CBSE Class 8 Social Science Land Soil And Water Worksheet

Tick the correct answer.

Question. Which one of the following is NOT a factor of soil formation?
(a) Time
(b) Soil texture
(c) Organic matter
Answer : b. Soil Texture

Question. Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes?
(a) Shelterbelts
(b) Mulching
(c) Terrace cultivation
Answer : c Terrace cultivation

Question. 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 poly packs after shopping
Answer : c Dispose poly packs after shopping

Fill in the blanks.

Question. Three-fourth’s of the earth’s surface is covered with ------------------
Answer : WATER 

Question. Plains and river valleys offer suitable land for ………………………..
Answer : AGRICULTURE 

Question. Community lands are also called……………………….
Answer : COMMON PROPERTY RESOURCE

Question. ----------- and ------------ are the major threats to soil as a resource.
Answer : SOILEROSION &DEPLETION

Question. Fresh water accounts for only about …….. per cent.
Answer : 2.7

VERY SHORT ANSWERS:-

Question. What are the major threats to soil as a resource?
Answer : Soil erosion and depletion are the major threats to soil as a resource.

Question. What method of soil conservation is used in coastal and dry regions?
Answer : Shelter belts are used to protect the soil in coastal and dry regions.

Question. What percent of fresh water is fit for human use?
Answer : Only 1 per cent of freshwater is available and fit for human use.

Question. What affect the rate of humus formation?
Answer : Flora, fauna and micro-organism affect the rate of humus formation.

Question. Why is ocean water not fit for human consumption?
Answer : The ocean water is saline. Hence it is not fit for human consumption.

Question. What do you mean by shelter belt?
Answer : Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called shelter belt

Question. Define land degradation?
Answer : Decline in the productive capacity of land for some time or permanently is known as land degradation.

SHORT ANSWERS QUESTIONS:

Question. Suggest three ways to conserve water.
Answer : Three main ways to conserve water are:
a. Increasing forest cover and other vegetation to slow the surface runoff
b. Replenishing underground water through rain water harvesting
c. Reducing loss of water in irrigation and shifting to less water-intensive methods of agriculture

Question. What are soil horizons? With the help of a diagram explain the various soil horizons present in a soil profile.
Answer : Vertical section of the soil from the surface to the Bed rock is known as Soil profile. The soil profile is horizontally divided into four different horizons or layers known as Soil Horizons. Top Soil, Sub Soil, Weathered Rock and Bed Rock or Parent Rock.
a) Top Soil: It is the uppermost layer. Rich in humus and minerals. Consists of Sand, Silt & Clay. Leaching of soil is common in this layer.
(b) Sub Soil: It lies below the top soil and supports moisture. Consists of some amount of weathered rock, Silt & Clay and some nutrients. Minerals found here is more than Horizon A.
(c) Weathered Rock: Consists of large amount of weathered rock. These rocks are not affected by biological processes.

LONG ANSWERS QUESTIONS

Question. SUGGEST FOUR WAYS OF SOIL CONSERVATION?
Answer : Methods of soil conservation
1. Mulching: The bare ground between plants is covered with a layer of organic matter like straw. It helps to retain soil moisture.
2. Contour barriers: Stones, grass, soil are used to build barriers along contours. Trenches are made in front of the barriers to collect water.
3. Contour ploughing: Ploughing parallel to the contours of a hill slope to form a natural barrier for water to flow down the slope.
4. Terrace farming: These are made on the steep slopes so that flat surfaces are available to grow crops. They canreduce surface run-off and soil erosion.

CLASS- VIII

Q. 1 : Name the following:-

a) A book of rules by which a country is governed.

b) The part of land which is used for cultivation.

c) Falling of rocks down the slope due to gravity.

d) A proposal to pass a new law or to change an existing one.

Q. 2 : Define Technology, Sustainable development, Doctrine of lapse, Permanent

settlement, Coalition government and Sovereign.

Q. 3 : Fill up the blanks:-

a) The complete vertical sequence of different layers of soil is called _______.

b) _____ means giving a new form to an unused thing.

c) Plant & animals living together under similar environmental condition make up a _____.

d) Place where historical documents are kept is called an ______.

Q. 4 : Choose the correct answer:-

a) Afforestation and conservation of forest for the benefit of the environment and for meeting

the human needs.

1. Social forestry 2. Terracing 3. Plantation

b) The subjugation of an area by the British for their own interest.

1. Colonization 2. Urbanization 3. Industrialization

c) Burning of vegetation to clear plots of land in the forest.

1. Forest fire 2. Jhum Cultivation 3. Contour ploughing

d) Annual financial statement placed by the government before the parliament.

1. Bill 2. Budget 3. Document

Q. 5 : Differentiate between:-

a. Permanent & Ryotwari settlement

b. Question Hour and Zero Hour

c. Terracing and contour ploughing

Q1 Name the various purposes for which land can be used?

Q2. Which factors influence the use of land?

Q3. What are the effects of changed land use?

Q4. Define weathering, landslide, soil?

Q5 Explain the factors affecting soil formation?

Q6. Which factors lead to soil degradation?

Q7 What is soil conservation?

Q8 What do you know about distribution of water on the earth?

Q9. How can we conserve water?

Q10. What is the importance of natural vegetation?

Q11. Write a note on conservation of forests?

Q12. What is wild life? Discuss in detail?

Q13. Why should we conserve wild life?

Q14. On map of India mark some important wild lfe sanctuaries?

Q15. On map of India mark natural vegetation?

Q16. Fill in the blanks:-

          a) Forests are classified as ______and ______.

          b) deciduous trees shed their leaves in ______ season.

          c) _________is a scavenger.

          d) ________is another method to save surface runoff.

          e) Ploughing parallel to contour lines is called________.

Q17. A large percentage of soil in India is a waste land. Find out various ways I which this waste land can be made useful.

Q18. Why is there uneven distribution of water resource in the world?

Q19 What are the dangers faced by natural vegetation and wildlife?

Fill in the blanks:

1. ______________________ covers only about 30% of the total area of the earth’s surface.

2. On the basis of ______________, land can be classified as private land and community land.

3. The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called _________________________.

4. Mass movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope is called _____________________.

5. __________________ forests do not shed their leaves simultaneously in ant season of the year.

6. __________________ forests shed their leaves in a particular season.

7. __________________ is organic matter deposited on top soil.

8. Productive use of land is called _______________________.

9. ________________ helps to check soil erosion on steep slopes.

10. __________________ is a narrow zone of contact between lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

11. Fresh water accounts for only about __________ percent.

12. _________________vegetation comprises of mosses and dichens.

I. Tick the correct answer from the options

1. An organic material which determines the fertility of soil

( Humus / Silt )

2. The densely populated land forms are

(Plains / Plateaus)

3. The country which has highest percent of forest land

( Brazil / Japan )

4. One of the major threat to the environment

(Land degradation / Land reclamation )

5. The highest percent of land under crop land is in

( India / China)

6. In the hilly terrains the major and widely spread natural disaster

( Floods / Landslides)

7. Forests in which trees shed their leaves in a particular season are called

( Deciduous / Evergreen )

8. The suitable method of soil conservation in hill areas

(Terrace farming / Mulching)

9. Eco system is an interdependence between

(Economy and land / Natural environment and its inhabitants)

10. Tundra vegetation comprise of

(Lichens and Mosses / Acacia and Cactus )

11. Which one of these determines the colour and texture of soil

(Parent Rock / Flora, Fauna and Micro organism )

12. The percent of fresh water is available and fit for human use.

(3% / 1%)

II. Fill in the blanks

1. An irrigation method which is useful in dry region

2. __________ refers to the destruction of soil by wind and water

3. Water is a vital _________________ natural resource

4. The right mix of ______________ and ____________ make the soil fertile

5. Most of the industrial effluents are __________________ and reach human body through water

6. __________________ is considered as an essential cleanser of the environment

7. The growth of vegetation depends on ___________ and ____________

8. ______________ , _________________ , ________________ and _______________ are some of the human and natural factors which accelerate the process of extinction of natural vegetation and wild life

9. _____________ is poached mainly for its teeth

10. Soil is made up of ________________, __________________ and _______________

III. Answer the following

1. Name any two National Parks

2. The scheme launched by the government to promote tree plantation.

3. An international agreement between governments to deal with the trade related with endangered flora and fauna.

4. The process of collecting rain water from roof tops and directing it to an appropriate location where it is stored for future use.

IV. Name the following soil conservation methods

1. Different crops are sown at different times and grown in different rows

2. Rocks are piled up to slow down the flow of water, this prevents gullies and further soil loss.

3. Rows of trees are planted in the coastal and dry regions to check the wind movement and to protect soil cover.

4. The bare ground between plants is covered with a layer of organic matter like straw to help to retain soil moister.

5. Stones, grass, soil are used to build barriers along contours, trenches are made in front of the barriers to collect water.

Q1. Name the three steps involved in soil preparation.

Q2. Give three reasons why ploughing is important.

Q3. What are fertilizers? Write any two differences between natural and chemical fertilizers?

Q4. Suppose you are a farmer. You have a few acres of land. For the last couple of years there has been no rain. There are no canals nearby to irrigate the fields, so how will you manage? What will you do?

Q5. You have recently visited the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH). Write down your observation and how it is related to the topic i.e “Agriculture” that we have done in the class.

1. World water resource day is celebrated every year on _______________________.

2. __________________ are called “Temples of modern India”.

3. ___________________ is the highest dam in the world.

4. ___________________ is the longest dam in the world.

5. First multipurpose project of India is ______________________.

6. ___________% Earth‟s surface is covered with water.

7. The force of falling water is utilized to produce ________________________.

8. The river valleys of the world have been __________________ of civilization.

9. Distribution of fresh water is highly _________________ throughout the world.

10. ______________________ are constructed in rocky areas to store rain water.

Natural Resources – water

1. The force of falling water is utilized to produce _________________

2. ______________________________ is celebrated every year on March 22 with specific theme.

3. Water is renewed , recycled and recharged through ______________________

4. ____________ are the rivers of ice, moving tongue shaped huge works of ice in high mountains.

5. Big continental ice mass is called _______________________

6. Channels that divert water from the main river to agricultural fields are called __________________

7. ___________________________ are constructed in rocky areas to store rainwater.

8. India receives good amount of rainfall due to the ______

9. _______________________ is the highest dam in the world.

10. _______________________ is the longest dam in the world.

11. _____________________ canal in Rajasthan has turns the desert green.

12. _________________________ have been called as “ Temple of Modern India”

1. Earth is called the watery planet because __________________% of its surface is covered with water.

2. __________________% of water exists in the form of oceans, seas, gulfs and bays.

3. The amount of fresh water available tours is only __________________%

4. World Water Resource Day is celebrated every year on _________ with a specific theme.

5. The river valleys of the world have been called __________________

6. Water is renewed, recycled and recharged through the __________________

7. __________________ and __________________are dug to draw out ground water in flat agricultural areas.

8. __________________are constructed in rocky areas to store rainwater.

9. __________________ are constructed to divert water from rivers to agricultural fields.

10. __________________ canal has turned Rajasthan green.

11. Multipurpose river valley projects have been called __________________

12. __________________ is the highest dam in the world.

13. __________________is the longest dam in the world.

14. India receives good amount of rainfall due to __________________Glaciers are __________________.

15. __________________ is a simple, but very effective method of water conservation.