Landforms and Life – Short Answer Type Questions
Class 6
Social Science
Theme A — India and the World: Land and the People — Chapter 3: Landforms and Life
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CBSE — Assessment Overview
- Periodic Tests & Formative Assessments: short answer recall and conceptual questions.
- Half-yearly / Mid-term: includes map work, short and long answers.
- Annual Exam: tests definitions, application, map skills and case studies.
- Project/Map Skills: identify and label major landforms on the India map.
Content Bank — Key Topics
Key definitions, types of landforms (mountains, plains, plateaus, deserts, coasts), formation processes, effects on climate, vegetation, occupations, housing, transport, cultural practices and map skills.
A. Definitions & Basic Concepts (Q1–6)
Q1. What is a landform? Provide two examples.
A landform is a natural feature of the Earth's surface shaped by geological processes. Examples include mountains and plains.
Q2. Explain the term 'relief'.
Relief refers to the variation in elevation and slope of the land surface in an area; it describes how flat or rugged the terrain is.
Q3. Differentiate between erosion and deposition.
Erosion is the wearing away and removal of soil or rock by wind, water or ice. Deposition is the process of dropping sediments when the carrying agent loses energy.
Q4. What is alluvium and where is it commonly found?
Alluvium is fertile soil deposited by rivers. It is commonly found in plains and river basins such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Q5. Define 'rain-shadow'.
A rain-shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range where rainfall is much less because the mountains block moisture-bearing winds.
Q6. What are fold mountains? Give an Indian example.
Fold mountains form when two tectonic plates collide causing layers of the earth to fold. The Himalayas are an example in India.
B. Mountains (Q7–13)
Q7. Describe two physical features of mountains.
Mountains have high elevation and steep slopes. They often show varied vegetation with altitude and act as sources of rivers.
Q8. How do mountains affect climate?
Mountains influence climate by causing orographic rainfall on windward slopes and creating rain-shadow areas on leeward sides; temperature also falls with altitude.
Q9. Explain terrace farming and why it is used in mountains.
Terrace farming involves creating stepped fields on slopes to reduce soil erosion and retain water, enabling cultivation on steep mountain slopes.
Q10. Mention two livelihoods common in mountainous regions.
Common livelihoods include pastoralism (rearing goats and sheep) and tourism-related activities like guiding, lodging, and pilgrimage services.
Q11. What role do mountains play in water supply?
Mountains receive snowfall and rainfall; melting snow and glaciers feed rivers and groundwater, providing water for downstream regions.
Q12. How are mountain transport and communication different from plains?
Mountain transport needs tunnels, bridges and winding roads; travel is slower and costlier compared to the easier, straighter roads and railways on plains.
Q13. Name two environmental problems faced by mountain regions.
Environmental problems include landslides and deforestation, which increase soil erosion and risk to settlements.
C. Plains (Q14–20)
Q14. What makes plains suitable for intensive agriculture?
Plains often have fertile alluvial soils, flat terrain for easy ploughing and irrigation, and good access to water from rivers.
Q15. Describe the Indo-Gangetic Plain in two sentences.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a vast alluvial plain in northern India formed by the deposition of sediments by rivers like the Ganga and its tributaries; it is densely populated and agriculturally productive.
Q16. Explain how flooding can be both beneficial and harmful to plains.
Flooding deposits fertile alluvium which enriches soils (benefit), but excessive floods can destroy crops, homes and infrastructure (harmful).
Q17. What are floodplains and why are they important?
Floodplains are flat lands beside rivers that flood periodically and get renewed by sediments, making them fertile for agriculture and rich in biodiversity.
Q18. How do rivers shape the economy of plains?
Rivers provide water for irrigation, transport routes, fish resources and help form fertile soils — all contributing to agriculture and trade in plains.
Q19. What settlement patterns are common in plains and why?
Dense rural and urban settlements develop in plains due to easy farming, transport, trade opportunities and a milder landscape for construction.
Q20. Give two examples of crops grown on Indian plains.
Wheat and rice are two major crops commonly grown in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
D. Plateaus (Q21–26)
Q21. Define a plateau and give an Indian example.
A plateau is a raised flat area with steep sides. The Deccan Plateau in southern India is a major example.
Q22. How are plateaus formed? (brief)
Plateaus can form by uplift of land or lava flows that build up flat elevated areas; erosion can also shape plateau edges.
Q23. Mention two natural resources found on plateaus.
Plateaus often contain minerals like coal, iron ore, and bauxite which are mined for industrial use.
Q24. Describe typical farming conditions on plateaus.
Farming on plateaus depends on soil and rainfall; some plateau soils are less fertile and support millets, pulses and dry farming practices.
Q25. What are escarpments?
Escarpments are steep slopes or cliffs marking the edge of a plateau or raised landform.
Q26. How does mining impact plateau environments?
Mining can lead to land degradation, deforestation, water pollution and displacement of local communities if not managed sustainably.
E. Deserts (Q27–31)
Q27. What are the main characteristics of a desert?
Deserts have very low rainfall, sparse vegetation, extreme temperatures and sandy or rocky soils, making agriculture difficult without irrigation.
Q28. Describe one method desert people use to conserve water.
People use techniques like rainwater harvesting, building tanks and wells, and using underground storage (khadins) to conserve scarce water.
Q29. How does pastoralism suit desert life?
Pastoralism involves rearing animals (camels, goats) that can survive on sparse vegetation and travel long distances to find grazing, suiting nomadic desert life.
Q30. Explain why vegetation is sparse in deserts.
Low and irregular rainfall, high evaporation and poor soils limit plant growth, so only drought-resistant plants survive in deserts.
Q31. Give one cultural trait adapted to desert life.
Clothing is often loose and light-coloured to protect from heat and sand; many communities have nomadic traditions linked to grazing routes.
F. Coasts, Islands & Rivers (Q32–37)
Q32. How do coasts influence local occupations?
Coastal areas support fishing, salt production, port activities and tourism, providing livelihoods tied to the sea.
Q33. What are mangroves and why are they important?
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees along coasts that protect shorelines, provide nursery habitats for fish and reduce erosion during storms.
Q34. Name an Indian island group and one feature of island life.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an Indian group; island life often depends on fishing and has unique biodiversity and cultural practices.
Q35. Explain the term 'river basin' with an example.
A river basin is the land drained by a river and its tributaries; the Ganga basin drains much of northern India and supports agriculture and settlements.
Q36. How do rivers support urban development?
Rivers provide water for domestic and industrial use, supply for irrigation, transport routes and fertile land that encourages cities to grow nearby.
Q37. What problems do coastal areas face?
Coastal areas face erosion, storm surges, sea-level rise and pollution, all of which threaten habitats and human settlements.
G. Human Life, Culture & Adaptation (Q38–44)
Q38. How do landforms affect food habits?
Food habits reflect local produce and climate; rice is common in river plains, millets in dry plateaus and preserved food practices in mountains.
Q39. Describe one way housing adapts to landforms.
In flood-prone plains, houses may be built on raised platforms; in mountains, homes often have sloping roofs and thick walls to retain heat.
Q40. Give an example of a festival linked to landforms.
River festivals like Ganga aarti celebrate rivers and their cultural importance in plain regions; mountain pilgrimages celebrate sacred peaks in hilly areas.
Q41. How does transport shape economic life across landforms?
Efficient transport in plains boosts trade and urbanisation; difficult mountain transport limits market access and increases local self-reliance.
Q42. Why is cultural diversity common in different landform regions?
Isolation by mountains or islands and varied resources lead communities to develop unique languages, customs and livelihoods, increasing cultural diversity.
Q43. How do people reduce soil erosion on slopes?
People use terracing, planting trees, contour ploughing and building check dams to slow water flow and prevent soil loss on slopes.
Q44. Mention one sustainable practice suitable for semi-arid areas.
Rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation conserve water and increase agricultural productivity in semi-arid and arid regions.
H. Map Skills, Exam Tips & Quick Revision (Q45–50)
Q45. Which four landforms should you always mark on an India map?
Mark the Himalayas, Indo-Gangetic Plains, Deccan Plateau and the Thar Desert.
Q46. What keywords make answers look exam-ready?
Use terms like 'alluvial', 'relief', 'rain-shadow', 'erosion', 'deposition', 'altitude' and 'alluvium'.
Q47. How should you plan answers for 3–4 mark questions?
Write a short definition, give one example, and add two points explaining effects or significance to score well.
Q48. Give a quick way to remember differences between mountains and plateaus.
Mountains are high and steep with peaks; plateaus are elevated but flat on top — remember 'peaks vs plate'.
Q49. Suggest two revision activities for this chapter.
Practice map labelling and draw simple diagrams of landforms with labels; make flashcards of key terms and case studies.
Q50. Final exam tip to link landforms with human life in answers.
Always connect the physical feature to human examples — mention occupations, housing, festivals or transport to show application of knowledge.
These Short Answer Questions and Answers follow the NCERT Class 6 syllabus and are prepared for CBSE-style revision. Use them for practice, classroom quizzes and map activities.
© NCERT-aligned study content for CBSE Class 6 Social Science. Adapt as needed for school-specific requirements.