Class 9 Geography Chapter 5 – "Natural Vegetation and Wildlife," featuring 30 MCQs, 10 short answer questions, and 5 long answer questions with answers,
30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
What is ‘natural vegetation’?
a) Garden plants
b) Plantation crops
c) Grown naturally without human aid
d) Crops and orchards
Answer: c) Grown naturally without human aid
India is home to about how many plant species?
a) 10,000
b) 27,000
c) 47,000
d) 92,000
Answer: c) 47,000
Which of the following is not a factor affecting natural vegetation?
a) Temperature
b) Soil
c) Transportation
d) Precipitation
Answer: c) Transportation
Which vegetation develops on undulating and rough terrains?
a) Mangroves
b) Grasslands and woodlands
c) Cactus and thorny bushes
d) Deciduous forests
Answer: b) Grasslands and woodlands
The sandy soils of desert support which type of vegetation?
a) Mangroves
b) Deciduous forests
c) Cactus and thorny bushes
d) Alpine vegetation
Answer: c) Cactus and thorny bushes
Mangrove forests are mainly found in the:
a) Himalayas
b) Deccan Plateau
c) Coastal deltas
d) Thar Desert
Answer: c) Coastal deltas
What is the other name for tropical evergreen forests?
a) Monsoon forests
b) Rain forests
c) Coniferous forests
d) Alpine forests
Answer: b) Rain forests
Which of the following trees is commonly found in tropical evergreen forests?
a) Teak
b) Rosewood
c) Babool
d) Cactus
Answer: b) Rosewood
In which regions are thorn forests found?
a) Western Ghats
b) Coastal plains
c) North-west, semi-arid areas
d) Himalayan region
Answer: c) North-west, semi-arid areas
The leaves of thorn forests are:
a) Large and broad
b) Small and thick
c) Needle-shaped
d) Feather-like
Answer: b) Small and thick
Which forests are also called monsoon forests?
a) Alpine
b) Tropical deciduous
c) Mangroves
d) Rain forests
Answer: b) Tropical deciduous
How much rainfall do tropical deciduous forests receive?
a) Over 200 cm
b) Below 50 cm
c) 70–200 cm
d) 30–60 cm
Answer: c) 70–200 cm
What is the main vegetation above 3,600 m in the Himalayas?
a) Cactus
b) Alpine vegetation
c) Mangroves
d) Deciduous trees
Answer: b) Alpine vegetation
Ebony and mahogany are found in:
a) Tropical evergreen forests
b) Tropical deciduous forests
c) Coniferous forests
d) Alpine forests
Answer: a) Tropical evergreen forests
Tree species like sal and teak are found in:
a) Alpine forests
b) Mangroves
c) Tropical deciduous forests
d) Thorn forests
Answer: c) Tropical deciduous forests
Which is a characteristic animal of mangrove forests?
a) Snow leopard
b) Royal Bengal tiger
c) Elephant
d) Camel
Answer: b) Royal Bengal tiger
Which region is famous for the Sundari trees?
a) Gir forest
b) Sunderbans delta
c) Western Ghats
d) Nilgiris
Answer: b) Sunderbans delta
Name the animal characteristic to Tibet area.
a) Yak
b) Tiger
c) Lion
d) Nilgai
Answer: a) Yak
Which zone shows the presence of birches, junipers, and pines?
a) Tropical
b) Desert
c) Montane
d) Mangrove
Answer: c) Montane
Biosphere reserves are created for:
a) Human settlement
b) Intensive farming
c) Protection of flora and fauna
d) Mining activities
Answer: c) Protection of flora and fauna
What is ‘virgin vegetation’?
a) Recently planted crops
b) Grown in laboratory
c) Grown naturally without human interference
d) Exotic species
Answer: c) Grown naturally without human interference
Which factor does NOT influence vegetation?
a) Temperature
b) Rainfall
c) Photoperiod (sunlight)
d) Festivals
Answer: d) Festivals
India’s first biosphere reserve was:
a) Sunderbans
b) Nanda Devi
c) Nilgiri
d) Gir forest
Answer: c) Nilgiri
Which animal is endangered in India?
a) Cow
b) Peacock
c) Snow leopard
d) Crow
Answer: c) Snow leopard
Which of these is NOT a cause of wildlife extinction?
a) Pollution
b) Hunting
c) Conservation programs
d) Habitat loss
Answer: c) Conservation programs
Which state has the maximum area under forests in India?
a) Kerala
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Assam
d) Haryana
Answer: b) Madhya Pradesh
What is the total percentage of India’s land under forest cover (approx.)?
a) 30%
b) 22%
c) 1%
d) 50%
Answer: b) 22%
Which one is a medicinal plant found in tropical deciduous forests?
a) Cinchona
b) Deodar
c) Eucalyptus
d) Sundari
Answer: a) Cinchona
Which of the following has thick bark and deep roots?
a) Deciduous trees
b) Mangroves
c) Thorn forest trees
d) Coniferous trees
Answer: c) Thorn forest trees
National parks and sanctuaries are established to:
a) Grow crops
b) Build cities
c) Protect wildlife and vegetation
d) Promote hunting
Answer: c) Protect wildlife and vegetation
10 Short Answer Questions
What is the difference between flora and fauna?
Answer: Flora refers to plant species; fauna refers to animal species of a region.
Name the main factors influencing the distribution of natural vegetation in India.
Answer: Relief (land and soil), climate (temperature, photoperiod, precipitation).
What is a biosphere reserve? Give two examples.
Answer: Large protected area for conserving biodiversity and research; examples: Sunderbans, Nilgiri.
What is ‘virgin vegetation’?
Answer: Vegetation grown naturally without human interference over a long period.
Distinguish between evergreen and deciduous forests.
Answer: Evergreen forests remain green all year, with no set leaf-shedding time; deciduous forests shed leaves in dry season.
What are the main characteristics of thorn forests?
Answer: Scattered thorny trees, deep roots, small thick leaves, survive in low rainfall areas.
Why are mangrove forests found in deltas?
Answer: Due to wet, marshy and deltaic soils with high salt content.
State two reasons for endangering wildlife in India.
Answer: Habitat loss and poaching/hunting.
Where are montane forests found?
Answer: On slopes of the Himalayas at varying altitudes.
How does vegetation affect animal life?
Answer: Vegetation provides food and habitat; changes in vegetation affect animal populations.
5 Long Answer Questions
Explain the factors responsible for the diversity of natural vegetation in India.
Answer: Diversity is due to varied relief (altitude, slope, soil types) and climate (temperature, duration of sunlight, rainfall), human activities, and conservation efforts, resulting in multiple vegetation types.
Describe the major types of vegetation found in India with examples.
Answer: Types: Tropical evergreen forests (ebony, rosewood), tropical deciduous forests (sal, teak), thorn forests (acacia, cactus), montane (pine, deodar), mangrove (sundari); each found in distinct climatic zones.
Why are biosphere reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries important?
Answer: They conserve genetic diversity, protect endangered species, promote ecological balance, and support research and awareness.
Discuss the causes and effects of deforestation and extinction of wildlife in India.
Answer: Causes: habitat destruction, overgrazing, hunting, pollution. Effects: loss of biodiversity, imbalance in ecosystems, increased extinction risk.
Suggest ways to conserve natural vegetation and wildlife in India.
Answer: Strict protection laws, public awareness, reducing deforestation, creating reserves and sustainable use policies, involvement of local communities.
