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Landforms and Life – Class 6 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Social Science, chapter 3. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

The earth's surface has many landforms: mountains, plateaus, plains and deserts. Each landform has its own climate, plants, animals and ways of human life. People adapt their food, homes, clothing and work to the landform where they live.

Mountains

Mountains are high landforms with steep slopes and peaks; the Himalayas are young fold mountains, while the Aravallis are among the oldest mountains in the world.
Mountain people practise terrace farming, keep animals such as yaks and sheep, and build houses with sloping roofs.
Mountains are sources of rivers and forests, but life there is hard because of cold, thin air and steep slopes.

Plateaus and plains

A plateau is a raised, flat-topped land; the Deccan Plateau and the Chhota Nagpur Plateau are rich in minerals, and the Tibetan Plateau is the highest in the world.
Plains are large flat areas, usually made by rivers depositing soil; the Indo-Gangetic plains are fertile and densely populated.
Plains are good for farming, transport and building towns.

Deserts and adaptation

Deserts receive very little rainfall; the Thar Desert lies in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat.
People in deserts live near oases, use camels, wear loose clothes and store water carefully.
Humans adapt to each landform, but must protect fragile mountain and desert environments.

Key terms

Landform: a natural feature of the earth's surface, such as a mountain, plateau or plain
Plateau: an elevated flat-topped land rising above the surrounding area
Plain: a large, flat stretch of low-lying land
Terrace farming: farming on steps cut into hill slopes to stop soil being washed away

Important questions with answers

What is a plateau? Give two examples from India.2 marks

A plateau is an elevated, flat-topped land that rises above the surrounding area and often has steep sides. Examples are the Deccan Plateau and the Chhota Nagpur Plateau, which is rich in minerals such as coal and iron ore.

How do people living in mountains adapt to their environment?3 marks

They cut steps on slopes for terrace farming so that soil and water are not washed away. They rear animals such as yaks, sheep and goats that can survive the cold, and use their wool for warm clothes. They build houses with sloping roofs and thick walls to cope with snow and cold winds.

Compare mountains, plateaus and plains in terms of their features and human life.5 marks

Mountains are high landforms with steep slopes and peaks; the climate is cold and the air thin, so population is low. People practise terrace farming, rear animals and depend on forests and tourism; mountains are also the sources of many rivers. Plateaus are raised flat lands; many, such as the Chhota Nagpur Plateau, are rich in minerals, so mining and industries develop there, and some have waterfalls useful for power. Plains are large flat lands formed by rivers; their fertile soil supports intensive farming, and easy transport helps towns and cities to grow, so plains such as the Indo-Gangetic plains are very densely populated. Each landform shapes the food, homes and work of its people.

Quick revision

Mountains: Himalayas young, Aravallis old.
Plateaus: rich in minerals; Tibetan Plateau highest.
Plains: fertile river deposits, dense population.
Deserts: low rainfall; Thar in Rajasthan.

Exam tips

For each landform, remember: definition, one Indian example and one way of human adaptation.
Plains are densely populated because they are fertile and easy to build on.

Practice MCQs

A large flat area of land made by rivers is a
1. mountain
2. valley
3. plateau
4. plain
Show answer
Answer: (d) plain. Rivers deposit fertile soil on plains.
The Himalayas are an example of
1. old mountains
2. plains
3. plateaus
4. young fold mountains
Show answer
Answer: (d) young fold mountains. They are among the youngest mountains.
The Thar Desert is mainly in
1. Kerala
2. Odisha
3. Assam
4. Rajasthan
Show answer
Answer: (d) Rajasthan. It extends into Gujarat and Pakistan.
Which plateau in India is rich in minerals like coal and iron ore
1. Chhota Nagpur Plateau
2. Tibetan Plateau
3. Malwa only
4. Ladakh
Show answer
Answer: (a) Chhota Nagpur Plateau. It covers Jharkhand and nearby areas.
Farming on steps cut into hill slopes is called
1. shifting farming
2. terrace farming
3. plantation
4. mixed farming
Show answer
Answer: (b) terrace farming. It prevents soil erosion on slopes.
Plains are densely populated mainly because
1. they are fertile and easy to build on
2. they are cold
3. they have no rivers
4. they are mountainous
Show answer
Answer: (a) they are fertile and easy to build on. Farming, transport and towns develop easily.
Which is among the oldest mountain ranges in the world
1. Himalayas
2. Aravallis
3. Alps
4. Andes
Show answer
Answer: (b) Aravallis. They are worn down by long erosion.
The highest plateau in the world is the
1. Deccan Plateau
2. Tibetan Plateau
3. Malwa Plateau
4. Meghalaya Plateau
Show answer
Answer: (b) Tibetan Plateau. It is often called the roof of the world.

All chapters of Class 6 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.