Extra questions that could be asked on your exam from chapter 2 geography are given below.

1. What is the shape of the earth?

The earth is not a sphere. It has a flattened shape at the South and North poles and it is bulged in the middle.

2. The …………………………… is a miniature form of the earth.

Globe

3. Write a brief note on northern and southern hemispheres

The equator is the imaginary line that divides a globe into two equal halves. The part of the earth above the equator (the northern half) is known as the northern hemisphere and the part of the globe below the equator (the southern half) is known as the southern hemisphere.

4. Name the imaginary circular line that divides the earth into two equal halves.

Equator

5. What are parallels of latitudes?

All parallel lines from the equator to the poles are called parallels of latitudes. They are measured in degrees.

6. The zero degree latitude is represented by the ………………………………….

Equator

7. The distance from the equator to the North Pole is ……………………………..

90 degrees

8. The South Pole is marked by the latitude ………………………..

90 degree south

9. Name the important parallels of latitudes

The important parallels of latitude are:

a) Tropic of Cancer (23 ½ degree N) in the northern hemisphere
b) Tropic of Capricorn (23 ½ degree S) in the southern hemisphere
c) Arctic Circle (66 ½ degree N) in the northern hemisphere
d) Antarctic Circle (66 ½ degree S) in the southern hemisphere

10. Define the Torrid Zone

The area between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn is the Torrid Zone. It receives the maximum heat. In the Torrid Zone the mid-day sun is exactly overhead at least once a year on all latitudes.

11. What are temperate zones?

Temperate zones are the area between Tropic of Cancer and Arctic Circle in the northern hemisphere and the area between Tropic of Capricorn and Antarctic Circle in the southern hemisphere. These regions have moderate temperatures.

12. What are Frigid Zones?

Areas lying between Arctic circle and north pole in the Northern hemisphere and Antarctic circle and south pole in the southern hemisphere receive very little heat and light. Hence, these regions are extremely cold. These are called frigid zones.

13. All the meridians meet at the ……………………..

Poles

14. Why do we need longitudes and latitudes?

We cannot determine the position of a place with the help of latitudes alone. In order to locate them precisely, we need to know how far east or west these places are from a given latitude. These lines of references are called meridians of longitudes.

15. What is the Prime Meridian?

The meridian which passes through Greenwich where the British Royal Observatory is located is called the Prime Meridian.

16. What is the value of Prime Meridian?

0 degree longitude

17. The earth is divided into eastern hemisphere and western hemisphere by the prime meridian and ……………………………

180 degree meridian

18. Why are places east of Greenwich ahead of time?

Earth moves from west to east and because of this places east of Greenwich are ahead of time and places west of Greenwich are behind time.

19. When it is 12 noon at Prime Meridian, it will be midnight at ……………………. meridian.

180 degree meridian

20. In India the standard meridian has a value of …………………………….

82 ½ degree East

21. What is IST?

IST or Indian Standard Time is the local time at 82 ½ degree East meridian. Since several meridians pass through the country, it is important to adopt the local time at a central meridian as the standard time for the country.

22. The earth is divided into ………………………….. time zones.

24

23. Difference between Indian Standard Time (IST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

5 hours 30 minutes. IST is ahead of GMT by 5 hours 30 minutes.

24. How longitudes help in calculating time?

Time is measured by the movement of the earth. It takes about 24 hours to rotate on its axis from west to east. In other words, the earth takes 24 hours to rotate 360 degrees. That means it takes 4 minutes to rotate 1 degree. The earth has been divided into 24 time zones of one hour each and each place on earth has different local times. Places east of Greenwich meridian are ahead of time and places west of Greenwich meridian are behind time.

25. Why is it 5.30 pm in India when it is 12 noon at London?

London is located on 0 degree longitude whereas the local time at 82 ½ degree E Meridian is the standard time of India. That means there is a difference of 82 ½ degrees between the standard time of India and the time at London. The earth takes 4 minutes to rotate 1 degree; hence it takes 330 minutes (4 x 82 ½) to rotate 82 and half degree. Since India is to the east of London, its time is ahead and that is why it is 5.30 pm in India when it is 12 noon at London.

26. Differentiate latitudes and longitudes

Latitudes are the imaginary horizontal lines on the globe. Important latitudes are:

Equator – 0 degree latitude
Tropic of Cancer – 23 ½ degree North
Arctic Circle – 66 ½ degree North
Tropic of Capricorn – 23 ½ degree South
Antarctic Circle – 66 ½ degree South

Longitudes are the imaginary vertical lines on a globe drawn to locate places and calculate time. The important longitudes are

Prime Meridian – 0 degree longitude
International Date Line – 180 degree longitude

True or false

1. The globe is a true model of the earth.
2. On a globe, the countries, continents and oceans are shown in their correct size.
3. Earth’s axis is an imaginary line.
4. The northern and southern hemispheres are equal in size.
5. All parallels north of the equator are called north longitudes.
6. All parallels of latitudes are of equal length.
7. All meridians of longitudes are of equal length.

Answers

1. True; 2. True; 3. True; 4. True; 5. True; 6. False; 7. True