Thar Desert CASE STUDY

What is a major cause of overpopulation in the Jaisalmer area of the Thar Desert?

• Increase in rainfall

• Decline in resources

• Decrease in temperature

• Abundance of rivers

Which of the following is a response to the issues faced in the Thar Desert?

• Building more dams

• Setting up a 75 turbine wind farm

• Importing water from other countries

• Planting more forests

Why is providing infrastructure in the Thar Desert particularly difficult?

• The desert is too small

• The desert is located only in India

• The desert stretches across countries often at political odds

• There is too much rainfall

What is a major impact of over-irrigation in the Thar Desert?

• Increased rainfall

• Water-logging and salinization of soil

• Decreased population

• More natural rivers

How has the demand for water changed around the Jaisalmer area in the last 20 years?

• Decreased by 50%

• Remained the same

• Increased by 7200%

• Doubled

What is the main benefit of the Indira Gandhi Canal for the Thar Desert?

• It provides electricity

• It allows commercial farming of wheat and cotton

• It increases tourism

• It reduces temperature

Why is education difficult to improve in the Thar Desert?

• The population is highly urbanized

• The majority of the population are semi-nomadic subsistence farmers

• There are many schools

• The climate is very cold

Which of the following is a common adaptation of plants in hot deserts to reduce water loss?

• Having broad leaves to capture more sunlight

• Storing water in special bulbs on their roots

• Growing in clusters to provide shade

• Producing large, colorful flowers year-round

Seeds in desert soils can remain dormant for several years. What condition typically triggers their growth?

• High temperatures

• Heavy rainfall

• Strong winds

• Intense sunlight

Why do some desert plants have long roots?

• To anchor themselves in sandy soil

• To reach water deep underground

• To absorb more sunlight

• To avoid being eaten by animals