Chapter 3 

                                                             DESERTS


1. What is a desert and how is it generally described?

Answer: A desert is generally described as a vast, dry area with little or no rainfall and very little vegetation. It is often imagined as a hot, sandy, waterless, and uninhabited place. However, this idea is not always correct, as deserts can also be cold and full of life adapted to harsh conditions.

2. Why is the common idea about deserts often incorrect?

Answer: The common idea about deserts is incorrect because deserts are not always hot, sandy, or lifeless. Many deserts have different climates, including extreme cold, and support a variety of plants, animals, and even human life.

3. Can deserts be cold? Explain with examples.

Answer: Yes, deserts can be very cold. Some deserts, like those in Greenland and Antarctica, remain snow-covered and extremely cold throughout the year. These are known as cold deserts.

4. What type of climate does the Gobi Desert have?

Answer: The Gobi Desert has an extreme climate. It is very hot during the summer season and extremely cold during the winter season, showing great temperature variation.

5. Name two deserts in India and describe their climate.

Answer: In India, the Thar Desert is hot and dry, while Ladakh is a cold desert with extremely low temperatures and very little rainfall.

6. On what basis do we call a place a desert?

Answer: A place is called a desert if it receives very little rainfall and has scarce vegetation. The defining features are dryness and lack of water.

7. What are sand dunes and how are they formed?

Answer: Sand dunes are large, wave-like mounds of sand formed by the action of wind. The wind carries sand particles and deposits them in heaps, which keep shifting continuously.

8. Why do sand dunes keep moving?

Answer: Sand dunes keep moving because the wind constantly blows sand from one place to another, reshaping and shifting the dunes over time.

9. What is an oasis?

Answer: An oasis is a place in a desert where water is available, usually from underground sources like springs or wells, allowing plants to grow and people to live.

10. Why is an oasis called a “green island”?

Answer: An oasis is called a “green island” because it appears as a fertile, green area surrounded by the barren, dry desert landscape.

11. What challenges do desert animals face?

Answer: Desert animals face challenges such as extreme heat, lack of water, and scarcity of food. They must adapt to survive in these harsh conditions.

12. How do small desert animals get water?

Answer: Small desert animals like rats and squirrels do not drink water directly. They get moisture from the food they eat, such as plants, seeds, or other animals.

13. Why do many desert animals stay underground during the day?

Answer: Many desert animals stay underground during the day to protect themselves from the intense heat of the sun. The underground burrows provide a cooler environment.

14. When do desert animals usually come out and why?

Answer: Desert animals usually come out at night to feed because the temperature is cooler and safer for them to move around.

15. How are reptiles different from other desert animals in their behavior?

Answer: Reptiles need sunlight to warm their bodies before becoming active. Therefore, they are active during the day, unlike many other desert animals that come out at night.

16. Where do reptiles take shelter in the desert?

Answer: Reptiles take shelter in burrows or rock crevices during the hottest part of the day to avoid extreme heat.

17. Why are camels well-suited to desert life?

Answer: Camels are well-suited to desert life because of their unique adaptations, such as wide feet for walking on sand, ability to conserve water, and tolerance to high temperatures.

18. How do a camel’s feet help it in the desert?

Answer: A camel’s flat and wide feet help it walk easily on soft sand without sinking.

19. How does a camel protect itself from sand?

Answer: A camel can close its nostrils to prevent sand from entering during sandstorms.

20. What kind of food do camels eat?

Answer: Camels eat dry, thorny plants that most other animals avoid.

21. How do camels survive without water for long periods?

Answer: Camels survive without water by conserving water in their bodies, sweating very little, and tolerating high body temperatures.

22. What is stored in a camel’s hump?

Answer: A camel’s hump stores fat, which acts as a reserve source of food and energy.

23. Why is the camel called the “ship of the desert”?

Answer: The camel is called the “ship of the desert” because it can travel long distances across the desert, carrying people and goods just like a ship carries cargo across the sea.

24. What are the uses of camels to humans?

Answer: Camels are used for transportation and carrying goods. Their milk, meat, and wool are also valuable to humans.

25. How do desert plants survive in dry conditions?

Answer: Desert plants survive by conserving water, storing it in their stems, and having special root systems to absorb moisture quickly.

26. How do cacti store water?

Answer: Cacti store water in their thick, fleshy stems, which helps them survive long dry periods.

27. What type of root system do desert plants have?

Answer: Desert plants have roots that spread close to the surface of the ground to quickly absorb moisture from light rainfall.

28. Why is water conservation important for desert plants?

Answer: Water conservation is important because rainfall is very scarce in deserts, and plants must use the available water efficiently to survive.

29. How much of the world’s land area is covered by deserts?

Answer: Deserts and arid regions cover about one-eighth of the world’s land area.

30. Which is the driest desert in the world?

Answer: The driest desert in the world is the Atacama Desert in Chile, South America.

Answer by Mrinmoee