Bharathavarsha Class 8 Extra Questions and Answers Notes
We have provided here Bharathavarsha Class 8 Extra Questions and Answers Notes by our Experienced Teacher. This Extra Questions and Answers Notes consists of MCQ Questions and Answers; Very Short Type Questions and Answer & Short Type Questions and Answers.
Multiple Choice Questions:
1) What is the term used to describe the period before the discovery of writing?
a) Prehistoric age
b) Ancient age
c) Classical age
d) Modern age
Answer: a)
2) Which geographical feature surrounds India on three sides?
a) Mountains
b) Deserts
c) Oceans
d) Plateaus
Answer: c)
3) Which river separates India into the Malwa plateau and the Deccan Plateau?
a) Ganges
b) Yamuna
c) Narmada
d) Brahmaputra
Answer: c)
4) What were the primary implements used by people in the Prehistoric age?
a) Metal tools
b) Stone, wood, and bone tools
c) Ceramic tools
d) Glass tools
Answer: b)
5) What major change in the environment is believed to have occurred 12,000 years ago?
a) Decrease in temperature
b) Expansion of deserts
c) Increase in temperature and the development of grasslands
d) Rise in sea levels
Answer: c)
6) Which age is characterized by the use of delicate stone implements?
a) Early Old Stone Age
b) Middle Stone Age
c) Late Old Stone Age
d) New Stone Age
Answer: b)
7) What is the primary difference in weapons between the New Stone Age and earlier periods?
a) Bright and sharp blades
b) Large size
c) Bone and wood construction
d) No significant difference
Answer: a)
8) What were grinding stones used for during the New Stone Age?
a) Creating weapons
b) Sculpting art
c) Grinding leaves, herbs, and grains
d) Building structures
Answer: c)
9) Where have cave drawings from the Stone Age been found in India?
a) Rajasthan
b) Himachal Pradesh
c) Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka
d) Kerala
Answer: c)
10) What is the term used to describe India’s cultural diversity despite cultural unity?
a) Cultural homogeneity
b) Cultural divide
c) Unity in diversity
d) Cultural isolation
Answer: c)
One liners
1) What is the geographical term for India being surrounded by water on three sides?
Ans: Peninsula
2) What is the name of the mountain range in the north of India?
Ans-Himalayas
3) What separates India into the Malwa plateau and the Deccan Plateau?
Ans: Narmada
4) What is the name of the vast coastline in India?
Ans: Coromandel
5) What is the term for the unity that exists despite cultural diversity in India?
Ans- Cultural unity
6) What is the name of the period before the discovery of writing?
Ans: Prehistoric
7) Who are the scholars who study the Prehistoric age?
Ans: Archaeologists
8) What kind of implements have survived from the Prehistoric age?
Ans-Stone
9) Where have relics of the Prehistoric age been found in India?
Ans- Bimbetka
10) What did people in the Prehistoric age use stone implements for?
Ans: Hunting
Short question answers
1.) Why is it important to study the geographical environment in relation to human history, especially in the case of India?
Ans: The study of the geographical environment is important because it affects human life and history. In the case of India, its diverse geography has shaped the country’s history. It is important to understand how geography has influenced human civilization.
2.) What geographical boundaries does India have with neighboring countries?
Answer: India shares its borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
3.) How has the Himalayan mountain range affected the historical security of India?
Answer: The Himalayas with their snow peaks acted as a natural barrier and provided security to India by limiting penetration from the northern part of the Himalayas.
4.) Which geographical region of India is characterized by flat, fertile land and was home to ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley and the Vedic period?
Answer: The Indo-Gangetic plains are flat and fertile and have ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley and the Vedic period.
5.) What is the importance of river Narmada in the geography of India?
Answer: The Narmada River divides India into two regions: the Malwa Plateau or Central Plateau and the Deccan Plateau in the south.
6.) What were the names of the east and west coasts of India and why were they historically important?
Answer: The eastern coast is known as Coromandel Coast and Utkal Coast, while the western coast is known as Konkan and Malabar Coast. These coasts with many ports attracted foreign trade and contributed to the emergence of powerful kingdoms in South India.
7.) What does the term “Loneliness in Diversity” mean in the context of India’s geographical and cultural diversity?
Answer: “Loneliness in diversity” refers to the cultural unity that binds India despite its geographical and cultural diversity.
8.) What is the prehistoric period and why is it difficult to study this period?
A: Prehistoric time is the time before the invention of writing. The study is difficult because there is no written evidence of this period and it predates linguistic development.
9.) Who are archaeologists and what evidence do they use to study prehistory?
A: Archaeologists are scientists who study prehistoric times. They use evidence such as stone tools and remains to understand how people lived at the time.
10.) How did the discovery of fires and cave drawings provide insight into prehistoric times?
A: The finding of ash in caves suggests the use of fire, while the cave drawings found in different places depict scenes of wild animals and hunting, which shed light on the lifestyle of prehistoric people.
Long question answers:
1) How has the geographical environment influenced human history, particularly in the case of India?
Ans: The geographical environment has had a profound impact on human history worldwide, and this relationship is particularly evident in India. India, being a vast subcontinent, is surrounded by water on three sides and shares its borders with several neighboring countries. This geographical location has shaped its history through interactions with surrounding regions. It consists of diverse geographical features, including the Himalayan mountain range in the North, the fertile Indo-Gangetic plain, the Deccan Plateau in the South, and an extensive coastline. These features have influenced settlement patterns, trade, agriculture, and historical events in India.
2) Explain the significance of the Himalayan mountain range in India’s geographical landscape and its historical implications.
Ans: The Himalayan mountain range in Northern India plays a crucial role in both its geographical and historical context. These towering mountains, with their snow-capped peaks, not only contribute to India’s natural beauty but also act as a natural barrier, preserving the safety and security of the region. Throughout history, there have been instances of intrusions into ancient India from the northern Himalayan region, particularly through passes like Bolan and Khyber. The control over these passes has been a strategic objective for various dynasties and empires in India.
3) Describe the significance of the Indo-Gangetic plain in India’s historical development. Provide examples of civilizations that thrived in this region.
Ans: The Indo-Gangetic plain, characterized by its flat and fertile landscape, has played a pivotal role in India’s historical development. It has been an extremely productive agricultural region, making it a cradle for ancient civilizations. Notable examples include the Indus Valley Civilization and the Vedic period. The fertile Gangetic plain has been a coveted area throughout history, leading to numerous battles and the establishment of empires by dynasties that gained control over this region.
4) How does the Narmada River influence India’s geography, and what historical significance does it hold?
Ans: The Narmada River serves as a geographical division, separating India into two distinct regions: the Malwa plateau or Central Highlands to the North and the Deccan Plateau in the South. Historically, these two regions were ruled by different dynasties, such as the Mauryas and the Guptas. The Narmada River’s geological and geographical role has impacted the historical development of these areas, influencing their culture, administration, and historical significance.
5) Discuss the importance of India’s extensive coastline in historical terms. How did it contribute to India’s historical interactions with the world?
Ans: India’s vast coastline, stretching over 6,100 kilometers, holds immense historical significance. The eastern coastline, known as the Coromandel Coast & Utkal Coast, and the western coastline, referred to as Konkan and Malabar coast, have been hubs for maritime activities and trade for centuries. These coastlines attracted foreign powers, including the Romans, due to their numerous ports. Foreign trade in ancient times primarily occurred through sea routes, leading to the rise of powerful kingdoms in the South, such as the Pandyas, Cheras, and Cholas. India’s coastline played a pivotal role in shaping its historical interactions with the world.