Class 5 SST HOTS Questions - Major Landforms

Q1: What are the two processes?
Ans: The two processes are:
(i) Internal Processes: lead to

• Upliftment of the earth’s surface.
• Sinking of the earth’s surface.

(ii) External Processes: are the processes which continuously

• wear down the surface.
• rebuild the surface.

Q2: What are erosion and deposition?
Ans:
Erosion:

• Wearing down of the earth’s surface is called erosion.
• Erosional process lowers the surface.

Deposition:

• Rebuilding of earth’s surface is called deposition.

Q3: Define (i) Mountains (ii) Glaciers.
Ans:

• Mountains are natural elevations of the earth’s surface with a small summit and a broad base, higher than the surrounding area.
• Glaciers are permanent moving heaps of ice and snow.

Q4: What are mountain ranges? Give some examples of mountain ranges.
Ans: Mountains, arranged in a line are called mountain ranges.
Examples:

• The Himalayas (India—Asia)
• The Alps (Europe)
• The Andes (South America)
• The Rockies (North America)

Q5: Describe three types of mountains.
Ans: Three Types of Mountains:
1. The Fold Mountains

• Mountains formed of folding process of the strata are called fold mountains 

The Himalayas and the Alps are young fold mountains.

• They have rugged relief.
• They have high conical hills.

Aravallis in India are old fold mountains.

• They are considerably worn down by the processes of erosion.

Appalachians in North America and Urals in Russia have rounded features.

• They are low in elevation.
• They are very old fold mountains.

2. Block Mountains

• When large areas are broken and displaced vertically, block mountains are created.
• The uplifted blocks are termed as horsts.
• Lowered blocks are named as graben.
• Rhine valley and Vosges are good examples of such block mountains.

Some more examples of this type of mountains/landforms:

• Rift valley of Narmada and Tapi
• Deccan Plateau
• Meghalaya Plateau
• Drakeusburge (in South Africa)
• Australian Plateau
• Saudi Arabian landforms
• African Tableland.

3. Volcanic Mountains

• Volcanic activity leads to the formation of volcanic mountains.
• Examples of volcanic mountains:
  • Kilimanjaro Mountains (in Africa).
  • Mt. Fujiyama (in Japan).

Q6: What are plateaus? Give their major features.
Ans:
Plateaus: Plateaus are flat topped tableland with steep slopes on one side or more sides.
Features of the Plateaus:
Height varies from a few hundred metres to several thousand metres.

• Plateaus may be young or old.
• Deccan Plateau of India is one of the oldest plateaus of the world.
• Other examples: East African Plateau (in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). Western Plateau of Australia.
• The Tibet Plateau is the highest plateau of the world with a 4000 to 6000 metres above mean sea level.

Q7: How are plateaus useful to us?
Ans: Usefulness of Plateaus:

• Rich in mineral resources/deposits.
• Numerous mining areas are located in the plateau areas:
• African plateau is known for gold and diamond mining.
• Chhotanagpur plateau in India is rich in iron ore, coal and manganese.
• Plateaus have several waterfalls, ideal sites for generation of hydro electricity:
• Hundru falls in Chhotanagpur Plateau on River Subernarekha.
• Jog falls in Karnataka.
• Lava plateaus rich in black soil are ideal for cultivation.
• Some plateaus are known for scenic spots and they are great attractions to tourists.

Q8: Describe the relationship between landforms and people.
Ans:
Landforms and People:
People live on different landforms in different ways:

• Life is difficult in mountains.
• Plains are major attractions for people.
• In plains it is easy to build houses, construct roads, raise crops.
• In mountains earthquakes, volcanic eruptions etc. cause huge damage to life and property.

Some people misuse landforms:

• They use land as waste like constructing house on fertile land.
• They throw garbage on land and in water making them polluted.

Q9: Define plains. Describe their major features.
Ans: Plains:
Definition - Plains are large stretches of flat land, not higher than 200 metres from mean sea level 

• Some are extremely level.
• Others are rolling and undulating.

Major Features of Plains:

• Mostly formed by river deposits.
• Plains are generally fertile.
• They are thickly populated.
• They have dense network of roads and railways.
• Agriculture is the main occupation of the people.

Examples:

• Ganga-Indus-Brahmaputra Plains in India.
• Yangtze Plain in China.

Q10: Why do lesser people live in mountain areas?
Ans:
Lesser people live in mountain areas because of the following reasons:

• Less land is available for farming because of steep slope.
• Harsh climate.