Landforms and Life – Short Questions

Short-answer questions with concise answers on “Landforms and Life”

(Theme A — India and the World). These are NCERT/CBSE Class 6 friendly and exam-focused.

1. Q1. What is a landform?
   A: A landform is a natural feature on Earth’s surface such as a mountain, plain, plateau, desert, valley, or island.
2. Q2. How are mountains formed?
   A: Many mountains form by the movement and collision of tectonic plates which fold and uplift the crust; some form from volcanic activity.
3. Q3. Define plain.
   A: A plain is a broad, flat, or gently undulating area of lowland, often formed by river deposits or erosion of surrounding highlands.
4. Q4. What is a plateau?
   A: A plateau is an elevated flatland or tableland that stands higher than the surrounding area, often with steep sides.
5. Q5. What causes deserts to form?
   A: Deserts form due to very low rainfall, rain-shadow effects, or being far from moisture sources like oceans.
6. Q6. What is erosion?
   A: Erosion is the wearing away and transportation of soil and rock by wind, water, or ice.
7. Q7. What is deposition?
   A: Deposition is the dropping or settling of sediments carried by water, wind, or ice, forming features like deltas and alluvial plains.
8. Q8. Define valley.
   A: A valley is a low area between hills or mountains often formed by river erosion or glacial activity.
9. Q9. What is a river delta?
   A: A delta is a triangular or fan-shaped landform formed at a river’s mouth where it deposits sediments as it enters a sea or lake.
10. Q10. What is a coastal plain?
    A: A coastal plain is low-lying land adjacent to the sea, often formed by sediment deposition and suitable for agriculture and settlements.
11. Q11. What is a dune?
    A: A dune is a hill or ridge of sand formed by wind, commonly found in deserts and on coasts.
12. Q12. Define island.
    A: An island is a land area surrounded entirely by water.
13. Q13. What is an archipelago?
    A: An archipelago is a group or chain of islands close together.
14. Q14. What are fjords?
    A: Fjords are deep, narrow inlets with steep sides, created by glacial erosion and later filled by sea water.
15. Q15. What is a watershed or river basin?
    A: A watershed or river basin is the land area drained by a river and its tributaries.
16. Q16. Explain terrace farming.
    A: Terrace farming is creating stepped flat areas on slopes to grow crops and prevent soil erosion.
17. Q17. What is a rain shadow?
    A: A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of mountains where little rain falls because mountains block moist winds.
18. Q18. What is alluvial soil?
    A: Alluvial soil is fertile soil deposited by rivers, commonly found on plains and river valleys.
19. Q19. Why are plains densely populated?
    A: Plains offer flat land, fertile soil, and easy transport, supporting intensive agriculture and large settlements.
20. Q20. How do mountains affect climate?
    A: Mountains cause orographic rainfall on windward slopes and create cooler temperatures at higher elevations.
21. Q21. What is a cliff?
    A: A cliff is a steep or vertical rock face, often found along coasts or mountainous regions.
22. Q22. Define escarpment.
    A: An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff separating two relatively level areas, often marking a plateau edge.
23. Q23. What is glacial erosion?
    A: Glacial erosion is the wearing away of land by moving glaciers, forming U-shaped valleys and fjords.
24. Q24. What is a volcanic island?
    A: A volcanic island forms when underwater volcanoes erupt and build up enough material to rise above sea level.
25. Q25. How do rivers shape land?
    A: Rivers erode, transport, and deposit sediments, carving valleys and forming floodplains and deltas.
26. Q26. What is a canyon?
    A: A canyon is a deep valley with steep sides, carved by a river over a long period.
27. Q27. Why is soil fertility often high in river plains?
    A: Because rivers deposit nutrient-rich sediments (alluvium) which make the soil fertile for agriculture.
28. Q28. What is a plateau’s escarpment used for?
    A: An escarpment can act as a natural barrier, influence drainage, and create scenic cliffs used for tourism.
29. Q29. How do deserts influence culture?
    A: Desert life leads to adaptations like nomadic pastoralism, water-saving practices, unique clothing, and crafts.
30. Q30. What is inland drainage?
    A: Inland drainage occurs where rivers end in lakes or swamps and do not reach the sea.
31. Q31. Give one example of a mountain range in India.
    A: The Himalayas.
32. Q32. Name a major plain in India.
    A: The Indo-Gangetic Plain.
33. Q33. Name a major plateau in India.
    A: The Deccan Plateau.
34. Q34. What is the Thar Desert known for?
    A: It is known for its arid climate, sand dunes, and traditional pastoral and craft cultures.
35. Q35. How do landforms affect transport?
    A: Flat plains allow easy roads and railways, while mountains require tunnels and passes, making transport harder and costlier.
36. Q36. What is a river meander?
    A: A meander is a wide bend in a river formed by erosion and deposition on alternating banks.
37. Q37. What is a floodplain?
    A: A floodplain is a flat area next to a river that floods periodically and is usually fertile.
38. Q38. How do coastal landforms protect the shore?
    A: Mangroves, coral reefs, and sand dunes absorb wave energy and reduce erosion and storm damage.
39. Q39. What is the main human occupation on plateaus?
    A: Mining and mixed farming are common on many plateaus.
40. Q40. What are foothills?
    A: Foothills are low hills at the base of a mountain range, acting as transition zones.
41. Q41. What is the significance of river deltas?
    A: Deltas provide fertile land, rich fisheries, and support dense populations and agriculture.
42. Q42. What causes landslides in mountainous areas?
    A: Heavy rains, earthquakes, deforestation, and unstable slopes can all trigger landslides.
43. Q43. Define watershed management.
    A: Watershed management is planning and conserving land and water resources within a drainage basin to prevent erosion and improve water supply.
44. Q44. Why are coasts important for trade?
    A: Coasts have ports and harbors that facilitate shipping and international trade.
45. Q45. What is an atoll?
    A: An atoll is a ring-shaped coral island surrounding a lagoon, formed on subsiding volcanic islands.
46. Q46. How does altitude affect vegetation?
    A: Higher altitudes have cooler temperatures and different vegetation zones, often with shorter growing seasons.
47. Q47. What is a watershed divide?
    A: A watershed divide is a ridge or high land that separates two drainage basins.
48. Q48. How do humans use mountain water resources?
    A: Mountain rivers supply freshwater for irrigation, drinking, and hydropower through dams.
49. Q49. What is a river tributary?
    A: A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river.
50. Q50. Why is the Ganges plain important for India?
    A: It is highly fertile, supports dense populations, and is a major agricultural and cultural region.
51. Q51. What is laterite soil and where is it found?
    A: Laterite soil is rich in iron and formed in high-rainfall tropical areas; it is common on plateaus like parts of the Deccan.
52. Q52. How do glaciers shape valleys?
    A: Glaciers carve U-shaped valleys and leave behind features such as moraines and cirques.
53. Q53. What is overgrazing?
    A: Overgrazing is excessive grazing by livestock that removes vegetation and causes soil degradation.
54. Q54. What is coastal erosion?
    A: Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land along the shore by waves, currents, and sea-level changes.
55. Q55. How do people adapt to living in deserts?
    A: People use water conservation, grow drought-resistant crops, practice pastoralism, and build homes suited to heat.
56. Q56. What is a river’s source?
    A: The source of a river is its starting point, often in mountains or springs.
57. Q57. What is the main feature of the Western Ghats?
    A: The Western Ghats are a high rainfall, biodiversity-rich mountain range running along India’s western coast.
58. Q58. Why are plateaus often mineral-rich?
    A: Plateaus expose older rocks and geological layers that often contain concentrated mineral deposits.
59. Q59. What is subsidence?
    A: Subsidence is the sinking or settling of the ground surface, sometimes caused by natural or human activities like groundwater extraction.
60. Q60. What is a flood control measure?
    A: Flood control measures include building embankments, dams, reservoirs, and improving drainage and early warning systems.
61. Q61. Why do valleys often have rivers?
    A: Valleys are often carved by flowing water, so rivers commonly run through them.
62. Q62. What is an oasis?
    A: An oasis is a fertile area in a desert where water is available, often from springs or underground aquifers.
63. Q63. How do mountains influence culture?
    A: Mountains shape local clothing, housing, festivals, occupations (like herding and tourism), and spiritual beliefs.
64. Q64. What is a broken ridge?
    A: A broken ridge is an area where an elevated landform has been eroded into smaller hills and ridges.
65. Q65. What is soil salinity and where is it a problem?
    A: Soil salinity is the build-up of salts in soil, often a problem in arid regions and irrigated plains.
66. Q66. How are coastal plains formed?
    A: Coastal plains are formed by sediment deposition from rivers and by sea-level changes over time.
67. Q67. What is an alluvial fan?
    A: An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit of sediments formed when a fast-flowing stream spreads out onto flatter land.
68. Q68. Why is map skills important in studying landforms?
    A: Map skills help locate landforms, understand spatial relationships, and answer map-based exam questions.
69. Q69. What is a rift valley?
    A: A rift valley is a lowland formed where Earth’s tectonic plates move apart, creating cracks and downthrown blocks.
70. Q70. How does vegetation differ between plains and mountains?
    A: Plains often have crops or grasslands, while mountains show altitude-based changes from forests to alpine meadows.
71. Q71. What is a basin?
    A: A basin is a low-lying area drained by a river system, often giving rise to fertile land.
72. Q72. Why are rivers important for human settlements?
    A: Rivers supply water for drinking, farming, transport, and support food supplies and trade.
73. Q73. What is terracing used for?
    A: Terracing is used to create flat planting areas on slopes and reduce soil erosion.
74. Q74. What is a river mouth?
    A: A river mouth is the place where a river enters a sea, ocean, or lake.
75. Q75. Why do mountains have diverse microclimates?
    A: Due to changes in altitude, slope, and exposure, mountains have varied temperatures and rainfall over short distances.
76. Q76. What is the role of mangroves?
    A: Mangroves protect coastlines from erosion, provide fish nurseries, and trap sediments and pollutants.
77. Q77. What is desertification?
    A: Desertification is the process where fertile land becomes desert due to overuse, drought, or poor land management.
78. Q78. What is the effect of monsoon on plains?
    A: Monsoon rains provide essential water for agriculture but can also cause floods in plains.
79. Q79. What is a lagoon?
    A: A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from the sea by sandbars, coral reefs, or barrier islands.
80. Q80. How do human activities cause soil erosion?
    A: Deforestation, overgrazing, improper farming, and construction remove vegetation and expose soil to erosion by wind and water.
81. Q81. What is a hill?
    A: A hill is a natural elevation of land smaller than a mountain, usually with rounded tops.
82. Q82. Why are deltas vulnerable to sea-level rise?
    A: Because they are low-lying and close to the sea, so rising sea levels can inundate and erode them.
83. Q83. What is the importance of the Indo-Gangetic Plain?
    A: It is one of India’s most fertile and densely populated regions, supporting major agriculture and cities.
84. Q84. Define slope.
    A: Slope is the incline or steepness of the land surface, important for drainage and farming methods.
85. Q85. How do islands get freshwater?
    A: Islands get freshwater from rainfall, groundwater aquifers, or sometimes by rainwater harvesting and desalination.
86. Q86. What is a natural levee?
    A: A natural levee is a raised bank built by river sediments deposited during floods along the river channel.
87. Q87. Why are plateaus used for mining?
    A: Plateaus expose older rock layers that often contain valuable minerals, making extraction easier.
88. Q88. What is an alluvial plain?
    A: An alluvial plain is a flat area formed by repeated deposition of river-borne silt and sediments.
89. Q89. How does urbanization affect landforms?
    A: Urbanization changes natural landforms by paving soils, altering drainage, and increasing erosion and flood risk unless managed.
90. Q90. What is the importance of the Western Ghats for India?
    A: The Western Ghats are a biodiversity hotspot, influence monsoon rainfall, and supply rivers important for agriculture.
91. Q91. What is a dune belt?
    A: A dune belt is a continuous area of sand dunes shaped by wind along deserts or coasts.
92. Q92. How can water scarcity on plateaus be reduced?
    A: By rainwater harvesting, building check dams, using efficient irrigation, and watershed management.
93. Q93. What is a river’s flood cycle?
    A: A flood cycle is the regular seasonal rise and fall of river levels, often linked to rainfall or snowmelt.
94. Q94. What is the cultural impact of rivers?
    A: Rivers shape culture through rituals, festivals, livelihoods, settlement patterns, and historical development of civilizations.
95. Q95. What is a headwater?
    A: Headwaters are the streams or small tributaries at the source or upper parts of a river system.
96. Q96. Why are mountain passes important?
    A: Mountain passes provide routes through ranges for travel, trade, and cultural exchange.
97. Q97. What is an inland plateau?
    A: An inland plateau is an elevated flat region located away from coastal areas.
98. Q98. How does vegetation protect against erosion?
    A: Plant roots bind soil, and ground cover reduces the impact of raindrops and wind, preventing erosion.
99. Q99. What is reclamation of land?
    A: Reclamation is converting unusable land (like marshes or coastal areas) into usable land for farming or development.
100. Q100. How do landforms influence disaster planning?
     A: Knowing landforms helps identify flood-prone plains, landslide-prone mountains, and cyclone-prone coasts so authorities can plan safe settlements and early warnings.

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