Chapter-4

Major landforms

Question 1: How are mountains useful to us?

Answer: Mountains are very useful to us. They act as a barrier against cold and hot winds. Rivers originating from mountains provide water for irrigation. The slopes of mountains have rich pasture lands and valuable forests. Some mountains are rich in minerals.

Question 2: What is the importance of plateaus?

Answer 2: Plateaus have grasslands on which cattle and sheep are reared. Some plateaus are rich in mineral deposits.

Question 3: Why are plains thickly populated?

Answer 3: Plains have fertile soil and are suitable for agriculture. Big cities and towns are located on plains. Roads, railways, aerodromes and canals can be easily constructed in the plains. So, plains are thickly populated.

Question 4: What are the main features of the desert?

Answer 4: Desert regions have very hot days and cold nights. The region experiences frequent dust storms. Sand dunes or hills of sand are very common in deserts. Deserts have very little vegetation due to less rainfall.

Question 5: How is delta formed?

Answer 5: The river deposits the silt it carries near the mouth, forming a triangular-shaped land called delta.

Think and answer

Question: Jammu and Kashmir is a thinly populated region. Why?

Answer: Jammu and Kashmir is a thinly populated state because it is located in the mountains. Mountains have an unsuitable climate and shortage of flat land. Further, there is difficulty in transportation as well.