Land, Soil, Water,
Natural Vegetation
and Wildlife Resources
1.Where do Mamba and Peter live?
Answer: Mamba lives in a small village in Tanzania, Africa, while Peter lives in the sheep rearing region of New Zealand.
2. Why are their lives different?
Answer: Their lives differ due to the availability of resources like land, soil, water, vegetation, and technology.
3.What percentage of Earth's surface is land?
Answer: Only about 30% of Earth's surface is land.
4.Why are some areas sparsely populated?
Answer: Rugged mountains, deserts, and areas prone to floods are unsuitable for habitation and have lower population densities.
5.What areas are densely populated?
Answer: Plains and river valleys with fertile land suitable for agriculture are densely populated.
6.What is land use?
Answer: Land use refers to the various purposes land is used for, such as agriculture, forestry, mining, housing, infrastructure, and industries.
7.What does Mamba's family use their land for?
Answer: They use it for subsistence farming, growing maize and beans for food.
8.What does Peter's family use their land for?
Answer: They use it for sheep rearing and organic farming.
9. What resource is vital for both families?
Answer: Water is a vital resource for both families, though access and availability differ considerably.
10.What is the main message of the passage?
Answer: The availability of natural resources significantly impacts people's lives and the way they live in different parts of the world.
11. What regions face water scarcity?
Answer: Many regions globally are facing water scarcity, including most of Africa, West Asia, South Asia, parts of the western USA, northwest Mexico, parts of South America, and all of Australia.
12. What causes water scarcity?
Answer: Seasonal or annual precipitation variations, over-exploitation of water sources, and contamination can all contribute to water scarcity.
13.How can we conserve water?
Answer: Treating sewage and industrial effluents, forest conservation, water harvesting, canal lining, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, and responsible household water use are some solutions.
14.What is an example of a natural resource we use for everyday items?
Answer: Jute, used in bags and handbags, is an example of a natural resource used for everyday items.
15.What is the ecosystem?
Answer: The ecosystem is the life-supporting system where plants, animals, and the environment are interconnected and interdependent.
16.What are some benefits of plants?
Answer: Plants provide timber, oxygen, soil protection, shelter for animals, fruits, nuts, paper, and many other products.
17. What are some benefits of animals?
Answer: Animals provide food, hides, wool, pollination, decomposition, and environmental cleaning.
What factors influence plant growth? Temperature and moisture are the primary factors influencing plant growth.
18. Why is forest conservation important?
Answer: Forests provide habitat, maintain the ecosystem, and are vulnerable to human activities like deforestation.
19. How can we conserve plants and animals?
Answer: Protected areas, awareness programs, legal protection, and responsible agricultural practices are ways to conserve plants and animals.
20.What factors influence plant growth?
Answer: Temperature and moisture are the primary factors influencing plant growth.
