Haryana State Board HBSE 8th Class Social Science Solutions Geography Chapter 2 Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
Haryana Board 8th Class Social Science Solutions Geography Chapter 2 Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources
HBSE 8th Class Geography Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Textbook Questions and Answers
LETS DO (Page No. 9)
Observe the land, type of soil and water availability in the region you live. Discuss in your class, how it has influenced the life style of people there.
Answer:
The land, type of soil and water availability in the region influence the life style of people living there. They affect the economic activities of the people. If the land is fertile and there is enough water available for irrigation ; people will adopt agricultural activities.
Class 8 Geography Chapter 2 HBSE Question 2.
Collect a handful of different types of indian soil and find out how they are different.
| S.No. | Name of Soil | Formation | Colour | Other Features |
| 1. | Alluvial Soil | It is laid by rivers. | Grey | Fine, fertile |
| 2. | Black Soil | It is formed from volcanic activity. | Black | Fertile, good for cotton |
| 3. | Red Soil | It is developed from old dry saline rocks. | Red | Porous |
| 4. | Laterites | Formed by intense |
LETS DO (Page No. 10)
Study the table given (NCERT Page No. 6) and answer the following:
(i) Name the countries having the highest percentage of land under cropland, forest, pasture and other uses.
Answer:
Cropland – India
Forest – Japan
Pasture – Australia
Other uses – Canada
(ii) How would you relate the land use pattern of these countries with the probable economic activities?
Answer:
(а) India is an agricultural country so it uses land maximum for crops production.
(b) The mountainous land of Japan is covered with forests.
(c) Australia has 56% of area in pastures; so the economic activity is related to cattle rearing.
(d) Paper and pulp industry is very common in Canada as its maximum land is covered mainly with coniferous forests.
EXERCISES
Land Soil Water Natural Vegetation And Wildlife Resources Question Answer HBSE Class 8 Question 1.
Answer the following questions:
(i) Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation?
Answer:
- Temperature
- Rainfall.
(ii) Write any two reasons for land degradation today.
Answer:
- Deforestation,
- Landslides and floods.
(iii) Why is land considered an important resource?
Answer:
The land is considered an important resource because :
(a) All human beings live on it and obtain most of their needs from it.
(b) Land can be used in various ways, for example, constructing buildings, roads, railway lines, cultivation, rearing of animals, mining, industries etc.
(iv) Name any two steps that government has taken to conserve plants and animals.
Answer:
(i) Our government has constructed national parts, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves to protect our natural vegetation and wildlife.
(ii) Awareness programmes like social forestry and Vanamahotasava are be encouraged at the regional and community levels.
(v) Suggest three ways to conserve water.
Answer:
(a) The impurities of water should be treated before releasing them into water bodies.
(b) Rainwater harvesting should be done to save surface runoff.
(c) Wastage of water should be checked at home also. Waste water of kitchen and washing can be used for gardens and toilets.
Land Soil And Water Resources Class 8 HBSE Question 2.
Tick the correct answer:
(i) Which one of the following is NOT a factor of soil formation?
(a) time
(b) soil texture
(c) organic matter
Answer:
(b) soil texture.
(ii) Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes?
(a) shelter belts
(b) mulching
(c) terrace cultivation.
Answer:
(c) terrace cultivation.
(iii) Which one of the following methods is NOT in favour of the conservation of nature?
(a) switch off the bulb when not in use
(b) close the tap immediately after using
(c) dispose polypacks after shopping
Answer:
(c) dispose polypacks after shopping.
Class 8 Geography Chapter 2 Exercise HBSE Question 3.
Match the following.
| (i) Land use | (a) prevents soil erosion |
| (ii) Humus | (b) land suitable for agriculture |
| (iii) Rock dams | (c) productive use of land |
| (iv) Arable land | (d) organic matter deposited on top soil |
| (e) contour ploughing. |
Answer:
(i) (c)
(ii) (d)
(iii) (a)
(iv) (b)
Land Soil And Water Resources Class 8 Notes HBSE Question 4.
State whether the given statement is true or false. If true, write the reasons.
(i) Ganga-Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region.
Answer:
True, because the land is fertile and suitable for cultivation.
(ii) Water availability per person in India is declining.
Answer:
True, because of rising population and drying up of water resources, increasing water pollution.
(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called intercropping.
Answer:
False, it is called shelter-belts.
(iv) Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem.
Answer:
False, it will deteriorate the ecosystem.
8th Class Geography Chapter 2 HBSE Question 5.
Activity:
Discuss some more reasons which are responsible for changes of land use pattern. Has your place undergone any change in the land use pattern?
| Place | When Your grand parent’s were in their 30’s | When your parents were in their 30’s | Why do you think this is happening? | Are common areas and open spaces disappearing? |
| Rural | ||||
| Numer of cattle and poultry owned | ||||
| Number of trees and ponds in the village | ||||
| Main occupation of the head of the family | ||||
| Urban | ||||
| Number of cars owned | ||||
| Number of rooms in the house | ||||
| Number of metalled roads | ||||
| Number of flyovers in the city | ||||
| Number of parks and playgrounds |
Based on the table you have just completed, draw a picture of land use patterns that you foresee in your neighbourhood after 20 years. Why do you think that land use patterns change over the years?
Answer:
There is a great change in the land-use pattern. The reasons are as under:
| Place | When Your grand parent’s were in their 30’s | When your parents were in their 30’s | Why do you think this is happening? | Are common areas and open spaces disappearing? |
| Rural | ||||
| Numer of cattle and poultry owned | More than 2 or 3 | More than 2 or 3 | because of the agriculture | Yes |
| Number of trees and ponds in the village | Trees-Several Ponds-1 or 2 | The same | A vast area of forest was them | |
| Main occupation of the head of the family | Agriculture | Agriculture | Rural life depends on agri activity | |
| Urban | ||||
| Number of cars owned | None | One | Life style is being changed | Yes |
| Number of rooms in the house | 2 | 2 or 3 | standard or living changed | |
| Number of metalled roads | very few | few | For Trade and Commerce | |
| Number of flyovers in the city | None | 1 or 2 | Due to developments | |
| Number of parks and playgrounds |
HBSE 8th Class Geography Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Important Questions and Answers
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Land Soil And Water Resources Class 8 Solutions HBSE Question 1.
Give two reasons of water shortage or water scarcity.
Answer:
(a) Variation in annual or seasonal precipitation.
(b) Over exploitation of water.
(c) Contamination of water.
8th Geography Chapter 2 HBSE Question 2.
Mention two major contaminants of water bodies.
Answer:
(a) Discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage.
(b) Agricultural chemicals
(c) Industrial effluents.
Class 8 Geography Chapter 2 Questions And Answers HBSE Question 3.
On which two factors does the growth of vegetation depend?
Answer:
- Temperature
- moisture.
Class 8th Geography Chapter 2 HBSE Question 4.
How are the major vegetation types of the world grouped?
Answer:
- Forests
- grasslands
- scrubs
- tundra.
Class 8 Chapter 2 Geography HBSE Question 5.
Give one main reason for the clearance of forests?
Answer:
To feed the growing population or to increase agricultural land.
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What is terrace cultivation?
Answer:
On steep slopes, terraces are made so that flat surfaces are available to grow crops. It reduces surfaces run-off and soil erosion.
Question 2.
Define contour ploughing.
Answer:
Ploughing is done parallel to the contours of a hill slope to form a natural barrier for water to flow down the slope.
Question 3.
Which method of soil conservaton is practiced in the coastal and dry regions?
Answer:
In coastal and dry regions, rows of trees are planted to check the wind movement to protect soil cover.
Question 4.
What do you understand by water cycle?
Answer:
Movement of water through the oceans, the air, the land and back again, through the process of evaporation and precipitation is called water cycle.
Question 5.
What are the major factors leading to shortage in supply of fresh water?
Answer:
- Increasing population
- rising demands for food and cash crops
- increasing urbanisation
- rising standards of living.
Question 6.
Which regions of the world face scarcity of water?
Answer:
- Africa
- West Asia
- South Africa
- parts of Western USA
- North West Mexico
- parts of South America
- Australia.
Question 7.
Write the difference between biosphere and ecosystem.
Answer:
- Biosphere : It is the narrow zone of contract between the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
- Ecosystem : In the biosphere, living beings are interrelated and interdependent on each other for survival. This life supporting system is called ecosystem.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Water can neither be added nor subtracted from the earth. Do you agree?
Or
Describe water-cycle.
Answer:
Yes, I agree that the volume of water remains the same on the earth. Water can neither be added nor subtracted. Its abundance seems to vary from one place to another because it is in constant motion. The water evaporates from the oceans, goes as water-vapour in to the atmosphere, condenses to form clouds and comes back to the earth as rain. This is known as “water cycle’.
Question 2.
What are the factors affecting soil formation?
Answer:
The factors affecting soil formation are:
1. Parent Rock : It determines colour, texture, chemical properties, mineral content and permeability.
2. Climate : Temperature and rainfall effect the rate of weathering and humus.
3. Relief : Altitude and shape determine accumulation of soil.
4. Flora, Fauna and Microorganisms: They effect the rate of humus formation.
5. Time : Time determines thickness of soil profile.
Picture Based Questions
Look at the picture given below and answer the following questions:
Question 1.
What type of farming is shown in the picture?
Answer:
Terrace farming.
Question 2.
How is this practised?
Answer:
Terraces are made on the steep slopes so that flat surfaces are available to grow crops.
Question 3.
How is it helpful?
Answer:
Terrace farming can reduce the surface run off and checked soil erosion.
Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Class 8 HBSE Notes
- Fallow Land : Land which can be cultivated, but has been left unused for the season.
- Cultivable Waste : Land which can be cultivated but which has been lying fallow for more than five years.
- Weathering : The breaking up and decay of exposed rocks’ by temperature changes, frost action, plants, animals and man.
- Soil: Soil refers to the thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth.
- Soil Profile : The layered structure of the soil which spreads from the bed-rock to top surface layer is known as the soil profile.
- Soil Conservation: The preservation, protection and efficient utilisation of soil resources is known as the soil conservation.
- Biosphere Reserve: Series of protected areas linked through a global network intended to demonstrate the relationship between conservation and development.
- Rain-Water Harvesting : It is the process of collecting rain water from roof tops and directing it to an appropriate location and storing it for future use.