Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation, and Wildlife Resources – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Class 8
Geography — Chapter 2: Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation & Wildlife Resources
Subject: Social Science | NCERT-aligned Multiple Choice Questions (30) with explanations
CBSE Board Examinations — Systematic Order
- Periodic Tests / Formative Assessments
- Half-Yearly Examination
- Yearly (Annual) Examination
- Project Work & Practical Assessment
- Sample Papers / Revision Tests
Topic 1 — Land: Forms, Uses and Planning (6 MCQs)
1. Which landform is most suitable for large-scale agriculture?
Correct: Plain.
Plains have flat terrain and deep fertile soils ideal for mechanised agriculture, irrigation and dense settlements.
2. Plateaus are particularly important because they often:
Correct: Are rich in minerals.
Plateaus often expose older rock formations where minerals are concentrated, making them important for mining and industry.
3. What is the main environmental concern when fertile land is converted to urban use?
Correct: Loss of topsoil and food-producing area.
Urban expansion covers fertile soil with impervious surfaces, reducing agricultural land and increasing runoff and flood risk.
4. Zoning laws in urban planning mainly help to:
Correct: Designate land for specific uses and reduce conflicts.
Zoning organises land for residential, commercial, industrial or agricultural use and helps protect valuable resources from incompatible development.
5. Which practice can reduce loss of fertile land to urban sprawl?
Correct: Promoting brownfield redevelopment.
Redeveloping previously used urban land reduces pressure to convert fertile agricultural or natural land for new development.
6. A coastal mangrove belt primarily protects the shoreline by:
Correct: Reducing erosion and buffering storm surges.
Mangroves trap sediments and reduce wave impact, protecting coasts and supporting fisheries as nursery grounds.
Topic 2 — Soil: Formation, Types & Conservation (6 MCQs)
7. Which component is NOT a major part of soil?
Correct: Plastic.
Soil consists of mineral particles, organic matter and pores for air and water; plastic is a pollutant, not a natural component.
8. Black soil (regur) is especially suitable for which crop?
Correct: Cotton.
Black soil retains moisture and is rich in clay; it's ideal for cotton cultivation, earning it the name 'regur' or black cotton soil.
9. Terracing is a soil-conservation measure used mainly in:
Correct: Hilly areas.
Terracing creates level steps on slopes to reduce runoff and soil loss—common in hill agriculture like terraced rice fields.
10. Which practice helps increase soil organic matter?
Correct: Adding compost and green manuring.
Organic amendments like compost and green manure add humus and nutrients, improving soil structure and fertility sustainably.
11. Wind erosion is most likely in areas that are:
Correct: Arid and sparsely vegetated.
Without vegetation to hold particles, strong winds can lift and transport topsoil in dry regions causing dust storms and land degradation.
12. Salinisation of soils is commonly associated with:
Correct: Irrigation with poor drainage and saline water.
Poor drainage prevents salts from being leached away; using saline water for irrigation accelerates salt build-up, harming crops.
Topic 3 — Water: Distribution, Conservation & Pollution (6 MCQs)
13. Approximately what percentage of Earth's water is saline (in oceans)?
Correct: About 97%.
Oceans hold around 97% of Earth's water, which is saline and not directly usable for drinking or irrigation without desalinisation.
14. Which is NOT a method of groundwater recharge?
Correct: Sealing surfaces with concrete.
Sealing surfaces prevents infiltration; recharge involves structures that increase percolation and storage of rainwater into aquifers.
15. Eutrophication of lakes is primarily caused by:
Correct: Excessive nutrients from sewage and fertilisers.
Nutrient loading triggers algal blooms that deplete oxygen, harming aquatic life; controlling runoff and treating sewage prevents eutrophication.
16. Drip irrigation conserves water by:
Correct: Delivering water directly to plant roots in controlled amounts.
Drip systems reduce losses from evaporation and runoff, improving water use efficiency especially in water-scarce areas.
17. Which human activity increases surface runoff and reduces groundwater recharge?
Correct: Replacing permeable soil with concrete.
Impervious surfaces prevent infiltration, increasing runoff and reducing natural recharge of aquifers—leading to lower groundwater levels.
18. Sewage discharge without treatment primarily affects downstream communities by:
Correct: Causing waterborne diseases and contaminating drinking water.
Untreated sewage carries pathogens and chemicals that harm human health and aquatic ecosystems; treatment and safe disposal are essential.
Topic 4 — Natural Vegetation: Types & Importance (6 MCQs)
19. Tropical evergreen forests are characterised by:
Correct: Dense canopy and high rainfall year-round.
Evergreen forests remain green throughout the year due to abundant moisture and support high biodiversity with multilayered vegetation.
20. Deciduous trees are adapted to:
Correct: Shed leaves in adverse seasons.
Deciduous species drop leaves during dry or cold periods to conserve water and energy, re-sprouting when conditions improve.
21. Mangroves are specially adapted to:
Correct: Saline and tidal coastal conditions.
Mangrove species have special roots and salt-excluding mechanisms that allow them to thrive in brackish water and stabilise shorelines.
22. Non-timber forest products include:
Correct: Honey, medicinal plants and fruits.
NTFPs provide food, medicines and income without cutting trees, supporting livelihoods and conserving forests when harvested sustainably.
23. Afforestation differs from reforestation in that it:
Correct: Involves planting on land that was not previously forested.
Afforestation creates new forest cover on non-forested lands, while reforestation restores trees on formerly forested areas.
24. Community forestry helps conservation by:
Correct: Involving locals in management and sharing benefits.
Community involvement ensures sustainable use, local stewardship and improved protection because people directly benefit from conserving resources.
Topic 5 — Wildlife & Conservation (6 MCQs)
25. Biodiversity refers to:
Correct: Variety of life including genes, species and ecosystems.
Biodiversity encompasses genetic variation, species diversity and ecosystem diversity, all important for healthy ecological functions.
26. Poaching directly threatens wildlife by:
Correct: Increasing illegal hunting and population declines.
Poaching removes individuals faster than populations can recover and fuels illegal trade in wildlife products, threatening species survival.
27. Wildlife corridors are created to:
Correct: Provide routes for movement between habitats.
Corridors connect isolated patches allowing gene flow, seasonal migration and access to larger territories essential for many species.
28. A protected area where limited human activity may be allowed but hunting is banned is called:
Correct: Wildlife sanctuary.
Wildlife sanctuaries protect animals and habitats; regulated human activities may be permitted but hunting and major disturbances are prohibited.
29. Eco-tourism can support conservation if it:
Correct: Involves and benefits local communities with controlled visits.
Well-managed eco-tourism provides income to locals, funds conservation and raises awareness while minimising ecological impacts through visitor limits and guidelines.
30. Which international agreement aims to control trade in endangered species?
Correct: CITES.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulates international trade in endangered plants and animals to prevent their exploitation.