Geography - Life in Temperate Grasslands (Extra Questions)

Life in Temperate Grasslands  (Extra Questions)

1. What are the Temperate Grasslands of North America called?
 The temperate grasslands of North America are called the Prairies.

2. What are the cattle farms in the North American Grasslands known as?
The cattle farms in the North American grasslands are known as ranches.

3. Name the rivers that drain the Velds.
The rivers Orange and Limpopo drain the Velds.

4. When is the rainy season in the Velds?
The rainy season in the Velds is from November to February.

5. What is the major occupation of the people of the South African grasslands?
The major occupation of the people of the South African grasslands is sheep rearing. Apart from this, dairy farming and mining are the other important occupations of the people of this region.

6. Define grasslands. 
 Grasslands can be defined as the region where the dominant vegetation consists of grasses with little or no tree cover.

7. What is the extent of Prairies? 
 This wide expanse of undulating flatland stretches from West of the Mississippi River up to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

8. Where are Prairies located? 
It is located in both the USA and Canada.

9. Which place is known as ‘the Gateway to the Prairies?’ 
Winnipeg

10. Why do Prairies of North America experience extreme type of climate? 
Prairies of North America experience extreme type of climate because it is located in the interior part of the continent and is far from the moderating influence of the oceans.

11. Why does the temperature in winter reach below freezing point? 
Due to absence of obstruction, the Polar winds enter the interior part of the continent and bring down the temperature below freezing point in winter.

12. Why do the grasslands receive moderate amount of rainfall? 
Grasslands lies in the rain shadow region of Rocky Mountains and also because of the distance from the sea.

13. Why Prairies are called the wheat basket of the world? 
As Prairies are famous for the cultivation of wheat. 

14. Name few crops grown in Prairies. 
Wheat, Barley, Oats, Flax, Maize and Potatoes.

15.  Which are two different types of occupation practiced in Prairies? 
Farming and Animal Rearing. 

16. What are ranches? 
 Cattle live in large farms called ranches.

17.  Define multi cropping. 
Growing more than one crop in the same field in the same season is called multi cropping.

18. What is strip cropping? 
When different types of crops are planted in parallel bands across a field then it is called strip cropping.

19. Where is contour farming practiced? 
 On the slopes of hills and mountains

 20. Name the two minerals found in Prairies. 
Coal and Iron.

21.  Where is dairy farming practiced in Prairies? 
From the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast

22. Where is the world’s biggest meat packaging centre as well as the biggest rail junction located?  Chicago in USA.

23. Why are most of the ranches located close to major road and rail networks? 
Facilitates easy and quick transportation of goods.

24. Name the town in Canada that serves as a collection, storage and distribution point of goods.  Winnipeg

25. Where are the Prairies located? 
Prairies are found in both the USA and Canada.

26. What do occupation people practice in the ranches? 
In the ranches people practice mixed farming, that is, along with farming they rear different animals for milk and meat.

27. Name the major rivers of the Prairies. 
Saskatchewan River and its tributaries are the most important life-giving force of the Canadian prairies, while in the USA Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Dakota Rivers drain the region.

28.  What are the east and west boundaries of grassland in South Africa? 
Grasslands in South Africa is bounded on the east by Drakensburg Mountain and Kalahari Desert in the West.

29.  What is the meaning of Veldt? 
Field

30.  Name the rivers that flow through the veldt. 
Limpopo, Orange and Vaal

31. What are the steps taken by the Government to protect rare species of animals? 
 Government has setup national parks and sanctuaries to protect rare species of animals.

32.  Which is the most important occupation of people in the veldt? 
 Sheep Rearing 

33. Which animals in the region are known for their fine quality wool? 
 Angora Goats and Merino Sheep 

34. Why farming is affected in the region? 
Farming is affected by low amount of rainfall and occasional droughts.

35.  Name the tribes that live in Veldts. 
 Bantus, Sans and Khoikhois 

36. Which food crops are grown in the region? 
Food crops such as maize, wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, cucumber and fruits are grown in the region.

37. Why the Prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the World’.
Scientific methods of cultivation and the use of tractors, harvesters and combines have made North America a surplus food producer. The Prairies are called the ‘Granaries of the world’ due to the huge production of wheat in this region.

38. Why Rise of wool industry in the Velds.
Sheep rearing is the most-important occupation in the Velds. Sheep is bred mainly for wool, and has given rise to the wool industry in the Velds.

39. What are the broad categories of grasslands in the world?
 Grasslands growing in the temperate regions and grasslands growing in the tropical regions.

40. Why is the soil in the velds not very fertile?
Because of the presence of discontinuous grasses exposing barren surface.

41. What are velds?
The temperate grasslands of South Africa are called velds. They are rolling plateaus with varying heights ranging from 600 m to 1100m.

42. Describe the people and their activities in the velds region.

• Dairy farming: This is the next important occupation. Cattle are reared in the warmer and wetter regions and the dairy products like butter and cheese are produced both for domestic supply and exports.
• Mining: The velds are rich in mineral wealth. The mining activity includes coal, iron, gold and diamond. Johannesburg is called the ‘gold capital of the world’. Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines.
• Agriculture: In places where the soil is fertile, crops are grown. The main crops are maize, wheat, barley, oats and potato. Cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane and cotton are also grown. In many places, the soil is not very fertile due to the presence of discontinuous grasses exposing barren surface.

43. Write a note on the climate of the velds.

The climate in the velds is mild due to the influence of the Indian Ocean. Winters are cold and dry. July is the coldest month. The temperatures in winter vary between 5C and 10C. Summers are short and warm. Johannesburg records a temperature of 20C in summer season. Rainfall occurs mainly in the months of November to February; and it is due to the warm ocean currents that wash the shores of the velds. If the winter months from June to August receive scanty rainfall, drought may occur.

44. Describe the flora and fauna of the prairies.

Flora: Prairies are practically treeless. Based on availability of water, the plants found in the area, differ.

• Where water is available, trees such as willows, alders and poplars grow.
• Where rainfall is above 50 cm, farming is practiced as the soil is fertile. The main crop here is maize. The other crops that are grown in this area include potatoes, soyabean, alfa-alfa and cotton.
• Areas where rainfall is very little or unreliable, short and sparse grasses are found. These areas are suitable for cattle rearing. Large cattle farms are called ranches.
• Fauna: The main animal here is the bison or the American buffalo. It has nearly got extinct due to its indiscriminate hunting. Other animals found in this region are rabbits, Prairie dogs, coyotes and gophers.

45. Write a note on the people of the prairies.

The people of the prairie region are very industrious and have successfully harnessed technology to utilize its natural resources. The two most developed countries – the USA and Canada are located in this region.

• Agriculture: Scientific methods of cultivation and use of tractors, harvesters and combines have made North America a surplus producer of food grains. The Prairies are also called the ‘Granaries of the world’ due to surplus wheat production.
• Dairy farming: It is another major industry in this region. The dairy belt extends from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast in the east.
• Food processing industries: Dairy farming and surplus production in agriculture promote setting up of food processing industries.
• Mineral resources: This region has rich deposits of iron and coal.
• Infrastructure: A very good network of roads, railways and canals in this region, has made it the most industrialized region in the world.

46. Explain the climate of the Velds.

The Velds have a mild climate due to the influence of the Indian Ocean. Winters are cold and dry. Temperatures vary between 5°C and 10°C and July is the coldest month. Summers are short and warm. The Velds receive rainfall mainly in the summer  months from November to February.

47. Write a note on mineral reserve of the Velds.

The Velds have rich reserve of minerals. Iron and steel industry has developed where coal and iron are present. Gold and diamond mining are major occupations of people of this region. Johannesburg is known for being the gold capital of the world.

Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines. Mining of diamond and gold in South Africa led to the establishment of trade ties with Britain and gradually South Africa became a British Colony. This mineral rich area has a well-developed network of transport.