Question Bank — World Geography: Some Glimpses

NCERT Class 8 Social Science · Chapter 8 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 8 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

QUESTION BANK

Chapter: World Geography: Some Glimpses

(Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 2)

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

  1. Which colour on a physical map represents high mountains?
    a) Green b) Yellow c) Dark brown d) Light yellow

  2. The process of showing the Earth on a flat surface is called:
    a) Cartography b) Map projection c) Distortion d) Navigation

  3. Which ocean current makes the United Kingdom warmer than other places at the same latitude?
    a) Cold current b) Gulf Stream c) Southern Ocean current d) Indian Ocean current

  4. The deepest point on Earth is:
    a) Mount Everest b) Challenger Deep c) Tibetan Plateau d) Great Barrier Reef

  5. The Tibetan Plateau is called the ‘Third Pole’ because:
    a) It is near the South Pole b) It has the largest reserves of freshwater outside the polar regions c) It is the coldest place on Earth d) It is covered with ice throughout the year

  6. Which of the following is a man-made waterway?
    a) Strait of Malacca b) Suez Canal c) Bay of Bengal d) Persian Gulf

  7. The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of:
    a) India b) Australia c) Africa d) South America

  8. The Ural Mountains form a natural boundary between:
    a) Asia and Europe b) North and South America c) Africa and Europe d) Australia and Asia

  9. Assertion (A): The Earth is shown with some distortion on all flat maps.
    Reason (R): The Earth is an oblate spheroid and cannot be flattened without tearing or stretching.
    Options: (i) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. (ii) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A. (iii) A is true but R is false. (iv) A is false but R is true.

  10. Assertion (A): Coral reefs are called the ‘rainforests of the sea’.
    Reason (R): They provide food and shelter for about one-quarter of all ocean species.
    Options: (i) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. (ii) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A. (iii) A is true but R is false. (iv) A is false but R is true.

Section B — Very Short Answer (6 questions, 2 marks each)

  1. Define map projection.
  2. What are ocean currents? Name one warm current.
  3. State any two features of the Tibetan Plateau.
  4. Identify the type of water body: (a) a narrow channel joining two seas, (b) a man-made channel connecting water bodies. Give one example of each.
  5. Why is the Gobi Desert called a cold desert?
  6. What is a steppe? Name one animal found in the Eurasian Steppes.

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

  1. Explain why all map projections have some distortion. Give two examples of different projections mentioned in the chapter.
  2. How do ocean currents affect the climate of coastal areas? Explain with the example of the Gulf Stream.
  3. Compare the features of the Sahara Desert and the African Savannah.
  4. Give reasons why the Andes are considered a critical conservation hotspot.
  5. Explain the role of the European Plain in agriculture and trade.

Section D — Long Answer (3 questions, 5 marks each)

  1. Analyse the causes and consequences of threats faced by the Great Barrier Reef. What is its significance for marine life?
  2. Examine the significance of the Tibetan Plateau for Asia’s climate, rivers and freshwater reserves. How is climate change affecting it?
  3. Discuss the role of mountains as ‘water towers’, biodiversity hotspots and natural boundaries. Illustrate with examples from the Ural Mountains and the Andes.

Section E — Source-Based (2 questions, 4 marks each)

Source 1

“The oceans hold 97 per cent of the Earth’s water. They support life, from tiny plankton to giant blue whales, and help regulate the climate by absorbing heat, slowly releasing it, and adding moisture to the air forming clouds and rainfall.”

Sub-questions:
a) What percentage of the Earth’s water do the oceans hold? (1 mark)
b) Name two forms of life supported by the oceans as mentioned in the source. (1 mark)
c) How do oceans help regulate the Earth’s climate? (Any two points) (1 mark)
d) Why are oceans called the reason Earth looks blue from space? (1 mark)

Source 2

“The Tibetan Plateau is the highest and largest plateau on Earth. Located north of the Himalayan Range, it is the result of collisions between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates… Scientists call the Tibetan Plateau and its mountains the ‘Third Pole’; it contains the largest reserves of freshwater outside the polar regions.”

Sub-questions:
a) What is the average height of the Tibetan Plateau? (1 mark)
b) Which two tectonic plates collided to form the Tibetan Plateau? (1 mark)
c) Why is it called the ‘Third Pole’? (1 mark)
d) Name any two major rivers originating from the Tibetan Plateau. (1 mark)

▶ Answer Key Attempt all questions first,
then tap to reveal

Section A

  1. c 2. b 3. b 4. b 5. b 6. b 7. b 8. a 9. (i) 10. (i)

Section B (2 marks each – any two relevant points, 1 mark each)
1. Map projection is the process of showing the Earth (an oblate spheroid) on a flat surface.
2. Ocean currents are giant rivers of water flowing through the oceans; Gulf Stream (warm).
3. Highest and largest plateau; average height over 4,500 m; source of major rivers.
4. (a) Strait – Strait of Malacca; (b) Canal – Suez Canal.
5. Winter temperatures drop to minus 30°C; vegetation is sparse.
6. Large area of flat unforested grassland with temperate climate; Siberian crane / steppe tortoise.

Section C (3 marks each – any three points, 1 mark each)
1. Earth is oblate spheroid; cannot be flattened without distortion; Mercator (shape preserved) and Robinson (compromise).
2. Warm currents carry heat from equator; Gulf Stream warms Western Europe/UK.
3. Sahara: hot desert, <25 cm rain, nomadic herding; Savannah: tropical grassland, seasonal rain, rich wildlife.
4. Rich biodiversity, source of freshwater for Amazon, mineral wealth, only one-fourth original flora-fauna remains.
5. Fertile soils for wheat/barley; wide river valleys for trade; coal, oil, gas deposits; growth of cities.

Section D (5 marks each – any five relevant points with explanation)
1. Overfishing, pollution, climate change causing bleaching; loss of habitat for 25% ocean species; conservation needed as UNESCO site.
2. Influences Asian climate, source of Indus/Brahmaputra/Yangtze, largest freshwater reserve outside poles; snow-melt creating new lakes due to climate change.
3. Provide freshwater through melting snow/glaciers; biodiversity hotspots; natural boundaries (Urals between Europe-Asia); examples of minerals, forests and wildlife.

Section E

Source 1

a) 97 per cent (directly from source)
b) Tiny plankton and giant blue whales (source)
c) Absorb heat and release it slowly; add moisture forming clouds and rainfall (source)
d) Oceans cover 71% of Earth’s surface (chapter text supports)

Source 2

a) Over 4,500 metres (source)
b) Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates (source)
c) Contains largest reserves of freshwater outside polar regions (source)
d) Indus, Brahmaputra, Yangtze (source)

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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.