Chapter 8 India Climate Vegetation and Wildlife

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

Ans: Which winds bring rainfall in India? Why is it so important?
Ans: Monsoon winds bring rainfall in India. Agriculture in India
depends on rains. Good monsoons mean sufficient rain and a good
crop. Hence, monsoon winds are very important. Our prosperity
depends on these winds.
(b)Name the different seasons in India.
Ans:
The different seasons in India are:
• Cold Weather Season (Winter)
• Hot Weather Season (Summer)
• Southwest Monsoon Season (Rainy)
• Season of retreating Monsoon (Autumn).

(c)What is natural vegetation?

Ans: Grasses, shrubs, and trees which grow of their own without any
interference or help from mankind constitute natural vegetation.

(d)Name the different types of vegetation found in India

Ans: Different types of vegetation found in India

• Tropical Rain Forests

• Tropical Deciduous Forests
• Thorny Forests
• Mountain Vegetation
• Mangrove Forests

(e)What is the difference between evergreen forest and

deciduous forest?
 (f)Why is tropical rainforest also called evergreen forest?
Answers: Tropical rainforest is also called evergreen forest because
they (the trees) do not shed their leaves in a particular season.

2. Tick the correct answer.

(a) The world’s highest rainfall occurs in …………
(i)
Mumbai (ii) Asansol (iii) Mawsyuram.

(b) Mangrove forests can thrive in………

(i) saline water (ii) freshwater (iii)polluted water.

(c) Mahogany and rosewood trees are found in………..

(i) mangrove forests
(ii) tropical deciduous forests
(iii) tropical evergreen forests

(d) Wild goats and snow leopards are found in…………

(i) Himalayan region (ii)Peninsular region (iii) Gir forests.

(e) During the South-west monsoon period, the moisture-laden winds blow
from
(i) land to sea (ii) sea to land (iii) plateau to
plains.

Answers:
(a)—(iii), (b)—(i), (c)—(iii), (d)—(i), (e)—(ii).

3. Fill in the blanks.

1. Hot and dry winds are known as………… blow during the day in
summers.
2. The states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu receive a great amount
of rainfall during the season of…………...
3. ……. forest in Gujarat is the home of……………
4. …………… is a well-known species of mangrove forests.
5. …………. are also called monsoon forests.

1. Loo 2, retreating monsoon 3/Gir, Asiatic lions 4. Sundari 5. Tropical

deciduous forests.

I. Multiple Choice Questions

(i) Sundarbans is in ………..
(a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(b) West Bengal
(c) Orissa
(d) Madhya Pradesh.

(ii) Which one forms the group of migratory birds?

(a) Siberian Crane, Flamingo and Crow
(b) Sparrow, Crow, and Stork
(c) Stork, Siberian Crane, and Flamingo
(d)Duck, Bulbul and geese.

(iii) These places experience moderate climate ………………

(a) Mumbai and Kolkata
(b) Patna and Lucknow
(c) Bikaner and Jaisalmer
(d) Ranchi and Asansol.

(iv) Elephants and one-homed rhinoceroses are found in the forests

of……………………
(a) Assam
(b) Gujarat
(c) Kerala
(d)Karnataka

(v) Wildlife week is observed every year in the first week of

_________
(a) November
(b) August
(c) September
(d) October.

Answers:
(i)—(b), (ii)—(c), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(a), (v)—(d).

II. Fill in the Blanks

1. Camels and wild asses are found in the ……….. and the ……….
2. ……… in Rajasthan receives the least rainfall.
3. Tropical Rain Forests occur in the areas which receive ………….. rainfall.
4. Cold weather season remains from………… to ………..
5. The climate of India has been described as ………….. type.
6. The roots of the plants kind the………….., thus, they control soil erosion.
7. Parrots, pigeons, geese, etc. are examples of ……….. birds.

Answer:

1. Great Indian Desert, Rann of Kuchchh

 2. Jaisalmer
3. heavy
4. December, February
5. Monsoon
6. bind
7. common

III.True/False

1. During the winter season, the sun rays fall directly in the region. F
2. Due to India’s location in the tropical region, most of the rain is
brought by monsoon winds. F
3. Tropical rainforests are not very dense. F
4. Tropical rainforests are also called monsoon forests. T
5. Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country. T
6. Siberian Crane, Stork, Flamingo, etc. migrate to our country in the
winter season every year.

V.Matching Skill
Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What happens in the season of the retreating monsoons? [Imp.]

Answer: Winds move back from the mainland to the Bay of
Bengal. ,

2. What is climate?
Answer:
Climate is the average weather condition, which has been measured
over many years.

3. Name the factors that affect the climate of a place. [Imp.]

Answer:
The climate of a place is affected by its location, altitude, distance
from the sea and relief.
4. Name the two regions of Rajasthan which are very hot.
Answer: Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

5. Name the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir which are very cold
or freezing cold.
Answer: Drass and Kargil.

6. What do you mean by moderate climate? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Moderate climate refers to the climate which is neither very
hot nor very cold.

7. What are called bushes?

Answer: Small plants are called bushes.

8. Where are thorny bushes found?

Answer:Thorny bushes are found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab,
Haryana, Eastern slopes of Western Ghats and Gujarat.

9. What is the special feature of mountain vegetation?

Answer: The trees are conical in shape.

10. Why is Van Mahotsav arranged? [V. Imp.]

Answer: Van Mahotsav is arranged to awaken people to plant more
and more trees.

11. Why are several species of wildlife of India declining? [V. Imp.]
Answer:Due to the cutting of forests and hunting, several species of
wildlife of India are declining.

12. Name the project started by the government to protect tigers? [Imp.]
Answer: Project Tiger.

13. Name some migratory birds.

Answer: Pelican, Siberian Crane, Stork, Flamingo, Pintail, Duck and Curlew.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Explain the cold weather season and hot weather season.

Answer:
During the cold-weather season (winter), the sun rays do not fall directly in
the region. As a result, the temperatures are quite low in northern India. In
the hot weather season (summer), the sun rays fall directly in the region.
Hence, the temperature becomes very high. Hot and dry winds called loo
blow during the day time.
3. Mention the periods of various seasons of India. [Imp.]
Answer:

• Cold weather season, i.e. winter remains from December to February.

• Hot weather season, summer ranges from March to May.
• Southwest monsoon season, i.e. the rainy season remains from June
to September.
• Season of retreating monsoon, Le. autumn occurs in the month of
October and lasts upto the month of November.

4. Mention the main features of thorny bushes.

Answer:

1. Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country.

2. The leaves are in the form of spines to reduce the loss of water.
3. Cactus, khair, babool, keekar are important thorny bushes.
4. They are found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Eastern
slopes of Western Ghats and Gujarat.
5. Write a note on mountain vegetation.
Answer:
Mountains are homes of various species of trees. They are found according
to the variation in height. With an increase in height, the temperature falls.
At a height between 1500 metres and 2500 metres most of the trees are
conical in shape. Such trees are called coniferous trees. Mountain vegetation
includes trees such as chir, pine and deodar.
6. How are forests important for us? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Forests play a vital role in the life of human beings and in their absence, we
can’t imagine a life. Plants release oxygen that we breathe and absorb
carbon dioxide. The roots of the plants bind the soil and in this way check
soil erosion. We get several things from the forests, such as wood for
furniture, fuel, fodder, medicinal herbs, honey, lac, gum, fruits etc. Forests
provide natural habitat to wildlife, such as lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys,
etc. As forests are so beneficial for us, we must make efforts to conserve it.
7. What should we do to conserve wildlife? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
We must not involve in the hunting and poaching of wild animals. We can
refuse to buy things made from parts of the bodies of animals such as their
bones, horns, fur, skins, and feathers. It will be an effective way to conserve
wildlife. We should participate in the wildlife week which falls in the first
week of October and try to create awareness of conserving the habitats of
the animal kingdom.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Explain different types of seasons found in India
Answer:
Four major seasons are found in India:
(i) Cold Weather Season (Winter). This season occurs in the month of
December and lasts upto the month of February. During this season
temperature remains cold in northern India because the sun rays do not fall
directly in the region.

(ii) Hot weather season (Summer). This season starts in the month of March
and ends in the month of May. During this season temperature becomes
very hot because the sun rays fall directly in the region. Hot and dry winds
called loo blow during the daytime.

(iii) Southwest monsoon season (Rainy season). This season is marked by

the advent and advance of the monsoon. The winds blow from the Arabian
Sea and Bay of Bengal towards the land. They carry moisture with them.
When these winds strike the mountain barriers it begins raining.

(iv) Season of retreating monsoon (Autumn). This is the season of retreating

monsoons. During this season winds move back from the mainland to the
Bay of Bengal. The southern parts of India receive rainfall in this season.

2. Mention different types of vegetation found in India. [V. Imp.)

Answer:
Five different types of vegetation are found in India:
(i) Tropical rain forests. These forests are found in the areas which receive
heavy rainfall. They are very dense, and sunlight never reach the ground.
The trees of these forests shed their leaves at different times of the year.
Therefore, they always appear green are called evergreen forests. Important
trees of these forests are mahogany, ebony, and rosewood. They are found
in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of North-Eastern states, and a
narrow strip of the western slope of the Western Ghats.

(ii) Tropical deciduous forests. These forests are also known as monsoon
forests and are found in a large part of the country. They are less dense.
They shed their leaves at a particular time of the year. Sal, teak, neem,
peepal and shisha are important trees found in these forests. Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, etc. are
home of these forests.

(iii) Thorny bushes. They are found in the dry areas. Cactus, khair, babool,
and Keekar are important thorny bushes. They are found in Rajasthan,
Punjab, Haryana, etc.
(iv) Mountain Vegetation. A variety of trees are found in the mountains.
They are conical in shape. Hence trees are called conical trees. Chir, pine,
and deodar are important trees of these forests.

(v) Mangrove Forests. These forests grow in saline water. They are found in
Sundarbans in West Bengal and in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Sundari is a well-known species of trees in mangrove-forests.

3. Describe the wildlife of India [V. Imp.]

Answer: Forests are home to wildlife, which include several species of
animals and a variety of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, insects, and
worms.

The tiger, our national animal, is found ip various parts of the country. Gir
forest in Gujarat is the home of Asiatic lions. Elephants and one-homed
rhinoceroses are found in the forests of Assam. Elephants are found in
Kerala and Karnataka. Camels and wild asses are found in the Great Indian
desert and the Rann of Kuchchh respectively. Wild goats, snow leopards,
bears, etc. are found in the Himalayan region. Besides these, monkeys, wolf,
jackal, nilgai, cheetah, etc. are other animals found in our country.

Our country is rich in birdlife too. Peacock is our national bird. Other
common birds are parrots, pigeons, mynah, geese, bulbul, and ducks.
Several bird sanctuaries have been established to protect different species of
birds.,
There are hundreds of species of snakes found in India. Cobras and Kraits
are important among them.