CBSE Class 6 Social Science Landforms and Life Worksheet Set 01

Fill in the Blanks

Question. Many plateaus have a _________ soil, which makes them less fertile than grasslands.
Answer: rocky
Explanation: When soil has too many stones and pebbles, tiny seeds have a hard time growing roots.

Question. The mountain slopes are frequently covered with ________ forests.
Answer: montane
Explanation: Montane simply means mountain, so these are chilly forests full of evergreen trees.

Question. ________ is considered the supreme peak of the Andes.
Answer: Mount Aconcagua
Explanation: Mount Aconcagua is the biggest mountain in South America.

Question. The ________ of central and south India is one of the oldest tablelands in the world.
Answer: Deccan Plateau
Explanation: The Deccan Plateau in India has been around for millions and millions of years.

True or False

Question. Desert flora and fauna are not distinct from those found in plains.
Answer: False
Explanation: Desert creatures like camels and plants like cacti are specially made to survive in dry heat.

Question. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats are mountain ranges that run alongside the coasts of India.
Answer: True
Explanation: These long mountain chains run right along India's western and eastern coastlines.

Question. The Deccan Plateau is situated in eastern Africa.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Deccan Plateau covers most of the southern part of India.

Question. Plains are characterised by high elevation and rough terrain.
Answer: False
Explanation: Plains are flat, low, and smooth, which is why they are so easy to walk on!

Question. All deserts are warm.
Answer: False
Explanation: Deserts can be freezing cold too, like the snowy desert of Antarctica or cold Ladakh.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. Name the tallest mountain in South India.
Answer: Anamudi (in Kerala, also known as ‘Anai Peak’).
Explanation: Anamudi is the highest mountain peak in the southern part of India.

Question. Name the two tallest peaks of the Himalayan range.
Answer: Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga.
Explanation: Both of these giant snowy peaks touch the clouds in the Himalaya mountains.

Question. What is a sudden nearby flood, often caused by a cloudburst, called?
Answer: Flash flood.
Explanation: A flash flood happens in a flash when huge downpours fill up streams too quickly.

Question. Name the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest.
Answer: Bachendri Pal.
Explanation: Bachendri Pal showed great courage by becoming the very first Indian woman to reach Everest's summit in 1984.

Question. Name three kinds of landforms.
Answer: Mountains, Plateaus, and Plains.
Explanation: These are the three main physical shapes found on the surface of our planet.

Question. Rivers are the lifelines of plains. Support this statement with reference to economic and cultural aspects.
Answer: Rivers in plains provide fertile soil (sediments) for agriculture, water for irrigation and domestic use, and support fishing. They also serve as transportation routes (navigation). Culturally, many rivers are sacred, with festivals and rituals centered around them, deeply influencing life.
Explanation: Plains depend on rivers because they bring water for drinking, nutrient-rich dirt for farming, fish to eat, and holy places where families celebrate festivals.

Question. Explain why some mountains are always snow-capped.
Answer: At very high altitudes, temperatures remain below freezing point year-round, so the snow that falls does not melt, leading to permanent snow cover.
Explanation: The higher you climb toward the sky, the colder the air becomes. At the top of giant mountains, it stays freezing cold all year long, so the snow never melts!

Question. Describe the characteristics and importance of plateaus, with examples.
Answer: The following are the characteristics and significance of plateaus:
• Plateaus are elevated flatlands with one or more sides having steep slopes.
• Plateaus vary in height from a few hundred to several thousand meters. The Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest in the world. Its average altitude is 4,500 meters. It is also known as the ‘Roof of the World’.
• The Deccan Plateau in India, one of the oldest, was formed through volcanic activity millions of years ago.
• Plateaus are rich in minerals, making mining a major activity. For example, the East African Plateau is famous for gold and diamond mining, while the Chhota Nagpur Plateau in India has vast reserves of iron, coal, and manganese.
Explanation: A plateau is like a giant table on the Earth—it is raised high up but has a flat top, and it hides buried treasures like iron, gold, and coal.

Question. What is terrace farming and why is it done in mountainous regions?
Answer: Terrace farming is the form of agriculture seen in mountainous regions. In terrace farming, slopes of the mountains are made flat by cutting them. This type of farming is common in North-East India to grow tea leaves.
It is practiced in mountainous regions to prevent soil erosion and water runoff, which are major concerns in hilly areas. The mountain is made into steps that slows down the speed of rainwater preventing the damage to the crops.
Explanation: Terrace farming means cutting giant steps into a steep hill so rainwater cannot rush down and carry away the plants and soil.

Question. How is the elevation of plains generally different from mountains?
Answer: Plains are generally not more than 300 metres above sea level, whereas mountains are landforms that are much higher than their surrounding landscape.
Explanation: Plains stay low and flat near sea level, while mountains poke high up into the clouds.

Question. Describe the significance of plateaus as ‘storehouses of minerals’ and their importance for waterfalls. Give examples.
Answer: Plateaus often contain vast mineral deposits (e.g., Chhota Nagpur for coal/iron, East African Plateau for gold/diamonds) due to geological processes. Rivers flowing over plateau edges create spectacular waterfalls (e.g., Hundru Falls, Jog Falls), which can be scenic and hydro-power sources.
Explanation: Plateaus have rocks full of useful metals, and when rivers flow off their cliff edges, they form awesome, splashing waterfalls!

Question. Let us go back to our first trip from Chhota Nagpur to Prayagraj and Almora. Describe the three landforms you came across on the way.
Answer: The three landforms from Chhota Nagpur to Prayagraj and Almora were plateaus, plains and mountains. These are described as follows:
(a) Plateaus: A plateau is a landform that rises from the surrounding land and has a more or less flat surface; some of its sides are often steep slopes. The height of plateaus can vary from a few hundred metres to several thousand metres.
(b) Plains: Plains are landforms that have an extensive flat or gently undulating surface. They do not have any large hills or deep valleys. They are generally not more than 300 metres above sea level.
(c) Mountains: Mountains are landforms that are much higher than the surrounding landscape. A broad base, steep slopes and a narrow summit can recognise them. Depending on their height, some mountains are covered with snow.
Explanation: On this journey, you start on a high flat tabletop (plateau), travel across low flat farming land (plains), and end up at towering rocky peaks (mountains).

Question. What is the importance of sediments deposited by rivers in plains?
Answer: Sediments carried and deposited by rivers make the soil in plains very fertile, which is highly beneficial for agriculture and supports dense populations.
Explanation: The fine dirt carried by river water makes the ground super healthy and fertile, helping farmers grow food to feed millions of people.

Question. Explain how the three major landforms – mountains, plateaus, and plains – are formed and how their physical characteristics shape human life and economic activities.
Answer: Mountains are formed by tectonic uplift, with steep slopes affecting agriculture (terrace farming, herding) and promoting tourism. Plateaus, elevated flatlands, often volcanic or tectonic, are rich in minerals (mining). Plains, formed by river deposits, have fertile soil, ideal for agriculture and supporting dense populations.
Explanation: Earth pushes up mountains that attract visitors, cools lava to make mineral-rich plateaus for mining, and washes soft silt down to create flat farming plains.

Question. Why are plateaus often known as ‘storehouses of minerals’?
Answer: Plateaus are often rich in mineral deposits formed over geological time, making them significant sites for mining activities for minerals like iron, coal, and gold.
Explanation: Plateaus have huge rocks underground packed with useful treasures like iron to build bridges and coal to generate electricity.

Question. Can you give examples of river sources or confluences from your region that are considered sacred by any community?
Answer: Following are some examples of places that are sacred because they are source of river or confluence of river:
(a) Gangotri origin place of river Ganga
(b) Yamunotri origin place of river Yamuna
(c) Allahabad confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati
(d) Devprayag confluence of river Alaknanda and Bhagirathi
Explanation: Confluence means where two rivers meet together, and in India, places where holy rivers start or join are considered very sacred.

Question. Explain the process of terrace farming and why it is an appropriate agricultural practice for mountainous regions.
Answer: Terrace farming involves cutting step-like flat sections into steep slopes. This creates level ground for cultivation, prevents soil erosion by slowing water runoff, and allows for irrigation, making agriculture possible on otherwise unusable mountainous terrain.
Explanation: Farmers reshape slopes into big flat stairs so they have level places to plant seeds without the dirt slipping down during rainstorms.

Question. How does erosion change mountains over time?
Answer: Erosion by wind, water, and ice gradually wears down mountains, making older mountains shorter and more rounded compared to younger, sharper peaks.
Explanation: Rain, snow, and wind slowly scrape away tiny bits of rock over millions of years, turning sharp peaks into gentle rolling hills.

Question. What are the 'western to the eastern oceans'? Can you find them as well as the 'Lord of mountains'.
Answer: 1. Oceans:
• Western Ocean : The Arabian Sea lies to the west of India.
• Eastern Ocean : The Bay of Bengal is to the east of India.
2. Mountains:
• Western India : The Western Ghats run along the western coast of India.
• Eastern India : The Eastern Ghats run along the eastern coast of India.
• Northern India : The Himalayas are in the northern part of India, forming a natural border with countries like Nepal and China.
Explanation: On an Indian map, water is on both sides—the Arabian Sea on the left, the Bay of Bengal on the right, and the giant Himalayan mountains sitting at the top.

Question. What is the importance of Mount Kailash?
Answer: It is considered sacred by followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon, and is an important place of pilgrimage.
Explanation: Mount Kailash is a holy and respected mountain that pilgrims from different religions visit for prayer and spiritual journeys.

Question. Explain resilience in the context of landforms.
Answer: Resilience is the ability of landforms, ecosystems and communities to adapt to and recover from environmental changes and challenges.
Explanation: Resilience means the power to bounce back and stay healthy even after facing big challenges like bad storms or natural disasters.