Class 8 SST Part 2 Ch 1 NCERT Solution - World Geography: Some Glimpses

Q & A —  6th   7th   8th   9th   10th

Questions and Activities (NCERT Solutions)

Question 1. Why do all map projections have some amount of distortion?

Answer: The Earth is almost spherical, but a map is flat. It is not possible to show a round Earth perfectly on a flat surface. Therefore, some distortion in shape, size, distance or direction is present in every map projection.

Question 2. What makes the Tibetan Plateau unique?

Answer: The Tibetan Plateau is unique because it is the highest and one of the largest plateaus in the world. Its average height is more than 4,500 metres. It is also called the “Third Pole” because it has a large amount of snow and ice. Many important rivers of Asia originate from this region.

Question 3. Why are coral reefs called the ‘rainforests of the sea’?

Answer: Coral reefs are called the ‘rainforests of the sea’ because they contain a great variety of marine plants and animals. They are rich in biodiversity and provide shelter and food to many sea creatures.

Question 4. How do the oceans help to regulate the Earth’s climate?

Answer: Oceans absorb and store a large amount of heat. Ocean currents move warm and cold water from one region to another. In this way, oceans help distribute heat and keep the Earth’s climate balanced.

Question 5. What is the main reason for the Great Barrier Reef facing threats today?

Answer: The Great Barrier Reef is mainly threatened by human activities and environmental changes. Overfishing, pollution and climate change are major threats. Rising sea temperatures can also cause coral bleaching.

Question 6. Why is the Amazon Rainforest often called the ‘Lungs of the Earth’?

Answer: The Amazon Rainforest is often called the ‘Lungs of the Earth’ because its plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis. It also plays an important role in regulating the global climate.

Question 7. Choose two different types of geographical features you have explored in this chapter. Write short paragraphs on how they influence the flora and fauna or human lives in that area. Do they also have an implication for the whole globe?

Answer:

Tibetan Plateau:

The Tibetan Plateau is very high and has many glaciers. It is the source of several important Asian rivers. These rivers provide water for millions of people and support farming and other human activities. Changes in its glaciers can affect water supplies in many countries.

Amazon Rainforest:

The Amazon Rainforest has a huge variety of plants and animals. It also supports the lives of many people living in the region. The forest helps regulate the global climate and stores carbon. Therefore, its destruction can have effects far beyond South America.

Question 8. Discuss how oceans influence climate and trade. Use examples from the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Answer: Oceans influence climate by absorbing heat and moving it through ocean currents. They also affect rainfall and temperatures in coastal areas.

Oceans are important for trade because ships use them to transport goods between countries. The Indian Ocean is an important trade route connecting India with Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia. The Pacific Ocean is also an important route for trade between countries of Asia, North America and other regions.

Question 9. Choose one environmental issue (deforestation, reef bleaching, or desertification) and explain its causes, impacts, and possible solutions.

Answer:

Deforestation

Causes: Forests are cut down for farming, settlements, industries and other human activities.

Impacts: Deforestation causes loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It can also contribute to climate change.

Possible solutions: We should protect forests, plant more trees, control unnecessary cutting of trees and promote sustainable use of forest resources.

Question 10. Imagine you are a geographer asked to advise a government about protecting one major landscape in your country. Which one would you choose, and why?

Answer: I would choose the Himalayan region for protection. The Himalayas are important because they contain glaciers, forests and many different plants and animals. Many important rivers also originate there. Protecting the Himalayas would help conserve biodiversity, water resources and the environment. The government should control deforestation, pollution and unplanned development in the region.

Question 11. Imagine that someone is funding a group of you for a road trip across two continents. There are differences of opinion on which two they should be. Make a pitch for the ones you would like everyone to go to. Use a blank map, trace your route and locate the places on it, and try to convince the others to your point of view. You could use a variety of creative ways.

Answer: I would choose Asia and Europe for the road trip because these continents have great geographical and cultural diversity.

In Asia, we could visit the Tibetan Plateau, Gobi Desert, Ural Mountains and the Himalayas. We could see high mountains, plateaus, deserts and important rivers.

In Europe, we could visit the European Plain and the Alps. We could see fertile plains, high mountains and beautiful landscapes.

This trip would help us understand how different geographical features influence climate, plants, animals, human life and economic activities. It would also give us an opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways of life.

Think about It, Let’s Explore and Don’t Miss Out

Question 1. What is one major drawback of the Mercator Projection?

Answer: In this projection, areas near the poles appear much larger than their actual size. For example, Greenland appears much larger than India on the map, whereas India is actually several times larger than Greenland.

Question 2. Why can the Robinson Projection be considered better than the Mercator Projection?

Answer: The Robinson Projection shows the shapes and positions of the continents and oceans of the Earth in a more balanced way. Distortion appears to be less in this projection.

Question 3. Approximately what percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans?

Answer: Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans.

Question 4. Approximately what percentage of the Earth's total water is found in the oceans?

Answer: Approximately 97% of the Earth's total water is found in the oceans.

Question 5. Why is plankton found in oceans important?

Answer: Plankton is an important part of the marine ecosystem. In particular, microscopic plants such as phytoplankton contribute to the production of oxygen through photosynthesis.

Question 6. What are ocean currents?

Answer: Ocean currents are the continuous flow of ocean water in a definite direction. They are of two types—warm currents, which carry warm water from the Equator towards the poles, and cold currents, which carry cold water from the poles towards the Equator.

Question 7. What effect does the Gulf Stream have on the climate of Western Europe?

Answer: The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current. It helps keep the coastal areas of Western Europe relatively warm. Because of it, places such as the United Kingdom remain warmer than other regions at the same latitude.

Question 8. Where is the Mariana Trench located, and what is its special feature?

Answer: The Mariana Trench is located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the deepest known part of the Earth's oceans.

Question 9. What is Challenger Deep?

Answer: Challenger Deep is the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. Its depth is more than 11,000 metres below sea level.

Question 10. Why is life difficult in the Mariana Trench?

Answer: There is extremely high water pressure, extreme cold and almost complete darkness. Nevertheless, some organisms have been found there that have adapted to these difficult conditions.

Question 11. Which two water bodies does the Suez Canal connect?

Answer: The Suez Canal is a man-made waterway that connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 12. Why is the Suez Canal important for maritime trade between India and Europe?

Answer: It shortens the sea route. As a result, ships travelling between India and Europe do not need to go around the southern tip of Africa, saving both time and distance.

Question 13. Why is the Tibetan Plateau called the “Roof of the World”?

Answer: The Tibetan Plateau is the highest and largest plateau on Earth. It is located north of the Himalayas, and its average elevation is more than 4,500 metres. Therefore, it is called the “Roof of the World”.

Question 14. Why is the Tibetan Plateau called the “Third Pole”?

Answer: A large amount of snow and glaciers are found here. Outside the polar regions, it contains a very large reserve of ice; therefore, it is called the “Third Pole”.

Question 15. What is the importance of the Tibetan Plateau for the rivers of Asia?

Answer: Many important rivers of Asia, including the Indus, Brahmaputra and Yangtze, originate from the Tibetan Plateau. Therefore, it is an important source of water for millions of people.

Question 16. What is the geographical importance of the Ural Mountains?

Answer: The Ural Mountains are an ancient mountain range approximately 2,500 km long. They generally form a natural boundary between Europe and Asia. This region is also rich in mineral resources.

Question 17. Why is the Nile River important for Africa?

Answer: The Nile is a river approximately 6,650 km long. Its water is used for irrigation and transforms dry land into fertile agricultural areas. It is also important for drinking water, fish farming, hydroelectric power and transportation. Ancient Egyptian civilisation also developed around the Nile River.

Question 18. Why is it necessary to save the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer: The Amazon Rainforest has a great deal of biodiversity. It is also important for the global climate and environment. Deforestation can increase problems such as biodiversity loss and climate change.

Question 19. What is one characteristic of the Atacama Desert?

Answer: The Atacama Desert is located in Chile. It is one of the driest regions in the world. It receives very little rainfall, and its clear skies also make it suitable for astronomical observation (stargazing).

Question 20. What effect did the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park have?

Answer: The return of wolves helped control the population and activities of herbivorous animals such as elk. This gave vegetation an opportunity to grow and improved the balance of the ecosystem.

Question 21. What is the importance of the Great Lakes?

Answer: The Great Lakes are a group of five vast freshwater lakes in North America. They are important for water supply, transportation and the economy of the surrounding regions.

Question 22. What is one characteristic of the desert land of Australia?

Answer: Large parts of Australia have dry and desert regions, such as the Great Victoria Desert. These regions contain distinctive plants and animals.

Question 23. Why is Antarctica called the world's largest desert?

Answer: Antarctica receives very little rainfall or snowfall. Therefore, it is a cold desert. Its area is more than 14 million square kilometres.

Other Important Questions

Question 1. What is a Map Projection? Why is there some distortion in all maps?

Answer: The process of showing the Earth on a flat surface is called a map projection. The Earth is almost spherical, so it is not possible to show it completely on a flat surface without tearing or bending it. Therefore, there is some distortion in size, distance or shape in all maps.

Question 2. What is the difference between Mercator Projection and Robinson Projection?

Answer:

• Mercator Projection is useful for preserving shape and direction, so it is used in navigation, but the size near the poles becomes highly distorted.
• Robinson Projection attempts to create a balance between size and shape, so it is a more natural-looking map of the world.

Question 3. Why is the Earth called the ‘Blue Planet’?

Answer: About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans. Most of the Earth appears blue when viewed from space. Therefore, it is called the ‘Blue Planet’.

Question 4. How do oceans influence the Earth's climate?

Answer: Oceans absorb heat and release it slowly. They supply moisture to the air, which leads to the formation of clouds and rainfall. In this way, oceans play an important role in regulating the Earth's climate.

Question 5. Where is the Great Barrier Reef located, and what is its special feature?

Answer: The Great Barrier Reef is located near the north-eastern coast of Australia. It is approximately 2,000 km long and covers an area of about 3,50,000 square km. It contains many types of corals, fish and other marine organisms. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Question 6. What is the difference between a sea, bay, gulf, strait and canal?

Answer:

• Sea: A large, partially enclosed body of salt water connected to an ocean.
• Gulf: A large part of the sea that extends deep into the land.
• Bay: A relatively smaller and wider part of the sea that extends into the land.
• Strait: A narrow waterway connecting two seas or oceans.
• Canal: A waterway constructed by humans to connect water bodies.

Question 7. What are the three major landforms of the world?

Answer: The three major landforms of the world are Mountains, Plateaus and Plains. Besides these, deserts and grasslands are also important geographical features.

Question 8. What are the major characteristics of the Gobi Desert?

Answer: The Gobi Desert is located in Mongolia and northern China. It receives very little rainfall and has a harsh climate. In winter, the temperature can reach –30°C. Vegetation is sparse, and pastoralists move from place to place seasonally with their herds.

Question 9. What are Steppes? What is their environmental importance?

Answer: Steppes are vast, flat grasslands without trees. They have hot summers and cold winters. They act as carbon sinks, which means they absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the ground.

Question 10. Why are mountains called ‘Water Towers’?

Answer: Snow and glaciers accumulate on high mountains. Their melting provides freshwater, which is important for rivers and human life. Therefore, mountains are called ‘Water Towers’.

Question 11. What is the importance of the European Plain?

Answer: The European Plain is a vast flat region. Its fertile soil is useful for agriculture. Wheat, barley, rye and potatoes are grown here. Its rivers support trade and transportation, and deposits of coal, oil and natural gas are also found here.

Question 12. Explain the importance of the Alps Mountains.

Answer: The Alps form a natural barrier in south-central Europe. Beautiful natural landscapes, forests and many wildlife species are found here. Their snow and water supply water to rivers such as the Rhine and Danube. Tourism, hydroelectric power and other economic activities are also important here.

Question 13. What are the major characteristics of the Sahara Desert?

Answer: The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. It receives very little rainfall and has very little vegetation. Many nomadic communities living here depend on animal husbandry and trade.

Question 14. What are the major characteristics of the Andes Mountains?

Answer: The Andes are an important mountain range located in the western part of South America. It is the longest mountain range on the continent. Aconcagua is located here, and these mountains supply water to many rivers. The Andes are also rich in biodiversity and minerals such as copper, zinc, silver and lithium.

Question 15. How was the Colorado Plateau formed?

Answer: The rocky layers of the Colorado Plateau gradually rose due to tectonic forces, and their shape continued to change through erosion over millions of years. This created deep valleys and spectacular red rock formations, among which the Grand Canyon is prominent.

Question 16. Describe the characteristics of Australia's Great Australian Desert.

Answer: A large part of Australia is dry or desert land, known as the Great Australian Desert. It includes several desert regions, including the Great Victoria Desert. Animals such as reptiles, wallabies, bilbies and wild camels are found here.

Question 17. How do human activities create environmental problems?

Answer: Deforestation, excessive use of natural resources and pollution disturb the natural balance of the Earth. This leads to problems such as desertification, loss of biodiversity and climate change. Therefore, the wise and sustainable use of resources is necessary.

Question 18. Why is the study of world geography necessary?

Answer: The study of world geography helps us understand the relationships between different landforms, water bodies, climate, ecosystems and human life on Earth. It helps us understand the need for proper management of natural resources and ensuring sustainable development.