Class 5 SST HOTS Questions - The Land of Dense Forests: Congo

Q1: What was/is DRC known as:
(a) before 1971,
(b) between 1971 and 1997,
(c) at present?
Ans:
(a) Before 1971 it was known as Belgian Congo.
(b) Between 1971 and 1997, it was known as Zaire.
(c) At present, it is known as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Q2: What kind of climate does DRC have?
Ans: DRC has a hot and humid climate. It is one of the wettest places on Earth.

Q3: Describe a tropical rainforest.
Ans: The tropical rainforest is a very dense forest. It is also called an evergreen forest as the trees are covered with leaves throughout the year. There is a large variety of trees found here. Tall trees make the canopy and smaller plants like creepers, climbers, and shrubs grow under these canopies.

Q4: Why are most of the DRC covered with tropical rainforests?
Ans: The Equator passes through DRC, and the climate in DRC is very hot and humid. It rains almost every day in DRC. River Congo also flows through DRC. So most of the DRC is covered with tropical rainforest.

Q5: What is Savanna? Which parts of the DRC have this type of vegetation?
Ans: Savanna is grasslands with a few scattered trees. Tall grasses are found in these grasslands. These grasslands are found in the south and southwest parts of the DRC.

Q6: Name four animals found in plenty in the tropical rainforests and four found in the savannas.
Ans:

• In tropical rainforests: elephants, buffaloes, gorillas, baboons.
• In savannas: lions, zebras, leopards, giraffes.

Q7: Which dangerous insect present in the forests of the DRC causes sleeping sickness?
Ans: The tsetse is the insect that causes the dreaded sleeping sickness.

Q8: Describe the way pygmies live.
Ans: Pygmies get their food by hunting and gathering from forests. They live in camps at a place for a few weeks and then move to other places. Their camps are made of leaves and branches. They don’t wear many clothes due to the hot and humid climate but they do wear colorful costumes on special occasions. They enjoy singing, dancing, and telling stories.