OLIVE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
SESSION 2024 – 2025
SOCIAL SCIENCE
PRACTICE QUESTION ANSWERS
Geography Chapter 2
Physical features of India
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Question 1: Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
Answers :
(i) (c) Peninsula
(ii) (c) Purvachal
(iii) (c) Kannad
(iv) (c) Mahendragiri
Question 2: Answer the following questions briefly
(i) What is the bhabar?
Answer: It is one of the four regions of the northern plains, which is formed when rivers
come down from the mountains, deposit pebbles in a narrow belt of about 8 to 16 km in
width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks.
(ii) Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south.
Answer: The three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to South are:
a. The northern-most range is known as the Great or Inner Himalayas or the
Himadri with an average height of 6,000 meters.
b. The second range is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya. The altitude varies
between 3,700 and 4,500 meters and the average width is of 50 Km.
c. The outer-most range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks. They extend
over a width of 10-50 Km and have an altitude varying between 900 and 1100
meters.
(iii) Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhyan ranges?
Answer: Malwa plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhyan ranges.
(iv) Name the island group of India having coral origin.
Answer: Lakshadweep islands are the island group of India having coral origin.
Question 3: Distinguish between
(i) Bhangar and Khadar
Bhangar Khadar
1. It is an old alluvial soil. 1. It is a new alluvial soil.
2. It has high concentration of Kankar 2. It has low concentration of Kankar
nodules. nodules
3. It is infertile. 3. It is more fertile.
(ii) Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
Western Ghats Eastern Ghats
1. They are continuous and can be crossed 1. They are discontinuous and irregular and
through passes only. dissected by rivers draining into Bay of
Bengal
2. Average height of Western Ghats is 900 - 2. Average height of eastern ghats is 600
1600 meters meters.
3. Highest peak of western ghat is Anaimudi 3. Highest peak of eastern ghat is
(2695m) and Doddabetta (2637m) Mahendragiri (1501m)
Question 4: Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the
Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.
Answer: The major physiographic divisions of India are:
(1) The Himalayan Mountains
(2) The Northern Plains
(3) The Peninsular Plateau
(4) The Indian Desert
(5) The Coastal Plains
(6) The Islands
Question 4: Contrast between Himalayan region and Peninsular Plateau:
Answer:
Himalayan Region Peninsular Plateau
1. It is formed due to the collision of the Indo- 1.It is formed due to the breaking and
Australian and Eurasian plates. drifting of the Gondwana land.
2. It consists of the loftiest mountains and deep 2. It consists of broad and shallow valleys
valleys and rounded hills.
3. It is formed at the edge of the Indo-Gangetic 3. It is formed at the edge of the Deccan
plain. Plateau.
4. The Himalayan region contains only a few 4. The Peninsular Plateau is the storehouse
minerals. of the minerals.
Question 5: Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.
Answer :The northern plain has been formed by three major river systems, namely — the
Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries. This plain is formed of
alluvial soil. The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalaya
over millions of years, formed this fertile plain. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. The
plain being about 2400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad, is a densely populated
physiographic division. With a rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and
favourable climate it is agriculturally a productive part of India.
Question 6: Write short notes on the following.
(i) The Indian Desert
Answer :The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills. It is an
undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes. This region receives very low rainfall
below 150 mm per year. It has arid climate with low vegetation cover. Streams appear
during the rainy season. But they disappear very soon into the sand as they do not have
enough water to reach the sea. Luni is the only large river in this region.
(ii) The Central Highlands
Answer :The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river, covering
a major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands. The Vindhyan range
is bounded by the Satpura range on the south and the Aravali on the northwest. The further
westward extension gradually merges with the sandy and rocky desert of Rajasthan. The
rivers that flows in this region are Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken from
southwest to northeast, thus indicating the slope. The Central Highlands are wider in the
west but narrower in the east. The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as
the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
(iii) The Island groups of India
Answer :The islands groups of India have two major islands: The Lakshadweep islands and
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands group.
The Lakshadweep Island group lying close to the Malabar coast of Kerala. This group of
islands is composed of small coral islands. Earlier they were known as Laccadive, Minicoy
and Amindive. In 1973, these were named as Lakshadweep. It covers small area of 32 sq
km. Kavaratti island is the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep. This island group
has great diversity of flora and fauna. The Pitti island, which is uninhabited, has a bird
sanctuary.
The elongated chain of islands located in the Bay of Bengal extending from north to south
are Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are bigger in size and are more numerous and
scattered. The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories – The Andaman
in the north and the Nicobar in the south. It is believed that these islands are an elevated
portion of submarine mountains. These island groups are of great strategic importance for
the country. There is great diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands too. These
islands lie close to equator and experience equatorial climate and has thick forest cover.
On an outline map of India show the following.
(i)Mountain and hill ranges – the Karakoram, the Zaskar, the Patkai Bum,
the Jaintia, the Vindhya range, the Aravali, and the Cardamom hills.
(ii)Peaks – K2, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat and the Anai Mudi.
(iii)Plateaus, Chotanagpur and Malwa
(iv)The Indian Desert, Western Ghats, Lakshadweep Islands
