Physical Features of India

1. Which of the following is not a major physical division of India?
a) The Himalayas
b) The Indo-Gangetic Plain
c) The Deccan Plateau
d) The Western Ghats

Answer: d) The Western Ghats

2. Which of the following mountain ranges is the oldest in India?
a) The Himalayas
b) The Aravalli Range
c) The Vindhya Range
d) The Satpura Range

Answer: b) The Aravalli Range

3. Which mountain ranges are a part of the Himalayas?

a) Aravalli Range
b) Western Ghats
c) Pir Panjal Range
d) Satpura Range

Answer: c) Pir Panjal Range

4. Which is the northernmost range of the great Himalayas?
a) Himadri
b) Himachal
c) Shiwalik
d) Purvanchal 

Answer: a) Himadri

5. Which is the highest peak in India?
a) mount Everest
b) Kanchanjunga
c) Nanda Parwat
d) None of these

Answer: b) Kanchanjunga

6. What is the highest peak in the Himalayas?
a) Annapurna
b) Mount Everest
c) K2
d) Makalu

Answer: b) Mount Everest

7. Which of the following is not a physical feature of India?
a) Himalayan Mountains
b) Plateau
c) Glaciers
d) Coastal Plains

Answer: c) Glaciers

8. Which is the outermost range of the Himalayas?
a) Himadri
b) Himachal
c) Shiwalik
d) Purvanchal

Answer: c) Shiwalik

9. Which range of Himalayas is lying between Himadri & Shiwalik?
a) Himadri
b) Himachal
c) Shiwalik
d) Purvanchal

Answer: b) Himachal

10. Which of the following countries does not share a border with the Himalayas?
a) Nepal
b) Bhutan
c) Myanmar
d) China

Answer: c) Myanmar

11. Which river forms the western boundary of the Northern Plains of India?
a) Brahmaputra
b) Ganges
c) Indus
d) Yamuna

Answer: c. Indus

12. The Northern Plain is formed due to the _____
a) Igneous & Metamorphic rocks
b) Alluvial Deposits
c) volcanic eruption
d) none of these

Answer: b) Alluvial Deposits

13. The Northern Plains of India are formed by the alluvial deposits of which rivers?
a) Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus
b) Ganges, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra
c) Ganges, Yamuna, and Sutlej
d) Ganges, Sutlej, and Beas

Answer:b) Ganges, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra

14. How many physiographic divisions are there in India?
a) Nine
b) Three
c) Two
d) Six

Answer: d) Six

15. Which type of soil is predominant in the Northern Plains of India?
a) Alluvial soil
b) Red soil
c) Black soil
d) Laterite soil

Answer: a. Alluvial soil

16. The southernmost point of the Indian Union____
a) Kanyakumari
b) Indira point
c) Kerala
d) None of the above

Answer: b) The Indira point

17. The largest inhabited riverine island in the world.
a) Majuli
b) Andaman & Nicobar
c) Both a & b
d) None of the above

Answer: a) Majuli

18. Which relief feature of the northern plain is marked by marshy forests and grasslands?
a) Bhabar
b) Bhangar
c) Terai
d) Kankar

Answer: c) Terai

19. Which relief feature in the northern plain is ideal for intensive agriculture?

a) Bhabar
b) Bhangar
c) Terai
d) Khadar

Answer: d) Khadar

20. Which physical feature provides suitable land for agriculture?
a) The Coastal plains
b) The Northern Plains
c) Both A and B
d) None of these

Answer:b) The Northern Plains

21. Which is the oldest physical feature of India?
a) Himalayan Mountains
b) Plateau
c) Islands
d) Coastal Plain

Answer: b) Plateau

22. Which of the following mountain ranges is NOT a part of the Peninsular Plateau?
a) Aravalli Range
b) Vindhya Range
c) Satpura Range
d) Western Ghats

Answer: d) Western Ghats

23. Which river flows through the Peninsular Plateau and empties into the Bay of Bengal?
a) Ganges
b) Brahmaputra
c) Godavari
d) Indus

Answer: c) Godavari

24. The highest peak in the Peninsular Plateau is
a) Anamudi
b) Mahabaleshwar
c) Guru Shikhar
d) Doddabetta

Answer: a) Anamudi

25. A major mineral found in the Peninsular Plateau.
a) Petroleum
b) Coal
c) Iron ore
d) Natural gas

Answer: c) Iron ore

26. A piece of land that is surrounded by the sea on three sides is called
a) Coast 
b) Island 
c) Peninsula
d) None of the above

Answer: c) Peninsula

27. The western coastal strip, south of Goa is known as
a) Coromandel 
b) Konkan 
c) Kannada
d) Northern Circar

Answer: b) Konkan 

28. Which is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats?
a) Anai Mudi 
b) Kanchenjunga 
c) Mahendragiri
d) Khasi

Answer: c) Mahendragiri

29. The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada River is known as
a) Deccan trap
b) Deccan Plateau
c) Central Highlands
d) Chhota Nagpur Plateau

Answer:c) Central Highlands

30. Which of the following Plateau is not a part of Central Highlands?
a) Chhota Nagpur Plateau
b) Bundelkhand
c) Baghelkhand
d) Deccan Trap

Answer: d) Deccan Trap

31. Which is the largest desert in India?
a) Thar Desert
b) Sahara Desert
c) Gobi Desert
d) the Arabian Desert

Answer: a) Thar Desert

32. In which state is the Thar desert located?
a) Punjab
b) Rajasthan
c) Gujarat
d) Haryana

Answer: b) Rajasthan

33. Which river flows through the Thar Desert?
a)Ganges
b) Yamuna
c) Luni
d) Godavari

Answer: c) Luni

34. Which is the highest sand dune in the Thar Desert?
a) Sam Sand Dunes
b) Khuri Sand Dunes
c) Longewala Sand Dunes
d) Phalodi Sand Dunes

Answer: a) Sam Sand Dunes

35. What is the annual rainfall in the Indian desert?
a) less than 250 mm
b) less than 150 mm
c) less than 100 mm
d) less than 75 mm

Answer: b) less than 150 mm

36. In which ocean or sea is Lakshadweep located?
a) Pacific Ocean
b) Arabian Sea
c) Atlantic Ocean
d) Bay of Bengal

Answer: b) Arabian Sea

37. How many islands are there in the Lakshadweep?
a) 32
b) 36
c) 39
d) 42

Answer: b) 36

38. Which is the largest island in Lakshadweep?
a) Kavaratti Island
b) Minicoy Island
c) Agatti Island
d) Bangaram Island

Answer: a) Kavaratti Island

39. In which year, the names Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive were named Lakshadweep?
a) 1952
b) 1963
c) 1973
d) 1998

Answer:c) 1973

40. Which of the following is the largest saltwater lake in India?
a) Sambhar Lake
b) Chilika Lake
c) Pangong lake
d) Pulicat lake

Answer: b) Chilika Lake

41. In which ocean or sea is the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located?
a) Bay of Bengal
b) Atlantic Ocean
c) Pacific Ocean
d) Arabian Sea

Answer: a) Bay of Bengal

42. How many islands are there in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
a) 572
b) 576
c) 580
d) 584

Answer: b) 576

43. Which of the following is the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
a) Port Blair
b) Havelock Island
c) Neil Island
d) Baratang Island

Answer: a) Port Blair

44. Which of the following island is uninhabited, and has a bird sanctuary?
a) Laccadive
b) Minicoy
c) Pitti island
d) Kavaratti island

Answer: c) Pitti island

45. Which is India’s only active volcano found in the Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands?
a) Barren Island
b) Havelock Islands
c) Marshall Island
d) Swaraj Island

Answer: a) Barren Island

46. Which is the largest coastal plain in India?
a) Konkan Coastal Plain
b) Eastern Coastal Plain
c) Western Coastal Plain
d) Malabar Coastal Plain

Answer: c) Western Coastal Plain

47. Which state in India has the largest stretch of coastline?
a) Kerala
b) Maharashtra
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) Gujarat

Answer: d) Gujarat

48. Which river delta is located in the Eastern Coastal Plain of India?
a) Godavari Delta
b) Narmada Delta
c) Tapti Delta
d) Sabarmati Delta

Answer: a) Godavari Delta

49. Which state in India has the narrowest coastal plain?
a) Goa
b) Kerala
c) Maharashtra
d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: a) Goa

50. Which Coast along with Kerala is known as?
a) Konkan coast
b) Kannad plain
c) Malabar coast
d) Coromandel coast

Answer: c) Malabar coast.

Very Short Questions Answers

1. What is the highest mountain peak in the world?
Answer: Mount Everest (located in the Himalayas) is the highest mountain peak in the world.

2. Which river is known as the “lifeline of India”?
Answer: The Ganges River is known as the “lifeline of India”.

3. What is the name of the largest delta in India?
Answer: The Sundarbans Delta is the largest delta in India.

4. Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
Answer: Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India. It is located in Jammu and Kashmir.

5. Which is the largest desert in India?
Answer: The Thar Desert is the largest desert in India. It is also known as the Great Indian Desert.

6. Which is the highest peak of the Himalayas in India?
Answer: Kanchenjunga is the highest peak of the Himalayas in India.

7. What is the other name of the Great Himalayas?
Answer: The other name of the Great Himalayas is Himadri.

8. Which is the longest river in India?
Answer: The Ganga River is the longest river in India.

9. What is the name of the coastal plain in eastern India?
Answer: The name of the coastal plain in eastern India is the Eastern Coastal Plain.

10. Which mountain range separates India from China?
Answer: The Himalayan mountain range separates India from China.

11. What is the name of the highest plateau in India?
Answer: The name of the highest plateau in India is the Deccan Plateau.

12. Which is the southernmost point of the Indian mainland?
Answer: The southernmost point of the Indian mainland is Kanyakumari, also known as Cape Comorin.

13. Which is the largest river island in India?
Answer: Majuli is the largest river island in India. It is located in the Brahmaputra River in the state of Assam.

14. What is meant by the term ‘doab’?
Answer: The places where two or more rivers join together to become one single river. The word ‘doab’ is derived from ‘dō āb’, which means “two rivers”.

15. In which state are Garo, Khasi & Jaintia hills located?
Answer: Garo, Khasi & Jaintia hills are located in the state of Meghalaya.

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Short Questions Answers

1. Write any four features of the Himalayas.
Answer: Four features of the Himalayas are-
i) These are the highest mountain range in the world.
ii) These extend for over 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles).
iii) These are the youngest mountain range on Earth.
iv) These are known for their rich biodiversity and cultural diversity.

2. What is the difference between a tributary and a distributary?
Answer:

Tributary	Distributary
i) It is a stream or a river that flows into a larger river.	i) it is a branch of a river that flows away from the main river channel.
ii) It contributes water to the main river.	ii) It distributes water away from the main river.
iii) It increases the flow of the main river.	iii) It generally decreases the flow of the main river.
iv) It is known as upstream.	iv) It is known as downstream.

3. Write three facts that prove that the physiographic divisions of India are complementary to each other.
Answer: Three facts that prove that the physiographic divisions of India are complementary to each other are-
i) The Northern Mountains are the source of many major rivers in India, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus.
ii) The northern plains are the most agriculturally productive regions in the world.
iii) The Deccan plateau is known for its mineral resources, including iron ore and coal.
iv) the coastal plains & islands provide sites for fishing and port activities.

4. What is a delta? Name some deltas of the Indian subcontinent.
Answer: A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where it falls into an ocean, sea, or lake. It is triangular in shape and is formed when the river slows down and deposits sediment . Deltas are usually very fertile areas and support a variety of plant and animal life.
In the Indian subcontinent, some of the major deltas are:
i) Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta
ii) Godavari-Krishna Delta
iii) Mahanadi Delta
iv) Narmada Delta

5. Write a short note on corals.
Answer: Corals are marine invertebrates. They are colonial animals that form reefs in shallow tropical warm waters. They form their own skeletons by extracting calcium and carbonate ions from seawater. When corals die, their skeletons remain behind, and over time, they collect to form a coral reef.
Corals are important for the marine ecosystem. They also protect coastlines from erosion and support tourism and fishing industries.
There are three main types of coral reefs:
Fringing Reefs:
Barrier Reefs
Atolls
The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a good example of the second kind of coral reef.

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Long Questions Answers

1. Name the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas and state one typical characteristic of each.
Answer: The three parallel ranges of the Himalayas are:
i) The Great Himalayas or the Inner Himalayas (The Himadri)
ii) The Lesser Himalayas or the Middle Himalayas (The Himachal)
iii) The Outer Himalayas or the Shivalik Range (The Shiwalik)

The typical characteristics of each–
i) The Himadri: These contain all the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga. These are marked by snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and valleys.
ii) The Himachal: These are rich in forests and are known for their wildlife. All the important hill stations such as Dalhousie, Dharamshala & Shimla belong to this range.
iii) The Shiwalik: These are known for rich deposits of minerals, including coal and iron ore.

2. Describe any five features of the northern plains of India.
Answer: Five features of the northern plains of India:

• The northern plains of India are a vast, fertile region.
• These cover much of the northern and eastern parts of the country.
• These are mainly composed of alluvial soil, which is fertile and suitable for agriculture.
• These have several major river systems, including the Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, and Indus Rivers.
• These are easy to construct roads, railways, and other infrastructure, which has contributed to the region’s economic development.
• These are the densely populated area in India.

3. Which is the oldest land mass of India? Name its two broad divisions and explain any three features of each.
Answer: The oldest land mass of India is the Peninsular Plateau. It is located to the south of the great plains.It is triangular in shape. The Peninsular Plateau is divided into two broad divisions:
i) The Central Highlands
ii) The Deccan Plateau

• Central Highlands:
  i) This is located towards the north and northeast of the Deccan Plateau.
  ii) This region is recognized by rolling hills and plateaus, with an average height of around 700-1,000 meters.
  iii) It is rich in minerals, such as iron ore, coal, and bauxite.
  iv) The important rivers of this region are the Chambal, Betwa, and Ken Rivers.
  
• Deccan Plateau:
  i) It covers most of southern India and is surrounded by the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats mountain ranges
  ii) It is characterized by extensive plateaus, hills, and volcanic features.
  iii) It is rich in minerals, such as iron ore, manganese, and limestone.
  iv) The region has a tropical climate and is home to a variety of flora and fauna.

1. What is the composition of the Himalayan mountain?

The Himalayan mountains are primarily composed of a mix of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks.

2. Which physical features of India are made up of alluvial deposits?

The Northern plains are made up of alluvial deposits. These are ideal for agriculture.

3. What are the major mountain ranges in India?

The major mountain ranges in India are The Himalayas, The Western Ghats, The Eastern Ghats, The Aravalli Range, The Satpura Range, and The Vindhya Range.

4. What are the major rivers in India and where do they flow?

The major rivers in India are :
i) Ganges River: This flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, before falling into the Bay of Bengal.
ii) Brahmaputra River: This river flows through India and China, before falling into the Bay of Bengal.
iii) Yamuna River: This flows through Delhi, before joining the Ganges in Allahabad.
iv) Godavari River: This river flows through the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, before falling into the Bay of Bengal.
v) Narmada River: This flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, before falling into the Arabian Sea.
vi) Krishna River: This river flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, before falling into the Bay of Bengal.
vii) Cauvery River: This river flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, before falling into the Bay of Bengal.