Natural Vegetation and Wildlife – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Class: CBSE Class 9
Subject: Social Science — Geography
Chapter: 5 — Natural Vegetation & Wildlife
Geography: Contemporary India – I — Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation & Wildlife
30 Multiple Choice Questions (topic-wise) with "Show Answer & Explanation" buttons — NCERT-aligned for CBSE Class 9 revision.
Content Bank:
Concept
Tropical Evergreen
Tropical Deciduous
Thorn & Scrub
Montane
Mangrove
Wildlife & Conservation
Concepts & Basics (Q1–Q4)
Q1. Natural vegetation is best defined as:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Natural vegetation refers to plant communities that arise naturally due to climate, soil and relief. Options A, C and D describe human-planted or cultivated vegetation.
Explanation: Natural vegetation refers to plant communities that arise naturally due to climate, soil and relief. Options A, C and D describe human-planted or cultivated vegetation.
Q2. Which factor is most important in determining the type of vegetation in a region?
Answer: A.
Explanation: Climate—especially rainfall and temperature—is the principal factor that determines vegetation types; soil and altitude also play important roles.
Explanation: Climate—especially rainfall and temperature—is the principal factor that determines vegetation types; soil and altitude also play important roles.
Q3. 'Flora' refers to:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Flora denotes the plant life of a particular region; fauna denotes the animal life.
Explanation: Flora denotes the plant life of a particular region; fauna denotes the animal life.
Q4. Which statement about vegetation zonation is correct?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Vegetation zonation refers to changes in plant communities with altitude (vertical) and latitude (horizontal) driven by climate and soil variations.
Explanation: Vegetation zonation refers to changes in plant communities with altitude (vertical) and latitude (horizontal) driven by climate and soil variations.
Tropical Evergreen Forests (Q5–Q9)
Q5. Tropical evergreen forests are characterised by:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Evergreen forests remain green year-round due to abundant rainfall and support layered vegetation and high species diversity.
Explanation: Evergreen forests remain green year-round due to abundant rainfall and support layered vegetation and high species diversity.
Q6. Which area in India is famous for tropical evergreen forests?
Answer: A.
Explanation: The windward side of the Western Ghats receives heavy rainfall and supports dense tropical evergreen forests; northeastern hills and Andaman islands are other examples.
Explanation: The windward side of the Western Ghats receives heavy rainfall and supports dense tropical evergreen forests; northeastern hills and Andaman islands are other examples.
Q7. Evergreen forests are important for:
Answer: A.
Explanation: Evergreen forests store large amounts of carbon and protect watersheds by reducing runoff and preventing soil erosion.
Explanation: Evergreen forests store large amounts of carbon and protect watersheds by reducing runoff and preventing soil erosion.
Q8. Which of the following is NOT typical of evergreen forests?
Answer: C.
Explanation: Evergreen forests do not have seasonal leaf shedding; trees retain leaves all year unlike deciduous forests.
Explanation: Evergreen forests do not have seasonal leaf shedding; trees retain leaves all year unlike deciduous forests.
Q9. Which human activity most directly threatens evergreen forests?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Logging and conversion to plantations remove native trees and reduce biodiversity, directly threatening evergreen forests.
Explanation: Logging and conversion to plantations remove native trees and reduce biodiversity, directly threatening evergreen forests.
Tropical Deciduous Forests (Q10–Q15)
Q10. Tropical deciduous forests are also called:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Deciduous forests are often called monsoon forests because their growth and leaf-shedding are controlled by the monsoon rainfall seasonality.
Explanation: Deciduous forests are often called monsoon forests because their growth and leaf-shedding are controlled by the monsoon rainfall seasonality.
Q11. Which tree is typically associated with moist deciduous forests?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Sal is a characteristic tree of moist deciduous forests found in eastern and central India where rainfall is adequate but seasonal.
Explanation: Sal is a characteristic tree of moist deciduous forests found in eastern and central India where rainfall is adequate but seasonal.
Q12. Why do trees in deciduous forests shed leaves?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Shedding leaves reduces transpiration during dry months, helping trees conserve moisture until the next rainy season.
Explanation: Shedding leaves reduces transpiration during dry months, helping trees conserve moisture until the next rainy season.
Q13. Teak is commonly found in which type of forest?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Teak thrives in dry deciduous regions of central and southern India with moderate rainfall.
Explanation: Teak thrives in dry deciduous regions of central and southern India with moderate rainfall.
Q14. Which of these is a human use of deciduous forests?
Answer: A.
Explanation: Deciduous forests provide timber (teak, sal), fuelwood and non-timber products used by local communities.
Explanation: Deciduous forests provide timber (teak, sal), fuelwood and non-timber products used by local communities.
Q15. Which climatic range roughly supports deciduous forests?
Answer: A.
Explanation: Moist deciduous regions get about 100–200 cm rainfall; dry deciduous areas have lower but seasonal rainfall around 75–100 cm.
Explanation: Moist deciduous regions get about 100–200 cm rainfall; dry deciduous areas have lower but seasonal rainfall around 75–100 cm.
Thorn Forests & Shrubs (Q16–Q19)
Q16. Thorn forests are adapted to:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Thorn forests feature xerophytic plants adapted to low and erratic rainfall and high evaporation.
Explanation: Thorn forests feature xerophytic plants adapted to low and erratic rainfall and high evaporation.
Q17. Which plant adaptation is common in thorn forests?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Deep roots access groundwater and spines reduce water loss and protect against grazing — key xerophytic features.
Explanation: Deep roots access groundwater and spines reduce water loss and protect against grazing — key xerophytic features.
Q18. The Thar Desert vegetation is best described as:
Answer: B.
Explanation: The Thar has scanty vegetation of hardy shrubs and grasses adapted to arid conditions.
Explanation: The Thar has scanty vegetation of hardy shrubs and grasses adapted to arid conditions.
Q19. Which of the following helps prevent desertification in arid regions?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Planting native trees and harvesting rainwater help stabilise soils and replenish moisture, reducing desertification risk.
Explanation: Planting native trees and harvesting rainwater help stabilise soils and replenish moisture, reducing desertification risk.
Montane & Alpine Vegetation (Q20–Q23)
Q20. Vegetation changes with altitude because:
Answer: A.
Explanation: Temperature decreases and precipitation patterns vary with altitude causing different vegetation belts from broadleaf to coniferous to alpine meadows.
Explanation: Temperature decreases and precipitation patterns vary with altitude causing different vegetation belts from broadleaf to coniferous to alpine meadows.
Q21. Which trees are common at higher elevations in the Himalayas?
Answer: A.
Explanation: Coniferous trees like deodar, fir and pine are adapted to colder, higher elevation climates in the Himalayas.
Explanation: Coniferous trees like deodar, fir and pine are adapted to colder, higher elevation climates in the Himalayas.
Q22. Alpine meadows are important because they:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Alpine meadows are seasonal pastures and host specialized plants and animals adapted to high-altitude conditions.
Explanation: Alpine meadows are seasonal pastures and host specialized plants and animals adapted to high-altitude conditions.
Q23. Climate change affects montane vegetation by:
Answer: A.
Explanation: Warming temperatures push vegetation belts upward, reducing alpine habitat and threatening cold-adapted species.
Explanation: Warming temperatures push vegetation belts upward, reducing alpine habitat and threatening cold-adapted species.
Mangrove Forests (Q24–Q27)
Q24. Mangroves are adapted to saline conditions by:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Mangroves excrete salt through specialized glands and show vivipary (seedlings germinate on parent tree) enabling survival in tidal, saline environments.
Explanation: Mangroves excrete salt through specialized glands and show vivipary (seedlings germinate on parent tree) enabling survival in tidal, saline environments.
Q25. The largest mangrove forest in India is:
Answer: A.
Explanation: The Sundarbans in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta is the largest mangrove tract in India, supporting rich biodiversity including the Bengal tiger.
Explanation: The Sundarbans in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta is the largest mangrove tract in India, supporting rich biodiversity including the Bengal tiger.
Q26. How do mangroves help communities during cyclones?
Answer: B.
Explanation: Mangrove roots and vegetation reduce wave energy and trap sediments, acting as natural barriers that lower cyclone impacts on settlements.
Explanation: Mangrove roots and vegetation reduce wave energy and trap sediments, acting as natural barriers that lower cyclone impacts on settlements.
Q27. A threat specific to mangrove ecosystems is:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Clearing mangroves for shrimp farms and coastal construction leads to habitat loss and reduces coastal resilience.
Explanation: Clearing mangroves for shrimp farms and coastal construction leads to habitat loss and reduces coastal resilience.
Wildlife & Conservation (Q28–Q30)
Q28. 'Project Tiger' was launched in India to:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Project Tiger (1973) focuses on habitat protection, anti-poaching and creating core reserves to conserve tigers and their ecosystems.
Explanation: Project Tiger (1973) focuses on habitat protection, anti-poaching and creating core reserves to conserve tigers and their ecosystems.
Q29. Habitat fragmentation leads to:
Answer: B.
Explanation: Fragmentation divides habitats into smaller patches isolating populations and reducing gene flow, increasing extinction risks.
Explanation: Fragmentation divides habitats into smaller patches isolating populations and reducing gene flow, increasing extinction risks.
Q30. One effective community-based conservation practice is:
Answer: A.
Explanation: JFM involves local communities in managing and benefiting from forests, leading to improved protection and sustainable use.
Explanation: JFM involves local communities in managing and benefiting from forests, leading to improved protection and sustainable use.