CBSE Class 6 Social Science Landforms and Life Assignments Set 02

Fill in the Blanks

Question. ‘Sagarmatha’, signifying ‘__________’.
Answer: Goddess of the Sky
Explanation: People in Nepal use this poetic name for Mount Everest because it touches the clouds.

Question. __________ are wide, flat valleys formed due to the down-cutting of rivers over millions of years.
Answer: Plains
Explanation: Over lots of time, flowing rivers spread out and create smooth, wide fields called plains.

Question. __________ is the biggest delta in the world, formed by the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers.
Answer: Sundarbans
Explanation: The Sundarbans is a huge marshy forest where rivers meet the sea and where Royal Bengal Tigers live!

True or False

Question. Mount Everest stands between Tibet (China) and Nepal.
Answer: True
Explanation: The mountain border sits right between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Question. Plateaus have a more or less level top.
Answer: True
Explanation: That is why people call plateaus tablelands—they are flat on top just like tables!

Question. Melting snow nourishes rivers.
Answer: True
Explanation: When warm sunshine melts mountaintop ice, it turns into fresh water that feeds rivers.

Question. Plateaus usually rise steeply at least on one side.
Answer: True
Explanation: A plateau stands tall above nearby land, with steep drop-offs along its sides.

Question. Each landform offers different difficulties as well as opportunities.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mountains might be cold to live on, but they give us fresh river water and scenic beauty.

Question. Mountains and hills pertain to the same type of landform.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both are elevated natural mounds, but mountains are much taller and steeper than gentle hills.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. What triggers landslides in mountainous areas?
Answer: Heavy rains, earthquakes, deforestation, and unstable slopes can all trigger landslides.
Explanation: When rains loosen the mud on steep hills, huge chunks of dirt and rock slide down quickly.

Question. Define watershed preservation.
Answer: Watershed management is planning and conserving land and water resources within a drainage basin to prevent erosion and improve water supply.
Explanation: It means taking care of trees and rivers so everyone has clean water to drink.

Question. Why are seacoasts important for trade?
Answer: Coasts have ports and harbors that facilitate shipping and international trade.
Explanation: Big ships can park at coastal ports to bring goods and toys from other countries.

Question. How does altitude influence vegetation?
Answer: Higher altitudes have cooler temperatures and different vegetation zones, often with shorter growing seasons.
Explanation: As you climb higher, it gets colder, so only tough pine trees and little bushes can survive.

Question. What is a watershed divide?
Answer: A watershed divide is a crest or high land that separates two drainage basins.
Explanation: It is a mountain ridge that sends rainwater flowing down opposite sides into two different rivers.

Question. How do humans utilize mountain water resources?
Answer: Mountain rivers supply freshwater for irrigation, drinking, and hydropower through dams.
Explanation: We use clean mountain water to drink, water plants, and make electricity using big dams.

Question. What is a river tributary?
Answer: A tributary is a smaller brook or stream that flows into a larger river.
Explanation: A tributary is a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river like a helpful friend.

Question. Why is the Ganges plain vital for India?
Answer: It is highly fertile, supports dense populations, and is a major agricultural and cultural region.
Explanation: It produces a lot of food and is home to millions of happy families.

Question. What is laterite earth and where is it found?
Answer: Laterite soil is rich in iron and formed in high-rainfall tropical areas; it is common on plateaus like parts of the Deccan.
Explanation: It is a reddish soil packed with iron that forms in warm, rainy regions.

Question. How do glaciers carve valleys?
Answer: Glaciers carve U-shaped valleys and leave behind features such as moraines and cirques.
Explanation: Unlike rivers that cut pointy V-shapes, giant glaciers carve smooth U-shaped valleys.

Question. What is a watershed or river basin?
Answer: A watershed or river basin is the land area drained by a river and its tributaries.
Explanation: It is the whole area of land where rain gathers and flows into the same big river.

Question. Define an escarpment.
Answer: An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff separating two relatively level areas, often marking a plateau border.
Explanation: An escarpment is a sudden, steep drop like a giant step separating high ground from low ground.

Question. What is terrace agriculture?
Answer: Terrace farming is creating stepped flat areas on slopes to grow crops and prevent soil erosion.
Explanation: Farmers make green staircases on hills to grow yummy crops without washing away the soil.

Question. What is an oasis?
Answer: An oasis is a fertile area in a desert where water is available, often from springs or underground aquifers.
Explanation: An oasis is like a magical desert puddle surrounded by green palm trees.

Question. What is a rain shadow?
Answer: A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of mountains where little rain falls because mountains block moist winds.
Explanation: Tall mountains catch all the rain clouds, leaving the other side dry and thirsty.

Question. What is overgrazing?
Answer: Overgrazing is excessive feeding by livestock that removes vegetation and causes soil degradation.
Explanation: When cows and goats munch up every bit of grass, the bare dirt can easily blow away.

Question. What is coastal erosion?
Answer: Coastal erosion is the wearing away of ground along the shore by waves, currents, and sea-level changes.
Explanation: Strong ocean waves smash against the beach and slowly carry away the sand and rock.

Question. How do people adjust to living in deserts?
Answer: People use water conservation, grow drought-resistant crops, practice pastoralism, and build homes suited to heat.
Explanation: Desert dwellers wear light clothes, build thick-walled houses, and never waste a single drop of water.

Question. What is the key feature of the Western Ghats?
Answer: The Western Ghats are a high rainfall, biodiversity-rich mountain range running along India’s western coast.
Explanation: These green mountains get tons of rain and are packed with amazing plants and animals.

Question. What is soil salinity and where is it an issue?
Answer: Soil salinity is the build-up of salts in soil, often a problem in arid regions and irrigated plains.
Explanation: When too much salt stays in the dirt, it makes it hard for crops to drink water.

Question. How are maritime coastal plains formed?
Answer: Coastal plains are formed by sediment deposition from rivers and by sea-level changes over time.
Explanation: Rivers drop sand by the sea, and the shifting ocean leaves behind flat, sandy land.

Question. What is an alluvial fan?
Answer: An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped spread of sediments formed when a fast-flowing stream spreads out onto flatter land.
Explanation: When a mountain stream hits flat ground, it drops rocks and mud that spread out like an open paper fan.

Question. What is a rift valley?
Answer: A rift valley is a lowland formed where Earth’s tectonic plates move apart, creating cracks and downthrown blocks.
Explanation: When the Earth pulls apart in two directions, the land in the middle drops down to make a valley.

Question. How does plant life differ between plains and mountains?
Answer: Plains often have crops or grasslands, while mountains show altitude-based changes from forests to alpine meadows.
Explanation: Warm plains have grass and farms, while cold mountains have tall pine trees and snowy bushes.

Question. What is a basin?
Answer: A basin is a bowl-shaped area drained by a river system, often giving rise to fertile land.
Explanation: A basin is shaped like a giant washbowl in the ground where all the streams flow together.

Question. Why are rivers important for human civilizations?
Answer: Rivers supply water for drinking, farming, transport, and support food supplies and trade.
Explanation: Rivers give us water to drink, help us water our veggies, and let boats sail by.