NCERT QUESTIONS
Q1. In what type of landform is your town / village / city located? Which features mentioned in this chapter do you see around you?
Answer (model – students can adapt):
My town is located on the plains. It has fertile soil, rivers nearby, and supports farming. I can see flat land, green fields, and many settlements. Crops like wheat and rice are grown here. The plain also has roads, railways, and industries, making life easier compared to mountains and plateaus.
Q2. Let us go back to our initial trip from Chhota Nagpur to Prayagraj and Almora. Describe the three landforms you came across on the way.
Answer:
- Chhota Nagpur Plateau – A raised landform with rocky soil, mineral resources, and waterfalls.
- Prayagraj (plains) – Fertile floodplains of the Ganga, suitable for agriculture and dense population.
- Almora (mountains) – High land with steep slopes, forests, and snow-capped peaks, where terrace farming is done.
Q3. List a few famous pilgrimage spots in India along with the landforms in which they are found.
Answer:
- Kedarnath, Badrinath (Uttarakhand) – Mountains (Himalayas)
- Vaishno Devi (Jammu & Kashmir) – Mountains
- Varanasi, Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) – Plains, on the Ganga river
- Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) – Coastal plains / island
Q4. State whether true or false —
- The Himalayas are young mountains with rounded tops. – False. They are young with sharp peaks.
- Plateaus usually rise sharply at least on one side. – True.
- Mountains and hills belong to the same type of landform. – True. Both are elevated landforms.
- Mountains, plateaus and rivers in India have the same types of flora and fauna. – False. Different landforms have different vegetation and animals.
- Ganga is a tributary to the Yamuna. – False. Yamuna is a tributary of the Ganga.
- Deserts have unique flora and fauna. – True. Example: cactus, camels.
- Melting snow feeds rivers. – True. Himalayan rivers depend on snowmelt.
- Sediments from rivers deposited in the plains makes the land fertile. – True.
- All deserts are hot. – False. Some are cold, like the Gobi Desert and Antarctica.
Q5. Match words in pairs:
- Mount Everest → Climbing
- Rafting → River
- Camels → Desert
- Plateau → Roof of the world (Tibetan Plateau)
- Gangetic plains → Rice fields
- Waterway → Ganga
- Mount Kilimanjaro → Africa
- Yamuna → Tributary
Extra Questions – Chapter 3: Landforms and Life
Very Short Answer Questions (1–2 sentences)
Q1. What is a landform?
Answer: A landform is a natural physical feature of the Earth’s surface, such as mountains, plateaus, or plains.
Q2. Which is the highest mountain peak in the world?
Answer: Mount Everest (8,849 m).
Q3. Name the highest mountain in South India.
Answer: Anamudi (Kerala).
Q4. Which plateau is called the “Roof of the World”?
Answer: The Tibetan Plateau.
Q5. Which is the largest river plain in India?
Answer: The Ganga Plain.
Short Answer Questions (30–50 words)
Q6. What is terrace farming?
Answer: Terrace farming is the practice of cutting steps or terraces on mountain slopes to grow crops. It prevents soil erosion and allows cultivation on steep land. It is common in the Himalayas and other hilly areas of India.
Q7. Why are plains most suitable for human habitation?
Answer: Plains have fertile soil, abundant water supply, and flat land for agriculture, transport, and building cities. This makes them densely populated regions and centres of human civilisation.
Q8. Why are plateaus rich in minerals?
Answer: Plateaus, formed by volcanic or tectonic activity, contain large reserves of minerals like coal, iron, and diamonds. For example, Chhota Nagpur Plateau in India has coal and iron, while the African Plateau has gold and diamonds.
Long Answer Questions (80–120 words)
Q9. Explain the differences between mountains, plateaus, and plains.
Answer:
- Mountains are high landforms with steep slopes and peaks. They have forests, rivers, and snow. Example: Himalayas.
- Plateaus are flat-topped elevated areas with steep sides. They are rich in minerals and sometimes have fertile lava soil. Example: Deccan Plateau.
- Plains are flat and low-lying areas formed by river deposits. They are very fertile and densely populated. Example: Ganga Plain.
Thus, each landform has different features, advantages, and challenges for human life.
Q10. What challenges do people face while living in mountains? Why do they still prefer to live there?
Answer:
Life in mountains is difficult due to harsh climate, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, and poor transport. Farming is limited and done through terrace cultivation. Yet, people live there because of fresh air, natural beauty, forest resources, tourism opportunities, and religious importance. Mountains also provide water from melting snow and rivers, making them valuable despite the challenges.
Q11. Describe the importance of rivers in plains.
Answer:
Rivers in plains bring fertile soil (silt and sediments) which makes agriculture possible. They provide water for irrigation, transport, fishing, and daily life. Many ancient civilisations, like those on the Ganga and Indus plains, grew along rivers. Even today, rivers like the Ganga are centres of farming, trade, and religious activities.