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A Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

1. Winds coming down the Himalayas during winter causes rainfall in winter.
2. There is a drop of 1°C in temperature for every 165 metres above the surface.
3. The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoons leads to rain in Andaman and Nicobar in the month of June.
4. Of the three, Patna, Cochin and Kolkata, Patna has an extreme climate.
5. The cyclones that cause rain in winter in the north-western region are called western disturbances.

B Match the rows.

• 1. Kochi → (e) Lower latitude
• 2. Chandigarh → (a) Higher latitude
• 3. Mumbai → (b) Windward side of Western Ghats
• 4. Mawsynram → (c) Meghalaya
• 5. Rain in winter → (d) Western disturbances

C Write true or false. Correct the false sentences.

1. Delhi gets more rain than Kolkata. False.
   Correction: Kolkata gets more rain than Delhi.
2. Mawsynram in Meghalaya is the wettest place in the world. True.
3. Chennai receives rainfall from north-east monsoons. True.
4. Pune lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats. False.
   Correction: Pune lies on the leeward side (rain shadow area) of the Western Ghats.
5. The Western Ghats receive over 200 cm of rainfall. True.

D Choose the correct answer.

1. The monsoon season is experienced in which of these periods?
   (c) June to September
2. Which of these places has an equable climate?
   (b) Chennai
3. Which of these states experiences Mango showers?
   (c) West Bengal
4. Mawsynram is located in which of these states?
   (b) Meghalaya
5. Which of these cities receives rainfall in winter?
   (b) Chennai

E Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

1. Which winds bring most of the rain to India?
   The South-West Monsoon winds bring most of the rain to India.
2. Which two areas receive rain in winter?
   Tamil Nadu and Kerala receive rain in winter from the North-East Monsoons.
3. What do you know about Loo?
   Loo is a strong, hot, and dry wind that blows over northern and northwestern India during summer afternoons.
4. Why does the south-west monsoon break into two branches?
   The south-west monsoon breaks into two branches (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal) when it hits the Western Ghats mountain range.
5. What are western disturbances?
   Western disturbances are cyclonic storms that originate over the Mediterranean Sea and bring winter rainfall to northwestern India.

F Give reasons for the following.

1. Why does Kolkata have a more equable climate compared to Bhopal and Delhi?
   Kolkata has a more equable climate because it is a coastal city near the Bay of Bengal. The sea moderates the temperature, preventing extremes. Bhopal and Delhi are inland, far from the sea’s influence, leading to hotter summers and colder winters.
2. Why are the monsoon winds crucial for bringing rain to India during the monsoon season?
   Monsoon winds are crucial because they carry moisture from the oceans (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal) and release it as rainfall over the Indian subcontinent. Most of India’s agriculture depends on this seasonal rain.
3. Why do the Himalayas act as a barrier to cold winds from Central Asia entering India?
   The Himalayas act as a massive physical barrier because of their great height. They block the cold, dry winds blowing from Central Asia, protecting the Indian subcontinent from severe winters.

G Answer the following questions in four or five sentences.

1. Discuss the factors that affect the climate of India.
   Several factors affect India’s climate. Latitude influences the amount of sunlight an area receives. The Himalayas act as a climatic barrier. Distance from the sea determines if a place has an extreme or moderate climate. The monsoon winds are the main source of rainfall. Altitude also plays a role, as temperature decreases with height.
2. Explain the terms ‘kalbaisakhi’ and ‘mango showers’.
   Kalbaisakhi are violent thunderstorms with heavy rains and hail that occur in West Bengal and Assam during April-May. They help in the cultivation of tea and jute. Mango showers are pre-monsoon showers that occur in Kerala and Karnataka in April-May. They help in the early ripening of mangoes.
3. What problems would India face if the Himalayas did not exist as they do today?
   Without the Himalayas, India would face severe problems. Cold winds from Central Asia would make winters very harsh. The monsoon pattern would change, possibly reducing rainfall. The fertile northern plains might become a cold desert, and major rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra would not exist in their current form.
4. What do you understand by the term ‘retreating monsoons’?
   Retreating monsoons refer to the withdrawal of the south-west monsoon winds from the Indian subcontinent. This happens around October. As they retreat, they pick up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and cause rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
5. Why do some areas in India receive winter rainfall?
   Some areas in India receive winter rainfall due to two main reasons. First, the North-East Monsoons (retreating monsoons) pick up moisture and bring rain to the south-eastern coast (Tamil Nadu). Second, Western Disturbances, which are cyclonic storms from the Mediterranean Sea, bring light rainfall to the north-western parts of India (Punjab, Haryana).