Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
14
NATURAL RESOURCES
CONCEPTS
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1. The gifts of nature like air, water, soil, minerals, coal, petroleum, animals and plants are
called natural resources.
2. Natural resources are broadly classified into inexhaustible natural resources and
exhaustible natural resources.
3. Ever-increasing population along with industrialisation and consequent urbanisation have
compelled human beings to over-exploit these natural resources.
4. The natural resources which are present in the nature in unlimited quantity and which
normally cannot be exhausted by human activities are called inexhaustible natural
resources, e.g. air, water, solar energy, etc.
5. The natural resources which can degrade in quantity and quality due to human activities are
called exhaustible natural resources. e.g. soil, forest, minerals, coal, etc.
6. Air is a mixture of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), carbon dioxide, ammonia, ozone, noble
gases and moisture.
7. The envelope of air that surrounds the earth is called atmosphere.
8. Water is the prime natural resource, basic human need and precious national asset.
9. The ground water and surface water available to us come from the rainfall and snow which
is a continuous process through hydrological cycle.
10. Depending on the annual rainfall, India has been divided into four regions wet zone,
intermediate zone, semi-arid zone and arid zone.
11. Soil is the upper crust of earth.
12. The six major soil types found in India are
(i) alluvial soil, (ii) black soil, (iii) red soil, (iv) mountain soil, (v) desert soil and
(vi) laterite soil.
13. Coal, petroleum, iron, aluminium, copper, silver and gold are among the important natural
resources.
14. Chief sources of energy are coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydel power, solar, wind and
nuclear power.
15. Energy resources can be classified into two main categories non renewable/
conventional resources of energy and renewable/non-conventional resources of energy.
16. The pollution-free sources of energy like solar radiation, wind power, biomass and nuclear
power are renewable energy resources.
17. Hydel power is the next biggest source of energy after thermal power.
18. Researchers are being involved to develop new non-conventional energy sources/devices.
19. The term flora is used for plants and fauna for animal species it includes all types of
plants and animals living in a natural habitat.
20. Our forest cover is estimated to be 63.591 million hectare sq. km that comes to be
approximately 1/5th of the total geographical area of the country.
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21. The movement of air from one region to another region causes winds.
22. The circulation of water in the form of water vapour, clouds, rain and snow forms the water
cycle.
23. Major sources of air pollution are burning of fossil fuels (coal and petroleum products),
automobiles, thermal power plants and industries.
24. Burning of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum releases oxides of nitrogen and sulphur
which are responsible for acid rain.
25. Air containing suspended particles of unburnt carbon and other particles released by the
burning of fossil fuels is called smog.
26. Lichens are known as indicator of pollution because they are sensitive to the level of
sulphur dioxide in air.
27. The level below the soil surface where the rocks are saturated with water is known as the
zone of saturation and the upper level of the zone of saturation is called water table.
28. The increase in concentration of harmful, non biodegradable chemical substances in the
body of living organisms throughout the trophic levels of a food chain is called biological
magnification.
29. The excessive growth of phytoplankton in water bodies because of discharge of sewage and
detergents in it brings about a reduction in dissolved oxygen which affects other aquatic
organisms. This is called eutrophication.
30. Conversion of rocks into soil by physical or biological means is called weathering.
31. A fertile soil which contains a mixture of all the different sized particles is called loam or
loamy soil.
32. Strip-cropping means planting of crops in rows or strips to check flow of water and soil
pollution.
33. A cyclic flow of nutrients between non-living environment and living organisms is called
biogeochemical cycle.
34. Rise in the earths temperature because of increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere is known as green house effect.
35. The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates with the help of a few
symbiotic bacteria which live in the root nodules of leguminous plants and nitrites is called
nitrogen fixation.
36. Ammonification is conversion of complex organic compounds like proteins into ammonia
(NH3).
37. Nitrification is conversion of ammonia into nitrites and nitrates.
38. Denitrification is conversion of nitrate salts present in the soil and water to free nitrogen
gas.
39. Ozone layer surrounds the earth, at height of 25-30 km from the earths surface. It protects
earth from ultraviolet light.
40. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are mainly responsible for the depletion of ozone layer.
Nitrogen monoxide (NO) and some other gases also deplete the ozone layer.
I. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
NCERT QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS
SECTION A : IN-TEXT QUESTIONS
Page 193
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Q.1. How is our atmosphere different from the atmosphere on Venus and Mars?
Ans. On Venus and Mars the major component of atmosphere is carbon dioxide which constitutes
up to 95-97% of the atmosphere. While on earth carbon dioxide constitutes only a small
fraction of the atmospheric gases i.e., it constitutes only 0.03% of atmospheric gases. The
main gases on earth are nitrogen (78.08%) and oxygen (20.95%). Presence of oxygen in high
concentration makes it easy to breathe for living organisms. And this difference in the
concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide differentiates atmosphere on earth from that on
Venus and Mars.
Q.2. How does the atmosphere act as a blanket?
Ans. Being a bad conductor of heat, the atmosphere keeps the average temperature of the earth
fairly constant during the day, even during the course of the whole year. Further, during the
night, it slows down the escape of heat into outer space. In this way, it maintains the
temperature on the earth and acts as a blanket.
Q.3. What causes winds?
Ans. Wind is caused by the movement of air from one region to another region. During the day the
air above the land gets heated faster and starts rising, therefore, a region of low pressure is
created below and air above the sea moves into this area of low pressure. Thus, movement of
air from land to upper region of atmosphere and from sea to the land causes wind.
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Water makes up about 70 percent of body weight and plays a vital role in the metabolic
reactions taking place within the body.
z It acts as a universal solvent, thus providing a medium for many chemical reactions to
take place.
z It also acts as a medium for transporting substances from one part of the body to the other
in a dissolved form.
z Water is unique as its density is similar to that of protoplasm.
z Water is also required for many other purposes like drinking, cooking, cleaning, crop
irrigation, generation of hydro-electricity, industrial needs, etc.
Q.2. What are the major sources of freshwater in the city/town/village where you live?
Ans. Freshwater is present as ground water and surface water. In our city, we get freshwater from
rivers, lakes as well as underground reservoirs made by the engineers.
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Q.3. Do you know of any activity which may be polluting this water source?
Ans. Water used for industrial purposes is discharged into the rivers, lakes, etc. after being used in
production processes. This water may contain acid, alkalies, toxic substances, etc. Freshwater
bodies are also the sites for the disposal of sewage and other domestic wastes. All these
activities pollute the water sources.
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Q.1. How is soil formed?
Ans. Soil is formed from parent rock material over millions of years by a process called weathering.
In this process, rocks at or near the surface of the earth are broken down into small particles
due to physical factors such as sun, wind, rain, etc., and it is called physical weathering.
The small particles of rocks are then converted into fine particles of soil by the help of plants,
animals, and micro-organisms, this is called biological weathering.
Q.2. What is soil erosion?
Ans. Soil erosion is washing away of the top soil with flowing water or wind. If all the soil gets
washed away, the rocks underneath are exposed. This results in the loss of a valuable resource,
the topsoil which contains humus and living organisms and it is the most fertile soil.
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Q.3.
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Q.2.
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It also acts as a medium for transporting substances from one part of the body to the other
in a dissolved form.
z Water is unique as its density is similar to that of protoplasm.
z Water is also required for many other purposes like drinking, cooking, cleaning, crop
irrigation, generation of hydro-electricity, industrial needs, etc.
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Q.3. How are living organisms dependent on the soil? Are organisms that live in water totally
independent of soil as a resource?
Ans. Man and animal obtain their food from the plants (cereals, vegetables, grass, etc.) growing on
the soil. These plants obtain their food from the nutrients found in soil. In addition, soil also
contains various micro-organisms which derive their food from the soil. Thus, all living
organisms depend on soil for their survival.
Soil is essential for all living organisms whether they are aquatic or terrestrial. Soil plays
important role in biogeochemical cycle which is a main source of recycling of nutrients from
atmosphere to soil and then to water.
Aquatic plants obtain their nutrients from the bottom of that water body and these aquatic
plants are source of food for the aquatic animals. In this way soil is essential for the aquatic
organisms as well.
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Q.4. You have seen weather reports on television and in newspapers. How do you think we are able
to predict the weather?
Ans. Weather stations and weather ships around the world make daily measurements of temperatures, rainfall, wind speeds and directions, air pressures and other weather features with
various instruments. This information is then sent to local weather forecasting stations. From
the information they receive, the Meteorological Department prepares a weather report in
which all the weather information is plotted on the maps. Using these maps, weather forecasters predict the weather reasonably accurately which is then transmitted on the radio and
television, etc.
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Q.5. We know that many activities lead to increasing levels of pollution of the air, water bodies and
soil. Do you think that isolating these activities to specific and limited areas would help in
reducing pollution?
Ans. Isolation of these activities which are causing pollution of air, water and soil to a specific and
limited area can reduce pollution to some extent but even this is not a permanent solution of
the problem of pollution, because pollutants released after the decomposition of these wastes
will recycle through soil, water and atmosphere. In this way they will come back to the place
from where they had been removed.
So, there should be a permanent procedure for the removal of pollutants.
Q.6. Write a note on how forests influence the quality of our air, soil and water resources.
Ans. Forests influence the quality of air, soil and water resources in the following ways
1. Influence of forests on air : Both plants and animals release carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere as a product of respiration. Forests take up this carbon dioxide for the
manufacture of their food and release oxygen to the atmosphere after photosynthesis. In
this way they are helpful in cleaning the air.
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ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
(As Per CCE Pattern)
(1 Mark)
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Q.11. Name the organisms found to be very sensitive to the levels of contaminants like sulphur
dioxide in the air.
Ans. Lichens
Q.12. What do you mean by humus?
Ans. Humus is an organic matter formed by decomposition of dead organisms.
Q.13. Give two examples of exhaustible natural resources.
Ans. Exhaustible natural resources : (i) Fossil fuels (ii) Plants and animals.
Q.14. Name two atmospheric gases responsible for causing acid rain.
Ans. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Q.15. How would you define the term atmosphere?
Ans. The air that covers the whole of the earth like a blanket is called atmosphere.
Q.16. What do you understand by the term Natural resources?
Ans. Natural resources are the variety of substances that human beings get from the nature to meet
their basic needs.
Q.17. What is strip-cropping?
Ans. Strip-cropping is the planting of crops in rows or strips to check flow of water. It is practiced
in the sloping areas of hills to check soil erosion.
Q.18. What portion of our countrys geographical area is covered by forest?
Ans. According to forest survey of India, the actual forest cover of India is about 19.27% of the
geographical area. It corresponds to 63.3 million hectare.
Q.19. Name any two examples of inexhaustible natural resources.
Ans. Inexhaustible natural resources : (i) Air (ii) Water.
Q.20. How much air is required by a normal human being in one day?
Ans. A normal human being requires about 250265 kg of air everyday for various activities.
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(2 Marks)
Q.1. What is soil erosion? List two activities which cause soil erosion.
Ans. The loss of soil due to winds or water flow is called soil erosion.
Soil erosion is also caused due to some activites of human as(i) Deforestation (Destroying Forests)
(ii) Industrialisation of Croplands.
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. (i) With the increasing population the level of surface water and ground water is decreasing
continuously. To maintain the availability of water, water harvesting is an important step.
(ii) The air pollution and fumes from automobiles causes acid rain as a result in rain water
also found.
Q.4. (i) Define the term Smog.
(ii) Name two types of diseases caused by regularly breathing the polluted air. [2011 (T-II)]
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Ans. (i) The presence of suspended particles in air during cold season causes the formation of smog.
(ii) Regularly breathing the polluted air affects the respiratory system of living beings and
causes bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and lung cancer.
Q.5. (i) Why is water so necessary for all living organisms? Mention any two points in support
of your answer.
(ii) Water is known as A Wonder Liquid. Justify this statement by giving any two reasons.
[2011 (T-II)]
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Ans. (i) Water makes up about 70 per cent of body weight and plays a vital role in the metabolic
reactions taking place within the body.
Water is required for many purposes like drinking, cooking, cleaning, crop irrigation,
navigation, generation of hydro-electricity and industrial needs.
(ii) Water, as you know, is the most essential component of life. It is essential for the
sustenance of life. Life is impossible without water. It acts as a universal solvent, thus
providing a medium for reactions to take place.
Q.6. What is atmospheric fixation of nitrogen?
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. Air contains about 78% of nitrogen, which exists in molecular form as N2. Plants cannot
absorb nitrogen in its elemental form. So the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into
nitrates is called nitrogen fixation. The atmospheric nitrogen after nitrogen fixation gets
converted into nitrates.
Q.7. (a) What is soil erosion? State any one way by which it can be prevented.
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(b) What is humus? What is the role of earthworms in increasing the quantity of
humus?
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. (a) The removal of soil layer due to climate change or physical processes such as rainfall,
wind, etc. is called soil erosion.
Afforestation should be undertaken to prevent the soil erosion.
(b) Humus is a dark coloured colloidal material that constitutes the organic components of
soil. It is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal remains. Earthworms feed on
the humus and increase its fertility.
Q.8. (a) List two ways by which carbon dioxide is fixed in the environment.
(b) Name two diseases caused due to an increased content of pollutants in the air produced
due to the burning of fossil fuels.
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. (a) Carbon dioxide is fixed in environment in two ways :
(i) By the process of photosynthesis in plants.
(ii) It get dissolve in water in the form of bicarbonates which gives rise to carbonate
rocks.
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Q.9. The heaps of solid wastes are a menace. Give two reasons.
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. The heaps of solid wastes are a menace because(i) The unpleasant smell with harmful gases pollute the air of surrounding areas.
(ii) The solid wastes litter in the surrounding areas choking the sewage system.
Q.10. How addition of undesirable substances and change in temperature affect the water life.
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. The undesirable substances in water influence the aquatic life. The poisonous things like
pesticides can kill the fish or other water creatures. The algal bloom causes the deficiency in
oxygen in the water bodies while the change in temperature will affect breeding and
development of young ones of aquatic organism.
[2011 (T-II)]
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Q.12. Mention any two human activities which are responsible for water pollution. [2011 (T-II)]
Ans. (i) Domestic wastes like detergents and sewage.
(ii) Agricultural wastes, such as fertilisers and pesticides which are used to increase crop
yield.
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[2011 (T-II)]
Biodegradable pollutants
[2011 (T-II)]
Non-biodegradable pollutants
(i) These pollutants do not degrade at
all.
[2011 (T-II)]
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Q.20. (a)
(b)
Ans. (a)
(b)
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Q.21. Which symbiotic life forms can grow on stones and help in the formation of soil? Write the
mode of their action for making soil from rocks.
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. Lichens can grow on stones and help in the formation of soil. The water absorbing and
retaining power of fungus makes it possible to grow even on rocks and making crevices while
extracting minerals as food, finally making loose soil there.
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Q.22. (a) Why does moon have very cold and very hot temperature variations i.e. from 190C to
110C even though it is at the same distance from the Sun as Earth ?
(b) Why does Mathura refinery pose problem to the Taj Mahal?
[2011 (T-II)]
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Ans. (a) Due to the absence of atmosphere (gases) on moon it becomes very hot during day and
very cold during night.
(b) Environmental pollution is damaging the monument Taj Mahal and discolouring its once
translucent white marble. Mathura refinery is a biggest culprit in damaging Taj Mahal.
Sulphur dioxide emission from industry have reached levels ten times above the precribed
level. Combined with oxygen and moisture, sulphur dioxide settles on the surface of the
tomb and corrodes the marble, farming a fungus that experts call as 'marble cancer;' The
environmentalists analysed that the refinery is creating high levels of suspended
particulate matter, dust and exhaust. These are causing the Taj Mahal to change colour.
Q.23. How do forest play an important role in maintaining water cycle.
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. The roots of plants/ trees bind the soil compactly. It affects the level of ground water at that
place. Trees also lower down the temperature of surrounding areas by transpiration. Forests
change the water into water vapours which form clouds. Clouds after condensation starts
raining.
Q.24. Why is atmosphere essential for life? Write two points in support of your answer.
[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. (a) The atmosphere acts as a protective blanket for the Earth.
(b) Atmosphere absorbs most of the harmful radiations such as ultraviolet (UV) radiations
coming from the Sun. The harmful radiations are absorbed in the upper atmosphere as well
as reflected back into the space.
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[2011 (T-II)]
Ans. When water bodies are heated during the day, a large amount of water evaporates into the air.
The wind carries the water vapour to various places. When this vapour reaches a certain
height, it cools and in turn changes to tiny droplets of water or snow. The enormous collection
of these tiny droplets appears to us in the form of clouds. From the clouds the water comes
down to the surface of Earth in the form of rain or snow.
Q.26. (a) Why do terrestrial forms require freshwater?
(b) Mention any two processes involved in water cycle.
[2011 (T-II)]
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Ans. (a) The terrestrial forms require water for drinking, bathing, washing clothes, etc. For these
purposes only freshwater is fit to used.
(b) (i) Evaporation
(ii) Condensation
Q.27. What is top soil? Mention any two factors that decide which plants will thrive on that soil.
[2011 (T-II)]
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Ans. The uppermost layer of soil profile containing humus and other organic nutrients, is called top
soil. Two factors which decide the type of plants thrive on that soil are(i) Presence of organic matter (humus) and nutrients,
(ii) Capacity of the soil to retain water and air.
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Q.1. How do the rivers from land, add minerals to sea water?
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Ans. As the rain fall and water or rivers flows over the land, the water dissolves out of the rocks,
washes the minerals into stream and finally carries to the sea. These salts stay in the sea
because no water flows out of the sea. The rivers are flowing bodies of land and carry soil
and dirt also with them. This deposition adds many minerals into the sea water.
Q.2. How can we prevent the loss of top soil?
Ans. The uppermost layer of soil is very fertile and rich in humus. The main threat to top soil is
soil erosion. Soil erosion is loss of soil due to wind or water flow. Loss of top soil can be
prevented by stopping soil erosion by following methods :
(i) Afforestation (ii) strip cropping (iii) By following crop rotation to maintain the fertility of
soil. (iv) Proper drainage and irrigation arrangements.
Q.3. Why does the percentage of gases like oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide remain almost the
same in the atmosphere?
Ans. The cycling process of all these gases maintains their percentage in the atmosphere at constant
level. Constant recycling replenishes the lost gas in the atmosphere and balance is maintained.
Q.4. Lichens are called pioneer colonisery of bare rock. How can they help in formation of
soil?
Ans. A bare rock consists of solid surface or very large boulders and there is no place for rooting
plants to colonize. The thalli of lichens can adhere to the surface of rock and absorb moisture
from atmosphere. Therefore, these colonize the bare surfaces of rocks first. These lichens
produce acids which corrode the rock and their thalli collect wind blown soil particles with
them that help in formation of a thin film of soil. When these lichens die their thalli are
decomposed to add humus. This promotes soil formation.
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Q.6. Why do lichens not occur in Delhi whereas they commonly grow in Manali or Darjeeling?
Ans. Lichens are also called the bio-indicators of the pollution. They are found only in the nonpolluted areas. Lichens are highly susceptible towards sulphur dioxide. A compound in them
reacts with sulphur dioxide to form a poisonous chemical that kills the plant itself. This is
because lichens grow in areas where sulphur dioxide pollution is very less, e.g., in Manali and
Darjeeling. Delhi is highly polluted place where lichens cannot grow and survive.
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Q.7. Why does water need conservation even though large oceans surround the land masses?
Ans. Water conservation is important because we need water for many essential activities. About
three-fourth of Earth consists of water, but only 1% of it is freshwater. It is this freshwater
which we can utilise for daily use. As water resources are not judiciously used, these are
getting depleted. This will lead to the time when there will be no water. If water conservation
is carried out seriously, this will help to preserve wildlife water habitats and the need of
building dams, etc. It will also help to ensure water availability for future generations.
Q.8. Soil is formed by water. If you agree to this statement then give reasons.
Ans. Role of water in soil formation : Rocks on earths surface are not chemically stable and
constantly undergo the process of weathering. It is the first step of soil formation. Chemical
weathering involves the breakdown of primary minerals in the rock to new minerals that are
more stable in the surface environment. Water is the essential agent in chemical weathering.
It either reacts directly with the minerals or carry dissolved species which themselves react
with the mineral.
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Q.9. During summer, if you go near the lake, you feel relief from the heat. Why?
Ans. During summer, we feel relief from the heat when visit near the lake. The lake breeze forms
during daylight in summer months because water does not warm as quickly as the surrounding
land surfaces. Air cooled by contact with the cold lake water is denser than that surrounding
the lake and thus forms a zone relatively high pressure over the lake. When the sun heats land,
the air above it warms becoming less dense. With high pressure over the lake and low pressure
over land, the regional pressure gradient pushes cool winds towards the land. This is the lake
breeze flow because of which we feel better during summer near the lake.
C. Short Answer Questions - II
(3 Marks)
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Ans. (a) The flow of energy is unidirectional from one organism to another in a reduced quantity
but decomposition of such animals by decomposers make the cyclic movement of
elements (nutrients). All these takes place between the living organisms and their nonliving surroundings.
(b) Nitrogen is an important component of amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids which form
structural and functional constituents of cell protoplasm. Air contains about 78% of
nitrogen, which exists in molecular form as N2. Water bodies also contain nitrogen.
Producers cannot absorb nitrogen in its elemental form. It has to be first converted into
nitrates for the use of plants. The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates
is called nitrogen fixation.
The atmospheric nitrogen after nitrogen fixation gets converted into nitrates, which is then
absorbed by plants and assimilated into their system. Organic compounds like proteins are
formed which are decomposed to ammonia and amino acids by decomposers in the soil.
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the soil or the runoff of chemical fertilisers applied to agricultural lands. As the overcrowd
plants die off, the dead and decaying vegetation depletes the ponds oxygen supply. This in
turn leads to the mass scale death of fish in the pond.
Q.4. Soil formation is done by both abiotic and biotic factors. List the names of these factors by
classifying them as abiotic and biotic?
Ans. Soil formation by biotic and abiotic factors : Soil formation occurs due to five important
factors. Differences in soil particles within and between regions are a result of the interaction
between these factors.
(i) Abiotic factors : Rocks (parent material), rain, temperature, slope and elevation, time, etc.
(ii) Biotic factors : Vegetation, microbes, soil organisms, animals and human beings.
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Q.5. All the living organisms are basically made up of C, N, S, P, H and O. How do they enter the
living forms? Discuss.
Ans. All living organisms are basically made up of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, hydrogen
and oxygen. These chemical elements tend to circulate in the biosphere in a characteristic
cyclic path, i.e., from environment to living organisms and back to the environment. These
more or less circular paths are called biogeochemical cycles or nutrient cycles.
In simple way, these elements are absorbed by the plants from nature and convert them into
food. This food passes through different trophic levels of various food chains for utilization
by consumers. Finally, the decomposers return the inorganic nutrient to the environment by
decomposing the dead bodies and excreta of various consumers.
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Q.6. Why does the percentage of gases like oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide remain almost the
same in the atmosphere?
Ans. Photosynthesis helps to balance oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air. Oxygen gas is produced
during photosynthesis which animals breathe in. Animals breathe out CO2 and the plants need
this CO2 for photosynthesis. So, the levels of CO2 and O2 are balanced in the air.
Nitrogen gas is also circulated continuously between living and nonliving components of the
biosphere. It also enters through the producer level through various processes and get transferred to other trophic levels. Finally, decomposers act on dead bodies of living organisms and
the inorganic nitrogen enters the nature again.
Q.7. Why are root nodules useful for the plants?
Ans. Root nodules are extra lobes of certain plants such as peas and beans in which nitrogen-fixing
bacteria are found. Leguminous plants are plants with root nodules. Bacteria in these root
nodules convert the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates which the plants can utilise. The plants
use this nitrogen to synthesise proteins and other materials.
D. Long Answer Questions
(5 Marks)
Previous Years' Questions
Q.1. Many human activities lead to increasing levels of pollution of air, water bodies and soil.
Isolating these activities to specific and limited areas would not help in reducing pollution.
Justify this statement giving at least five reasons.
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Ans. Isolation of these activities which are causing pollution of air, water and soil to a specific and
limited area can reduce pollution to some extent but even this is not a permanent solution of
the problem of pollution, because
(i) Pollutants released after the decomposition of these wastes will recycle through soil, water
and atmosphere. In this way they will come back to the place from where they had been
removed.
(ii) Excessive use of fossil fuels i.e., coal and petroleum. Because burning of these fossil fuels
adds carbon particles to the atmosphere which causes smog. It produces huge amount of
carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as well in the areas restricted for such activity.
(iii) Use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigeration is responsible for depletion of ozone
layer in all the surrounding large area.
(iv) Establishment of a number of industries which release carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide
oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, etc.
(v) Rain water flows many pollutants alongwith the water from one place to another.
So there should be a permanent procedure for the removal of pollutants.
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(ii)
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Q.2. (i) Describe greenhouse effect. How the presence of greenhouse gases would lead to global
warming? Explain.
(ii) Draw a neat labelled diagram of water cycle in nature.
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Ans. (i) Greenhouse effect is an atmospheric phenomenon, in which an increase in the percentage
of some gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes the average temperatures
increase of atmosphere worldwide leading to global warming.
Q.3 (i) With the help of a neat labelled diagram, depict the cycling of carbon in nature.
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(ii) Mention the two ways in which carbon dioxide is fixed in the environment.
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Ans. (i) Carbon Cycle
In the abiotic environment, carbon is present in four forms:
(a) As carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or air (about 0.03 0.04%),
(b) As dissolved carbon dioxide or carbonic acid and bicarbonates in water or
hydrosphere,
(c) As fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas, and
(d) As carbonates and graphite in the rocks.
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(ii) Certain bacteria and blue-green algae can fix atmospheric nitrogen directly into nitrates.
The nitrogen-fixing bacteria can be free-living, like Azotobacter and Clostridium, or
symbiotic bacteria (Rhizobium). Rhizobium is found in the root nodules of certain
leguminous plants, like peas and beans.
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Q.5. (a) In coastal area, wind current moves from sea towards the land during day; but during night
it moves from land to sea. Discuss the reason.
(b) How are CFCs harmful for the environment and living beings?
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Ans. (a) The movement in the air or wind current are brought about by the following:
(i) Evaporation of water takes place when it is heated.
(ii) Condensation of water vapours take place at low atmospheric pressure due to cooling.
(iii) Heating and cooling rates of water and land are different. Land gets heated faster but
cools also soon compared to water. In coastal regions, the land and air near the sea
gets heated faster than the sea. The sea water is comparatively cooler, so is the air
on sea water. The cool air rushes towards the sea breeze and brings temperature
down. At night, both the land and sea water start to cool. Since, the water cools down
slower than the land, the air above water would be warmer than the air above land.
Hence, the cool air flows towards sea during night to replace the warm air.
(b) CFCs are responsible for the depletion of ozone layer. Since ozone layer protect us from
UV rays CFCs disturbs the protection from UV rays causing a number of skin diseases
like skin cancer.
Q.6. (a) What are the forms of oxygen found in the atmosphere?
(b) Forests influence the quality of our air, soil and water resources. Justify the statement.
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Q.7. (a)
(b)
(c)
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Ans. (a) (i) Oxygen is present in dissolved form in water bodies and helps in the survival of
aquatic life.
(ii) Oxygen is also present in combined forms such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water
(H2O).
(iii) It is also present in the combined form in the Earth's crust as the oxides of most
metals and silicon.
(b) Forests influence the quality of air, soil and water resources in the following ways
1. Influence of forests on air : Both plants and animals release carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere as a product of respiration. Forests take up this carbon dioxide for the
manufacture of their food and release oxygen to the atmosphere after photosynthesis.
In this way they are helpful in cleaning the air.
Ans. (a) Depletion of ozone layer means reduction of the thickness of ozone layer due to the excess
release of CFCs chlofluorocarbons in the atmosphere.
The other factor responsible for ozone destruction is the pollutant nitrogen monoxide
(NO).
CFCs are very stable and are found to persist in the atmosphere. Once they reach the
ozone layer, they with the ozone molecules, resulting in the reduction of the ozone layer.
(b) The gases in air are present in a fixed ratio. Air pollution is caused whenever there is
any imbalance in the ratio of gases present in air.
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Ans. When fossil fuels are burnt they release carbon dioxide in the air. While these fossil fuels are
formed very slowly over a period of million of years, they are being used at an increasingly
fast rate, releasing large volume of carbon dioxide in the air, far in excess of the nature's
capacity to recycle. This has led to a perceptible rise in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
During photosynthesis, plants take in CO2 from the atmosphere to synthesise organic
compounds. These organic compounds enter the food chain as food and reach animals in
successive trophic levels.
For diagram See Q. No. 3, Page 212
Q.10. Why is circulation of water necessary in the environment? Discuss any two human activities
which are disturbing the water cycle.
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Ans. The circulation of water in the form of water vapour, clouds, rain and snow forms a water
cycle. Water cannot remain in one state for a long term because it may lead to the disturbance
in nature. For example, if the water of sea, rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. remain in solid form
(snow) for a long term the animals and the plants living around them will be destroyed. So
circulation of water from one state to another is important for the nature.
Human activities disturbing the water cycle are
(i) Destroying the forests results in evaporation of more and more surface water. It leads to
drought.
(ii) Global warming is also affecting the water cycle by melting the snow on earth poles.
Q.11. How do clouds formed in the sky? Draw the biogeochemical cycle involved in it. What are
the different states in which water is found in the water cycle?
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Ans. When water bodies like ocean, sea, etc., get heated during the day, a large amount of water
evaporates and goes into the air. The wind carries the water vapour to various places. When
this vapour reaches a certain height, it cools and in turn changes to tiny droplets of water, into
snow. An enormous collection of these tiny droplets appears in the form of clouds.
For Diagram See Q. No 2 Page 211
Water is found in different stages in a water cycle, such as water (liquid), snow (solid) and
water vapours (gas).
Q.12. (a) Study the given figure of Nitrogen cycle and mention what do A, B, C, D, E represents.
(b) What will happen if step A does not occur?
(c) Write the role of N2 fixing bacteria in the biosphere.
(d) Name two biologically important compounds that contains both O2 and N2. [2011 (T-II)]
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Q.13. (a) What do the blanks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the given cycle stand for?
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(b) Name two natural and one man-made process by which CO2 return to the atmosphere.
(c) Carbon dioxide is necessary for plants but it is also pollutant justify your answer.
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Non-Biodegradables
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Ans. (a)
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(b) The acid rain contain traces of acids which affects the plants, animals, monuments, etc.
on which it falls. So due to huge pollution in Agra and in its surrounding areas, it causes
acid rain which falls on Taj Mahal also. This acid rain leads to the erosion of white
marble. The colour of Taj Mahal is also affecting by acid rain i.e. it becomes yellowish.
(c) The presence of unburnt particles of fossil fuels in air during cold season (winter) reduces
the visibility and it is called smog.
Q.16. (i) How does energy enter the biosphere?
(ii) Name one natural and one man made process by which CO2 returns to atmosphere.
(iii)In the following bio-geochemical cycle, name and define the process marked as (X), (Y),
(Z).
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Ans. (i) Energy enters the biosphere in the form of solar energy from the Sun.
(ii) Natural process Respiration.
Man-made process Burning of fossil fuels.
(iii) X Nitrogen Fixation A process in which atmospheric nitrogen is assimilated into
organic compounds in living organisms.
Y Nitrification A process in which nitrogen in the form of ammonia in plants and
animals wastes is oxidized first to nitrites then nitrates.
Z Denitrification It is the process of reduction of nitrates into gaseous nitrogen of
atmosphere. It is caused by denitrifying bacteria e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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Ans. Fossil fuels are the major cause of air pollutants in the air. The following air pollutants are
released due to burning of fossil fuels.
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(i) Oxides of sulphur : Fossil fuels contain sulphur. On combustion they produce sulphur
dioxide and sulphur trioxide. These oxides form sulphuric acid and sulphurous acid in the
atmosphere. These acids are harmful and corrode the marble.
(ii) Oxides of carbon : Fossil fuels produce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Both are
noxious gases.
(iii) Oxides of nitrogen : Nitrogen dioxide is a pungent gas and is produced by the oxidation
of nitric oxide.
(iv) Particulate matter : Generated from automobiles and industries.
(v) Ethylene : It is produced from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels by automobiles.
Q.2. What are the causes of water pollution? Discuss how you can contribute in reducing water
pollution?
Ans. Causes of Water Pollution : The major causes of water pollution are divided into following
categories :
(i) Domestic sewage : Household waste, human excreta, etc.
(ii) Surface runoff : Includes pesticides, fertilisers, etc.
(iii) Industrial discharge : Toxic substances from industries.
(iv) Radioactive wastes : Radioactive molecules from nuclear industry.
(v) Oil spills : Oil spills and wastes from automobiles.
Control of Water Pollution : Water pollution can be controlled by :
(i) Treatment of wastewater before releasing into rivers and fields.
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Q.1. Look across, up and down in the grid to find the answers of the following questions.
(i) An insect is responsible for making humus in the soil.
(ii) Visibility is lowered due to its formation during winter.
(iii) It is added to the soil to increase its fertility but excess of it can destroy the soil structure.
(iv) The gas makes up 78% of the atmosphere.
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The gas absorbs harmful radiations from reaching the surface of the earth.
It is incorporated into life forms through the process of photosynthesis.
A fossil fuel.
It occurs due to condensation and precipitation of water droplets.
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(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
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Ans.
_________________
(ii) UNS
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: _________________
GOYAL BROTHERS PRAKASHAN
(iii) COLA
_________________
(iv) INDW
: _________________
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(vi) IOLS
: _________________
(vii) DLFEIWIL
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(ix) OTFESR
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(v) RAI
(ii) SUN
(viii) SNEARLIM
: _________________
(iii) COAL
(iv) WIND
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(vi) SOIL
(viii) WILDLIFE
(viii) MINERALS (ix) FOREST
(x) PETROLEUM
Q.3. Five waterborne diseases are hidden in the
grid below. Find them and write down their
names in the space provided.
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(i) _________________
(ii) _________________
(iii) _________________
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(iv) _________________
Ans.
(i) Typhoid
(ii) Jaundice
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(v) _________________
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(iii) Diarrhoea
(iv) Dysentery
(v) Cholera
Q.4. Algal Bloom : In places where there is stagnant water, a green layer forms on the water
surface. This layer is formed due to the growth of algae and it uses up all the oxygen of the
water. This results in the suffocation and death of fishes. There is a specific name for such
a process.
To spell it, first write down the letters that occur before each of the given letters. Then
unscramble the word, to get the name of the process. (You can use a letter more than once).
B D F I J O P Q S U V
Ans. EUTROPHICATION
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