Question:
What are the major means of transport? Explain each of them [Imp.]
Answer:
There are four major means of transport:
- Roadways
- Railways
- Waterways
- Airways
- Roads the most commonly used means of transport. Roads are of two types—metalled roads also known as pucca roads and unmetalled roads also known as Kutcha roads. The plsiins have a dense network of roads.
Roads built underground are called subways or underpaths. Flyovers are built over raised structures.
- The railways carry people and bulky goods. They cover long distances quickly and cheaply. The railway network is well developed over the plain areas. With the development of advanced technological skills we have now railway lines laid in difficult mountain terrains also. The Indian railway network is well developed and the largest in Asia.
- Waterways are the cheapest means of transport. They carry heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They are of two types—inland waterways and sea routes. Navigable rivers and lakes are used as inland waterways— for example, Ganga-Brahmaputra river system. Sea routes and oceanic routes are mostly used for transporting merchandise and goods from one country to another.
- Airways are the most expensive means of transport. It is the only mode of transport to reach the most remote and distant areas especially where there are no roads and railways. Helicopters are useful in most inaccessible areas and in times of calamities.
Human Environment - Settlement, Transport and Communication
Q 1.
What are the major means of transport? Explain each of them [Imp.]
Q 2.
What are called temporary settlements? [Imp.]
Q 3.
Why did settlements grow near the river valleys? [V. Imp.]
Q 4.
Why do people who rear animals move from place to place?
Q 5.
Differentiate a compact settlement from a scattered settlement.
Q 6.
Name any two important ports of the world.
Q 7.
What do people living in temporary settlements practise?
Q 8.
Give reasons:
(a) Today's world is shrinking.
Q 9.
Why is air travel very expensive?
Q 10.
For Fun:
(i) Conduct a survey in your locality and find out how people commute to their respective workplaces using:
(a) more than two modes of transport
(b) more than three modes of transport
(c) stay within walking distance.
(ii) Mention which mode of communication you will prefer most in the following situations:
(a) your grandfather has suddenly fallen ill How will you inform the doctor?
(b) your mother wants to sell the old house. How will she spread this news?
(c) you are going to attend the marriage of your cousin for which you will be absent from the school for the next two days. How will you inform the teacher?
(d) your friend has moved out with his/her family to New York. How will you keep in touch on a daily basis?
Q 11.
How did people in the early days travel long distances? What changes came with the passage of time? [V. Imp.]
Q 12.
Where are scattered settlements found? [V. Imp.]
Q 13.
Where do you find a dense network of roads?
Q 14.
How has Internet made our lives more comfortable? [V. Imp.]
Q 15.
Write down the features of houses built in rural areas.
Q 16.
Write a short note on airways.
Q 17.
When are helicopters proved to be very useful?
Q 18.
What have replaced the steam engine? [Imp.]
Q 19.
Give a detailed description of waterways.
Q 20.
How have satellites proved themselves helpful?
Q 21.
What do you mean by a site? Mention the natural conditions for selection of an ideal site? [V. Imp.]
Q 22.
Name some animals used for carrying goods in India ,
Q 23.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What are the four means of transport?
(b) What do you understand by the term settlement'?
(c) Which are the activities practised by the rural people?
(d) Mention any two merits of railways.
(e) What do you understand by communication?
(f) What is mass media?
Q 24.
Name the materials used in building houses in rural areas?
Q 25.
How settlements become a necessity? What are its different types? [V. Imp.]
