NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 - Land, Soil and Water Resources

Question 1:

Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation?

Answer:

Temperature and precipitation are the main climatic factors responsible for soil formation.

Question 2:

Write any two reasons for land degradation today.

Answer:

There are many factors which lead to degradation of land. Both nature and human factors can lead to degradation of land.
(a) Growing population and their ever growing demand is the main reason of land degradation today.
(b) Deforestation is another main reason of land degradation.

Question 3:

Why is land considered an important resource?

Answer:

Land is considered an important resource because:
(a) It is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forest, mining, pastures, etc.
(b) Human beings make their houses and live on it and it also provides most of the products they need like food, wood, etc.
(c) Human beings set up their industries, build roads and run other commercial activities.

Question 4:

Name any two steps that government has taken to conserve plants and animals.

Answer:

In order to conserve plants and animals, the government has taken the following steps:
(a) Many National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves have been established to protect and conserve wildlife.
(b) In India, killing of lions, tigers, deer, great Indian bustards and peacocks have been banned.

Question 5:

Suggest three ways to conserve water.

Answer:

Water is a vital resource for development of economic activities. Water should be conserved in the following ways:
(a) Water pollution should be prevented. Water of oceans, rivers and lakes should not be polluted.
It should be saved from urban waste and chemicals of industries.
(b) Dams should be built across the rivers and lakes to store water in reservoirs.
(c) Forests and other vegetation cover slows the surface run off and replenishs underground water.
(d) Water harvesting is another method to save surface run off.

Question 6:

Which one of the following is NOT a factor of soil formation?

Answer:

Soil texture

Question 7:

Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes?

Answer:

Terrace Cultivation.

Question 8:

Which one of the following is NOT in favour of the conservation of nature?

Answer:

Dispose polypacks after shopping.

Question 9:

Match the following:

Answer:

1-(c), 2-(d), 3-(a), 4-(b)

Question 10:

State whether the given statement are true or false. If true, write the reason.
Ganga-Brahmaputra plain of India is an over-populated region.

Answer:

It is true.
The Ganga-Brahmaputra plain of India is an over-populated region because this plain is formed by the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries. This plain has fertile soil, which is good for agriculture. It is flat and level. It is very easy to construct roads, build houses and set up

Question 11:

State whether the given statement are true or false. If true, write the reason.
Water availability per person in India is declining.

Answer:

It is true.
India’s population is increasing rapidly, but we cannot change the amount of water available to us. It is constant. Due to increasing population, its demand is also rising.

Question 12:

State whether the given statement are true or false. If true, write the reason.
Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas, to check the wind movement, is called intercropping.

Answer:

It is false.

Question 13:

Name two regions rich in natural gas resources.

Answer:

Russia and U.K. are the major producers of natural gas in the world. In India, Jaisalmer, Krishna- Godavari delta, have natural gas resources.