Life in Deserts

Q1. Answer the following questions.

(a) What are the two types of deserts found in the world?

Ans:

Two types of deserts found in the world are:

1. Hot Desert
2. Cold Desert

(b) In which continent is the Sahara desert located?

Ans:

The Sahara Desert is located in the continent of Africa. It covers a large part of North Africa.

(c) What are the climatic conditions of the Ladakh desert?

Ans:

1. Ladakh is a cold desert that lies in the Great Himalayas.
2. The altitude of Ladakh varies from 3000m to 8000m.
3. Hence, the climate is very cold and dry.
4. The air is so thin that the heat of the sun can be felt intensely.
5. The temperature in winter is less than –40°C, and the day temperature in summer is just above zero degrees.

(d) What mainly attracts tourists to Ladakh?

Ans:

1. Tourism is a major activity and many tourists from India and abroad visit Ladakh every year. 
2. They visit the Buddhist monasteries and gompas. 
3. The tourists go trekking to see the meadows and glaciers.
4. They also enjoy the important ceremonies and festivities of Ladakh.

(e) What type of clothes do the people of the Sahara Desert wear?

Ans:

The people of the Sahara Desert wear heavy robes to protect themselves against dust storms and wind.

(f) Name the trees that grow in Ladakh.

Ans:

1. Fruit trees like apple, apricot and walnut grow during the summer season in Ladakh.
2. There are scanty patches of shrubs and grasses for animals to graze.
3. Due to the cold climate, there is not much fauna in this region.

Q2. Tick the correct answer.

(i) Sahara is located in which part of Africa?

Ans: (b) Northern

(ii) Sahara is what type of desert?

Ans: (b) Hot

(iii) The Ladakh desert is mainly inhabited by

Ans: (b) Buddhists and Muslims

(iv) Deserts are characterised by

Ans: (a) Scanty vegetation

(v) Hemis in the Ladakh is a famous

Ans: (c) Monastery

(vi) Egypt is famous for growing

Ans: (c) Cotton

Q3. Match the following:

Ans:

Q4. Give reasons.

(i) There is scanty vegetation in the deserts.

Ans:

1. A desert is an area which receives low rainfall and has extreme temperatures.
2. These climatic conditions are not suitable for the growth of plants.
3. Hence, there is scanty vegetation in the deserts.

(ii) People of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes.

Ans:

1. The climate in the Sahara Desert is scorching hot and the wind is dry.
2. Hence, the people of the Sahara Desert wear heavy robes to protect themselves from dust storms and dry wind.