Class 9 Geography Chapter 1 Question Answers - Contemporary India - I

Q.1. Give a brief description of tropical evergreen forests.

Ans. Tropical evergreen forests are found in areas receiving heavy rainfall of over 200 cm, well distributed throughout the year. They are also known as rainforests. The warm, wet climate throughout the year supports luxuriant vegetation of all kinds including trees, shrubs and creepers. The trees grow very tall, reaching a height of 60 metres. As the trees grow very close to each other they form a thick canopy. The different types of vegetation form a multi-layered structure. The climate supports large number of broad-leafed trees of different
species. Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, cinchona are commercially important trees. These trees donot shed their leaves at the same time as there is no distinct dry season. This makes the forests evergreen as they retain their green look throughout the year.

Q.2. What are the characteristics of the trees of deciduous forests? (CBSE 2010)

Ans. Deciduous forests are found in areas receiving rainfall of 70 to 200 cm with a distinct dry season. They are also known as Monsoon Forests. Trees of this forest type shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks in dry summer. So they have a distinct period for shedding their leaves. The trees have widespread out branches like the neem and mango. Leaves are smaller in size than that of the rain forests to reduce transpiration. The trees also have less height than evergreen trees. The trees are prized for their hardwood commercially valuable timber is collected from these forests. These forests are more open and less luxuriant and trees are more spread out. On the basis of availability of water, deciduous forests are divided into moist deciduous, e.g. teak, sal, shisham, sandalwood, and dry deciduous, e.g. sal, peepal, neem, palas.

 Q.3. Write a short note on the flora and fauna of India.
 OR
 Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna ? 

(CBSE 2010)

Ans. The term flora is used to denote plants and the term fauna is used to denote animal species of a particular region or period. India is rich in flora and fauna and is marked by great biodiversity. With about 47,000 plant species, India occupies tenth place in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. 15,000 flowering plants are endemic or indigenous to India. They account for 6 per cent of world’s total number of flowering plants. A large number of nonflowering plants like ferns, algae and fungi are also found in India. Plants of all climatic regions ranging from tropical to Tundra are found in India. India is rich in fauna or animal life also. It has more than 89,000 species of animals and 1200 species of birds. 13 percent of the world’s total number of birds are found in India. 5 to 8 percent of the world’s amphibians are found in India. It has 2500 species of fishes in its marine and freshwaters. This accounts for nearly 12 percent of the world’s stock. India is the only country in the world which has both lions and tigers.

Q.4. Distinguish between extinct and endangered species.

Ans. Extinct species are those species of flora and fauna which are no more surviving. Even after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur, they are no more found. A species may be extinct from an area, region, country, continent or the entire earth. Asiatic cheetah and pink-head duck are extinct in India. Dodo and dinosaurs are extinct from the entire earth. Endangered species are those species of flora or fauna which are in the danger of extinction. They have declined in number at an alarming rate. If the negative factors that have reduced their number is not checked, their survival is difficult. Black buck, Indian rhino, Indian wild ass, Sangai and Indian tiger are endangered species in India. Black Panda is an endangered species throughout the world.

Q.5. Give a brief description of temperate forests.

Ans. Temperate forests are found in areas with cool climate. In India, temperate forests are found in the mountainous regions of the north. Here, a rise in altitude corresponds with a fall in temperature and supports the growth of temperate forests. The wet temperate type of forests are found in areas with elevation between 1000 and 2000 metres rainfall is high in these areas. So, evergreen broad-leafed hardwood trees predominate these areas. Oak and chestnut are important species of these temperate forests. At elevations between 1500 and 3000 metres, temperate forests containing coniferous trees are found. These forests cover mostly the southern slopes of the Himalayas and places having high altitude in northeast India. The trees of these forests are tall, straight and conical in shape. The leaves are narrow and needle shaped and seeds are found in hard cones. Pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce and cedar are important trees found in these forests.

Q.6. Discuss the type of vegetation found in a thorn forest.
 OR
 Describe any three features of thorn forests. 

(CBSE 2010)

Ans. Thorn forests are found in regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall. This type of vegetation is found in northwestern India, in the desert and semi-arid areas. The vegetation consists of low and open forests with short thorny tress and thorny bushes, scrubs and grasses in between. Trees are scattered and have long roots, penetrating deep into the soil to tap groundwater. The leaves are thick and small to reduce evaporation and are often transformed into spines and thorns to minimise evaporation. The cacti growing in the deserts have thick succulent stems to conserve water. Acacias, palms, euphorbias, khair, babul and cacti are the main plant species of the thorn forests.

Q.7. What are dry deciduous forests? How do they differ from moist deciduous forests?
 OR
 Write three main characteristics of tropical deciduous forest ? 

(CBSE 2010)

Ans. The tropical deciduous or monsoon forests are sub-divided into dry deciduous and moist deciduous forests on the basis of availability of water. The dry deciduous forests are found in areas receiving rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm. Teak, sal, peepal, neem, palas are important trees of these forests. In contrast, the moist deciduous forests are found in areas receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 100 cm. The trees of both the dry deciduous and moist deciduous forests shed their leaves during a distinct dryperiod in summer. But the trees of the dry deciduous forests are bare for a longer period as their dry periods lasts for more time than that of the moist deciduous forests. The dry deciduous forests are more open and less dense. They do not have bamboo thickets like the moist deciduous forests. Large parts of the dry deciduous forests have been cleared for cultivation or used for grazing. Both forests have commercially important hardwood trees. But timber from the moist forests are of better quality and in larger quantity. Teak, sal, shisham, sandalwood, mulberry and bamboos are important species of the moist forests.
 

Q.8. Distinguish between a tropical evergreen forest and a dry deciduous forest.

Ans. The points of distinction between a tropical evergreen forest and a dry deciduous forest are as follows :

Q.9. Describe the main objectives of the Project Tiger and the Project Rhino and their effect
 on the wildlife in India. (Important)

Ans. The Project Tiger and Project Rhino are two well known wildlife conservation projects. They have been undertaken to protect the Indian tiger and the one-horned rhino of  India which are endangered species.
Their objectives are as follows :

(i) Protect the endangered species from poaching, hunting and illegal trading.

(ii) Save the natural habitats of these animals so that they can breed naturally and multiply in numbers.

(iii) Maintain a survey of the number of existing tigers and rhinos. These well publicised projects have played a great role in protecting the endangered animals. Under the projects government has undertaken steps to save and protect the existing animals by banning hunting and poaching.

Q.10. Describe the kind of vegetation and wildlife found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.

(CBSE 2010)

Ans. The Ganga-Brahmaputra delta is covered by mangrove forests, mainly Sundari trees which provide durable hard timber. Palm, coconut, keora, agar also grow in some parts of the delta. Royal Bengal tiger is the famous animal found here. Turtles, crocodiles, gharials and snakes are also found in these forests.

Q.11. What are the steps taken by the Government to protect flora and fauna in India? Write any three. [2011 (T-2)]

Ans. To protect the flora and fauna of the country, the government of India has taken many steps, as stated below :

(i) Fourteen biosphere reserves have been set up in the country at different places to protect flora and fauna. Out of these four have been included in the world network of biosphere reserves.

(ii) Project tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great Indian Bustard and many other ecodevelopmental projects have been introduced.

(iii) 89 National parks, 49 wildlife sanctuaries and zoological gardens are set up to take care of our natural heritage.

Q.12. In which region are the thorny forests and scrubs found in India? Mention any two characteristics of such type of vegetation? [2011 (T-2)]

Ans. The thorny forests and scrubs in India are found in regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall. This type of vegetation is found in the North-Western part of the country including semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Acacias, palms euphorbias and cacti are the main plant species.

The two important characteristics of such type of vegetation are as follows :

(i) Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil in order to get moisture.

(ii) The stems of the trees are succulent to conserve water. Leaves are mostly thick and small to minimize evaporation.

Q.13. Explain the different biodiversity of India. [2011 (T-2)]

Ans. India is one of the twelve mega biodiversity countries of the world. With about 47,000 plant species India occupies tenth place in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. There are about 15000 flowering plants in India which account for 6 percent of the world's total number of flowering plants. The country has many non-flowering plants such as ferns, algae and fungi. Besides, India has 89,000 species of animals as wells a rich variety of fish in its fresh and marine water.

Q.14. Name the two sub-type of Tropical deciduous forests. State any two features of each type also. [2011 (T-2)]

Ans. The two sub-types of Tropical deciduous forests are (i) Moist Deciduous and (ii) Dry Deciduous type. These divisions are made on the basis of the availability of water.

(i) Moist deciduous forests are found in regions receiving rainfall between 200 and 100 cm. The main characteristics of vegetation are

(a) thick cover of forest, characterized by climbers and epiphytes. Bamboo and ferns are common.

(b) All the trees are evergreen. They do not shed their leaves at a time. Therefore, the forest will remain green all the year round.

(ii) The dry deciduous forests are found in areas having rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm. The principal characteristics of dry deciduous forests are

(a) These forest shed their leaves during early spring or summer when sufficient moisture is not available. The forest appears bare and brown during summer.

(b) The forest is more open in which grow important trees like teak, sal peepal, neem.

Q.15. Name the vegetation found at high altitude in our country and mention animals are found in this region. [2011 (T-2)]

Ans. At higher altitudes, generally more than 3600 metres above sea level, temperate forest and grass lands give way to the Alpine vegetation. Silver fir, junipers, pines and birches are the common trees. These trees are progressively stunted as they approach the snow line. The common animals found in these forests are Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, Jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggyhorn, wild ibex, bear and rare red panda, sheep and goats with thick hair.

Q.16. How are forests useful to us? Give Examples. [2011 (T-2)]
 OR
 How are forests important for human beings? Explain.

Ans. Forests provide to man food, fibre, fodder, timber, fuel wood and hosts of other essential items. It provides raw materials to industry and transport. Forest is a renewable resource and is widely used as domestic fuel in Third World countries. Forest also influences the environment by modifying local climate, controlling soil erosion and deposits humus in the soil, regulating stream flows. Minor forest products provide livelihood to many forest dwellers. Besides, forest is the home of various wild animals and birds. It offers recreation to man and boosts the Tourism industry.