North America

The Supercontinent that disintegrated to form the present continents is known as

1. Gondwanaland.
2. Pangaea.
3. Panthalassa.
4. Laurasia.

Answer

Pangaea.

North America lies between latitudes

1. 7°N-83°N
2. 7°S-83°S
3. 70°N-83°N
4. 20°N-80°N

Answer

7°N-83°N

Choose the incorrect statement about the locational details of North America.

1. Pacific Ocean separates Asia and North America.
2. Atlantic Ocean separates North America from Europe and Africa.
3. North America lies between the Arctic Circle and Equator.
4. Tropic of Cancer and Arctic Circle mark the territorial limits of North America.

Answer

Tropic of Cancer and Arctic Circle mark the territorial limits of North America.

Choose the incorrect statement about Western Cordilleras.

1. They are formed of the Andes, the Cascades and the Coastal Ranges.
2. They resemble the Himalayas as both are fold mountains.
3. Mt Mckinley is the highest peak here.
4. Volcanic activities threw up molten materials to form these gigantic mountains.

Answer

They are formed of the Andes, the Cascades and the Coastal Ranges.

Which of the following sentences are true for the rivers of North America?

a. Mississippi, the largest river of the continent, drains into the Gulf of Mexico.
b. Columbia River forms the Grand Canyon.
c. St Lawrence river joins the five Great Lakes.
d. River Mackenzie is a west-flowing river in Canada.

Choose the right answer from the following:

1. a. and c. are correct.
2. a. and b. are correct.
3. c. and d. are correct.
4. b. and c. are correct.

Answer

a. and c. are correct.

It is a narrow stretch of water body that separates Asia and North America.

1. the Bering Strait
2. the Bering Sea
3. the Panama Canal
4. the Gulf of Alaska

Answer

the Bering Strait

In lumbering, the riskiest work of climbing tall trees to cut their branches is done by the ............... .

1. sawyers
2. haulers
3. high riggers
4. skidders

Answer

high riggers

Two statements are given in the question below as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statement and choose the appropriate option:

Assertion (A): Lumbering is the most common occupation in Canada.

Reason (R): Coniferous forests occupy 60 per cent of the total land area of the country.

1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) is false and (R) is true.

Answer

Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation — Lumbering is one of the major occupations of the people in Canada as coniferous forests cover about 60 per cent of the total land area of the country and provide raw material for industries that produce paper, pulp, plywood, veneer, and so on.

Two statements are given in the question below as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statement and choose the appropriate option:

Assertion (A): Large number of lakes occupy the basins lying to the south of Hudson Bay.

Reason (R): Glaciers from the mountains melted and occupied the basins.

1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) is false and (R) is true.

Answer

Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation — These lakes were formed when glaciers melted after the Ice Age and filled the basins carved out by glacial action.

Give the single term for the following:

A narrow land mass linking North and South America.

Answer

Isthmus of Panama

Give the single term for the following:

The type of mountain, which the Western Cordilleras characterise.

Answer

Young fold mountains

Explain the differences between Laurasia and Gondwanaland.

Answer

Differences between Laurasia and Gondwanaland:

Explain the differences between Western Cordilleras and Eastern Highlands.

Answer

Differences between Western Cordilleras and Eastern Highlands:

Enumerate the major seas and oceans surrounding the continent of North America.

Answer

The major seas and oceans which surrounds the continent of North America are as follows:

1. Arctic Ocean in the North
2. The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in the South
3. The Atlantic Ocean in the east
4. Pacific Ocean in the west

Why have deserts developed in the south-western part of North America? Name the important deserts of this region.

Answer

The existence of the Western Cordilleras created rain-shadow conditions that led to the formation of four important desert regions, all in the south-western part of the continent.

The important deserts of this region are:

1. Great Basin Desert
2. Mojave Desert
3. Sonoran Desert
4. Chihuahuan Desert

List any three countries of North America. Also mention the capitals of each of the three nations.

Answer

Three countries of North America along with their capitals are:

What does the term 'lumbering' mean? Why is lumbering a major occupation in Canada?

Answer

'Lumbering' refers to the harvesting of timber and finally chopping them into required shapes and sizes.

Lumbering is one of the major occupations of the people in Canada as coniferous forests cover about 60 per cent of the total land area of the country and provide raw material for industries that produce paper, pulp, plywood, veneer, and so on. Canada is also the leading exporter of wood. About 31 per cent of the world's forest products are obtained from Canada.

Why do you think a lumberjack's life is full of hardships?

Answer

A lumberjack leads an isolated life which is full of hardships.

1. They set out in autumn to live in temporary wooden houses, or shanties, with steep roofs. Sometimes, constructing a house becomes a problem due to permanent frost on the ground.
2. Therefore, in summer, the lumberjacks build many kilometres of rough track roads deep into the forest. This track leads to the lumber camps, which consist of a few buildings with a kitchen, a dining room and a bedroom.
3. The climate is extremely cold, especially in winter, making outdoor work very difficult.
4. They have to cut down large trees using heavy tools and machinery, which is physically exhausting.
5. In the past, lumberjacks returned home walking many kilometres after several months of stiff work in the forest.

What are the favourite pastimes of a lumberjack after a hard day's work?

Answer

After a whole day's hard work in the forest, lumberjacks seek relaxation in activities such as swapping stories and socialising.

How has the transport system for lumberjacks improved over the years?

Answer

In the past, lumberjacks returned home walking many kilometres after several months of stiff work in the forest. Today, they take a plane, a snow mobile or a bus to travel long distances.

What changes have occurred in the life of the lumberjacks in recent years?

Answer

In the earlier days, lumberjacks used to live in lumber camps, which consist of a few buildings with a kitchen, a dining room and a bedroom. Earlier, their houses used to be crudely built log cabins, but today, they are more comfortable. Most of the lumberjacks now live in settled communities.

The life of the Canadian lumberjacks is on the way to modernisation. Following the introduction of a wide range of modern scientific tools and new techniques of lumbering, the task of the lumberjacks has become much easier than that of their predecessors. Many lumberjacks earn huge amount of money after working for several years in the log farms. They are called lumber barons. Some of the richest people in Canada today are the lumber barons. They enjoy a very high standard of living.

Look at these pictures to answer the questions below them:

Picture 1:

1. Identify the feature.
2. On which water body does it lie?
3. Which country will you visit to see this water body?

Picture 2:

1. Name the land feature.
2. Name the river in the picture.
3. Why is this feature important?

Answer

Picture 1:

1. The given picture shows Niagara Falls.
2. Niagara Falls lies on the Niagara River.
3. To see Niagara Falls, one would visit either Canada or the United States Of America.

Picture 2:

1. The land feature depicted in the given picture is the Grand Canyon.
2. The river in the given picture is Colorado River.
3. The Grand Canyon of Colorado is important as it attracts tourists because of its scenic beauty.