NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Geography Lifelines of National Economy
Question 1. Multiple choice questions.
(i) Which two of the following extreme locations are connected by the east-west corridor?
Mumbai and Nagpur
Silcher and Porbandar
Mumbai and Kolkata
Nagpur and Siligudi
Answer: (b) Silcher and Porbandar
Explanation: National Highway Development Project (NHDP), and consists of building 7300 kilometers of four/six lane expressways connecting Srinagar, Kanyakumari, Kochi, Porbandar and Silchar.
(ii) Which mode of transportation reduces trans-shipment losses and delays?
Railways
Roadways
Pipeline
Waterways
Answer: (c) Pipeline
Explanation: Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running costs are minimal. It rules out trans-shipment losses and delays.
(iii) Which one of the following states is not connected with the H.V.J. pipeline?
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (b) Maharashtra
Explanation: Gas pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat connects Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh via Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh.
(iv) Which one of the following ports is the deepest land-locked and well-protected port along the east coast?
Chennai
Paradwip
Tuticorin
Vishakhapatnam
Answer: (d) Vishakhapatnam
Explanation: Landlocked means enclosed in all sides by land. Vishakapatnam is naturally deep and hence, called a natural harbour.
(v) Which one of the following is the most important modes of transportation in India?
Pipeline
Railways
Roadways
Airways
Answer: (b) Railways
Explanation: It is one of the most important, commonly used and very cost effective modes of commuting and goods carriage overlong as well as, short distances.
(vi) Which one of the following terms is used to describe trade between two or more countries?
Internal trade
International trade
External trade
Local trade
Answer: (b) International trade
Explanation: International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product
Question 2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) State any three merits of roadways.
Answer: Merits of roadways:
The Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines.
Roads can go through dissected and undulating land areas and through steep mountains
They are economical as loading costs are low and door-to-door service can be availed of. Road transport is most suited for transporting delicate goods like chinaware and glassware, which are likely to be damaged in the process of loading and unloading.
(ii) Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transportation?
Answer: In the northern plains, rail transport is the most convenient means of transportation. This is because this region has vast level lands that are good for laying tracks, huge population and high agricultural productivity, making rail transport a profitable venture.It is used for both long distances as well as short distances.
(iii) What is the significance of the border roads?
Answer: Border roads are strategically important as they improve access to areas like the northern and north-eastern border areas which have a difficult terrain. Border roads are constructed and maintained by Border Roads Organization (BRO). The Government of India uundertakes, constructs and maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country. It improves the security because the army and arms can be mobilized easily through these roads.
(iv) What is meant by trade? What is the difference between international and local trade?
Answer: Trade is the movement of goods and services between regions for economic gain. Trade between two or more countries is termed international trade. It may take place through sea, air or land routes. Trade occurring in a region within the same country is called local trade. Local trade is carried in cities, towns and villages.
Question 3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Why are the means of transportation and communication called the lifelines of a nation and its economy?
Answer: The means of transportation and communication are called the lifelines of a nation and its economy due to the reasons given below:
The means of transportation and communication help in the production and movement of goods and services.
Transport helps in the development of communication. Various means of communication help us in interacting with others in all the parts of the world. It has brought the world closer.
Transport like railways helps us in conducting various activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage and transportation of goods over longer distances.
Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.
Water provides the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade.
Air transport provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport.
Question-1 Why is transport a necessity?
Solution:
Transport is necessary to carry passengers and goods from one place to another.
Question-2: Name five means of transport.
Solution:
There are five types of transport systems in India: roadways, railways, pipelines, waterways and airways.
Question-3 Why is communication a necessity of life?
Solution:
Communication is an essential requirement of human life. No one can live without interacting with others. Earlier communication between people was less and only face to face.
Now it has increased and the modes of communication have also changed. The increase in population and the change in the modes of communication are the result of increased human movement and transport of materials and goods. Today, we are living in the age of communication, using telephone, television, films and Internet. Even books, magazines and newspapers are the important means of communication. Various means of transport and communication have reduced distances, bringing the world closer.
Question-4 Name different categories of the means of communication.
Solution:
The means of communication are divided into two categories. They are means of personal and mass communication. In the former, we include postcard, letter, telegram, telephone, and now, Internet. The latter includes books, journals, magazines, newspapers, radio, television, and films. These are of two types : (a)print media (i.e., books, newspapers) and (b)electronic media (i.e., radio, television, films, computers).
Question-5 What is mass communication?
Solution:
Mass communication plays a vital role in creating awareness among the people about various national programmes and policies. These provide healthy entertainment as well. Important means of mass communication are radio, television, newspapers including magazines, books and films. These means communicate with several people at a time, and, hence, are called means of mass communication.
Question-6 Why is railway so important today?
Solution:
The railways are the main artery of inland transport in India (Fig. 6.3). It is the lifeline of the country for large-scale movement of traffic – freight and passengers. The railways are 150 years old in India. The total length of railways is about 63,000 km. With this length, India has the second largest railway network in Asia. The Indian railways carry 40,000 lakh passengers and 4,000 lakh tonnes of goods a year. It is the largest public sector undertaking of the country.
Question-7 The Great Plains has more railways than the Himalayan Mountains. Why?
Solution:
The distribution pattern of the railway network in the country has been influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors. Level land of the great plains of India, with high density of population and rich agriculture and greater industrial activity, have favoured development of railways in these areas. Flood plains of Bihar and Assam, and the rugged topography of the Himalayan region, have very few railway lines. Sparsely populated sandy deserts of Rajasthan and hilly tracts of the Sahyadri are unfavourable for the development of railways.
Question-8
What are the problems of railways today?
Solution:
Railway transport suffers from certain problems as well. Many passengers travel without tickets. They pull chains unnecessarily, which leads to late running of trains. People stop trains, which causes heavy losses to the Railways. Thefts and damaging of Railway property have not yet stopped completely.
Question-9 Explain National highway ?
Solution:
National highways connect one state with another and are of national importance. These roads are constructed and maintained by the central government. There is about 52,000 km of national highways.
Question-10
What are Expressway national highways?
Solution:
The Expressway national highways have been planned to meet the requirement of fast movement of traffic in the country.
Question-11
Name the places, which will be connected by golden quadrilateral Expressway highways.
Solution:
Golden Quadrilateral, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi, will have a length of 5846 km.
Question-12
Write the advantages of pipeline transportation for petroleum and natural gas.
Solution:
Pipelines are now used for transportation of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power plants. Such thermal power plants can now be constructed in a much shorter time and very close to their markets.
Question-13
Name any four international airports of India.
Solution:
Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Bombay
Question-14
Name two inland waterways of India.
Solution:
1. The Ganga river,between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km).
2.The Brahmaputra river, between Sadiya
3. Dhubri (891 km).
4. The West-coast canal, between Kollam and Kottayam (168 km).
Question-15
Name the major ports on the east coast of India
Solution:
Kolkata/Haldia, Paradip, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin are the major ports located on the east coast of India.
Question-16
Name the states where Mormugao, New Mangalore, Paradip and Tuticorin ports are located.
Solution:
Mormugao – Goa
New Mangalore – Karnataka
Paradip – Andhra Pradesh
Tuticorin – Tamil Nadu
Question-17
Name three means of mass communication.
Solution:
Books, magazines and newspapers are the three means of communication.
Question-18
What is meant by favourable balance of trade? Whether India’s foreign trade is favourable?
Solution:
If the value of exports is more than the value of imports, it is called a favourable balance of trade.
Question-19
Distinguish between Personal Communication and Mass Communication.
Solution:
Personal Communication is the means of communication between individuals.
Mass Communication is the means of communication reaching up to the masses, including doordarshan, radio, press, films, etc. Mass communication plays a vital role in creating awareness among the people about various national programmes and policies.
Question-20
Describe the importance of communication in modern days.
Solution:
Modern life is so complex that one has to depend on others. The same is true of the countries as well. No country today can prosper without the co-operation and assistance of others. This requires movement of goods and materials between countries. Trade provides us with our necessities and also adds to amenities and comfort of life.
Question-21
Describe various types of roads of India.
Solution:
The different types of roads in India are the national highways, state highways, district roads, village roads and border roads. Besides these, there are international highways, and free ways free ways (express ways).
Question-22
Why is communication a necessity of life?
Solution:
Communication is an essential requirement of human life. No one can live without interacting with others. Earlier communication between people was less and only face to face.
Now it has increased and the modes of communication have also changed. The increase in population and the change in the modes of communication are the result of increased human movement and transport of materials and goods. Today, we are living in the age of communication, using telephone, television, films and Internet. Even books, magazines and newspapers are the important means of communication. Various means of transport and communication have reduced distances, bringing the world closer.
Question-23
What is mass communication?
Solution:
Mass communication plays a vital role in creating awareness among the people about various national programmes and policies. These provide healthy entertainment as well. Important means of mass communication are radio, television, newspapers including magazines, books and films. These means communicate with several people at a time, and, hence, are called means of mass communication.
Question-24
Why is railways so important today?
Solution:
The railways are the main artery of inland transport in India (Fig. 6.3). It is the lifeline of the country for large-scale movement of traffic – freight and passengers. The railways are 150 years old in India. The total length of railways is about 63,000 km. With this length, India has the second largest railway network in Asia. The Indian railways carry 40,000 lakh passengers and 4,000 lakh tonnes of goods a year. It is the largest public sector undertaking of the country.
Question-25
The great plains has more railways than the Himalayan mountains. Why?
Solution:
The distribution pattern of the railway network in the country has been influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors. Level land of the great plains of India, with high density of population and rich agriculture and greater industrial activity, have favoured development of railways in these areas. Flood plains of Bihar and Assam, and the rugged topography of the Himalayan region, have very few railway lines. Sparsely populated sandy deserts of Rajasthan and hilly tracts of the Sahyadri are unfavourable for the development of railways.
Question-26
What has been the content and direction of India’s International Trade, and mention the major sea ports of India.?
Solution:
India has been mainly exporting goods to countries in Asia, Western Europe and America. These countries account for our imports also.
Manufactured goods like, gems and jewellery, ready made garments, agricultural products and mineral ores are our main exports.
Imports include petroleum products, precious stones, gold silver and chemicals.
The major seaports on the east coast are Kolkatta and Vishakhapattinam and on the west coast the major ports are Mumbai and Mangalore.
