Subject: Geography
Class XII
Time: 3 hours
Max. Marks: 70
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: –
i. Question paper is divided into 4 sections A, B, C & D
ii. In section A question number 1 to 17 are MCQ type questions.
iii. In section B question number 18-23 are SA type questions (80-100 words). Question 18 & 19 are Source based questions.
iv. In section C question number 24 to 28 are Long Answer based questions (120-150 words).
v. In section D question number29&30 are Map based questions having 5 sub parts.
SECTION A
There are 17 questions in this section. All are mandatory
1. Which two cities are connected by Channel Tunnel?
a. London with Barcelona
b. London with Berlin
c. London with Paris
d. London with Rome
2. Which of the following pairs is matched correctly?
Ans. Option (c)
3. Which of the following may be interpreted as a spontaneous effort to achieve a better balance between population and resources?
a. Migration
b. Growth Rate
c. Birth Rate
d. Death Rate
4. Which of the following features is related to the second stage of Demographic Transition Theory?
a. Fertility and Mortality decline considerably
b. Decline in Mortality but fertility remains high
c. Fertility and Mortality are high
d. Fertility declines and Mortality high
5. What is the major export from New Mangalore ports?
a. Coal
b. Iron ore
c. Copper
d. Mica
6. Which of the following is a feature of Kandla Port?
a. It is the biggest port of the country
b. Its harbour is situated at Zuari estuary
c. It is situated at the head of Gulf of Kachchh
d. It is the oldest port of India
7. Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
Ans. Option (b)
8. Identify the correct order of location from west to east, for the given natural gas reserves of India.
a. Ankaleshwar, Tripura, Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari basin
b. Jaisalmer, Ankaleshwar, Krishna Godavari basin, Tripura
c. Tripura, Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari basin, Ankaleshwar
d. Krishna Godavari basin, Ankaleshwar, Tripura, Jaisalmer
9. Which of the following are industrial towns of India?
a. Hugli, Salem, Bhilai
b. Jamshedpur, Pushkar, Ujjain
c. Coimbatore, New Delhi, Imphal
d. Chandigarh, Mugalsarai, Shillong
10. Which of the following are the features of Urban Settlements in India?
a. Complex way of life, manufacturing of finished goods, nodes of economic growth.
b. Intimate social relations, mainly primary economic activities, people are less mobile.
c. Economy mainly based on primary activities, providing food and raw materials, and social relations are formal.
d. Provide a variety of services, poor transport networks, social relations are intimate.
11. Arrange the following in correct sequence:
Following is the sequence of generating geothermal :
(i) It is so hot that when it rises to the earth’s surface, it turns into steam.
(ii) Groundwater in such areas (where the geothermal gradient is high) absorbs heat from the rocks and becomes hot.
(iii) This steam is used to drive turbines and generate electricity.
(iv) Geothermal energy exists, because the earth grows progressively hotter with increasing depth.
a. (iv) – (ii) – (i) – (iii)
b. (ii) – (i) – (iv) – (iii)
c. (i) – (iv) – (iii) – (ii)
d. (iii) – (ii) – (iv) – (i)
12. Consider the following statements and choose the correct option from the given options
I. The WTO however has been criticized and opposed by those who are worried about the effects of Free trade and economic globalization.
II. Free trade does not make ordinary people’s lives more prosperous.
Options
a. Only statement I is correct
b. Both the statements are true and statement II correctly present the reason for statement I
c. Only Statement II is correct
d. Both the statements I and II are incorrect
13. Assertion: Settlements can be of various types.
Reason: Various physical factors affect the growth of settlements.
Options:
a. Only assertion is correct
b. Only reason is correct
c. Both statements are correct. Statement II correctly explains statement I.
d. Both are correct but not related to each other
14. Assertion; Mediterranean regions have been inhabited from early periods in history.
Reason; Plain areas are favorable for the production of crops and to build roads and industries.
a. Only assertion is correct
b. Only reason is correct
c. Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation for assertion
d. Both assertion and reason are correct but reason is not the correct explanation for assertion
Read the following case study and answer question no 15 to 17.
Ralegan Siddhi is a small village in the district of Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra. It has become an example for watershed development throughout the country. In 1975, this village was caught in a web of poverty and illicit liquor trade. The transformation took place when a retired army personnel settled down in the village and took up the task of watershed development. He convinced villagers about the importance of family planning and voluntary labour; preventing open grazing, felling trees, and liquor prohibition. Voluntary labour was necessary to ensure minimum dependence on the government for financial aid. Even those who were working outside the village contributed to the development by committing a month’s salary every year. Work began with the percolation tank constructed in the village. In 1975, the tank could not hold water. The embankment wall leaked. People voluntarily repaired the embankment. The seven wells below it swelled with water in summer for the first time in the living memory of the people. The people reposed their faith in him and his visions. A youth group called Tarun Mandal was formed. The group worked to ban the dowry system, caste discrimination and un touch ability. Liquor distilling units were removed and prohibition imposed. Open grazing was completely banned with a new emphasis on stallfeeding. The cultivation of water intensive crops like sugarcane was banned. Crops such as pulses, oilseeds and certain cash crops with low water requirements were encouraged. All elections to local bodies began to be held on the basis of consensus. “It made the community leaders complete representatives of the people.” A system of Nyay Panchayats (informal courts) were also set up. Since then, no case has been referred to the police. A Rs. 22 lakh school building was constructed using only the resources of the village. No donations were taken. Money, if needed, was borrowed and paid back. The villagers took pride in this selfreliance. A new system of sharing labour grew out of this infusion of pride and voluntary spirit. People volunteered to help each other in agricultural operations. Landless labourers also gained employment.
15. Which of the following methods of water conservation brought prosperity in Ralegan Siddhi?
(a) Rainwater harvesting
(b) Watershed development
(c) Groundwater recharge
(d) Construction of dams.
16. Which of the following measures were taken to increase democratic participation in the village?
(a) Construction of school
(b) Local body elections
(c) Liquor prohibition
(d) All of the above
17. Which of the following made Ralegan Siddhi independent of government’s financial aid?
(a) Prohibition of liquor
(b) Voluntary labour
(c) Local body election
(d) Agriculture
SECTION B
Question numbers 18-23 are SA type questions. Question 18 & 19 are Source based questions.
18. Read the given Passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Bharmaur tribal area comprises Bharmaur and Holi tehsils of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It has been a notified tribal area since 21 November 1975. Bharmaur is inhabited by „Gaddi‟, a tribal community who have maintained a distinct identity in the Himalayan region as they practiced transhumance and conversed through Gaddiali dialect. Bharmaur tribal region has harsh climate conditions, low resource base and fragile environment. These factors have influenced the society and Economy of the region. According to the 2011 census, the total population of Bharmaur sub-division was 39,113 i.e., 21 persons per sq km. It is one of the most (economically and socially) backward areas of Himachal Pradesh. Historically, the Gaddis have experienced geographical and political isolation and socio-economic deprivation. The economy is largely based on agriculture and allied activities such as sheep and goat rearing. The process of development of the tribal area of Bharmaur started in the 1970s when Gaddis were included among „scheduled tribes‟. Under the Fifth Five Year Plan, the tribal sub-plan was introduced in 1974 and Bharmaur was designated as one of the five Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDP) in Himachal Pradesh. This area development plan was aimed at improving the quality of life of the Gaddis and narrowing the gap in the level of development between Bharmaur and other areas of Himachal Pradesh. This plan laid the highest priority on development of transport and communications, agriculture and allied activities, and social and community services.
1) How have the Gaddi Tribal Community maintained a distinct identity in the Himalayan region?
Ans. Gaddi tribal communities have maintained a distinct identity in the Himalayan region as they practiced transhumance and conversed through Gaddiali dialect.
2) Which factors have influenced the society and Economy of the region to remain backward?
Ans. Bharmaur tribal region has harsh climate conditions, low resource base and fragile environment. These factors have influenced the society and Economy of the region.
3) Under the Integrated Tribal Development Project, which areas were given the highest priority?
Ans. This plan laid the highest priority on development of transport and communications, agriculture and allied activities, and social and community services.
19. Observe the given map and answer the following questions:
1) Name the Railway line and name the country where it lies.
Ans. Railway Line- Trans-Siberian Railway Line. It Lies in Asiatic Russia
2) Name the stations marked as ‘A’ and ‘B’.
Ans. Station A is Moscow. Station B is Chita.
3) State two reasons why it is the most important route in Asia?
Ans. ● It has helped in opening up its Asian region to west European markets.
● Chita is an important agro-centre and Irkutsk, a fur center connecting them to Odessa in the South
20. What is meant by the density of population? Explain with examples the physical and economic factors which affect population distribution.
Ans. 1. The density of population is a measure of human and land relationship. It is expressed as the number of persons per unit area. It helps in getting a better understanding of spatial distribution of population in relation to land.
2. The physical factors like climate, terrain and availability of water affects population distribution. For example the north India plains, deltas and coastal plains have a higher proportion of population than other regions of the country.
3. Economic factors like industrialisation, urbanisation and development of transport networks cause high concentration of population in urban regions of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune etc.
OR
With the help of a neat and labeled diagram, explain the three stages of the Demographic Transition Theory.
Ans. The three stages of the Demographic Transition Theory with diagram:
The above diagram explains the three-staged model of Demographic Transition Theory:
● The first stage has high fertility and high mortality because people reproduce more to compensate for the deaths due to epidemics and variable food supply. The population growth is slow and most of the people are engaged in agriculture where large families are an asset. Life expectancy is low, people are mostly illiterate and have low levels of technology. Two hundred years ago all the countries of the world were in this stage.
● Fertility remains high in the beginning of the second stage but it declines with time. This is accompanied by a reduced mortality rate. Improvements in sanitation and health conditions lead to decline in mortality. Because of this gap the net addition to population is high.
● In the last stage, both fertility and mortality decline considerably. The population is either stable or grows slowly. The population becomes urbanised, literate and has high technical knowhow and deliberately controls the family size. This shows that human beings are extremely flexible and are able to adjust their fertility.
21. Examine the features of cottage manufacturing or household industries.
Ans. The features of cottage manufacturing or household industries;(any three points)
1. It is the smallest manufacturing unit.
2. Use of local raw materials and simple tools by the artisans.
3. Goods are produced for everyday use in the homes of artisans with the help of family members.
4. Finished products are used in the same household or sold in the local market.
5. Some common examples of products produced in this sector include food stuffs, containers, fabrics, tools, furniture, figurines, jewellery, pottery etc.
22. How is ‘Naturalisation of Humans’ different from ‘Humanisation of Nature’?
Ans.
| Naturalisation of humans | Humanisation of nature |
| This refers to early stages of interaction between the natural environment and humans where humans are adapted to dictates of nature. | This refers to the interaction between the forces of nature and humans who begin to understand nature. |
| It indicates a very low level of technology and social development. | It indicates development of efficient technology and better social and cultural relations. |
| Naturalised humans listen to nature, are afraid of its fury and worship nature. | Humans move from a state of necessity to a state of freedom. |
| Direct dependence of humans on nature. | Resources are obtained from the environment to create more opportunities. |
| The physical environment for naturalised humans becomes mother nature. | Humans make use of nature so that nature gets humanised showing the imprints of human activities. |
OR
“The approaches to the study of human geography have been evolving over a period of time”. How have these schools of thought changed the approaches of study to human geography?
Ans. ● Welfare or humanistic school of thought in human geography was mainly concerned with the different aspects of social well-being of the people. These included aspects such as housing, health and education. Geographers have already introduced a paper as Geography of Social well-being in the Post Graduate curriculum‟.
● Radical school of thought employed Marxian theory to explain the basic cause of poverty, deprivation and social inequality. Contemporary social problems were related to the development of capitalism.
● The Behavioral school of thought laid great emphasis on lived experience and also on the perception of space by social categories based on ethnicity, race and religion, etc.
23. Elucidate any 3 characteristics of the most effective and advanced personal communication system in India.
Ans. 1. The Internet is the most effective and advanced personal communication system in India.
2. Enables the user to establish direct access to the word of knowledge and information.
3. It’s like a huge central warehouse of data with detailed information on various topics.
4. Provides information on low cost
5. It’s being used increasingly for e-commerce and carrying out money transactions
SECTION C
Question numbers 24 to 28 are Long Answer based questions.
24. Describe the main characteristics of Intensive Subsistence Agriculture. In which parts of the world this type of agriculture is practiced?
Ans. This type of agriculture is largely found in densely populated regions of monsoon Asia.
There are two types of intensive subsistence agriculture.
(i) Intensive subsistence agriculture dominated by wet paddy cultivation:
This type of agriculture is characterised by dominance of the rice crop.
Land holdings are very small due to the high density of population.
Farmers work with the help of family labour leading to intensive use of land.
Use of machinery is limited and most of the agricultural operations are done by manual labour.
Farm yard manure is used to maintain the fertility of the soil. In this type of agriculture, the yield per unit area is high but per labour productivity is low.
(ii) Intensive subsistence agriculture dominated by crops other than paddy:
Due to the difference in relief, climate, soil and some of the other geographical factors, it is not practical to grow paddy in many parts of monsoon Asia.
Wheat, soyabean, barley and sorghum are grown in northern China, Manchuria, North Korea and North Japan.
In India wheat is grown in western parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains and millets are grown in dry parts of western and southern India.
Most of the characteristics of this type of agriculture are similar to those dominated by wet paddy except that irrigation is often used.
25. Discuss the problems of Slums and Urban Waste Disposal in developing countries like India.
Ans. The slums, jhuggi-jhopari clusters and colonies of shanty structures is a major problem faced by the urban settlements in developing countries like India. These are inhabited by those people who were forced to migrate from the rural areas to these urban centres in search of livelihood but could not afford proper housing due to high rent and high costs of land. They occupy environmentally incompatible and degraded areas. Slums are residential areas of the least choice, dilapidated houses, poor hygienic conditions, poor ventilation, lack of basic amenities, like drinking water, light and toilet facilities, etc. Open defecation, unregulated drainage systems and overcrowded narrow street patterns are serious health and socio environmental hazards. Most of the slum population works in low-paid, high risk-prone, unorganised sectors of the urban economy. Consequently, they are the undernourished, prone to different types of diseases and illness and can not afford to give proper education to their children. The poverty makes them vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, vandalism, escapism, apathy and ultimately social exclusion.
26. How have good governance and people-oriented policies with reference to the pillars of human development, increased the values of freedom and capabilities?
Ans. Leading a long and healthy life, being able to gain knowledge and having enough means to be able to live a decent life are the most important aspects of human development –
FOUR PILLARS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Just as any building is supported by pillars, the idea of human development is supported by the concepts of equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment.
● Equity refers to making equal access to opportunities available to everybody. The opportunities available to people must be equal irrespective of their gender, race, income and in the Indian case, caste. Yet this is very often not the case and happens in almost every society. For example, in any country, it is interesting to see which group the most of the school dropouts belong to. This should then lead to an understanding of the reasons for such behaviour. In India, a large number of women and persons belonging to socially and economically backward groups dropout of school. This shows how the choices of these groups get limited by not having access to knowledge.
● Sustainability means continuity in the availability of opportunities. To have sustainable human development, each generation must have the same opportunities. All environmental, financial and human resources must be used keeping in mind the future. Misuse of any of these resources will lead to fewer opportunities for future generations. A good example is about the importance of sending girls to school. If a community does not stress the importance of sending its girl children to school, many opportunities will be lost to these young women when they grow up. Their career choices will be severely curtailed and this would affect other aspects of their lives. So each generation must ensure the availability of choices and opportunities to its future generations.
● Productivity here means human labour productivity or productivity in terms of human work. Such productivity must be constantly enriched by building capabilities in people. Ultimately, it is people who are the real wealth of nations. Therefore, efforts to increase their knowledge, or provide better health facilities ultimately leads to better work efficiency.
● Empowerment means to have the power to make choices. Such power comes from increasing freedom and capability. Good governance and people-oriented policies are required to empower people. The empowerment of socially and economically disadvantaged groups is of special importance.
OR
“The ways to measure human development are constantly being redefined”. Evaluate this statement keeping in mind the attainments and shortfall in human development.
Ans. The ways to measure human development are constantly being refined and newer ways of capturing different elements of human development are being researched. Researchers have found links between the level of corruption or political freedom in a particular region. There is also a discussion regarding a political freedom index and a listing of the most corrupt countries.
The human development index measures attainments in human development. It reflects what has been achieved in the key areas of human development. Yet it is not the most reliable measure. This is because it does not say anything about the distribution. The human poverty index is related to the human development index. This index measures the shortfall in human development. It is a non-income measure.
The probability of not surviving till the age of 40, the adult illiteracy rate, the number of people who do not have access to clean water, and the number of small children who are underweight are all taken into account to show the shortfall in human development in any region. Often the human poverty index is more revealing than the human development index. Looking at both these measures of human development together gives an accurate picture of the human development situation in a country.
27. Justify the tremendous growth of the Service Sector in developed and developing countries than the manufacturing sector? Explain giving suitable examples.
Ans. ● Highly sophisticated machines and technology are available now. Manufacturing sector which can be operated and controlled by a few people, due to which many people earlier employed in the manufacturing sector are seeking jobs in the service sector.
● Most of the manufacturing companies need a large number of people in non direct production sector like clerical, managerial, advertising, sales, legal and financial experts which have a higher income than the people employed in direct production.
● The service sector is growing in importance because more and more females are seeking employment in this sector which provides a better working environment and high per capita income than in the manufacturing sector.
● With growing income, people are demanding more services like medical facilities, entertainment, hospitality industries, travel and tourism, etc. As a result of which the service sector has drastically expanded in all directions. It is a good thing that many people get employment through these industries. For example, if tourism increases, then people in the hospitality industry get employment.
● Growth in Service sector indicates a growth in GDP. Hence, the government makes all efforts to uplift the service sector by providing provident funds, gratuity, pension, etc to the employees. This also increases the per capita income of the people.
28. Analyse any five problems faced by Indian farmers in agriculture.
Ans. ● Dependence on Erratic Monsoon- Irrigation covers only about 33 per cent of the cultivated area in India. The crop production in the rest of the cultivated land directly depends on rain. Poor performance of south-west monsoon also adversely affects the supply of canal water for irrigation. On the other hand, the rainfall in Rajasthan and other drought prone areas is too meagre and highly unreliable. Even the areas receiving high annual rainfall experience considerable fluctuations. This makes them vulnerable to both droughts and floods. Drought is a common phenomenon in the low rainfall areas, which may also experience occasional floods. The flash floods in drylands of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan in 2006 and 2017 are examples of this phenomenon. Droughts and floods continue to be the twin menace in Indian agriculture.
● Low productivity- The yield of the crops in the country is low in comparison to the international level. Per hectare output of most of the crops such as rice, wheat, cotton and oilseeds in India is much lower than that of the U.S.A., Russia and Japan. Because of the very high pressure on the land resources, the labour productivity in Indian agriculture is also very low in comparison to international level. The vast rainfed areas of the country, particularly drylands which mostly grow coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds have low yields.
● Constraints of Financial Resources and Indebtedness The inputs of modern agriculture are very expensive. This resource intensive approach has become unmanageable for marginal and small farmers as they have very meagre or no savings to invest in agriculture. To tide over these difficulties, most of such farmers have resorted to availing credit from various institutions and moneylenders. Crop failures and low returns from agriculture have forced them to fall in the trap of indebtedness.
● Lack of Land Reforms- Indian peasantry had been exploited for a long time as there had been unequal distribution of land. Among the three revenue systems operational during the British period, i.e., Mahalwari, Ryotwari and Zamindari, the last one was most exploitative for the peasants. After Independence, land reforms were accorded priority, but these reforms were not implemented effectively due to lack of strong political will. Most of the state governments avoided taking politically tough decisions which went against strong political lobbies of landlords. Lack of implementation of land reforms has resulted in continuation of iniquitous distribution of cultivable land which is detrimental to agricultural development.
● Landholdings- There are a large number of marginal and small farmers in the country. The average size of land holding is shrinking under increasing population pressure. Furthermore, in India, the land holdings are mostly fragmented. There are some states where consolidation of holding has not been carried out even once. Even in the states where it has been carried out once, second consolidation is required as land holdings have fragmented again in the process of division of land among the owners of next generations. The small size of fragmented landholdings are uneconomic.
● Lack of Commercialisation- A large number of farmers produce crops for self-consumption. These farmers do not have enough land resources to produce more than their requirement. Most of the small and marginal farmers grow foodgrains, which are meant for their own family consumption. Modernisation and commercialisation of agriculture have, however, taken place in the irrigated areas.
● Vast Underemployment- There is a massive underemployment in the agricultural sector in India, particularly in the unirrigated tracts. In these areas, there is seasonal unemployment ranging from 4 to 8 months. Even in the cropping season, work is not available throughout as agricultural operations are not labour intensive. Hence, the people engaged in agriculture do not have the opportunity to work round the year. (Any 5 points)
OR
On the basis of the main source of moisture for crops, analyse the types of farming in the Indian scenario.
Ans. On the basis of the main source of moisture for crops, the farming can be classified as irrigated and rainfed (barani).
There is difference in the nature of irrigated farming, as well as based on the objective of irrigation, i.e., protective or productive. The objective of protective irrigation is to protect the crops from adverse effects of soil moisture deficiency which often means that irrigation acts as a supplementary source of water over and above the rainfall. The strategy of this kind of irrigation is to provide soil moisture to the maximum possible area.
Productive irrigation is meant to provide sufficient soil moisture in the cropping season to achieve high productivity. In such irrigation the water input per unit area of cultivated land is higher than protective irrigation.
Rainfed farming is further classified on the basis of adequacy of soil moisture during cropping season into dryland and wetland farming. In India, the dryland farming is largely confined to the regions having annual rainfall less than 75 cm. These regions grow hardy and drought resistant crops such as ragi, bajra, moong, gram and guar (fodder crops) and practise various measures of soil moisture conservation and rainwater harvesting. In wetland farming, the rainfall is in excess of the soil moisture requirement of plants during the rainy season. Such regions may face flood and soil erosion hazards. These areas grow various water intensive crops such as rice, jute and sugarcane and practise aquaculture in the freshwater bodies.
SECTION D
Question numbers 29 & 30 are Map based questions having 5 sub-parts each.
29. On the given political map of the world, the following seven features are shown. Identify any five of these features and write their correct names on the lines marked near each feature.
A. A Shipping Canal
Ans. Panama Canal
B. An International Airport
Ans. Frankfurt Airport
C. An International Seaport
Ans. Hong Kong Port
D. An area of Extensive Commercial Grain farming
Ans. Downs
E. A Nomadic Herding area
Ans. Sub Sahara or Sahara Desert
F. Largest Country of South America
Ans. Brazil
G. A Major Seaport
Ans. Sydney Port
30. On the given political map of India, locate and label any five of the following with appropriate symbols:
A. Northern most Seaport on Western coast of India
Ans. Kandla
B. A copper mine of Rajasthan
Ans. Khetri
C. A market based oil refinery located in Bihar
Ans. Barauni
D. State with lowest population density
Ans. Arunanchal Pradesh
E. Largest coffee producing state
Ans. Karnataka
F. An international airport of Kerala
Ans. Tiruanantpuram
G. A state with highest level of urbanization
Ans. Goa