ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Answer the following questions :
1. Historically speaking with whom did India trade in the ancient days
Ans: Historically, speaking India had trading relations with the continents of Africa and Europe through the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf and South –East Asia .
2. How has India emerged today as one of the major powers of the world today ?
Ans: Historically, speaking India had trading relations with the continents of Africa and Europe through the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf and South –East Asia .
3. Why does the sun rise and set almost two hours earlier on India’s eastern border than in the Rann of Kachchh in the far west .
Ans: The east-west distance in India covers more than 2,000 kms and extends to over 29 degrees of longitude. This results in the sun rising and setting almost two hours earlier on India’s eastern border than in the Rann of Kachchh in the far west. That’s why there is a difference of time between the places .
4. India is the seventh largest country in the world. Name the six countries larger than India .
Ans: The six countries larger than India are Russia, Canada, China, USA, Brazil and Australia .
5. Name the countries in the South Asian sub continent .
Ans: The countries in the South Asian sub continent are Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and India .
6. Other than its mainland what does the Indian territory include ?
Ans: The Indian territory other than its mainland includes :
(i) The islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal .
(ii) Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea .
7. With whom does India share its boundaries in the (i) northeast (ii) North (iii) East ?
Ans: India shares its land borders with :
(i) Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Northwest .
(ii) China, Nepal and Bhutan in the North .
(iii) Myanmar and Bangladesh in the East .
8. Briefly describe the physical boundaries of India .
Ans: Physically, India is bordered from the northwest to the north and the northeast by the mighty fold mountains of the Himalayas. The Indian large body of mass begins to reduce in size towards south to form a triangular peninsular. The Indian peninsular has the Arabian Sea on its west, the Indian Ocean in the south and the Bay of Bengal in the east .
9. What is trijunction ? Name the three countries that form this trijunction .
Ans: The point where the boundaries of 3 countries meet is called a trijunction.
The 3 countries are India, China and Myanmar .
10. Which two areas form India’s boundary in the northwest region .
Ans: In the northwest of India, the Punjab Plains and the Thar Desert form its boundary with Pakistan .
11. Why did the Radcliffe Line become the border between India and Pakistan. On which date did it take place .
Ans: As a result of the partition of India, the Radcliffe Line became the border between India and Pakistan on the 17th of August, 1947 .
12. Which places form the boundary of India in the far North East ?
Ans: In the far northeast, the mountainous and forested regions of China and Kachin hills form the boundary with Myanmar. The Indo-Gangetic plain as well as the Khasi and Garo hills of Meghalaya form its boundary with Bangladesh .
13. Why does India have a unique position on the world map ?
Ans: India has a unique position on the world map because of its location and shape
14. What makes it possible for India to have overseas trade relations in all its directions ?
Ans: The Deccan peninsula in the Indian Ocean has the Arabian Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east. This makes it possible for India to have overseas trade relations in all its directions .
15. To which countries can the ports on the Indian coast have direct access to in the (i) West (ii) East ?
Ans:
(i) They can have direct access to the African, West Asian and European countries on the West
(ii) Countries of the South and South-East Asia in the east .
16. Give two reasons to show why the position of India has become strategically important .
Ans: The position of India becomes strategically important as the world ocean routes primarily pass through the Indian Ocean. The long coastline of India has also helped the development of ports .
17. With which places did India have trading relations in the past ?
Ans: India had trading relations in the past with East Africa, the Persian Gulf and the South East Asia .
18. What were the advantages of the trading relations i
in the past? Give an example .
Ans: The trade relations were both overseas and overland. The trading relations led to the exchange of different cultures and moving of people to and from India. For example, Indian spices were highly in demand in Rome and Arabia .
19. How is Goa separated from the Deccan plateau ?
Ans: The Western Ghats Range of mountains separates it from the Deccan Plateau
20. With whom does Goa share its borders ?
Ans: Goa shares its borders with
Karnataka in its southern and eastern parts, Maharashtra in its northern part, and the Arabian Sea on the west .
21. Why is Goa divided into two districts ?
Ans: For administrative purposes, Goa is divided into two districts – viz. North Goa
and South Goa
22. Why is Goa divided into BDO’s ?
Ans: The State is divided into 12 community development blocks or Block Development Offices (BDO) for the purpose of effective carrying out of the developmental programmes .
23. Name some rivers of Goa .
Ans: Some of Goa’s rivers are the Mandovi, the Zuari, the Terekhol, Chapora ,etc
24. Which is the best natural harbour in South Asia ?
Ans: The Mormugao harbour at the mouth of the river Zuari is one of the best natural harbours in South Asia .
25. Rivers like Zuari and Mandovi are called the lifelines of Goa. Why ?
Ans: The Zuari and the Mandovi are the lifelines of Goa because their tributaries drain 69% of Goa’s geographic area. Also the Mormugao harbour at the mouth of the river Zuari is one of the best natural harbours in South Asia .
Fill in the blanks :
1. The I.S.T lies 5 ½ hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and passed through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh .
2. India’s longitudinal extent extends from 68⁰7’ E to 97⁰25’ E .
3. The North – South extension of India is 3214 kms whereas the East – West extension is 2993 kms .
4. Sri Lanka is separated by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait .
5. Mount K2 in Jammu and Kashmir is the highest point in India .
6. The largest lake and the longest river in India are Chilka and Ganga-Bramhaputra respectively .
7. Siachen glacier is the northernmost point and Kanyakumari is southern most point .
8. The coldest place in India is Drass (Western Ladakh) .
9. Politically India is bordered by China, Bhutan, Nepal in the north .
10. The Mc. Mohan line forms the boundary between India and China .
11. The territorial waters of India extend as much as 12 nautical miles into the sea .
12. The total land area of Goa state is 3702 sq. kms .
13. Panaji is the capital of Goa .
14. Sonsogad is the highest point in Goa .
15. Goa has more than ninety riverine islands .
16. The total navigable length of Goa’s rivers is 253 kms .