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs.
3. What do men and women of the rainforest do?
A: Men hunt and fish along the rivers and women take care of the crops.
4. What do the people of the rainforest grow?
A: They grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato.
5. Name the cash crops that people of the rainforest grow.
A: Coffee, maize and cocoa.
6. What is the population density of West Bengal and Bihar? .
A: The population density of west Bengal is 904 and that of Bihar is 880.
7. What is susu? What does its presence indicate?
A: 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.]
A: Terraces 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.
A: Meghna, Padma, Dehang, Debang, Yamuna, etc.
10. What leads to the pollution of the rivers? [V. Imp.]
A: 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?
A: River Yamuna.
12. Name the cash crops grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.
A: Sugarcane and jute.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Write a short note on the climate of the Amazon Basin.
A: 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.
A: 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.]
A: 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.
A: 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, sorghum gram and millets.
Cash crops like sugarcane and jute are also grown. Banana plantations are seen in some
areas in the plain. In 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.]
A: Time is moving ahead very fast. This has resulted in the change of the lifestyle 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 rainforest accessible. Aircrafts and helicopters are
also used for reaching various places. The indigenous population 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.]
A: 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.
Aquatic life abounds in the fresh river waters, the lakes and the Bay of Bengal Sea. Popular
varieties of fish such as catla, rohu and hilsa can be found here.
7. How is tourism an important activity in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?
A: 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 a
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.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. How is the rainforest of the Amazon basin rich infauna?
A: The rainforest of the Amazon basin is very rich in fauna. A variety of birds such as
toucans, hummingbirds, birds of paradise with their brilliantly coloured. Plumage and
oversized bills for eating are found here.
These birds also make loud sounds in the forests. Animals like monkeys, sloth, and
ant-eating tapirs are found here. Various species of reptiles and snakes also thrive in these
jungles. A number of crocodiles, snakes, and pythons are also found here. Anaconda and
boa constrictor are some of the species. The basin is also the home to thousands of species
of insects. Several species of fishes including the flesh-eating Piranha fish are also found in
the river.
2. What do you know about the people of the rainforest? [V- Imp.]
A: The people of the Amazon basin practise slash and burn agriculture. They grow most of
their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest. Men hunt and fish along the
rivers and women take care of the crops. They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet
potato. As hunting and fishing are uncertain it is the women who support the family. They
feed them the vegetables that they grow. Their staple food is manioc, also known as
cassava that grows under the ground like a potato. They also eat queen ants and egg sacs.
Cash crops like coffee, maize, and cocoa are also grown.
People get wood for their houses from the rainforests. They build thatched houses shaped
like beehives. There are also malocas there which are large apartment-like houses with a
steeply sloping roof.
The Amazon basin is developing day by day. In 1970 the trans-Amazon highway made all
parts of the rainforest accessible. With the change of time, people’s lifestyles are also
changing gradually.
Q 1.Why is Renuka excited?
A:Renuka is excited as her wildlife photographer uncle is coming back home. He had
introduced her to the books having pictures of distant lands and life of people there.
Q 2.What are the similarities or differences between the people of different countries?
A:People of deserts, frozen land or hot wet forests only look different, they have the same
basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. The children are all alike,they play the same
games, sing, dance, fight or put on makeup.
The main difference is that some of them live close to nature and have learnt to use and
protect nature.
Life in the Amazon Basin
Q 1.Describe the situation and location of the Amazon Basin.
A:Situation and Location of the Amazon Basin:
● Look at the world map (on page 56 of the textbook), the Amazon Basin lies
very close to the equator, between 10°N to 10°S.
● This region is known as the equatorial region.
● The river Amazon flows through this region.
It flows from the mountains in the west and reaches the Atlantic Ocean in the east.
● Numerous tributaries join in the Amazon river and they together form the
Amazon Basin.
● The river basin drains portions of Brazil, parts of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador,
Columbia and a small part of Venezuela.
Q 2.Name the countries of the basin through which the equator passes.
The countries of the basin through which the equator passes are
South America:Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil
Africa:Yabon, Dem.Rep of Congo, Uganda, Kenya
Asia:Indonesia
Q 3.What is the river's mouth?
A:The place where a river flows into another body of water is called the river’s mouth.
Q 4.Define the tributary.
A:The small rivers that join the main river are called its tributaries, for example Son, Yamuna
are tributaries of Ganga.
Climate
Q 1.Give an account of the climate of Amazon Basin.
A:Climate of Amazon Basin:
● The Amazon basin stretches directly on the Equator.
● It has a hot and wet climate throughout the year.
● Both day and night are almost equally hot and humid.
● Skin feels sticky.
● It rains almost every day.
● It rains without much warning.
● The day temperatures are high with high humidity.
● At night the temperature goes down but humidity is high.
Rainforests
Q 1.Give an account of rain forests and wildlife of Amazon Basin.
A:Rainforests of Amazon Basin:
● In the Amazon basin, it rains heavily.
● Thick forests grow here.
They are in fact so thick and dense that “roof* created by leaves and branches do not allow
the sunlight to reach the ground.
● The ground remains dark and damp.
● Only shade tolerant vegetation grows here.
● Orchids, bromeliads grow as plant parasites.
WildLife of Amazon Basin
● The rainforests are rich in fauna.
● Birds like toucans, humming birds, birds of paradise with their brilliantly
coloured plumage, oversized bills for eating make them different from birds
found in India.
● These birds also make loud sounds in the forests.
● Animals like monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs are found here.
● Various species of reptiles and snakes are also found in these jungles.
● Crocodiles, snakes, and pythons abound.
● Anaconda and Boa constrictor are some of the species.
● The Amazon basin is also the home of thousands of species of insects.
● Several species of fish like the flesh-eating Piranha fish are also found in the
river.
● The Amazon basin is actually extraordinarily rich in the variety of life found
there.
People of the rainforests
Q 1.Describe the life of people of the Rainforests of AmazonBasin.
A:Life of the People of the Rainforests of Amazon Basin:
People grow most of their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest.
● Men hunt and catch fish along the rivers.
● Women take care of the crops.
● They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple, and sweet potato.
● Hunting and fishing being uncertain, it is the women who keep their families
alive by feeding them the vegetables they grow.
● They practise “slash and burn agriculture”.
● The staple food is manioc. It is also known as cassava. It grows under the
ground like a potato.
● The people also eat queen ants and egg sacs.
● Cash crops like coffee, maize and cocoa are also grown in the Amazon Basin.
The rainforests provide a lot of wood for the houses.
● Some families live in thatched houses. They are shaped like beehives.
● There are other large apartment-like houses called “Maloca”. They have
steeply slanting roofs to allow rain water flowing down easily.
Q 2.What changes have occurred with life of the people of Amazon Basin in recent times?
A:Life of the people of the Amazon basin is slowly changing.
In the early days, to reach the heart of the forest, the river was the only means of transport.
● In modern times means of transport have developed considerably. In 1970 the
Trans Amazon highway made all parts of the rainforest accessible.
● Aircrafts and helicopters are also used for reaching various places.
● The aborigines (indigenous) population was pushed out.
● Diverse rainforests are being destroyed with long term consequences.
Q3.What is the effect of Developmental activities in the Amazon basin?
A:The developmental activities are leading to the gradual destruction of the biologically
diverse rainforests. Annually a large area is disappearing. The top soil is being washed away
and the land is becoming barren.
Q 4.Give an account of Slash and Burn Agriculture.
A:Slash and Burn Agriculture:
● It is a way of cultivating land where farmers clear a piece of land by slashing or
cutting down trees and bushes.
● These are then burnt, which release the nutrients into soil.
● New crops are grown in this cleared field for a few years.
After repeatedly using the patch of land, the soil loses its nutrients.
● So it is abandoned.
● Then they clear another plot of land to plant.
In the meantime young trees grow in the old field.
● In this way soil fertility is restarted (restored).
● People then return to it.
● They start cultivating again by repeating the process.
Life in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin
Q 1.Explain the physiography of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.
A:Physiography of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin:
The tributaries of river Ganga and Brahmaputra together form the Ganga- Brahmaputra
basin in the Indian subcontinent.
● It lies in the subtropical region.
● It is located between 10°N and 30°N latitudes.
The tributaries of the River Ganga like the Ghagra, the Son, the Chambal, the Gandak, the
Kosi and the tributaries of Brahmaputra drain it.
 ● Some of the tributaries of the river Brahmaputra are:
● Dihang, Dibang. Lohit and Dhansiri.
The main physiographic features of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin are:
● Mountains and foothills of the Himalayas
● Sundarbans delta
● Ox-bow lakes dot the plain area.
Q 2.River Brahmaputra is known. by different names in different places. It is called Tsangpo
in Tibet. Find the other names of the river.
A:Dehang, Dahang, Jarnuna, Meghna, Padma etc.
Q 3.What is the climate of Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin?
A:
● The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is dominated by monsoon climate.
● The monsoon brings rains from mid-June to mid-September.
● The summers are hot.
● The winters are cool and generally dry.
Q 4.Look at the Map of’ India. List the states in which the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin lies.
A:Ganga:Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Northern Madhya Pradesh, Northern Chhattisgarh,
Bihar, Jharkhand, West-Bengal.
Brahmaputra:Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya
Q 5.How does environment play a dominant role in the distribution of population in the
Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?
A:Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin:
● Ganga-Brahmaputra basin has varied topography.
● The environment plays a dominant role in the distribution of the population
here.
● The mountain areas with steep slopes have inhospitable terrain.
Hence 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.
● The soil is fertile.
● Agriculture is the main occupation of the people.
● The population density is very high.
 ● Since cultivation of paddy requires sufficient water, it is grown in the areas
where the amount of rainfall is high or enough water is available.
Q6.Give an account of agriculture in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.
A:Agriculture in Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin:
● Wheat, Maize, Sorghum, Gram and Millets are major crops that are grown as
food crops.
● Cash crops like sugarcane and jute are grown in large quantities.
● Banana plantations are seen in some areas of the plain.
● In West-Bengal and Assam tea is grown in plantations.
● Silk is produced through the cultivation of silk worms in parts of Bihar and
Assam.
● In the mountains and hills, crops are grown on terraces made on gentle slopes.
Q 7.Explain the forest wealth of Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.
A:
● The vegetation cover is according to the type of landforms.
● The Delta region is covered with mangrove forests.
● In this basin tropical deciduous trees grow along with teak, sal, peepal.
● Thick bamboo groves are in Brahmaputra plains.
● In parts of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and other small states
of the North-east coniferous trees like pine, deodar, and fir are seen.
Q 8.Write about the fauna of Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.
A:A wide variety of wildlife is found here:
● Elephants, tigers, deer and monkeys are common.
● One horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, crocodiles and alligators are found.
● Large aquatic life is found in fresh waters like rohu, catla, hilsa.
Q 9.Why are terraces built on the mountain slopes?
A:Terraces are built on the gentle (mountain) slopes to create flat surfaces on which crops
are grown. The slope is removed so that water does not run off rapidly.
Q 10.Where is blind variety of dolphin found?
A:In the fresh water of River Ganga and River Brahmaputra, blind variety of dolphin, locally
called Susu, is found.
Q 11.Why is blind dolphins facing extinction?
A:The blind dolphin or Susu is facing extinction at the hands of humans.
● The Dolphin eats small fish only. The presence of Susu is an indication of the
health of the river.
● The untreated industrial and urban wastes with high amounts of chemicals are
killing this species.
Q 12.Which towns and cities are located in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin?
A:
● The Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain has several big towns and cities.
● The cities of Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna all with a population
of more than ten lakhs are located along the River Ganga.
● The waste water from these towns and industries is discharged into the river
leading to its pollution.
Q 13.Write a note on the transportation found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.
A:
● All the four means of transport are well-developed in Ganga-Brahmaputra
basin.
● In the plain areas the roadways and railways transport the people from one
place to another.
● The waterways are an effective means of transport particularly along the rivers.
Kolkata is an important port on the river Hooghly.
● The plain areas have a large number of airports.
Q 14.Explain:tourism is an important activity of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.
A:Tourism is an important activity of the basin.The following make the basin important from
the point of tourism.
● Taj Mahal on the banks of River Yamuna in Agra.
● Allahabad on the confluence of the River Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna.
● Buddhist centres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. ,
● Lucknow with its Imambara.
● Assam with Kaziranga and Manas wildlife sanctuaries.
● Arunachal Pradesh with a distinct tribal culture.
There are so many other places to visit.
Objective Type Qs
Q 1.Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:
1. Women of warrior tribes in the Roman empire were called …………….
2. Small rivers that join a main river are called ……………………
3. Large houses called …………………… have steep slanting roofs.
4. West Bengal and Assam are known for …………………….. plantations.
5. People in ………………………… eat queen ants and their eggs.
A:1. Amazons, 2. Tributaries, 3. Maloca, 4. Tea, 5. Amazon basin.
Q 2.State whether the given statements are true or false.
1. Spanish explorers discovered the Amazon river.
2. It rains only for two months in the Amazon basin.
3. The flesh eating piranha fish is found in the Amazon river.
4. In the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta area, Bengal tiger, crocodiles and alligators are
found.
5. Agra is on the confluence of river Ganga and Yamuna.
A:1. True, 2. False, 3. True, 4. True, 5. False.
Q 3.Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B:

A:l. (d), 2.(b), 3. (e), 4.(c), 5. (a).

Multiple Choice Qs
Q 1 What ari the common needs of all the people?
(a) Food (b) Toys (c) Camera (d) All of these
Q 2 The place where a river flows into another water body is called
(a) river’s mouth (b) river’s nose (c) river’s leg (d) all of these
Q 3.How is the climate of the Amazon basin characterized?
(a) By cold and wet (b) By hot and wet (c) By dry or wet (d) None of these
Q 4. At night the temperature goes down in the Amazon basin but the humidity
(a) remains same (b) remains low (c) remains high (d) none of these
Q 5.The forests are in fact so thick that the dense ‘roof is created by
(a) cement (b) concrete (c) leaves (d) stones
Q 6.Toucans are the type of
(a) animals (b) crops (c) birds (d) reptiles
Q 7.Manioc food belongs to the area of
(a) South America (b) South Africa (c) Amazon area (d) Ganga basin
Q 8.Where is one horned rhinoceros found?
(a) Brahmaputra plain (b) Amazon basin (c) Ghaghra plain (d) None of these
Q 9.What is the main occupation of the people living in Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?
(a) Fishing (b) Lumbering (c) Mining (d) Agriculture
Q 10.Where is Bengal Tiger found?
(a) Mountain area (b) Amazon basin (c) Sundarbans delta (d) All of these
Q 11.On which river banks are Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, located?
(a) River Ganga (b) River Brahmaputra (c) River Hooghly (d) River Yamuna
Very Short Extra Qs and As
1: Name the countries of the Amazon basin through which the equator passes?
A: Ecuador, Columbia and Brazil
2: Where is one –horned rhinoceros found?
A: In Brahmaputra plain.
3: Name the region in which the river Amazon flows through?
A: Equatorial
4: Name the tributaries of river Ganga?
A: The Ghagra the Son, the Chambal, the Gandak the Kosi
5. Name the continent in which the Amazon Basin is located.
A: The Amazon Basin is in South America.
6. Name the river on which Taj Mahal is located?
A: It is located on the banks of the River Yamuna.
7. Where are the one-horned rhinoceros found?
A: The one-horned rhinoceros is found in the Brahmaputra plain.
8. What does population density mean?
A: It means the number of persons that live in one sq. km. of area.
9. Where are Kaziranga and Manas wildlife sanctuaries situated?
A: Kaziranga and Manas wildlife sanctuaries are situated in Assam.
10. Which is the largest river basin in the world?
A: The Amazon basin is the largest river basin in the world.
11. What do the people of the Amazon rainforest grow?
A: They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato.
12. What are the cash crops grown by people of the Amazon Basin?
A: The cash crops grown by people of Amazon Basin are coffee, maize and cocoa.
13. What is called “Maloca”?
A: Large apartment-like houses called “Maloca” with a steeply slanting roof.
14. What is called the river’s mouth?
A: The place where a river flows into another body of water is called the river’s mouth.
15. Who was the first person to discover the Amazon River?
A: Francisco de Orellana was a Spanish explorer who discovered the Amazon River.
Short Extra Qs and As
1. Name the countries of the basin through which the equator passes.
A: The countries of the basin through which the equator passes are Brazil, Ecuador and
Columbia.
2. Where does the Ganga and Brahmaputra basin lie?
A: The basin lies in the subtropical region that is situated between 10°N to 30°N latitudes.
3. What is the Ganga Brahmaputra basin?
A: The tributaries of rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra together form the Ganga-Brahmaputra
basin in the Indian subcontinent.
4. Why and how terraces are built?
A: Terraces are built on steep slopes to create flat surfaces on which crops are grown. The
slope is removed so that water does not run off rapidly.
5. What are the other names of Brahmaputra?
A: Tibet – Yarlung Tsangpo, Arunachal Pradesh – Dihang, Assam – Brahmaputra,
Bangladesh – Jamuna.
6. What is the population density of Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Bihar?
A: The population density of Uttarakhand is 189 while the density of West Bengal is 1029
and that of Bihar is 1102.
7. Name the tributaries of river Ganga.
A: The tributaries of the River Ganga are the Ghaghra, the Son, the Chambal, the Gandak,
the Kosi.
8. What are bromeliads?
A: Bromeliads are special plants that store water in their leaves. Animals like frogs use these
pockets of water for laying their eggs.
9. Why does sunlight not reach the ground in the rainforest?
A: The forests are so thick that the dense “roof” created by leaves and branches does not
allow the sunlight to reach the ground.
10. What are the crops grown by the people of the Amazon Basin?
A: They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato. Cash crops like coffee, maize
and cocoa are also grown.
11. Name the birds that you are likely to find in the rainforests of the Amazon.
A: In the rainforests of the Amazon we are likely to find birds such as toucans, hummingbirds
and birds of paradise.
12. What are the major cities located on the River Ganga?
A: The cities of Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna and Kolkata are located along
the River Ganga.
13. What animals can be found in the Amazon rainforest?
A: Animals like monkeys, sloth, ant-eating tapirs, crocodiles, snakes, pythons, anaconda,
boa and flesh-eating piranha fish are found here.
14. What are the main features of Ganga Brahmaputra basin?
A: The plains of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra, the mountains and the foothills of the
Himalayas and the Sundarbans delta are the main features of this basin.
15. What are the crops grown in Ganga Brahmaputra basin?
A: The main crop is paddy. Wheat, maize, sorghum, gram and millets are the other crops
that are grown. Cash crops like sugarcane and jute are also grown.
16. Why is paddy grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plains?
A: Since cultivation of paddy requires sufficient water, it is grown in the areas where the
amount of rainfall is high. Ganga-Brahmaputra basin is good for cultivation of paddy as it
receives good amount of rainfall.
Long Extra Qs and As
1. What is Susu? What does its presence indicate?
A: In the fresh waters of River Ganga and River Brahmaputra, a variety of dolphin locally
called Susu (also called blind dolphin) is found. The presence of Susu is an indication of the
health of the river. The untreated industrial and urban wastes with high amounts of
chemicals are killing this species.
2. Why are rainforests depleting?
A: The developmental activities are leading to the gradual destruction of the biologically
diverse rainforests. It is estimated that a large area of the rainforest has been disappearing
annually in the Amazon basin. As a result of this destruction, the topsoil is washed away as
the rains fall and the lush forest turns into a barren landscape.
3. What kind of natural vegetation is found in the Amazon basin?
A: As it rains heavily in this region, thick forests grow. The forests are in fact so thick that the
dense “roof” created by leaves and branches does not allow the sunlight to reach the
ground. The ground remains dark and damp. Only shade tolerant vegetation may grow here.
Orchids, bromeliads grow as plant parasites.
4. What do people of the Amazon rainforest do?
A: People grow most of their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest.
While men hunt and fish along the rivers, women take care of the crops. They mainly grow
tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato. As hunting and fishing are uncertain it is the women
who keep their families alive by feeding them the vegetables they grow. They practice “slash
and burn agriculture”.
5. What is the type of climate of the Amazon basin?
A: The Amazon Basin stretches directly on the equator and is characterized by hot and wet
climate throughout the year. Both day and night are almost equally hot and humid. The skin
feels sticky. It rains almost every day, that too without much warning. The day temperatures
are high with very high humidity. At night the temperature goes down but the humidity
remains high.
6. How does varied topography of Ganga Brahmaputra basin affect the distribution of
population there?
A: The basin area has varied topography. The environment plays a dominant role in the
distribution of the population. 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 population density of the plains is very high.
7. Describe the wildlife found in the Ganga Brahmaputra Basin.
A: There is a variety of wildlife in the basin. Elephants, tigers, deer and monkeys are
common. The one-horned rhinoceros is found in the Brahmaputra plain. In the delta area,
Bengal tiger, crocodiles and alligator are found. Aquatic life abounds in the fresh river
waters, the lakes and the Bay of Bengal Sea. The most popular varieties of the fish are the
rohu, catla and hilsa.
8. Describe the vegetation found in the Ganga Brahmaputra Basin.
A: The vegetation cover of the area varies according to the type of landforms. In the Ganga
and Brahmaputra plain tropical deciduous trees grow, along with teak, sal and peepal. Thick
bamboo groves are common in the Brahmaputra plain. The delta area is covered with
mangrove forests. In parts of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, coniferous trees
like pine, deodar and fir can be seen because the climate is cool and the slopes are steep.
9. Write a short note on the agricultural activities of the people in the Ganga Brahmaputra
Basin?
A: Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. The main crop cultivated is paddy.
Wheat, maize, sorghum, gram and millets are the other crops that are grown. Cash crops
like sugarcane and jute are also grown. Banana plantations are seen in some areas of the
plain. In West Bengal and Assam tea is grown in plantations. Silk is produced through the
cultivation of silk worms in parts of Bihar and Assam. In the mountains and hills, where the
slopes are gentle, crops are grown on terraces.
10. How is tourism an important activity in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?
A: Tourism is another important activity of the basin. Taj Mahal on the banks of River
Yamuna in Agra, Allahabad on the confluence of the Rivers Ganga and Yamuna, Buddhists
stupas in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Lucknow with its Imambara, Assam with Kaziranga and
Manas with wild life sanctuaries and Arunachal Pradesh with a distinct tribal culture are
some of the places worth a visit.
11. What is slash and burn practice?
A: Slash and Burn is a way of cultivating land where farmers clear a piece of land by
slashing or cutting down trees and bushes. These are then burnt, which releases the
nutrients into the soil. Now crops are grown in this cleared field for a few years. After
repeatedly using the patch of land, the soil loses its nutrients. So it is abandoned. Then they
clear another plot of land to plant. In the meantime young trees grow in the old field. In this
way soil fertility is restored. People can then return to it and start cultivating it again.
12. The Amazon Basin is extraordinarily rich in the variety of life found here. Discuss.
A: The rainforest is rich in fauna. Birds such as toucans, hummingbirds, birds of paradise
with their brilliantly coloured plumage, oversized bills for eating make them different from
birds we commonly see in India. These birds also make loud sounds in the forests. Animals
like monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs are found here. Various species of reptiles and
snakes also thrive in these jungles. Crocodiles, snakes, and pythons abound. Anaconda and
boa constrictor are some of the species. Besides, the basin is home to thousands of species
of insects. Several species of fishes including the flesh-eating Piranha fish are also found in
the river. This basin is thus extraordinarily rich in the variety of life found there.

Assertion and Reason

Directions: a.) Only A is correct
b.) Both A and R are correct and R is the explanation of A.
c.) Only R is correct
d.) Both are incorrect.
1. Assertion (A): The Amazon river flows through the equatorial region from the
mountains to the west and reaches the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Reason (R) : The river was named Amazon after the fierce tribe of woman warriors
known as Amazons.
2. Assertion (A): All the living beings in this world experience the same kind of weather
at a time and follow the same diet.
Reason (R) : People living in different areas may look different but they all depend on
food, cloth and shelter for their survival.
3. Assertion (A): The Amazon Basin is the largest river basin of the world.)
Reason (R) : A basin is the area where the river along with its tributaries drains an
area.)
4. Assertion (A): The climate in the Amazon basin is very hot and humid and both the
days and nights are equally hot and humid.) The temperature rises during the day
and at night temperature falls but humidity remains.
Reason (R) : The Amazon basin stretches directly on the equator and therefore it
experiences hot and humid weather.
5. Assertion (A): Heavy rainfall in the Amazon forest is the reason for the thick forest
and dense roof.
Reason (R) : Because of the thick forest the ground below is full of light and the
dense roof easily allows the sunlight to pass through it.
6. Assertion (A): Macaw is a bird which has brilliantly colored plumage which makes it
different from the birds found in India.)
Reason (R) : Amazon rainforest is home to various flora and fauna and thousands of
species of insects.
7. Assertion (A): The women of the families living in the Amazon basin feed their
families by growing crops after clearing small areas of forest.
Reason (R) : Both men and women in the Amazon basin work together to feed their
families. Men go hunting and fishing while women stay home and grow vegetables.
8. Assertion (A) : The rainforest provides wood which helps the people to build their
houses and continue their survival like living in thatched houses.
Reason (R) : With the growing time, the indigenous population is forced to shift to
other apartments and use the forest for construction of buildings, thus destroying the
forest.
9. Assertion (A) : As forests are cleared for the development of human kind, cutting of
trees should take place at large scale so that humans can be supplied with the best
life.
Reason (R) : Due to excessive clearing of rainforest in the Amazon basin, the topsoil
is washed away and the lush forest has changed into barren land.)
10. Assertion (A) : The tributaries of Ganga and Brahmaputra together form the
Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.
Reason (R) : The tributaries of the Ganga which join the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin
are -the Ghagra, the Son, the Chambal, the Gandak , and the Kosi.
11. Assertion (A) : The mountain areas with steep slopes are the best place for the
people of the basin to survive .
Reason (R) : The plain area provides the fertile soil which is best for growing crops
as agriculture is the main occupation for the people.
12. Assertion (A) : Cultivation of the paddy crop is high in plain areas as this crop
requires sufficient rain.
Reason (R) : In Ganga-Brahmaputra basin, the cultivation of paddy is high as it is the
area where the amount of rainfall is high.