Chapter 2 - Class 10 Social Science
Short Answer Questions (2 marks)
1. What is a climatic region?
Answer: A climatic region is an extensive geographical area in which similar climate characteristics are observed.
2. What are monsoons?
Answer: Monsoons are the seasonal reversal of the wind system. These winds blow from sea to land in summer and get reversed from land to sea in winter.
3. What are oases?
Answer: Oases are areas formed in deserts where water sources are found, creating small fertile spots with vegetation.
4. Define climate change according to UN.
Answer: Climate change is a long-term shift in weather patterns and temperatures that is caused by human activity or natural variability.
5. What is the greenhouse effect?
Answer: Greenhouse gases allow sunlight to pass into the Earth's surface and keep the atmosphere warm by intercepting terrestrial radiation returning from the Earth's surface. This process is known as the Greenhouse Effect.
Short Answer Questions (3-4 marks)
6. List the major climatic regions of the world.
Answer: The major climatic regions are:
- Equatorial climatic region
- Monsoon climatic region
- Savanna climatic region
- Hot deserts
- Temperate grasslands
- Mediterranean climatic region
- Taiga region
- Tundra region
7. Write the characteristics of the Equatorial climatic region.
Answer:
- Extends up to 10° North and South of the equator
- High temperatures and high rainfall throughout the year
- Sun's rays fall almost vertically throughout the year
- Convectional precipitation occurs
- Rainfall every day in the afternoon
- Evergreen forests are abundant
8. What are the features of Hot deserts?
Answer:
- Average annual temperature of 30°C
- High diurnal range of temperature
- Annual rainfall generally less than 25 cm
- Located mostly on western margins of continents
- Plants like cactus, shrubs and palms are found
- Sparsely populated due to unfavourable climate
9. Explain the characteristics of Mediterranean climatic region.
Answer:
- Experiences dry summers and humid winters
- Summer temperature around 20-25°C
- Winter temperature 10°C to 16°C
- Winter rainfall of 30 to 75 cm
- Located between 30° and 45° latitudes
- Westerlies are responsible for winter rainfall
Long Answer Questions (6-8 marks)
10. Describe the characteristics of Monsoon climatic region.
Answer:
- Known for the decisive influence of monsoon winds
- Characterized by long and humid summer and short dry winter
- Diurnal range of temperature is very low in coastal areas and very high in the interiors
- Rainfall varies from 50 cm to over 1000 cm annually
- Dense forests with evergreen and deciduous trees
- Deciduous trees are more common
- One of the most densely populated areas in the world
- Important agricultural region with crops like rice, sugarcane, jute, cotton, tea and coffee
- Intensive subsistence agriculture is prevalent
11. Explain the features of Savanna climatic region.
Answer:
- Tropical grasslands found between 10° and 30° latitudes
- Known by different names: Savanna in Africa, Campos in Southern Brazil, Llanos in Venezuela
- Hot and humid summers, cool and dry winters
- Annual average temperature between 21°C and 32°C
- Annual rainfall of 25 cm to 125 cm
- Deciduous trees and tall grasses are dominant vegetation
- Herbivorous animals like giraffes and zebras are found
- Carnivorous animals like lions and tigers also present
- 'Dry farming' is adopted due to low rainfall
- Population density is generally low
- Maasai tribe leads pastoral life
12. What are the causes and effects of climate change?
Answer:
Causes: Natural causes:
- Volcanic eruptions
- Ocean currents
- Natural climate cycles
Anthropogenic (Human) causes:
- Deforestation
- Oil mining
- Industrialization
- Burning of fossil fuels
Effects:
- Average sea level rise of 10-20 mm per year
- Polar ice caps shrinking (from 7.5 million sq km in 1978 to 3.74 million sq km in 2019)
- 135 million people at risk of displacement due to desertification
- Global temperature rise of 1.1°C (2011-2020 compared to 1850-1900)
- Changes in monsoon patterns
- Melting of glaciers
- Threat to island nations like Maldives
Application-based Questions (5-6 marks)
13. Compare Taiga and Tundra regions.
Answer:
Taiga Region:
- Location: 55° to 70° N latitude
- Temperature: Summer 15-20°C, Winter -13 to -25°C
- Precipitation: 50-70 cm annually
- Vegetation: Coniferous evergreen trees like pine, fir, spruce
- Economic activities: Lumbering and wool industry
- Growing season: Short summers
Tundra Region:
- Location: North of Arctic Circle
- Temperature: Summer up to 10°C, Winter -25 to -40°C
- Precipitation: Mainly snowfall
- Vegetation: Short shrubs and mosses only
- Economic activities: Semi-nomadic life by natives like Eskimo and Lappas
- Growing season: Very short growing season
14. How do temperate grasslands differ from tropical grasslands?
Answer:
Temperate Grasslands:
- Located between 40° and 50° latitudes
- Short summers and long winters
- Average winter temperature: 2° to 13°C
- Rainfall: 25-60 cm
- Known as Prairies, Steppes, Pampas, Veld, Downs
- Commercial mechanized grain farming
- Natural grazing lands converted to agriculture
Tropical Grasslands (Savanna):
- Located between 10° and 30° latitudes
- Hot humid summers, cool dry winters
- Annual average temperature: 21-32°C
- Rainfall: 25-125 cm
- Deciduous trees and tall grasses
- Wild animals like giraffes, zebras, lions
- Pastoral life and dry farming
- Lower population density
Match the Following
15. Name the grasslands found in different continents:
Answer:
- North America: Prairie
- Europe and Asia: Steppes
- South America: Pampas
- Africa: Veld
- Australia: Downs
Fill in the blanks
16. Complete the following:
- The equatorial region extends up to 10° North and South of the equator.
- Westerlies are responsible for winter rainfall in Mediterranean region.
- Taiga is the Russian word for coniferous trees.
- The highest recorded temperature in Sahara desert is 58°C at Al Aziziya.
- Prairie is called the granary of the world.
Very Short Answer Questions (1 mark)
17. One word answers:
- What is the Russian word for coniferous trees? Taiga
- Which tribe lives in African savanna? Maasai
- What are the seasonal winds called? Monsoons
- Which grassland is called world's granary? Prairie
- What are climate migrants called? Climate refugees
Map Work Questions
18. On a world map, mark the following:
- Equatorial region (0° to 10° N and S)
- Sahara Desert
- Mediterranean Sea
- Prairie grasslands
- Taiga region
19. Identify the climatic regions from the given coordinates:
- 0° to 10° latitude: Equatorial region
- 30° to 45° latitude: Mediterranean region
- 55° to 70° N latitude: Taiga region
- North of Arctic Circle: Tundra region