Unit 10

The Ganges has been considered a sacred river in Hinduism for thousands of years. Millions of Hindus perform religious rituals such as purification rites and the disposal of the deceased in the river. How have these long-practiced rituals affected the river today?

• The level of the river has dropped due to considerable use.
• The river has become one of the most polluted in the world.
• The river is one of the cleanest rivers in the world since it is considered sacred.
• The course of the river has been altered to feed into temples.

Which of the following best describes the physical process that is responsible for creating flood zones along the major rivers in India?

• Silt deposits along the major river systems create low lying areas that flood easily during spring snowmelt and seasonal rains.
• Tectonic forces in the Indian subcontinent cause upheavals of land which changes the course of rivers over time causes flooding
• India's growing population has led to the need to build huge dams along these rivers which has led to the flooding of thousands of acres of land.
• High tides along the coast of the Indian Ocean often meet waters flowing from inland valleys causing the build-up of excess waters in the river systems.

Which factors most account for the creation of a tropical climate throughout much of the Indian subcontinent?

• Location in the mid latitudes
• Highland conditions of the Himalayas
• Size in area of the subcontinent landmass
• Proximity to the Indian Ocean and the equator

Which physical process is most responsible for the geographic formations in the northern Indian subcontinent?

• Deposition
• Weathering
• Tectonic forces
• Hydrologic cycle

While most people in India are practicing Hindus the region is also home to —

• many large Catholic universities in the major cities
• one of the largest Jewish communities living outside of Israel
• several religious groups including Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs
• a few prominent Christian monasteries in former British colonial territory.

Due to population changes which issue is India likely to face in 2050?

• Paying health care and expenses for growing numbers of elderly
• Providing education for a growing demographic of young children
• Finding well-paying jobs for young people entering the workforce
• Avoiding political instability resulting from large population growth

Building houses on stilts is important in Bangladesh because —

• providing space for large families is important
• adapting to the extensive flooding is necessary
• having storage for surplus crops is important
• increasing tourism has opened new rental markets

Which statement accurately describes monsoons in India?

• Monsoons bring heavy rainfall in all seasons in India.
• Monsoons only affect the coastal regions of the Indian subcontinent.
• Winter monsoons bring heavy rainfall while summer monsoons are fairly dry.
• Summer monsoons bring heavy rainfall while winter monsoons are fairly dry.

What is one way India’s rapid population growth has affected the environment of the region?

• Seismic activity has rapidly increased.
• Air and water pollution has worsened.
• Rainfall levels from monsoons have lessened.
• Buildings in the region have been redesigned.

How did geography contribute to the creation of India's northern border?

• North of the border is too cold to easily support life.
• The Ganges River is a natural boundary between India and China.
• Nepal contains few resources of interest to India or China.
• The mountains form a natural boundary between India and other countries.