State whether true or false —
The Himalayas are young mountains with rounded tops.
False. The Himalayas are young mountains with tall and sharp peaks. Older mountains like the Aravalli Range have rounded tops due to erosion.
Plateaus usually rise sharply at least on one side.
True. A plateau rises up from the surrounding land and some of its sides are often steep slopes.
Mountains and hills belong to the same type of landform.
True. Hills are highlands with lower height, less steep slopes and rounded tops, and are considered the same type of landform as mountains.
Mountains, plateaus and rivers in India have the same types of flora and fauna.
False. Different landforms have different climates and are home to a variety of flora and fauna. Each landform supports distinct ecosystems.
Ganga is a tributary to the Yamuna.
False. The Yamuna is a tributary of the Ganga, not the other way around. The Yamuna joins the Ganga at Prayagraj.
Deserts have unique flora and fauna.
True. Deserts have very little precipitation and their flora and fauna are unique, adapted to harsh living conditions.
Melting snow feeds rivers.
True. At lower altitudes, snow melts every summer and turns into water that feeds rivers.
Sediments from rivers deposited in the plains makes the land fertile.
True. Rivers carry sediments and deposit them in the plains, making the soil very fertile and ideal for growing crops.
All deserts are hot.
False. Some deserts are hot like the Sahara Desert, while others are cold like the Gobi Desert in Asia.
Explanation
(i) The chapter states on Page 6: 'Mountains with tall and sharp peaks, like the Himalayas, are relatively young... Shorter and more rounded mountains and hills, like the Aravalli Range, are much older and have been rounded by erosion.' (ii) The chapter defines plateaus on Page 11: 'A plateau is a landform that rises up from the surrounding land and has a more or less flat surface; some of its sides are often steep slopes.' (iii) The chapter states on Page 3: 'Other highlands with a lower height, less steep slopes and rounded tops are called hills.' Both mountains and hills are elevated landforms, with hills being a variation of mountains with different characteristics. (iv) The chapter states on Page 2: 'These landforms have different climates and are home to a variety of flora and fauna.' Mountains have montane forests with conifer trees and animals like snow leopards, while plains support different vegetation and wildlife. (v) The chapter clarifies on Page 7: 'Some of them, like the Yamuna and the Ghagara, also originate in the Himalayas' and join the Ganga. The Yamuna is explicitly mentioned as a tributary of the Ganga. (vi) The chapter states on Page 16: 'Deserts are considered to be large and dry expanses with very little precipitation. Their flora and fauna are also unique.' (vii) The chapter states on Page 2: 'At lower altitudes, the snow melts every summer and turns into water that feeds rivers.' (viii) The chapter states on Page 13: 'These sediments are carried all the way to the plains, where the rivers deposit them, making the soil very fertile.' (ix) The chapter states on Page 16: 'Some deserts are hot, like the Sahara Desert in Africa or the Thar Desert in the northwest of the Indian Subcontinent. Others are cold, like the Gobi Desert in Asia.'