GEOGRAPHY (39)
Important Model Board Question Paper 2026
Time: 3 Hrs. | Max. Marks: 80
General Instructions:
- (1) All questions are compulsory.
- (2) Draw relevant diagrams/graphs wherever necessary.
- (3) Use of colour pencil and map stencil is allowed.
- (4) Figures to the right indicate full marks.
(Below is the solved chain)
| No. | Column 'A' | Column 'B' | Column 'C' |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Consumer goods | Ready for direct consumption | Automobiles |
| 2 | Geography | Physical geography | Climatology |
| 3 | Migration | International | India to Australia |
| 4 | Formal region | Distinct boundaries | State |
| 5 | Urban land use | Industrial area | Pharmaceuticals |
1. A: Increase in dependency ratio will affect the economy.
R: Medical costs are high when there are more elderly in the population.
2. A: When cities grow, their functions also grow.
R: Cities have only one function.
3. A: Diversity is found in industrial production in India.
R: India is predominantly agrarian country.
4. A: Hardwood trees are found in equatorial evergreen Forest.
R: Lumbering is not developed on a commercial level in equatorial regions.
5. A: In India, industrial areas are found concentrated in few regions.
R: India is agricultural country.
1. Population composition:
(a) Age structure (b) Sex-ratio (c) Relief (d) Occupational structure
2. Types of settlements on the basis of spacing between the houses:
(a) Compact settlement (b) Dispersed settlement (c) Isolated settlement (d) Regional settlement
3. Primary economic activity factor which is not related directly to latitude:
(a) Lumbering (b) Fishing (c) Mining (d) Agriculture
4. Indicators of regional development:
(a) Literacy (b) Language (c) Life expectancy (d) Quality of population
5. Branches of physical geography:
(a) Geology (b) Pedology (c) Climatology (d) Population geography
- Migration affects the distribution and density of population. [True]
- Tertiary activities include only services. [True]
- Regions can be very small or very large. [True]
- Bakery industries are not located near the markets. [False]
- Man is not a social animal. [False]
(1) Mountainous regions are sparsely populated.
- Relief and Slope: Mountainous regions have steep slopes and rugged terrain, making construction of houses, roads, and railways difficult and expensive.
- Climate: The climate is often harsh, with very low temperatures, heavy rainfall, or snow, which is not suitable for human habitation.
- Agriculture: Soil erosion is high, and fertile land is scarce. Short growing seasons limit agricultural productivity.
- Accessibility: Lack of transport facilities restricts trade, industrial development, and mobility.
- Therefore, mountainous regions support fewer people and are sparsely populated.
(2) Rural to urban migration is increasing.
- Employment Opportunities: Urban areas offer better job opportunities in secondary and tertiary sectors compared to the seasonal nature of agriculture in rural areas.
- Standard of Living: Cities provide better amenities like education, healthcare, electricity, and entertainment.
- Pull Factors: The attraction of city life, higher wages, and social mobility pull people from villages.
- Push Factors: Poverty, lack of land, and unemployment in rural areas push people towards cities.
(3) Industrial growth is limited in South America.
- Physiography: Large parts of the continent are covered by the Andes Mountains and the dense Amazon rainforest, which hinder infrastructure development.
- Climate: The extreme tropical climate in the north and arid deserts affect human efficiency and industrial setup.
- Inaccessible Resources: Although rich in minerals, many deposits are located in inaccessible regions.
- Political Instability: Historically, political instability and lack of capital investment have slowed down industrial progress.
(4) The suburbs near main cities are rapidly developing.
- Congestion in Cities: Main cities face high land prices, pollution, and overcrowding.
- Better Connectivity: Improvement in transport (metro, highways) allows people to live in suburbs and commute to the city for work.
- Cheaper Housing: Land and housing are more affordable in suburbs compared to the city center (CBD).
- Space: Suburbs offer more open space for larger residential complexes and industries.
(5) Lumbering is developed on a large scale in Canada.
- Coniferous Forests: Canada has vast belts of coniferous forests (Taiga) with soft wood trees like Pine, Spruce, and Fir.
- Homogeneous Species: Trees of the same species are found in pure stands, making commercial exploitation easier.
- Climate: Frozen rivers in winter act as natural roads for transporting logs (logging is done in winter, transport in spring).
- Demand: High demand for paper, pulp, and newsprint in the global market drives the industry.
(1) Physical Geography and Human Geography.
| Physical Geography | Human Geography |
|---|---|
| Studies natural features and phenomena (Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere). | Studies human activities and their relationship with the environment. |
| Branches: Geomorphology, Climatology, Oceanography. | Branches: Economic Geography, Population Geography, Settlement Geography. |
| Focuses on nature. | Focuses on Man. |
(2) Expansive Pyramid and Constrictive Pyramid.
| Expansive Pyramid | Constrictive Pyramid |
|---|---|
| Broad base indicating high birth rate. | Narrower base indicating lower birth rate. |
| Tapers rapidly towards the top (high death rate). | Apex is not extremely narrow (lower death rate, higher life expectancy). |
| Typical of developing/underdeveloped countries (e.g., Nigeria). | Typical of developed countries (e.g., Sweden). |
(3) Large-scale industries and Cottage industries.
| Large-scale Industries | Cottage Industries |
|---|---|
| Require huge capital investment and large machinery. | Require very little capital and simple hand tools. |
| Located in specific industrial zones; employ specialized labor. | Usually run at home by family members; hereditary skills. |
| Production for international or national markets (e.g., Iron & Steel). | Production for local markets (e.g., Pottery, Handicrafts). |
(Note: Students must practice marking these locations on a physical World Map)
- Country having highest population in the World: Mark India (Note: As per recent data, India has surpassed China, but check specific textbook edition. If 2011 census is strictly followed, China).
- Mega city on the western coast of India: Mark Mumbai.
- Grassland in the U.S.A.: Mark the Prairies (Central North America).
- Major industrial country in Northern part of South America: Mark Venezuela (Oil industry) or broadly Brazil (though Brazil is central/east). Venezuela is strictly North.
- Canal connecting Asia, Europe and Africa continents: Mark the Suez Canal.
- Largest desert in Africa: Mark the Sahara Desert.
- Sparsely populated snow covered island in North Atlantic ocean: Mark Greenland.
- Country having highest life expectancy in Asia: Mark Japan.
(Based on standard map reading questions)
- Which is the major international airport in Europe?
Ans: London (Heathrow) or Rome/Paris as shown on the specific map provided in exam. - Which rail route connects two continents?
Ans: Trans-Siberian Railway (connects Europe and Asia). - Which canal connects Pacific ocean and Atlantic ocean?
Ans: Panama Canal. - Which continent does not have any permanent means of transportation?
Ans: Antarctica. - Name an international airport in Africa.
Ans: Johannesburg or Cairo (depending on map labels).
(1) Shifting Agriculture.
Also known as 'Slash and Burn' agriculture. It is a primitive subsistence farming method practiced in tropical forest regions (Amazon, Congo, Northeast India). A patch of forest is cleared by burning. Seeds are sown in the ashes. The land loses fertility after 2-3 years, and the farmer moves to a new patch. It causes deforestation and soil erosion. It is known by different names like 'Jhum' in India and 'Roca' in Brazil.
(2) Means of communication and their importance.
Communication involves the exchange of information. It is classified into personal (telephone, email) and mass communication (TV, radio, internet). Importance: It integrates the world (Global Village), facilitates trade and commerce, aids in disaster management, helps in education, and supports defense systems. Modern satellite communication and the internet have revolutionized the speed and volume of data transfer.
(3) Causes of regional imbalances in India.
Regional imbalance refers to disparities in development between different regions. Causes include:
1. Historical Factors: British focused on port cities (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai).
2. Geographical Factors: Himalayan states and desert regions (Rajasthan) face difficult terrain.
3. Availability of Resources: Mineral-rich states (Jharkhand) vs resource-poor states.
4. Infrastructure: Lack of power, transport, and water in some states hinders industrialization.
(4) Footloose Industries.
Industries that are not tied to a specific location based on raw materials are called footloose industries. The raw materials are usually light, small, and valuable (e.g., electronic chips). Transportation costs for raw materials and finished products are low. They depend more on skilled labor, power supply, and accessibility (roads/airports). Examples: Electronics, Watchmaking, Diamond cutting, Software.
Topic: Mining – Use of minerals
(Passage : Mining – Use of minerals
Man has been using minerals since ancient times. Minerals have been used for making weapons, tools, jewellery, medicines, utensils, etc. The various stages of cultural evolution of man are also related to the use of minerals. At the end of the Stone Age, man developed skills of using minerals. Various periods like the Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Atomic Age respectively were delineated accordingly.
Man has even started exploiting the mineral oil and natural gas reserves from the sea and ocean beds too.
Man cannot manufacture the minerals that are found naturally in the earth’s crust. The distribution of minerals is highly uneven in the world. The activity depends solely on the availability of minerals and not related to latitude directly. Even though the minerals may be present, actual mining depends on several factors such as the geology of the region, the value of minerals, climate, capital investment, technology , skilled labour, etc. Due to mechanisation, this occupation has developed on a large scale.)
(1) What kind of minerals are exploited by man from sea and ocean beds?
(2) Why have humans been using minerals since ancient times?
(3) What is the reason for large scale development of mining activity?
(4) Why the mining activity is not related to latitude directly?
(Students should practice drawing these)
- Linear Settlement Pattern: Houses arranged along a road, river, or canal.
- Demographic Transition Theory (Stage 1 and 2): Graph showing BR and DR.
- Classification of Industries: Flow chart based on raw material or capital.
(1) Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population. Give suitable examples.
Population distribution is uneven across the world. While physical factors are primary, human factors play a crucial role:
- Agriculture: Fertile regions support agriculture and high population density. Example: The Ganga plains in India and the Nile delta in Egypt are densely populated due to intensive agriculture.
- Mining: Discovery of minerals attracts labor and industries, turning even harsh climates into populated areas. Example: Katanga copper belt in Africa or the Chota Nagpur Plateau in India.
- Transportation: Regions with good transport connectivity (roads, ports, railways) attract trade and population. Example: Coastal cities like Mumbai and Singapore.
- Urbanization/Industrialization: Cities offer jobs, education, and health facilities. Industrial belts attract migrants. Example: The Tokyo-Yokohama industrial region in Japan.
- Political and Government Policies: Government incentives to settle in sparse areas (e.g., Siberia in Russia) or political unrest (migration from Syria) affect distribution.
(2) What is primary economic activity? Explain the types of primary economic activities.
Definition: Economic activities that depend directly on nature and involve the extraction or utilization of natural resources (land, water, vegetation, minerals) are called primary economic activities.
Types:
- Hunting and Gathering: The oldest activity. People hunt animals and gather fruits/roots. Now restricted to tribes like Bushmen (Kalahari) and Pygmies (Congo).
- Fishing: Catching fish from oceans, rivers, and lakes. Developed in regions with indented coastlines and shallow continental shelves (e.g., Dogger Bank, Japan coast).
- Lumbering: Cutting wood from forests. Commercial lumbering is highly developed in Coniferous forests (Canada, Scandinavia) due to softwood.
- Animal Husbandry: Rearing animals for milk, meat, and wool. Ranges from nomadic herding to commercial livestock ranching (e.g., Downs in Australia, Prairies).
- Agriculture: The most important activity. Cultivation of crops. Includes subsistence farming, plantation farming, and extensive commercial grain farming.
- Mining: Extraction of minerals from the earth. It is the base for industrial development.
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