NCERT class 8 geography chapter 2

 Geography  Chapter  -2,  Land,Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation  and                                                                                 Wildlife 

 TEXTBOOK  QUESTIONS 


Exercises 1. Answer the following questions
 (i) Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation? 
Answer Temperature and rainfall are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation.
(ii) Write any two reasons for land degradation today.
 Answer -Deforestation and the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers in agricultural lands are two factors contributing to land degradation.
(iii) Why is land considered an important resourc ?
Answer. Land is considered as an important resource as it provides habitation to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Also used by Human beings for various purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses and roads, and setting up industries.
(iv) Name any two steps that government has taken to conserve plants and animals.
Answer- Two steps that the government has taken to conserve plants and animals:
 1) Government has set up national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves for protecting natural vegetation and wildlife; for example, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
 2) Government has banned the killing of lions, tigers, deer, great Indian bustards and peacocks. It has also prohibited the trade of the species of plants and animals protected under the international agreement CITES.
(v) Suggest three ways to conserve water. 
Answer: Three ways to conserve water:
 → Rain-water harvesting.
→ Lining irrigation canals to avoid seepage of water.
→ Replenishing ground water by promoting afforestation.
2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) Which one of the following is nota factor of soil formation?
(a) Time
(b) Soil texture
(c) Organic matter
 ► (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
 ► (c) Terrace cultivation
(iii) Which one of the following 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
 ► (c) Dispose polypacks after shopping
 4. State whether the given statements are true or false. If true, write the reasons.
(i) Ganga-Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region.
(ii) Water availability per person in India is declining.
(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called intercropping.
 (iv) Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem
. Answer (i) This statement is true. Plains and river valleys offer suitable land for agriculture. Hence, these are denselypopulated areas of the world.
(ii) This statement is true. Though water is present in abundance, fresh water is a scarce resource. Water availability is a serious problem in many regions of the world. Due to the wastage of water, deforestation, and the pollution and depletion of fresh water reserves (such as rivers and ground water), the availability of water is fast declining.
(iii) This statement is false. The described process is called shelter belts. Intercropping is the process in which different crops are grown in alternate rows, and are sown at different times to protect the soil from rain wash.
 (iv) This statement is false. Human interferences and climatic changes for the most part adversely affect the balance of the ecosystem.

                                                    EXTRA QUESTIONS
Q1.What is soil? mention soil forming factors.

Ans-The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called soil.Parent  rocks,time,climate ,parent material, topography and organism are soil forming factors. 

Q2 Differentiate between national park and biosphere reserve.
Ans- National park: National parks  are declared for the purpose of protecting,  propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.Hunting and human activities are not allowed but permissible for tourism.
Biosphere Reserve: Biosphere reserves are the legally protected areas meant for the conservation of biodiversity. they are very  big protected areas and they may also have wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
Q3.Mention the methods to prevent soil erosion? explain any two
Ans-Methods to prevent soil erosion:Mulching, terrace farming, inter cropping,contour ploughing,rock dams, and contour barriers.

Mulching: The bare ground between plants is covered with a layer of organic matter like straw. It helps to retain soil moisture.

   

Intercropping: Different crops are grown in alternate rows and are sown at different times to protect the soil from rain wash

Q4.What do you understand by landslide ?explain any two techniques to mitigate landslide in hilly  areas.
Ans -Landslides are simply defined as the mass movement of rock, debris 
two techniques are;
 a) Construction of retention wall to stop land from slipping.
 b)Increase in the vegetation cover to arrest  landslide
Q5. What is CITES?
Ans - CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Q6. What is land use?
Ans-}Land is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries. This is commonly termed as land use . 

Q7 . keywords/glossary
       1)Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface, by the action of rainwater, extremes of temperature, and biological activity.
       2) National parks  are declared for the purpose of protecting,  propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.Hunting and human activities are not allowed but permissible for tourism.
        3)Ecosystem:it is a community or group of living organisms that live in and interact with each other in a specific environment.in other words it is a life supporting system.
        Biosphere:}Natural vegetation and wildlife exist only in the narrow zone of contact between the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere that we call biosphere. 
       Rain water harvesting:}Natural vegetation and wildlife exist only in the narrow zone of contact between the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere that we call biosphere. 
   Q8 locate the Kaziranga national park in political map of India.   


located in Assam
   

Video link for NCERT class 8 geography chapter-3

Minerals and power resources -click on the link below
https://youtu.be/SZs2T4X3AT0

Class 8 HISTORY CH-3 Ruling the Countryside

                                CH-3  Ruling the Countryside

                                                                    textbook questions 

Question 1: Match the following

Column A	Column B
(a) Ryot	(1) Village
(b) Mahal	(2) Peasant
(c) Nij cultivation	(3) On ryot's land
(d) Ryoti cultivation	(4) On planter's own land

Answer: (a) → 2, (b) → 1, (c) → 4, (d) → 3

Question 2: Fill in the blanks:

1. Growers of woad in Europe saw __________ as a crop which would provide competition to their earnings.
   
   Answer: Indigo
2. The demand for indigo increased in late eighteenth- century Britain because of __________.
   
   Answer: Increased cotton textiles production
3. The international demand for indigo was affected by the discovery of __________.
   
   Answer: Synthetic dyes
4. The Champaran movement was against __________.
   
   Answer: Indigo planters

Question 3: Describe the main features of the Permanent Settlement.

Answer: According to the Permanent, the rajas and taluqdars were recognized as zamindars and were given the responsibility of revenue collection from the peasants. The amount to be paid was fixed permanently and hence the name Permanent Settlement.

Question 4: How was the mahalwari system different from the Permanent Settlement?

Answer:

Mahalwari system	Permanent settlement
Village headman was responsible for revenue collection	Raja or zamindar was responsible for revenue collection
Revenue demand was to be reviewed periodically	Revenue demand was fixed and was not to be increased in future.

Question 5: Give two problems which arose with the new Munro system of fixing revenue.

Answer: The revenue officials wanted to increase the income from land. Hence, they fixed very high revenue demand. Peasants were not able to pay the revenue. The ryots fled the countryside and villages became deserted in many regions.

Question 6: Why were ryots reluctant to grow indigo?

Answer: Under the ryoti system, the indigo planters forced the ryots to sign an agreement or contract. The planters insisted that the peasants cultivate indigo on the most fertile parts of their land, but the peasants preferred growing rice on the best soils.The planters paid a very low price for indigo. The ryot was not in a position to even recover his cost, earning a profit was a far-fetched idea. This meant that the ryot was always under debt. Hence, the ryots were reluctant to grow indigo.

Question 7: What were the circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal?

Answer: The ryots began to refuse to grow indigo. They were supported by the village headmen and some zamindars in their fight. The scale of protest was so much that the government had to intervene. The Indigo Commission of set up to enquire into the problems. The Commission accepted the faults of the planters and allowed the ryots to grow whatever they wished. This led to eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal.

Class 8 HISTORY Chapter 2 - From Trade To Territory

      Class 8 Social science Chapter 2 -                  From Trade To Territory

                                          

                                                 TEXT BOOK QUESTIONS

Question 1:

Match the following:

Diwani	Tipu Sultan
“Tiger of Mysore”	right to collect land revenue
faujdari adalat	Sepoy
Rani Channamma	criminal court
sipahi	led an anti-British movement in Kitoor

Ans-

Diwani	right to collect land revenue
“Tiger of Mysore”	Tipu Sultan
faujdari adalat	criminal court
Rani Channamma	led an anti-British movement in Kitoor
sipahi	Sepoy

Question 2:

Fill in the blanks:

(a) The British conquest of Bengal began with the Battle of ___________.

(b) Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers of ___________.

(c) Dalhousie implemented the Doctrine of ____________.

(d) Maratha kingdoms were located mainly in the __________ part of India.

Ans-

(a) The British conquest of Bengal began with the Battle of Plassey.

(b) Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers of Mysore.

(c) Dalhousie implemented the Doctrine of Lapse.

(d)Maratha kingdoms were located mainly in the South-Western part of India.

Question 3:State whether true or false

1. The Mughal empire became stronger in the eighteenth century.
2. The English East India Company was the only European company that traded with India.
3. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the ruler of Punjab.
4. The British did not introduce administrative changes in the territories they conquered.

Answer: (a) False, (b) False, (c) True, (d) False

Question 4:What attracted European trading companies to India?

Answer

European trading companies were attracted due to the following reasons:

1. Cheap and fine quality of silk and cotton.
2. For spices like pepper, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon etc.

Question 5:What were the areas of conflict between the Bengal nawabs and the East India Company?

Answer : these were :

1)The Bengal nawabs wanted tributes from the Company in lieu of granting the right to trade.

2) The Company was forbidden from minting its own coins and from expanding fortifications. 

3)The Company wanted to expand its settlement and wanted special privileges

4)The nawabs refused to grant the Company concessions, demanded large tribute. and stopped it from extending its fortifications.

Question 6:How did the assumption of Diwani benifted East India Company ?

Ans The assumption of the Diwani, East India Company was benefited in several ways as mentioned below:

(i) It allowed the Company to use the vast revenue resources of Bengal.

(ii) Company used the revenues from India to finance its expenses like to purchase cotton and silk textiles in India, maintain Company troops, and meet the cost of building the Company fort and offices at Calcutta.

(ii)The outflow of gold and silver from Britain was stopped. 

Question 7:Explain the system of “subsidiary alliance”.

Answer.According to this alliance, Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces. The Company army was to protect the Indian state but the ruler had to pay for the “subsidiary forces”. If an Indian ruler failed to make the payment, then part of his territory was taken away as penalty. For example; Awadh and Hyderabad were forced to cede territories on this ground.

Question 8:In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?

Answer:

The Company's  administration :

1.the British territories were divided into administrative units called Presidencies eg.Bengal, Madras and Bombay.

2. Each Presidency was ruled by a Governor and district Collectors.

3.The supreme head of the administration was the Governor-General

The Indian rulers administration.

 

1.Indian rulers administration was divided into four parts – District (Zila), Paragana, Tehsil and Villages

2. King or Nawab was the supreme head of administration.

Question 9-Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army

Answer: 1)The infantry regiment became more important. 

2)In the early nineteenth century the British began to develop a uniform military culture.

 3)Soldiers were given European-style training drills and discipline. Now, drill and discipline that regulated their life far more than before.

4 )The soldiers were armed with muskets and matchlocks

5)the cavalry needs of the Company’s army declined, because the British empire was fighting in Burma, Afghanistan, and Egypt..

Extra Questions 

1.Who was called ‘nabobs’?

Answer:
Several Company officials returned to Britain with wealth and led flashy lives and showed their riches with great pride. They were called “nabobs’.

2.Who were the Residents?
Answer:
The Residents were the political or commercial agents and their job was to serve and further the interests of the Company.

3.What was Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer:
If an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would become the part of Company territory.