Class 8 Geography Chapter 4 Agriculture Ncert Textbook Questions Solved

Class 8 Geography Chapter 4 Agriculture Ncert Textbook Questions Solved

Question 1.

Answer the following questions.

(i) What is agriculture?

(ii) Name the factors influencing agriculture.

(iii) What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?

(iv) What is plantation agriculture?

(v) Name the fibre crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.

Answer:

(i) Agriculture is the primary activity that involves the cultivation of crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock.

(ii) Factors influencing agriculture include the topography of soil and climate.

(iii) Shifting cultivation is the type of farming in which agricultural activities are shifted from one field to another when the fertility of the soil of the former is diminished

Disadvantages:

• Deforestation

• Soil erosion

• Small patches for cultivation

• Not sufficient for feeding a large population.

(iv) Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where only a single crop (like tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton) is grown. A large amount of labour and capital are required. The product is processed on the farm itself or nearby factories.

(v) Two major fiber crops are jute and cotton. Jute grows well on alluvial soil and requires high temperature, heavy rainfall, and a humid climate for its growth. Cotton needs high temperatures, light rainfall, and bright sunshine for its proper growth.

Question 2.

Tick the correct Answer:

(i) Horticulture means

(a) growing of fruits and vegetables

(b) primitive farming

(c) growing of wheat

(ii) Golden fiber refers to

(a) tea

(b) cotton

(c) jute

(iii) Leading producers of coffee

(a) Brazil

(b) India

(c) Russiac

Answer:

(i) (a), (ii) (c), (iii) (a).

Question 3.

Give reasons.

(i) In India agriculture is a primary activity.

(ii) Different crops are grown in different regions.

Answer:

(i) Agriculture is an activity of growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and rearing of livestock. It is a primary activity since it directly involves natural resources. In India, a huge number of people derive the activity from their ancestors. Due to lack of literacy in general, farmers prefer agriculture since they acquire the required skills from their ancestors, and so feel comfortable with it.

(ii)

• Different topography

• Different soils

• Different climates

• Different lifestyles of the people in different regions.

Question 4.

Distinguish between the following.

(i) Primary activities and secondary activities.

(ii) Subsistence farming and intensive farming.

Answer:

(i)

 

Question 5.

Find out the difference between the lifestyle of farmers in the USA and India on the basis of pictures collected from magazines, books, newspapers and the internet.

Answer:

The lifestyle of an Indian farmer is quite different from that of a farmer in the USA. An Indian farmer does not have much land whereas the average size of a farm in the USA is about 250 hectares. An Indian farmer lives in his house but an American farmer lives in his farm. A farmer in India applies his own experience, and advice of other farmers and elders regarding farming practices. But a farmer in the USA gets his soil tested in laboratories to assess the nutrients of the soil. An Indian farmer does not know of any technical advancements whereas a farmer in the USA has a computer which is linked to the satellite. In comparison to an Indian farmer, an American farmer is much more advanced in every aspect.

Class 8 Geography Chapter 4 Agriculture Exercise Questions

Question 1.

Choose the correct option

(i) Which of these is a tertiary activity?

(a) manufacturing wool

(b) selling grocery

(c) agriculture

(d) none of these

(ii) What is the breeding of fish known as?

(a) agriculture

(b) pisciculture

(c) sericulture

(d) viticulture

(iii) What is the main crop in intensive subsistence agriculture?

(a) rice

(b) maize

(c) wheat

(d) oilseeds

(iv) Which form of farming is also called “slash and bum” agriculture?

(a) subsistence farming

(b) shifting cultivation

(c) plantation

(d) mixed farming

(v) Which of these is not a plantation product?

(a) rubber

(b) coffee

(c) rice

(d) tea

(vi) In what season is wheat grown in India?

(a) summer

(b) winter

(c) monsoon

(d) autumn

(vii) Name the staple diet of tropical and sub-tropical regions.

(a) wheat

(b) rice

(c)jute

(d) coffee

Answer:

(i) (b), (ii) (b), (iii) (a), (iv) (b),

(v) (c), (vi) (b), (vii) (b).

Question 2.

Fill in the blank spaces given to complete each sentence.

1. In the world, ………. percent of the population is engaged in agriculture.

2. …………. is the commercial rearing of silkworms.

3. ………. and …………… are two fundamental types of farming.

4. In the thickly populated areas of monsoon regions of Asia, the major class of farming done is ……………..

5. …………, ………….., ………….. and …………. are animals usually reared by nomadic herders.

6. In ………., the land is used for growing food and fodder crops and rearing livestock.

7. ………….. and ……….. are fibre crops.

8. Tea is a major…………… crop in India.

9. Wheat thrives best in ……………. soil.

10. The three major millets in India are ………….. and ………..

Answer:

1. 50

2. Sericulture

3. Subsistence farming and commercial farming

4. intensive subsistence farming

5. Yak, sheep, goat, camel

6. mixed farming

7. Cotton, jute

8. plantation

9. loamy

10. jowar, bajra, ragi

Question 3.

State whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F).

1. Favourable topography of soil and climate is vital for agriculture.

2. Household labour is involved in subsistence farming.

3. A transport network is significant for plantation agriculture.

4. Major plantations are found in tundra regions.

5. In the USA, the farmer usually resides on the farm.

Answer:

1. True

2. True

3. True

4. False

5. True

Question 4.

Match the items given in Column I correctly with those given in Column II

 

Answer:

(i) (c), (ii) (a), (iii) (b), (iv) (d), (v) (j), (vi) (g), (vii) (e).