NCERT Questions and Activities (with Answers)
Q1. Match the climatic factors with their effects:
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(1) Latitude → (b) Creates different climates in the north and south
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(2) Altitude → (c) Keeps higher places cooler
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(3) Proximity to the ocean → (d) Moderates the temperature
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(4) Monsoon winds → (a) Brings wet air to India during summer
Q2. Answer the following questions:
a) What is the difference between weather and climate?
→ Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place (daily or hourly). Climate is the average pattern of weather over a long period (30 years or more).
b) Why do places near the ocean have milder temperatures than places far away from it?
→ The sea moderates the temperature. It keeps summers cooler and winters milder, so coastal areas have less extreme temperatures compared to inland places.
c) What role do monsoon winds play in affecting India’s climate?
→ Monsoon winds bring rainfall to most parts of India. The summer monsoon brings heavy rains that support agriculture, while the winter monsoon brings dry conditions and some rainfall in southern India.
d) Why is Chennai warm or hot throughout the year, while Leh is cold?
→ Chennai is near the Equator and close to the sea, so it remains warm almost all year. Leh is located at a high altitude in the Himalayas, so it remains cold most of the year.
Q3. Identify the climate for these cities — Leh, Chennai, Delhi, Panaji and Jaipur.
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Leh → Cold climate (mountain region, high altitude)
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Chennai → Hot and humid climate (near the sea, tropical)
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Delhi → Subtropical climate (very hot summers, cold winters)
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Panaji (Goa) → Tropical wet climate (heavy rainfall, coastal)
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Jaipur → Arid/semi-arid climate (desert region, very hot in summer, little rainfall)
Q4. Draw the monsoon cycle in summers and winters on a map of India.
(Activity-based – students should draw arrows showing southwest monsoon winds in summer and northeast monsoon winds in winter.)
Q5. Make a colourful poster showing festivals in India linked to farming and weather.
(Activity-based – examples: Baisakhi, Onam, Pongal, Bihu, Makar Sankranti.)
Q6. Imagine you are a farmer in India. Write a short diary entry about how you would prepare for the rainy season.
Answer (Sample Diary Entry):
“June 10: The sky is cloudy, and I am preparing my fields for the monsoon rains. I have stored seeds of paddy and maize. I have also cleaned the irrigation channels to allow rainwater to flow into my fields. The coming rains will decide how good my harvest will be. I pray for timely and sufficient rainfall.”
Q7. Identify a natural disaster (e.g., cyclone, flood, landslide, or forest fire) and write a short essay that includes the causes and impacts. Suggest actions to reduce the impact.
Answer (Example – Floods):
Floods are caused by heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, or glacial bursts. They destroy houses, crops, and roads, and cause loss of life. To reduce the impact, people should avoid building on riverbanks, governments must improve drainage systems, and communities should plant trees to absorb rainwater. Relief camps and early warning systems also save lives during floods.
🔹 Extra Short Answer Questions (2–3 sentences each)
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What are the six traditional Indian seasons (ritus)?
→ Vasanta (spring), Grishma (summer), Varsha (rainy season), Sharad (autumn), Hemanta (pre-winter), and Shishir (winter). -
What is meant by ‘alpine climate’?
→ Alpine climate is found in high mountains with very cold, snowy winters and cool summers. -
Why does Nagpur have higher temperature variations than Mumbai?
→ Nagpur is inland and away from the sea, so it has extreme heat in summer and cold winters. Mumbai, being coastal, has moderate temperatures. -
What is the role of the Western Ghats in the monsoon?
→ The Western Ghats force moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds to rise, causing heavy rainfall on the western slopes. -
Which place receives the highest rainfall in the world?
→ Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives about 11,000 mm of rainfall annually. -
What is the eye of a cyclone?
→ The eye of a cyclone is the calm, cloudless centre surrounded by strong rotating winds. -
What is a glacial burst?
→ It happens when water stored in a glacial lake suddenly breaks through its barrier, causing floods. -
What is meant by ‘climate change’?
→ Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature, rainfall, and weather patterns due to natural and human causes. -
Name two Indian states that face frequent floods.
→ Bihar and Assam. -
What are greenhouse gases?
→ Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and cause global warming.
🔹 Extra Long Answer Questions (5–6 sentences each)
Q1. Explain the factors that affect India’s climate.
→ India’s climate is influenced by latitude, altitude, proximity to the sea, winds, and topography. Places near the Equator are hotter, while higher altitudes remain cooler. Coastal areas like Mumbai have moderate climates, while inland places like Nagpur have extremes. Winds bring heat, cold, or rainfall. Mountains like the Himalayas block cold winds and the Western Ghats influence rainfall.
Q2. How do monsoons influence life in India?
→ Monsoons bring most of the rainfall in India. They are essential for farming, as crops like rice and sugarcane depend on rain. Rivers and lakes are filled by monsoon water. Festivals like Onam and Baisakhi are linked to harvests after the monsoon. However, too much rain causes floods and too little rain causes droughts, showing the importance of monsoon balance.
Q3. What are the effects of climate change in India? Suggest ways to reduce it.
→ Climate change has led to rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and more cyclones and floods in India. Agriculture suffers from droughts and monsoon failures. Glaciers are melting, causing floods in Himalayan regions. To reduce climate change, we should plant more trees, use renewable energy, save electricity, avoid wastage, and reduce the use of fossil fuels. Governments must also act with strong climate policies.