L13: Geography and Early Settlement of India

Because of its large size and its position in relation to large masses of land and water, India is called ____________.

• A. a plateau.

• B. an isthmus.

• C. an ecosystem.

• D. a subcontinent.

As the Brahmaputra River flows from the mountains into the valley, it becomes _________ and _______________.

• A. slower and deeper.

• B. clearer and cleaner.

• C. rockier and rougher.

• D. narrower and colder.

Farmers in the Deccan Plateau use the iron-rich black soil principally to raise _____________.

• A. tea.

• B. sheep.

• C. cotton.

• D. oranges.

Compared with the Eastern and Western Ghats, the Deccan Plateau has ______________.

• A. denser forests.

• B. a drier climate.

• C. a longer coastline.

• D. steeper mountains.

During the summer in India, the monsoon brings _______________________.

• A. heavy rain.

• B. dust storms.

• C. unbearable heat.

• D. pleasant mornings.

On the map in question 1, find the northern tip of the Bay of Bengal. Why is the nearby soil so fertile?

• A. Many kinds of fish live in the bay.

• B. Flooding rivers deposit rich minerals.

• C. Pure water flows from the mountains.

• D. People have farmed there for centuries.

Which phrase best describes the Eastern and Western Ghats?

• A. fertile plains

• B. sandy beaches

• C. mountain ranges

• D. marshy wetlands

Which of the following parts of India has the most fertile farmland?

• A. the Hindu Kush

• B. the Deccan Plateau

• C. the Himalaya Mountains

• D. the plains along the Ganges

Much of the water in the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers comes from ________________________.

• A. natural springs in the desert.

• B. melting ice in the mountains.

• C. rain-fed streams in the plateau.

• D. large lakes in the northern plain

How has the location of the Himalaya Mountains benefited India?

• A. roads for trade routes

• B. consistent water supply

• C. protection from enemies

• D. prevention of earthquakes