Class 10 Geography Chapter 1 Question Answers - Contemporary India - II

Q1: What is biodiversity?
Ans: It is the sum total of all the varieties of species of plants, animals and microorganisms living on the earth.

Q2: What is flora?
Ans: Plants of particular region or period are referred to as flora.

Q3: What is fauna?
Ans: Species of animals of a particular region or period are referred as fauna.

Q4: “India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its vast array of biological diversity”. Justify.
Ans: India has nearly 8% of the total number of species in the world.

Q5: What are endangered species?
Ans: The species, which are in danger of extinction are called endangered species.

Q6: What are vulnerable species?
Ans: The species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate.

Q7: What are extinct species?
Ans: The species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur.

Q8: Give two examples of rare species?
Ans: (i) Wild Asiatic buffalo (ii) Hombill

Q9: Categorise the following as extinct or normal species- Pine, Asiatic Cheetah.
Ans: (i) Pine – Normal species
(ii) Asiatic Cheetah – Extinct species

Q10: Categorise the following as endemic and endangered species- Lion tailed macaque, Nicobar Pigeon.
Ans: (i) Lion tailed macaque – Endangered.
(ii) Nicobar pigeon – Endemic.

Q11: Mention any two factors responsible for depleting our forests and wildlife.
Ans: (i) Expansion of agriculture (ii) Mining

Q12: Name the Tiger Reserve which is seriously threatened by dolomite mining activity.
Ans: The Bauxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal.

Q13: Mention a social impact of deforestation.
Ans: In many societies, women bear the major responsibility of collection of fuel, fodder, water and other basic subsistence needs. As these resources are depleted, the drudgery of women increases and sometimes they have to walk for more than 10 km to collect these resources.

Q14: Mention any wildlife protection programme?
Ans: The Indian Wildlife Act 1972.

Q15: Mention any one step which was undertaken under Indian Wildlife Act to protect the wildlife.
Ans: Trade in wildlife was declared illegal.

Q16: What are permanent forests?
Ans: Reserved and protected forests are known as permanent forests.