NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 5 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife contains answers to the exercise questions given in ‘Contemporary India’. These solutions will help students for the preparation of CBSE Class 9 SST exam. All the answers are useful for exams as most of the questions are asked from the NCERT textbooks. So, students can study these solutions and score high in their exams.
Class 9 Geography Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
(i) To which one of the following types of vegetation does rubber belong to?
(a) Tundra
(b) Tidal
(c) Himalayan
(d) Tropical Evergreen
Answer: (d) Tropical Evergreen
(ii) Cinchona trees are found in the areas of rainfall more than
(a) 100 cm
(b) 50 cm
(c) 70 cm
(d) less than 50 cm
Answer: (a) 100 cm
(iii) In which of the following state is the Simlipal bio-reserve located?
(a) Punjab
(b) Delhi
(c) Odisha
(d) West Bengal
Answer: (c) Orissa
(iv) Which one of the following bio-reserves of India is not included in the world network of bio reserve?
(a) Manas
(b) Nilgiri
(c) Gulf of Mannar
(d) Nanda devi
Answer: (a) Manas
Question 2: Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is a bio-reserve? Give two examples.
Answer: Bio-reserves are the large areas where vegetation, wildlife and the environment are conserved to preserve the biological diversity. In totality there are 14 bio- reserves in India. For e.g. Sunderbans Bio-reserve in West Bengal and Nanda Devi Bio-reserve in Uttaranchal.
(ii) Name two animals having habitat in tropical and montane type of vegetation.
Answer: Tropical animals: Tiger, Elephant Montane animals: Snow Leopard, Spotted dear.
Question 3: Distinguish between
(i) Flora and Fauna
| Flora | Fauna |
| The term flora is used to denote plants of a particular region or period. | The species of animals are referred to as fauna. |
(ii) Tropical Evergreen and Deciduous forests
| Tropical Evergreen Forests | Tropical Deciduous Forests |
| These are also called Rain Forest. | These are also called Monsoon Forest. |
| Since the region is warm and wet throughout the year, there is no definite time for the trees to shed their leaves. | The trees shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks in dry summer. |
| Common animals found in these forests are elephants and monkeys. | Common animals found in these forests are lions and tigers. |
| Present in areas receiving more than 200 cm of rainfall. | Present in areas receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm. |
Question 4: Name different types of Vegetation found in India and describe the vegetation of high altitudes.
Answer: The different types of vegetation found in India are:
(i) Tropical Evergreen Forests
(ii) Tropical Deciduous Forests
(iii) Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
(iv) Montane Forests
(v) Mangrove Forests
At high altitudes, generally, more than 3,600 metres above the sea level, temperate forests and grasslands give way to the Alpine vegetation. Silver fir, junipers, pines and birches are the common trees of these forests. At higher altitudes, mosses and lichens form part of tundra vegetation.
Question 5: Quite a few species of plants and animals are endangered in India. Why?
Answer: Few species of plants and animals are endangered in India because of:
- Increase in population.
- Urbanization and Industrialization.
- Large scale deforestation.
- Pollution.
- Hunting for pleasure and commercial purpose, etc.
Question 6: Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?
Answer: India has a rich heritage of flora and fauna due to following reasons:
- India is a diverse country with different relief features (i.e. mountains, plateaus, plains, etc.) Different types of vegetations are found in these regions and the vegetations support different type of animals.
- Availability of different types of soil providing base for different type of vegetations.
- Variation in the climatic conditions (Temperature, humidity, etc.). Climate of India differs from north to south and east to west. Thus, supporting large variety of flora and fauna.
- India has a monsoon type of climate where rainfall varies from 20 cms to 300 cms distributed throughout the year supporting large amount of flora and fauna.
- Variation in the duration of sunlight at different places due to difference in the latitude and altitude.