I. Tick (✔) the correct option.
1.
Ans: (b)
"The climate of coastal places is defined by sea and land breezes, which originate due to differential heating and cooling of the sea and land. This is why coastal areas have an equable climate, while places far away from the sea experience extreme climatic conditions."
2.
Ans: (c)
"There are two main branches of the south-west monsoon winds over India... the Arabian Sea branch and a Bay of Bengal branch."
3.
Ans: (a)
"The word ‘monsoon is derived from the Arabic word mausim meaning ‘season’... thunderstorms and heavy downpours. There are no mentions of Kalbaisakhi specifically, but this term is associated with summer thunderstorms in the region.*
4.
Ans: (c)
"Examples of trees found in these forests include mahogany, ebony, rubber, and rosewood."
5.
Ans: (a)
"The largest mangrove forests in India and the world are the Sunderbans..."
6.
Ans: (c)
"Thorn forests in the text are described as xerophytic or drought-resistant vegetation."
7.
Ans: (a)
"Thorn forests are mainly found in eastern and western parts of Rajasthan..."
8.
Ans: (a)
"Beyond 2,000 m till about 3,000 m, coniferous trees such as forests of pine, cedar, deodar, and silver fir are found."
9.
Ans: (b)
"At 5,000 m is the snowline, and above this, the subsoil is always frozen, so nothing grows here."
10.
Ans: (a)
"Project Tiger and Project Rhino are special efforts to protect two of the endangered animals, tigers and rhinoceros, respectively."
II. State whether the following statements are true or false. Rewrite the statements to correct them.
1.
Ans: True.
2.
Ans: False.
The Great Indian Desert in Rajasthan receives barely 25 cm of rain.
3.
Ans: True.
4.
Ans: False.
Evergreen forests also grow in saline coastal waters as mangrove thickets and tidal swamp forests.
5.
Ans: False.
Coniferous trees, such as forests of pine, cedar, deodar, and silver fir, are found in the Himalayan areas and do not go leafless in summers.
III. Answer the following questions in brief.
1.
Ans: The term 'mango showers' refers to pre-monsoon showers that occur in the month of May and bring relief to mango trees.
2.
Ans: The south-west monsoon winds bring most of the rain to India.
3.
Ans: Tamil Nadu receives more than half of its annual rainfall in winter, brought by the north-east monsoons.
4.
Ans: Coniferous trees are found in the Himalayan areas from Assam stretching westwards to Kashmir and parts of the higher hills in the Western Ghats.
5.
Ans: Lions and deer are examples of animals found in the grasslands of India.
IV. Answer the following questions in detail.
1.
Ans: The climate of India is influenced by various factors, including latitude, altitude, the direction of mountain ranges, distance from the sea, and seasonal winds. India's location in the tropical and sub-tropical heat zones, the presence of the Himalayas affecting wind patterns, and the influence of the monsoon winds are key factors.
2.
Ans: The south-west monsoons have two main branches—the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch. The Arabian Sea branch brings heavy rain to the west coast of India, while the Bay of Bengal branch divides further into branches that move towards eastern India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the Northern Plains. As the monsoon winds progress inland, the amount of rainfall decreases.
3.
Ans: Retreating monsoons refer to the season when the south-west monsoon winds withdraw from India. This occurs by the end of September as the Sun moves towards the Southern Hemisphere. Dry winds blow from the land to the sea, and temperatures decrease in the Northern Plains, marking the end of the monsoon season.
4.
Ans: Mangrove forests are coastal ecosystems where seawater mixes with freshwater. The vegetation in mangrove forests includes salt-tolerant trees, shrubs, ferns, and palms. The Sunderbans, situated along the coast in West Bengal, is the largest mangrove forest in India and the world.
5.
Ans: The government has taken several steps to preserve wildlife in India. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves have been established. Notable projects like Project Tiger and Project Rhino focus on protecting endangered species. India has around 104 national parks, over 550 wildlife sanctuaries, and 51 tiger reserves. Wildlife Week in October raises awareness, and strict measures aim to prevent extinction.
