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

Q1: Examine the three major problems created as a result of indiscriminate utilization of natural resources.
Ans: The following are the three major problems created as a result of indiscriminate utilization of natural resources.

• Depletion of resources at a faster rate.
• Accumulation of resources in the hands of few creating a wide gap between the haves (rich) and have-nots (poor).
• Increase in global crises like ozone layer depletion, global warming, pollution and land degradation.

Q2: What is regur soil? Write its two features. Mention two regions where they are found.
Ans: Regur soil is the other name of black soil. The following are the two features of regur soil.

• The regur soils are made up of clayey material. They can hold moisture and are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
• They develop deep cracks during hot weather. When the soils are wet, they are very sticky and difficult to work on unless tilled immediately.
• The regur soils are found in the Deccan trap region, which is spread over north-west Deccan plateau. There soils are also found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and along the Godavari and Krishna Valleys.

Q3: “Land is a natural resource of utmost importance.” Justify the statement with appropriate arguments.
Ans: Land is a natural resource of utmost importance. It supports natural vegetation, wildlife, human life and economic activities like agriculture, mining, transport and communication system. 95 per cent of our basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are obtained from land. Therefore, it is very important to use the available land for various purposes with careful planning, otherwise we will be responsible for the adverse consequences.

Q4: Mention any three features of arid soil.
Ans: The colour of the arid soil ranges from red to brown.

• Arid soils are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature.
• The soils lack humus and moisture because of dry climate, high|emperature and fast evaporation.

Q5: “In India, some regions are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources.” Do you agree with the statement? Support your answer with three examples.
Ans: India is a vast country. It has fertile plains and high mountains, which are a source of perennial rivers. It also has plateaus, which are a rich source of minerals, fossil fuels and forests. However some regions are rich in certain types of resources and deficient in others, like the following.

• The cold desert of ladakh has very rich cultural heritage but it is deficient in water, infrastructure and some vital minerals.
• Arunachal Pradesh has abundant water resources but lacks in infrastructure development, as it is a mountainous state.
• The state of Rajasthan is well endowed with wind and solar energy but lacks

Q6: Name the soil type which is widely found in western Rajasthan. Explain two important characteristics of this type of soil which make it unsuitable for cultivation.
Ans: Arid soil is largely found in Western Rajasthan. The following are the two characteristics which make it unsuitable for cultivation.

• Arid soil is generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. The lower layers are occupied by Kankar. It restricts the filtration of water.
• Due to dry climate and high temperature, evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and moisture.

Q7: Mention any two human activities which are responsible for the process of soil erosion. Explain the two types of soil erosion mostly observed in India.
Ans: Two human activities that contribute significantly to soil erosion are deforestation and improper agricultural practices. Deforestation involves the clearing of forests for various purposes such as agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development. When forests are removed, the protective vegetation cover is lost, leaving the soil exposed to the impact of raindrops, leading to increased erosion. Improper agricultural practices, including overgrazing, improper irrigation, and the use of heavy machinery on steep slopes, can also accelerate soil erosion. Overgrazing by livestock removes vegetation cover, weakening the soil's structure and making it more susceptible to erosion. Inadequate irrigation practices can lead to waterlogging and salinization, which degrade the soil's quality and erode its surface.
In India, two main types of soil erosion are observed:

• Water Erosion: This type is prevalent in regions with high rainfall and poor land management practices. It can be classified into sheet erosion (thin layer removal of soil), rill erosion (small channels forming on the soil surface), and gully erosion (deep and wider channels). Water erosion is a significant concern in the hilly areas of northeastern and southern India.
• Wind Erosion: This occurs in arid and semi-arid regions, mainly in northwestern India. Strong winds blow away the topsoil, leaving the land less fertile. Wind erosion is a severe problem in areas with minimal vegetation cover and improper land management.

Efforts such as afforestation, contour plowing, and terrace farming can help mitigate soil erosion and conserve the valuable topsoil for sustainable agricultural practices.

Q8: Describe any three measures of controlling land degradation.
Ans: Measures to solve the problem of land degradation in India are as follows.

• Afforestation and proper management grazing lands
• Planting of shelter belts for stabilizing sand dunes
• Proper management of wastelands
• Control on mining activities
• Proper discharge of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment
• Adopting effective ploughing techniques

Q9: “Indiscriminate use of resources has led to numerous problems.” Justify the statement.
Ans: Indiscriminate use of natural resources has led to numerous problems. The following points justify the statement.

• Human activities, like cutting and felling of trees, and lopping of trees, have led to destruction of forests. Such losses have increasingly marginalised and impoverished many communities, who depend upon forests for food medicine, etc.
• Some human activities, such as deforestation, overgrazing, mining and quarrying, have contributed to land degradation.
• Water resources have been polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture, thus making it unfit for human and as well as animals’ consumption.

Q10: Mention three physical factors as well as three human factors which determine the use of land in India.
Ans: Three physical factors determining the use of land in India are the following,

• topography
• climate
• soil type

Three human factors determining the land use in India are:

• population density.
• technological capability.
• culture and traditions.

Q11: Explain the types of resources on the basis of exhaustibility.
Ans: On the basis of exhaustibility, the resources can be classified into the following two categories.

• Renewable resources: These are the resources that can be reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical processes. For example, solar, tidal and wind energy.
• Non-renewable resources: These resources occur over a very long geological time, taking millions of years in their formation. They get exhausted with their use. For example, minerals, coal, etc.

Q12: Explain the importance of conservation of resources.
Ans: Resources are essential for all kinds of developmental activities. But indiscriminate use of resources and overuse of resources may lead to socio-economic and environmental problems. To overcome these problems, resource conservation at various levels is important. For example, Gandhiji rightly said, “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed”.For the first time, conservation of resources had been advocated by the Club of Rome at the international level in a more systematic way in 1968. Another significant contribution was made at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.

Q13: Explain the role of humans in resource development.
Ans: The process of transformation of things into resource involves an inter-dependent relationship between nature, technology and institutions. Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate the pace of economic development. Human beings are essential components of resources as they transform materials in the environment into resources and use them.

Q14: What is bangar?
Ans: According to its age, alluvial soil is classified as khadar (new alluvial) and bangar (old alluvium). Bangar has high concentration of hanker nodules.

Q15: What is the most widely spread and important soil in India?
Ans: Alluvial soil is the most widely spread and important soil in India.

Q16: Classify resources into two groups on the basis of their origin.
Ans: On the basis of their origin, resources can be classified as biotic and abiotic.

Q17: Classify resources into two groups on the basis of their exhaustibility.
Ans: On the basis of exhaustibility, resources can be classified as renewable and non-renewable.

Q18: What are the reasons for land degradation? Describe briefly any four measures to conserve land from degradation.
Ans: At present, there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India. It has mainly been due to the following reasons.

• Human activities like deforestation, mining, quarrying, overgrazing are mainly responsible for land degradation.
• In states like Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha deforestation due to mining has caused severe degradation. In Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation.
•  Industrial effluents have become a major source of land and water degradation in many parts of the country.
•  Over-irrigation in the states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, has led to waterlogging and increased alkalinity and salinity in the soil.

The following are the four measures to conserve land from degradation.

• Afforestation and management of grazing can solve the problem to some extent.
• Planting of shelter belts of trees and growing of thorny bushes can stabilize sand dunes and check land degradation.
• Control over mining activities can also contribute to it.
• Proper discharge of industrial effluents can be done by grinding, sedimentation and flocculation.

Q19: Give the importance of soil. Explain three factors responsible for soil formation.
Ans: Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. Plants grow in the soil. It also supports different types of living organisms on earth.
The three factors responsible for soil formation are as follows.

• Relief, parent rock, climate, vegetation and other forms of life and time are important factors in the formation of soil.
• Forces of nature like running water, wind, glaciers, temperature and decomposers help in the formation of soil.
• Chemical and organic (humus) changes are also important factors in the formation of soil.

Q20: How can you contribute to minimize the pollution? Explain.
Ans: One way to contribute to minimizing pollution is by adopting eco-friendly practices. These practices can include reducing, reusing, and recycling materials to decrease waste generation. By doing so, we can limit the amount of trash that ends up in landfills or oceans, preventing harmful pollution.
Furthermore, using energy-efficient appliances and vehicles can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Conserving energy at home and in the workplace can also make a significant difference in reducing our carbon footprint.
Finally, supporting and advocating for policies that promote sustainable practices and renewable energy sources can have a broader impact on pollution reduction. By raising awareness and encouraging others to adopt environmentally friendly habits, we can all work together to minimize pollution and create a cleaner, healthier planet.