Question 1

“Geography is concerned with the description and explanation of the areal differentiation of the earth’s surface.” Who gave this definition?

Accepted Answer

Richard Hartshorne

Question 2

Which of the following is not concerned with Geo-informatics?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative Techniques

Question 3

Which one of the following approach comprises of country/rural and town/urban planning?

Accepted Answer

Regional planning

Question 4

Which one of the following questions is related to cause-effect relationship?

Accepted Answer

Why

Question 5

Pedogenesis refers to:

Accepted Answer

The process of soil formation as regulated by the effects of place, environment, and history.

Question 6

Which among the following scholars has coined the term “Geography?”

Accepted Answer

Eratosthenese

Question 7

Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following scholars coined the term 'Geography'?

(a) Herodotus

(b) Erathosthenese

(c) Galileo

(d) Aristotle

(ii) Which one of the following features can be termed as 'physical feature'?

(a) Port

(b) Road

(c) Plain

(d) Water park

(iii) Make correct pairs from the following two columns and mark the correct option.

|  1. Meteorology | A. Population Geography  |
| --- | --- |
|  2. Demography | B. Soil Geography  |
|  3. Sociology | C. Climatology  |
|  4. Pedology | D. Social Geography  |

(a) 1B,2C,3A,4D

(b) 1A,2D,3B,4C

(c) 1D,2B,3C,4A

(d) 1C,2A,3D,4B

(iv) Which one of the following questions is related to cause-effect relationship?

(a) Why

(b) Where

(c) What

(d) When

(v) Which one of the following disciplines attempts temporal synthesis?

(a) Sociology

(b) Geography

(c) Anthropology

(d) History

Accepted Answer

(i) Correct answer: (b) Erathosthenese
Explanation: Erathosthenese, a Greek scholar, coined the term 'Geography' meaning 'writing about the Earth'.

(ii) Correct answer: (c) Plain
Explanation: Plain is a natural physical feature; port, road, and water park are man-made.

(iii) Correct answer: (d) 1C,2A,3D,4B
Explanation:
1. Meteorology - C. Climatology
2. Demography - A. Population Geography
3. Sociology - D. Social Geography
4. Pedology - B. Soil Geography

(iv) Correct answer: (a) Why
Explanation: 'Why' questions seek cause-effect relationships.

(v) Correct answer: (d) History
Explanation: History attempts temporal synthesis by studying events over time. — Step-by-step:
(i) Erathosthenese coined 'Geography'.
(ii) Physical features are natural; plain fits.
(iii) Match the disciplines correctly as per definitions.
(iv) Cause-effect is asked by 'Why'.
(v) Temporal synthesis is done by History.

Question 8

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) What important cultural features do you observe while going to school? Are they similar or dissimilar? Should they be included in the study of geography or not? If yes, why?

(ii) You have seen a tennis ball, a cricket ball, an orange and a pumpkin. Which one amongst these resembles the shape of the earth? Why have you chosen this particular item to describe the shape of the earth?

(iii) Do you celebrate Van Mahotsava in your school? Why do we plant so many trees? How do the trees maintain ecological balance?

(iv) You have seen elephants, deer, earthworms, trees and grasses. Where do they live or grow? What is the name given to this sphere? Can you describe some of the important features of this sphere?

(v) How much time do you take to reach your school from your house? Had the school been located across the road from your house, how much time would you have taken to reach school? What is the effect of the distance

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between your residence and the school on the time taken in commuting?
Can you convert time into space and vice versa?

Accepted Answer

(i) Cultural features observed may include language, dress, festivals, food habits, and social behavior. They may be similar or dissimilar depending on the region. Yes, they should be included in geography as they influence human-environment interaction.

(ii) The orange resembles the Earth's shape as it is nearly spherical but slightly flattened at poles, similar to Earth's oblate spheroid shape.

(iii) Van Mahotsava is celebrated to promote tree planting. Trees are planted to maintain ecological balance by providing oxygen, preventing soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity.

(iv) These organisms live in the biosphere, the sphere of life on Earth. Important features include interaction of living organisms with air, water, and soil.

(v) Time taken depends on distance; if school is across the road, time reduces significantly. Distance affects commuting time. Time can be converted into space by considering speed (distance = speed × time) and vice versa. — Each answer explains the concept briefly:
(i) Cultural features are part of human geography.
(ii) Earth is an oblate spheroid, like an orange.
(iii) Trees maintain ecological balance.
(iv) Biosphere is the life-supporting sphere.
(v) Distance and time are interrelated; conversion depends on speed.

Question 9

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i) You observe every day in your surroundings that there is variation in natural as well as cultural phenomena. All the trees are not of the same variety. All the birds and animals you see, are different. All these different elements are found on the earth. Can you now argue that geography is the study of “areal differentiation”?

(ii) You have already studied geography, history, civics and economics as parts of social studies. Attempt an integration of these disciplines highlighting their interface.

Accepted Answer

(i) Yes, geography is the study of areal differentiation because it examines the spatial variations and differences in natural and cultural phenomena across the Earth's surface. The diversity in trees, animals, and human activities in different regions shows how geography studies these variations to understand the uniqueness of places.

(ii) Geography, history, civics, and economics are interconnected social sciences. Geography provides spatial context; history explains temporal changes; civics deals with governance and rights; economics studies resource use and production. Together, they help understand human societies comprehensively by integrating space, time, governance, and economic activities. — Step-by-step:
(i) Areal differentiation means spatial differences; geography studies these differences in nature and culture.
(ii) Integration shows how disciplines complement each other to explain human society and environment.

Question 10

Project Work

Select forest as a natural resource.

(i) Prepare a map of India showing the distribution of different types of forests.

(ii) Write about the economic importance of forests for the country.

(iii) Prepare a historical account of conservation of forests in India with focus on Chipko movements in Rajasthan and Uttaranchal.

Accepted Answer

(i) Students should prepare a map of India highlighting forest types such as Tropical Evergreen, Tropical Deciduous, Thorn, and Montane forests based on their distribution.

(ii) Forests provide timber, fuel, medicinal plants, support biodiversity, regulate climate, and contribute to the economy through forest-based industries.

(iii) The Chipko movement was a forest conservation movement where villagers hugged trees to prevent felling, notably in Uttarakhand (then Uttaranchal) and Rajasthan, highlighting community participation in forest protection. — Step-by-step:
(i) Use atlas or resources to mark forest types.
(ii) List economic benefits of forests.
(iii) Describe Chipko movement's history and impact.

Question 11

Who was the Greek scholar who first coined the term 'Geography', and what is the literal meaning of the word derived from its Greek roots?

Accepted Answer

Eratosthenes; description of the earth — The term 'Geography' was first coined by Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar (276-194 BC). It is derived from two Greek roots: 'geo' meaning earth and 'graphos' meaning description, thus literally meaning 'description of the earth'.

Question 12

Geography studies the variations of phenomena over space and attempts to find causal relationships between them. Which of the following is an example of such a geographical study?

Accepted Answer

Variation in cropping patterns related to soil, climate, market demand, and technology — Geography studies areal differentiation, meaning variations of phenomena over space and their causal relationships. For example, cropping patterns vary regionally due to factors like soil, climate, market demand, and technology, which geography seeks to explain.

Question 13

Fill in the blank: Geography is the study of _____ and their spatial variations and interrelationships on the Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

phenomena / geographical phenomena — Geography studies various phenomena (both physical and human) and their spatial variations and interrelationships on the Earth's surface.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the scope of physical geography?

Accepted Answer

Study of landforms, climate, soils, vegetation, water bodies, and natural hazards — Physical geography focuses on natural features and processes such as landforms, climate, soils, vegetation, water bodies, and natural hazards, which are vital for understanding the Earth's physical environment.

Question 15

Which approach to geography studies a phenomenon worldwide first and then identifies spatial patterns or typologies?

Accepted Answer

Systematic approach — The systematic approach studies geographical phenomena globally first, then identifies typologies or spatial patterns. It was introduced by Alexander Von Humboldt.

Geography as a Discipline

Geography as a Discipline — Study Notes

Introduction

Meaning and Definition of Geography

Scope of Geography

Practice Questions — Geography as a Discipline

All 14 Chapters in Fundamental of Physical Geography