Short Answer Questions
Question 1
What is meant by a landform? Give two examples.
Answer
A landform is a natural feature on the surface of the earth. For example-
mountains, plateaus.
Question 2
Why are the fold mountains called so?
Answer
Fold mountains are the result of large scale earth movements caused by
stresses in the earth’s crust. Such stresses may be caused by weight of the
overlying rocks, movements in the mantle, the expansion or contraction of
some part of the earth, etc. These stresses subject the rocks to compressive
forces, producing wrinkling or folding along the lines of weakness. Hence,
these mountains are called fold mountains.
Question 3
Give two chief characteristics of the fold mountains.
Answer
Two chief characteristics of the fold mountains are-
1. The fold mountain system has parallel ranges. Between the parallel
ranges are high plateaus known as intermontane plateaus.
2. Fold mountains are associated with volcanic activity and have many
active volcanoes.
Question 4
Give one example of each:
(a) Young fold mountain.
(b) Old fold mountain.
Answer
(a) Young fold mountain - The Himalayas
(b) Old fold mountain - The Aravallis
Question 5
Give one example of residual mountain and an example of depositional plain.
Answer
An example of residual mountain - Nilgiri mountains
An example of depositional plain - Northern plains of India
Question 6
Draw a well labelled diagram to show the formation of a residual mountain.
Answer
Question 7
How is a rift valley formed? Give one example of a rift valley.
Answer
Due to tensional force, cracks or faults may occur on the earth’s crust. If two
parallel faults occur, the land in between may sink and a rift valley is formed.
For example- African Rift Valley.
Question 8
Give a brief definition of a plateau.
Answer
Plateau is defined as an area of high ground, 500 feet above the ground level.
Plateaus have steep slope on one side. The upper part is generally flat and is
called tableland.
Question 9
What is an intermontane plateau? Give one example.
Answer
The plateaus surrounded by hills and mountains on all sides are called
intermontane plateaus. They are formed along with fold mountains. For
example- Tibetan plateau.
Question 10
Give two points of importance of landforms.
Answer
The importance of landforms are-
1. The mountain ranges of the world are the abode of snow and glaciers.
They are thus the source of perennial rivers.
2. Mountains, plateaus, plains and valleys are beautiful sculptures of
nature on the surface of the earth. They add to the beauty of the earth.
Question 11
Briefly describe how the Great Plains of USA were formed. They are examples
of which type of plains.
Answer
The Great Plains of the USA were formed due to uplift of land submerged
under water. The fact that they were submerged under water is responsible
for the existence of many lakes in the vast lowland. They are examples of
structural plains.
Distinguish between each of the following
Question 1
Fold Mountains and Block Mountains.
Answer
Fold Mountains Block Mountains
They are formed due to folding of the Block mountains are formed due to
rocks. faulting.
Fold Mountains are formed when two Block Mountains are formed when the
tectonic plates move towards each other two tectonic plates move away from each
leading to the folding of the layers of the other causing cracks on the surface of the
Earth. Earth.
They are characterized by large scale
They are characterized by steep slopes
complex folds that have greater height
and flat summits.
but are comparatively narrow in width.
For example- Black forest mountains in
For example- the Himalayas in India
Europe.
Question 2
Intermontane plateaus and Volcanic plateaus.
Answer
Intermontane plateaus Volcanic plateaus
Intermontane plateaus Volcanic plateaus
These are surrounded by hills and mountains They are formed by numerous
on all the sides. They are formed along with volcanic eruptions that slowly build
fold mountains. up over time.
For example- the Peninsular
For example- the Tibetan plateau.
plateau of India.
Question 3
Structural plains and Depositional plains.
Answer
Structural plains Depositional plains
These plains are formed due These plains are formed by the deposition of
to uplift or subsidence of materials which have been brought by various agents
land. of transportation.
For example- the Great Plains
For example- the Northern Plains of India.
of USA.
Structured Questions
Question 1(a)
How are various landforms formed on the surface of the earth?
Answer
Landforms are formed on the surface of the earth due to the following
natural processes-
1. Plate Tectonics — The tectonic plates push, collide and slide past each
other due to which sedimentary rocks are compressed. This causes folding of
the rocks and fold mountains are formed.
2. Uplift and Submergence — A set of forces operates inside the earth's
centre to the surface and are characterized by large scale uplift and
subsidence of land area. These forces result in the formation of block
mountains, basins, rift valleys, plateaus, plains, lakes and big faults.
3. Exogenic Forces — These forces operate on the surface of the earth and
cause widespread destruction through weathering and erosion of existing
landforms and form new landforms through both erosion and deposition.
Question 1(b)
Describe the formation of mountains and their types.
Answer
A mountain is a very steep land or hill rising to great heights above the land
surrounding it. Mountains are classified into three types based on the forces
that have formed them.
1. Fold mountains — Fold mountains are the result of large-scale earth
movements caused by stresses in the earth’s crust. Such stresses may be
caused by weight of the overlying rocks, movements in the mantle, the
expansion or contraction of some part of the earth, etc. These stresses
subject the rocks to compressive forces, producing wrinkling or folding along
the lines of weakness. The raising of folds make the fold mountains. For
example- the Himalayas in India.
2. Residual Mountains — Mountains which are subjected to weathering and
erosion for a longtime, are lowered down and called residual or relict
mountains. Denudation and erosion by natural agents like winds, water, snow
etc., cause the mountains to be lowered but some resistant areas may remain
and form residual mountains. They may also be formed on plateaus that are
dissected by rivers. For example- Nilgiri in India.
3. Block Mountains —Due to tensional force, cracks or faults may occur on
the earth’s crust. If two parallel faults occur, the land in between subsides to
form a rift valley. If a block rises, it forms a horst or block mountain. For
example- Vosges in Europe.
Question 1(c)
Give a reason for each of the following:
(i) Asthenosphere though underneath the crust is in a semi-molten state.
(ii) Exogenic forces are also called destructive forces.
(iii) Residual mountains are also called mountains of denudation.
Answer
(i) The internal heat of the earth doesn't travel to the surface because rocks
are bad conductors of heat. The internal heat and pressure of the earth are
so high that it melts the rocks and keeps the asthenosphere in a semi-molten
state.
(ii) Exogenic forces are also called destructive forces because they cause
widespread destruction through weathering and erosion of existing
landforms.
(iii) Residual mountains are also called mountains of denudation as they are
formed due to denudation and erosion by natural agents such as winds,
water, snow, etc.
Question 1(d)
Draw a well labelled diagram to show the formation of block mountain.
Answer
Question 2(a)
Describe the characteristics of two different types of plateaus.
Answer
The characteristics of Intermontane plateau are-
1. These plateaus are surrounded by hills and mountains on all sides.
2. They are formed along with fold mountains.
For example- the Tibetan plateau.
The characteristics of Volcanic plateaus are-
1. They are formed by numerous volcanic eruptions that slowly build up
over time, forming a plateau.
For example- the Peninsular Plateau of India.
Question 2(b)
Describe the characteristics of structural plains.
Answer
The characteristics of structural plains are-
1. These plains are formed due to uplift or subsidence of land.
2. Diastrophic forces may cause uplift of a portion of land beneath the
ocean water or may cause submergence of coastal land under ocean
water.
3. For example- The Great Plains of USA were formed due to the uplift of
land submerged under water while the Coromandel plains in India are
the result of mild subsidence followed by sedimentation.
Question 2(c)
Give a reason for each of the following:
(i) There are different types of plains.
(ii) Alluvial plains are regarded as the granaries of the world.
(iii) The landforms on the surface of the earth are symbols of the energy of
the earth.
Answer
(i) There are different types of plain based on the way they are formed. While
some have been formed due to erosional and depositional activities of rivers
and winds, some are formed due to the upliftment and submergence of land.
(ii) Alluvial plains are regarded as the granaries of the world because they are
formed by the deposition of rivers. So, the soil in these plains is very fertile
and supports agriculture.
(iii) The landforms on the surface of the earth are symbols of the energy of
the earth as they are basically a result of enormous heat generated inside the
earth and climate factors operating on the surface of the earth. The earth
releases its energy through tectonic activity, earthquakes and volcanoes.
These internal forces in addition to the surface weathering and erosional
forces help in carving out landforms.
Question 2(d)
Explain the chief characteristics of depositional plains and their types.
Answer
Depositional plains are formed by the deposition of materials which have
been brought by various agents of transportation like rivers, glaciers, wind,
sea waves, etc. Depositional plains are of three types-
1. River Deposition — The plains formed by the depositional work of rivers
are known as alluvial plains. The alluvium is either deposited at the foot of
mountains forming Bhabar or along the mouth of rivers. The best examples
are the Northern Plains of India; the flood plains like the Mississippi Plains in
the USA, deltaic plains in Egypt and India.
2. Wind Deposition —The plains formed by the depositional work of wind are
known as loess plains. Most such plains are sandy deserts like the Sahara in
Africa and the Thar desert in India. They have irregular and undulating
surface made by existence of sand dunes and hallows.
3. Marine Deposition — These plains are found in coastal regions and are
formed due to the depositional work of sea waves which drive the beach
material landwards. It results in the formation of marine swamps, mud flats
and tidal lowlands. Examples are the east coast of India, the estuarine banks
in the Netherlands, coast of Germany and Denmark.