Chapter 5.6 – Natural Vegetation of India

WBBSE Class 10 Geography Chapter 5.6: Natural Vegetation of India

Content Structure

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
2. Very short-type questions and answers
- 2A. Fill in the blanks
- 2B. True or false
- 2C. Very short-type questions and answers
3. Short-type questions and answers
4. Analytical questions and answers

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs) [1 mark each]

1. Tropical evergreen forests are found in areas of:
(a) Low rainfall
(b) Moderate rainfall
(c) Heavy rainfall
(d) No rainfall

Ans: (c) Heavy rainfall

2. Tropical deciduous forests are also known as:
(a) Monsoon forests
(b) Desert forests
(c) Mountain forests
(d) Mangrove forests

Ans: (a) Monsoon forests

3. Which forest has trees with breathing roots?
(a) Evergreen forest
(b) Deciduous forest
(c) Mangrove forest
(d) Thorn forest

Ans: (c) Mangrove forest

4. Thorn forests are found in:
(a) Areas of heavy rainfall
(b) Desert regions
(c) Coastal regions
(d) Mountain regions

Ans: (b) Desert regions

5. Which of the following is an evergreen tree?
(a) Sal
(b) Teak
(c) Ebony
(d) Neem

Ans: (c) Ebony

6. Mangrove forests are found in:
(a) Mountain slopes
(b) Coastal delta regions
(c) Desert areas
(d) Plateaus

Ans: (b) Coastal delta regions

7. The Sundarbans is famous for:
(a) Coniferous forests
(b) Mangrove forests
(c) Thorn forests
(d) Grasslands

Ans: (b) Mangrove forests

8. Which of the following trees is found in coniferous forests?
(a) Teak
(b) Pine
(c) Banyan
(d) Neem

Ans: (b) Pine

9. Coniferous forests are mainly found in:
(a) Plains
(b) Coastal regions
(c) Himalayan region
(d) Desert regions

Ans: (c) Himalayan region

10. Which of the following is a characteristic of desert vegetation?
(a) Broad leaves
(b) Large roots
(c) Small leaves or thorns
(d) Tall trees

Ans: (c) Small leaves or thorns

11. Which forest is most widely spread in India?
(a) Evergreen forest
(b) Mangrove forest
(c) Deciduous forest
(d) Thorn forest

Ans: (c) Deciduous forest

2. Very short-type questions and answers

2A. Fill in the blanks [1 mark each]

1. Natural vegetation refers to plants that grow without ______ interference. (human)
2. Tropical deciduous forests are also called ______ forests. (monsoon)
3. The ______ is the largest mangrove forest in India. (Sundarbans)
4. The Western Ghats have ______ forests. (evergreen)
5. The imaginary line beyond which trees do not grow is called the ______ line. (tree)
6. Thorn and scrub vegetation is found in ______ regions. (arid)
7. Mangrove trees have ______ roots. (breathing)
8. Coniferous forests are mainly found in the ______ region. (Himalayan)

2B. True or false [1 mark each]

1. Thorn forests are found in regions of heavy rainfall. (False)
2. The Sundarbans is located in the Himalayan region. (False)
3. Mangrove forests grow in salty and swampy areas. (True)
4. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in a particular season. (True)
5. Coniferous forests are found in desert regions. (False)
6. Jhum cultivation helps in conserving forests. (False)
7. Mangrove trees have normal roots under the soil. (False)
8. Alpine vegetation is found in high mountain regions. (True)

2C. Very short-type questions and answers [1 mark each]

1. In which forest of India lion is found?
Ans: The lion is found in the Gir Forest in Gujarat. It is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in India.

2. Which type of vegetation does cactus belong to?
Ans: Cactus belongs to desert or xerophytic vegetation as it is adapted to dry climatic conditions.

3. Which trees are used to manufacture matchsticks?
Ans: Softwood trees such as pine are used to manufacture matchsticks because their wood is light and easy to cut.

4. Mention two direct uses of forests.
Ans: Forests provide timber for construction and furniture, and fuelwood for cooking and heating. These are important direct uses of forests.

5. Name a xerophytic tree.
Ans: Cactus is an example of a xerophytic plant which is adapted to survive in dry and desert conditions.

6. The Forest Research Institute of India is located in which city?
Ans: The Forest Research Institute of India is located in Dehradun. It is an important centre for forestry research and education.

7. When was the first national forest policy of river Kaveri in Tamil Nadu?
Ans: The first National Forest Policy of India was introduced in the year 1894 during the British period to regulate forest use and conservation.

8. Mention an indirect use of forests.
Ans: Forests help in preventing soil erosion by holding the soil with their roots. This is an important indirect use of forests.

9. Which type of forest is found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Ans: Tropical evergreen forests are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to heavy rainfall and warm climate.

10. Mention one characteristic feature of desert vegetation.
Ans: Desert vegetation has small leaves or thorns which help in reducing water loss in dry conditions.

11. Name an evergreen forest region of India.
Ans: The Western Ghats is an evergreen forest region of India where heavy rainfall and humidity support dense forests.

12. Name the type of vegetation found in arid and semi-arid regions.
Ans: Thorn and scrub vegetation is found in arid and semi-arid regions where rainfall is very low.

3. Short-type questions and answers [2 marks each]

1. What is natural vegetation?
Ans: Natural vegetation refers to the plant life that grows naturally in a region without human interference. It includes forests, grasslands, and shrubs. The type of natural vegetation depends on climate, soil, and relief of the area.

2. Where are mangrove forests found in India?
Ans: Mangrove forests are found in coastal delta regions where rivers meet the sea. In India, they are mainly found in the Sundarbans, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the deltas of rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, and Godavari.

3. Name a region in India with evergreen forests and its climate.
Ans: The Western Ghats is a region where there is a high concentration of evergreen trees. This region experiences a hot and humid climate with heavy rainfall throughout the year, which supports dense evergreen forests.

4. Where are wet deciduous forests found in India?
Ans: Wet deciduous forests are found in regions receiving moderate to high rainfall. In India, they are mainly found in the eastern parts, along the foothills of the Himalayas, parts of the Western Ghats, and states like Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.

5. Where are temperate deciduous forests found in India?
Ans: Temperate deciduous forests are found in the Himalayan region at moderate altitudes. These forests grow in areas with a cool climate and moderate rainfall, mainly in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

6. Name some evergreen trees and mention their uses.
Ans: Some common evergreen trees are teak, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. These trees provide hard and durable wood which is used for making furniture, construction work, and decorative items. They are also valuable for commercial purposes.

7. Name two regions in India where mangrove forest is found.
Ans: Mangrove forests in India are found in the Sundarbans delta in West Bengal and the deltas of rivers like the Mahanadi and Godavari. These regions have saline water and muddy soil suitable for mangrove growth.

4. Analytical Questions and Answers [5 marks each]

1. What do you understand by social forestry?
Ans: Social forestry refers to the practice of planting and managing trees by the government and local communities for the benefit of society. It involves growing trees on roadsides, railway lines, and unused lands to meet the needs of fuel, fodder, and small timber. This helps in reducing pressure on natural forests and improves the environment. Social forestry also plays an important role in preventing soil erosion and increasing greenery, while encouraging people’s participation in forest conservation.

2. Discuss the influence of climate, relief and soil on the natural vegetation of a region.
Ans:

Factors	Description
Climate (Temperature and Rainfall)	Climate is the most important factor influencing natural vegetation. High temperature and heavy rainfall support dense forests like tropical evergreen forests, while low rainfall leads to sparse vegetation such as thorn forests and grasslands. Seasonal variation in rainfall also affects the type of vegetation.
Relief (Altitude and Slope)	Relief affects vegetation through altitude and slope. In mountainous regions, vegetation changes with height, ranging from tropical forests at lower levels to coniferous forests at higher altitudes. Steep slopes may have less vegetation due to soil erosion and poor soil depth.
Soil (Type and Fertility)	Soil determines the type of vegetation that can grow in a region. Fertile and well-drained soil supports dense and diverse plant life, while sandy, rocky, or infertile soil supports limited vegetation such as shrubs and grasses.

3. Discuss about the coniferous forests in India.
Ans: Coniferous forests are found in the higher altitudes of the Himalayan region where the climate is cold and snowfall is common. The trees in these forests are tall, straight, and cone-shaped, which helps snow slide off easily. Their leaves are needle-like, reducing water loss and enabling them to survive in cold conditions. Common trees found in these forests include pine, deodar, fir, and spruce. The wood obtained from these trees is soft and is widely used for making paper, furniture, and other products.

4. What are the characteristics of mangrove trees?
Ans:

Adaptation to saline and swampy conditions: Mangrove trees grow in coastal areas where the soil is salty and waterlogged.
Presence of breathing roots: These roots grow above the ground to absorb oxygen from the air due to lack of oxygen in waterlogged soil.
Strong and spreading root system: The roots spread widely to anchor the trees firmly in soft and muddy soil.
Salt tolerance ability: Mangrove trees can survive in high salt conditions by filtering or storing salt.
Thick and waxy leaves: The leaves reduce water loss and help the plant survive in harsh conditions.
Protection of coastal areas: Mangroves help prevent coastal erosion and protect land from storms and tidal waves.

5. Classify the natural vegetation of India.
Ans:

Tropical evergreen forests: These forests are found in areas of heavy rainfall and high temperature throughout the year, and they remain green all year.
Tropical deciduous forests: These forests occur in regions with moderate rainfall and shed their leaves during the dry season.
Tropical thorn forests: These forests are found in dry regions with scanty rainfall and consist of thorny bushes and small trees.
Mountain forests: These forests are found in the Himalayan region and vary with altitude, including coniferous trees at higher elevations.
Mangrove forests: These forests grow in coastal delta regions and are adapted to saline and swampy conditions.