Topic: Resources and Development Month: April
Subtopic: L2 Answer key
Geography| Grade
10
I .Answer these questions :
Q1.Why do you feel sheet erosion is not good for farmers or cultivators?
Ans: Because the fertile top soil is washed away.
Q2. ‘Human beings are essential components of resources.’ Do you agree. Give reason.
Ans: Yes, as human beings can transform material available in our environment into
resources and use them.
Q4. Land use data is available only for 93% of the total geographical area. Why?
Ans: i) The land use reporting for most of the north-east states except Assam has not been
done fully.
ii) Moreover, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have
also not been surveyed.
Q5. A) What is the reason for land degradation in states like Punjab, Haryana and
Western Uttar Pradesh?
Ans: Over irrigation due to water logging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in
the soil.
B)What is the reason for land degradation in states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh?
Ans: Deforestation due to mining.
Q6. Land is an asset of finite magnitude, therefore, it is important to use the available
land for various purposes with careful planning. Discuss any three measures of
controlling land degradation?
Ans:1. Afforestation.
2. Proper management grazing land.
3. Planting of shelter belts in desert areas.
4. Control of overgrazing.
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5. Stabilization of sand dunes by growing theory bushes.
6. Proper management of waste lands.
7. Control on mining activities.
8. Proper discharge disposal of effluents waster after treatment can reduce land
degradation.
Q7. Discuss the important features of black soil.
a. The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material.
b. They are well known for their capacity to hold moisture.
c. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium,
potash and lime.
d. These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
e. They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration
of the soil.
f. These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work on unless tilled immediately
after the first shower or during the pre-monsoon period.
Q8.The farmers in the northern plain region are privileged to be in a region of alluvial
soil.
Give a brief note on the productivity of alluvial soil which supports the above statement.
Ans: Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate
proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of crops.
Q9. You have to publish a document which states the reasons for land degradation in
India. Prepare a note for your reference highlighting the points you would incorporate in
your document.
Ans: 1. Deforestation due to mining in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, M.P. Orissa.
2. Overgrazing in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
have cause land-degradation.
3. Mining and quarrying have contributed a lot in land degradation as mining sites are
abundant after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars.
4. Over irrigation in areas such as Punjab Haryana also leads to land degradation due to
water logging leading to increase in salinity alkalinity in soil.
5. Mineral processing like grinding of lime stone for cement industry generates huge
quantity of dust in atmosphere after this dust settles down on land which stops
percolation of water in soil.
6. Industrial effluents as wastes are a major source of land water pollution.
Q10.Do you think that resources are free gifts of nature as is assumed by many? Justify
your answer with any three suitable arguments.
Ans: (1) No, the resources are not the free gifts of nature.
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(2) (i) An these natural things are available on the earth surface abundantly unless and
until humans modify them into usable products.
(ii) Thus, with the value addition to these substances through human intelligence, skill
and technology resources are developed to satisfy human need
II. Source Based questions:
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:
Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. It is a medium of plant growth and
supports different types of living organisms on the earth. The soil is a living system. It
takes millions of years to form soil up to a few cm in depth. Relief, parent rock or bed
rock, climate , vegetation and other forms of life and time are important factors in the
formation of soil. Various forces of nature such as change in temperature, actions of
running water, wind and glaciers, activities of decomposers etc. contribute to the
formation of soil. Chemical and organic changes which take place in the soil are equally
important. Soil also consists of organic humus and inorganic materials.
Qi. Why is soil considered a renewable resource?
Ans: As it can be renewed after usage.
Qii. Despite of the fact that soil is a renewable resource, why is soil conservation to be
considered seriously.?
Ans: It takes millions of years to form soil up to a few cm in depth.
Qiii.Where does the humus in the soil come from?
Ans: From the decayed plant material and dead organisms.
Qiv. Mention two ways by which soil is depleting?
Ans: i. Human activities like deforestation, over-grazing, etc.
ii. Natural forces like wind, glacier, etc.
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