Question 1

Q1: (i) Which one of the following states of India experiences floods frequently? (a) Bihar (b) West Bengal (c) Assam (d) Uttar Pradesh

Accepted Answer

Answer: (c) Assam Explanation: The source material states, "Assam, West Bengal and Bihar are among the high flood-prone states of India." It further highlights the serious consequences of frequent inundation in Assam due to the flooding of the Brahmaputra river. While all the listed states are prone...

Question 2

Q2: (ii) In which one of the following districts of Uttaranchal did Malpa Landslide disaster take place? (a) Bageshwar (b) Champawat (c) Almora (d) Pithor...

Accepted Answer

Answer: (d) Pithoragarh Explanation: While the main text does not specify the location of the Malpa landslide, this event is listed as a project topic. The Malpa landslide disaster occurred in the Pithoragarh district of Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) in August 1998.

Question 3

Q3: (iii) Which one of the following states receives floods in the winter months? (a) Assam (b) West Bengal (c) Kerala (d) Tamil Nadu

Accepted Answer

Answer: (d) Tamil Nadu Explanation: The text explicitly mentions, "Sometimes, Tamil Nadu experiences flooding during November-January due to the retreating monsoon." This period corresponds to the winter months in India.

Question 4

Q4: (iv) In which of the following rivers is the Majuli River Island situated? (a) Ganga (b) Brahmaputra (c) Godavari (d) Indus

Accepted Answer

Answer: (b) Brahmaputra Explanation: According to the chapter, "Majuli (Assam), the largest riverine island in the world, is the best example of good paddy crops after the annual floods in Brahmaputra."

Question 5

Q5: (v) Under which type of natural hazards do blizzards come? (a) Atmospheric (b) Aquatic (c) Terrestrial (d) Biological

Accepted Answer

Answer: (a) Atmospheric Explanation: Table 6.1, which classifies natural disasters, lists blizzards under the 'Atmospheric' category, along with other weather-related phenomena like thunderstorms, cyclones, and tornadoes.

Question 6

Q1: (i) When can a hazard become a disaster?

Accepted Answer

A natural hazard becomes a disaster when it strikes a vulnerable area and causes large-scale, widespread death, loss of property, and severe disruption to social systems and life. Essentially, it is when the magnitude of destruction and damage is very high and exceeds the coping capacity of the affe...

Question 7

Q2: (ii) Why are there more earthquakes in the Himalayas and in the north-eastern region of India?

Accepted Answer

The Himalayas and the north-eastern region of India experience more earthquakes because they are located at the tectonic boundary where the Indian plate is moving northwards and colliding with the Eurasian plate. This collision results in the accumulation and sudden release of immense energy, causin...

Question 8

Q3: (iii) What are the basic requirements for the formation of a cyclone?

Accepted Answer

The basic requirements for the formation of a tropical cyclone are: 1. A large and continuous supply of warm and moist air. 2. Strong Coriolis force to prevent the filling of low pressure at the center. 3. Unstable atmospheric conditions through the troposphere. 4. Absence of a strong vertical wind...

Question 9

Q4: (vi) How are the floods in Eastern India different from the ones in Western India?

Accepted Answer

Floods in Eastern India, such as in Assam and Bihar, are typically widespread riverine floods caused by the overflow of large river systems during the monsoon. In contrast, floods in Western India, such as in Rajasthan and Gujarat, are often flash floods resulting from high-intensity rainfall over a...

Question 10

Q5: (v) Why are there more droughts in Central and Western India?

Accepted Answer

Central and Western India experience more droughts primarily due to the large-scale variations and unpredictability of the monsoon rainfall. Regions like western Rajasthan and Gujarat receive very low annual rainfall, while other areas in this zone suffer from inadequate and erratic precipitation, l...

Question 11

Q1: (i) Identify the Landslide-prone regions of India and suggest some measures to mitigate the disasters caused by these.

Accepted Answer

Landslide-Prone Regions: India's landslide-prone regions are categorized based on their vulnerability:    Very High Vulnerability Zone: This includes the highly unstable, young mountains of the Himalayas and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, high-rainfall areas with steep slopes in the Western Ghats and...

Question 12

Q2: (ii) What is vulnerability? Divide India into natural disaster vulnerability zones based on droughts and suggest some mitigation measures.

Accepted Answer

Vulnerability: Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of a community or region to the impact of a hazard. It is a condition resulting from physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that increase the potential for loss and damage when a hazard occurs. For example, colonizing a flood p...

Question 13

Q3: (iii) When can developmental activities become the cause of disasters?

Accepted Answer

Developmental activities can become the cause of disasters when they are carried out without considering the environmental balance, especially in fragile ecosystems. Such activities can either directly cause man-made disasters or increase the vulnerability of a region to natural hazards. Examples in...

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