ISC Class 12 Geography Sample Paper 2022 with Solutions

SECTION A - 7 MARKS

Question 1
Study the outline Map of India given below and answer the questions that follow:

[Figure: Outline political map of India showing tea producing region marked A in Assam, offshore mineral producing field marked B in Mumbai High, roadway C connecting two cities, cotton textile producing centre marked D in Ahmedabad, State shaded and marked F as Chhattisgarh, city marked E as Bengaluru (Bengaluru), and port city marked G as Kochi.]

(i) The main tea producing region marked A is the __________. [1]

Answer: Assam

Teacher's Note:
a) Assam is the leading tea-producing state in India, favoured by its unique climatic conditions and topography.
b) Students must correctly identify major agricultural belts on the map of India.

(ii) The offshore mineral producing field marked B is the __________. [1]

Answer: Mumbai High

Teacher's Note:
a) Mumbai High is India's largest offshore oil and gas field located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai.
b) Pay close attention to offshore oil fields on western and eastern coastal maps.

(iii) The city marked E is also known as the __________ of India. [1]

Answer: Electronic Capital

Teacher's Note:
a) Bengaluru (marked E) is internationally recognized as the Silicon Valley or Electronic Capital of India.
b) Ensure you remember prominent industrial and technological epithets given to major Indian cities.

(iv) Identify and name the following: [2]
(a) The cotton textile producing centre marked D. [1]

Answer: Ahmedabad

Teacher's Note:
a) Ahmedabad, located in Gujarat, is historically known as a major cotton textile hub.
b) Map marking requires accurate identification of regional industrial centres.

(b) The State shaded and marked F. [1]

Answer: Chhattisgarh

Teacher's Note:
a) Chhattisgarh is centrally located in India and is rich in mineral resources like iron ore and coal.
b) Practice identifying newly formed and central Indian states on outline maps.

(v) The roadway C, connecting the two cities (x) and (y) is: [1]
(A) National Highway 1
(B) National Highway 2
(C) National Highway 6
(D) National Highway 7

Answer: (B) National Highway 2

National Highway 2 connects Delhi and Kolkata (historically part of the Grand Trunk Road).

Teacher's Note:
a) Major national highways form the backbone of India's road transport network.
b) Note that historical classifications of national highways have been updated under the new numbering system, but follow textbook maps for board exams.

(vi) The port city marked G is: [1]
(A) Mumbai
(B) Kochi
(C) Chennai
(D) Kolkata

Answer: (B) Kochi

Kochi is situated on the southwest coast of India in Kerala.

Teacher's Note:
a) Kochi is a major natural harbour known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea.
b) Distinguish carefully between ports located on the western and eastern coasts.

SECTION B - 12 MARKS

Question 2. Briefly explain any two drawbacks of the first Green Revolution. [2]

Answer:
1. Regional Disparity: The Green Revolution did not bring prosperity to all regions of India equally, benefiting mainly Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh while leaving eastern and arid regions largely untouched.
2. Environmental Degradation: Heavy reliance on HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, and continuous irrigation led to soil degradation, groundwater pollution, and increased cultivation costs.

Teacher's Note:
a) The First Green Revolution boosted food grain production but created socio-economic and ecological imbalances.
b) Clearly mention both regional disparity and ecological damage to score full marks in a 2-mark question.

Question 3.
(i) 'The prospect of the hydroelectric power generation is very high in the Northern Mountain Region'. Justify the given statement by giving two reasons. [2]

Answer:
1. Perennial Rivers: Himalayan rivers originate from glaciers and snowfields, ensuring a regular and continuous flow of water throughout the year.
2. High Gradient and Velocity: The steep slopes and high velocity of flow provide immense potential for generating hydroelectric power if harnessed correctly.

Teacher's Note:
a) Hydroelectric potential depends on perennial water availability and steep terrain velocity.
b) Ensure both physical factors (perennial flow and gradient) are explicitly stated.

OR

(ii) 'India should switch over its energy dependence from conventional to non-conventional energy sources.' Justify the given statement by giving two reasons. [2]

Answer:
1. Renewable and Exhaustible Nature: Conventional sources like coal and petroleum are exhaustible, whereas non-conventional sources like solar and wind energy are renewable and inexhaustible.
2. Environment Friendly: Non-conventional sources are clean and do not cause environmental pollution or harm ecosystems.

Teacher's Note:
a) Transitioning to green energy is essential for sustainable development and combating climate change.
b) Focus on depletion of fossil fuels and pollution reduction as the core arguments.

Question 4. List four factors of development and briefly explain how they have favoured the growth of the Mumbai-Pune Industrial region. [2]

Answer:
1. Availability of Resources: The rich black soil of the Narmada and Tapi basins favoured cotton cultivation, leading to the growth of cotton textile industries and making Mumbai the Cottonopolis of India.
2. Availability of Energy Sources: Due to the scarcity of coal, the region successfully developed hydel power resources in the Western Ghats.
3. Availability of Labour: Cheap skilled, semi-skilled, and manual labour was easily accessible from Mumbai, its hinterland, and neighbouring states.
4. Transport Network and Port Facilities: The opening of the first railway track between Mumbai and Thane in 1853, along with the Bhor and Thal Ghats and excellent port facilities, provided a major impetus for growth.

Teacher's Note:
a) Industrial regions develop due to a combination of raw materials, power, labour, and transport connectivity.
b) Mention all four factors concisely to meet the mark requirement.

Question 5. Explain any two natural factors that have favoured the development of fishing industry in Bangladesh. [2]

Answer:
1. Location and Aquatic Biodiversity: Situated at the head of the Indian Ocean, Bangladesh possesses the world's largest flooded wetland and vast aquatic biodiversity.
2. Continental Shelf and Deltaic Islands: It features a vast continental shelf and numerous islands off the coast of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, providing ideal conditions for fishing.

Teacher's Note:
a) Bangladesh's geography as a deltaic nation creates extensive inland and marine fisheries potential.
b) Use geographical terms like continental shelf and deltaic wetlands in your answer.

Question 6. Explain any two reasons why transport means are considered important for Indian economic development. [2]

Answer:
1. Linking Producer with Consumer: Transport networks ensure that raw materials reach factories on time and finished products reach markets efficiently, facilitating all commercial activities.
2. Connecting Remote Areas: Transport reduces distances between regions, integrating isolated areas and promoting economic development in backward regions.

Teacher's Note:
a) Transport is rightly regarded as the lifeline of a nation's economy.
b) Highlight both industrial supply chain integration and regional integration.

Question 7. Differentiate between micro planning region and the macro planning region. [2]

Answer:

Teacher's Note:
a) Planning regions are hierarchically classified based on scale and functional complexity.
b) Presenting differences in tabular format ensures clarity and full marks.

SECTION C - 16 MARKS

Question 8
(i) Explain the reasons for the low density of metalled roads in the Himalayan regions of India. [4]

Answer:
1. Difficult Terrain: The rugged, mountainous, and difficult terrain makes road construction extremely challenging and labour-intensive.
2. High Cost: Construction and maintenance of metalled roads are comparatively very costly on hilly terrains due to landslides and slope instability.
3. Low Economic Development: The overall level of economic development and industrialization in remote Himalayan tracts is relatively low, limiting transport demand.
4. Strategic Border Region: Much of the Himalayan region forms international borders, where roads are primarily constructed and managed for defence purposes by the Border Roads Organisation rather than commercial connectivity.

Teacher's Note:
a) Road density is constrained by both physical barriers (relief) and economic factors.
b) Outline at least four distinct points for a 4-mark question.

OR

(ii) Discuss the advantages of Telecommunication in India. [4]

Answer:
1. Quick and Accessible Communication: Communication between individuals or groups has become instantaneous and accessible across vast distances.
2. Digital Meetings and Knowledge Exchange: It has simplified the exchange of ideas and knowledge, enabling virtual meetings via phone and the World Wide Web.
3. Electronic Document Sharing: It enables seamless electronic sharing of important documents and files with business clients and customers globally.
4. Business Growth and Customer Relations: Advanced telecommunication boosts customer relations, improves service delivery, and accelerates commercial transactions.

Teacher's Note:
a) Telecommunication revolutionizes service sectors by bridging geographical gaps.
b) Structure your answer clearly with four distinct technological and commercial advantages.

Question 9. Refer to the sketch map given below and answer the questions that follow:

[Figure: Sketch map showing Mandira Dam, Hirakud Dam, river Brahmani, river Koel, and an iron and steel plant marked with a star and question mark (?) located near Rourkela in Odisha.]

(i) Name the steel plant and mention its location. From where does this steel plant obtain coal and iron ore? [2]

Answer:
1. Name and Location: Hindustan Steel Limited at Rourkela, situated in the Sundergarh district of Odisha.
2. Raw Material Sources: Coal is obtained from Jharia (225 km away) and Talcher (150 km away), while iron ore is sourced locally from Sundergarh and Keonjhar districts.

Teacher's Note:
a) Rourkela Steel Plant is strategically located near mineral belts rich in iron ore and coal.
b) Be precise with the names of raw material source mines and districts.

(ii) Why are these iron and steel plants important? [2]

Answer:
1. Mother Industry: Iron and steel form the backbone of modern industry, providing machinery and tools essential for all other manufacturing sectors.
2. Indicator of Economic Development: The production and consumption of steel serve as a primary indicator of a country's industrial and economic progress.

Teacher's Note:
a) The iron and steel industry is fundamental because every sector relies on steel-based machinery.
b) Emphasize its role as the mother industry in economic development.

Question 10. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow.

[Figure: Photograph showing farmers bending and manually planting rice seedlings in standing water in a flooded agricultural field during transplantation.]

(i) Explain the process of sowing the crop shown in the above picture. [2]

Answer:
1. Land Preparation: The land is ploughed, tilled properly, and levelled with standing water at the onset of the monsoon.
2. Transplantation: Seeds are initially grown in nursery seed beds and later transplanted into the main flooded fields either manually by hand or by machine.

Teacher's Note:
a) The process depicted is rice transplantation, which requires standing water and intensive manual labour.
b) Describe both nursery preparation and field transplantation clearly.

(ii) State any two advantages of the method of sowing the given crop. [2]

Answer:
1. Weed Control: Weeds are effectively removed during the resowing and preparation process.
2. Quality Selection: Only healthy plants are selected for transplantation into the main field, while weak or unhealthy seedlings are discarded.

Teacher's Note:
a) Transplantation ensures a higher crop yield compared to direct broadcasting of seeds.
b) Mention selective planting and weed eradication as key benefits.

Question 11. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.

Haldia Port was constructed on Hooghly river as a solution to the problems of siltation at Kolkata Port. The locational advantages of Haldia Port were that it allowed movement of bigger vessels and was free from tidal bores.
However, lately the Haldia Port is affected by siltation and requires the opening of an alternative channel which will allow easy entry of vessels.

(i) State two locational advantages of the Haldia Port. [2]

Answer:
1. It permits the navigation and movement of larger vessels compared to Kolkata Port.
2. It is located in an area free from tidal bores, and is connected via an important rail link with Kharagpur.

Teacher's Note:
a) Haldia was established downstream to relieve congestion and siltation pressures at Kolkata Port.
b) Extract direct advantages mentioned in the passage.

(ii) Mention any four states of India which form the hinterland of Haldia Port. [2]

Answer:
1. Jharkhand
2. Bihar
3. West Bengal
4. Uttar Pradesh

Teacher's Note:
a) A port hinterland comprises the land area served by the port for import and export activities.
b) List four states clearly without ambiguity.