Shifting Cultivation
1. What is the primary characteristic of shifting cultivation?
a) Permanent farming on a single piece of land
b) Moving from one piece of land to another after soil fertility declines
c) Using advanced machinery for farming
d) Cultivating crops in greenhouses
2. What is another name for shifting cultivation?
a) Crop rotation
b) Slash and burn agriculture
c) Mixed farming
d) Subsistence agriculture
3. Which of the following crops is commonly grown in shifting cultivation?
a) Wheat
b) Cassava
c) Cotton
d) Sugarcane
4. In which type of region is shifting cultivation commonly practiced?
a) Deserts
b) Temperate grasslands
c) Dense forests of the Amazon and Southeast Asia
d) Urban areas
5. What happens to the land after a few years of shifting cultivation?
a) It becomes more fertile and is reused
b) It is abandoned and left for natural regeneration
c) It is converted into an industrial site
d) It is permanently used for cash crops
6. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of shifting cultivation?
a) Land is cleared by burning vegetation
b) Farmers use fertilizers and pesticides extensively
c) Crops are grown for a short duration
d) The land is left fallow to regain fertility
Answers and Explanations
1. b) Moving from one piece of land to another after soil fertility declines – Farmers abandon land when nutrients deplete.
2. b) Slash and burn agriculture – Trees are cut and burned to clear the land for cultivation.
3. b) Cassava – Root crops like cassava, yam, and maize are commonly grown.
4. c) Dense forests of the Amazon and Southeast Asia – Shifting cultivation is common in tropical rainforests.
5. b) It is abandoned and left for natural regeneration – This allows the land to recover naturally.
6. b) Farmers use fertilizers and pesticides extensively – Shifting cultivation relies on natural soil fertility without chemical inputs.
Nomadic Herding
1. What is the main characteristic of nomadic herding?
a) Farmers grow crops and rear animals in one place
b) Herders move from place to place in search of pasture and water
c) Farmers use advanced irrigation methods
d) It is practiced only in densely populated regions
2. Which of the following animals is NOT commonly associated with nomadic herding?
a) Camels
b) Yaks
c) Sheep
d) Pigs
3. In which of the following regions is nomadic herding commonly practiced?
a) Amazon Rainforest
b) Semi-arid and arid regions of Central Asia and Sahara
c) Coastal plains of Europe
d) River valleys of India
4. Which of the following is a reason why nomadic herding is practiced?
a) Availability of advanced farming equipment
b) Scarcity of permanent pasture
c) Abundant rainfall throughout the year
d) Access to fertile land for agriculture
5. Which of the following best describes the lifestyle of nomadic herders?
a) They live in permanent houses and cultivate crops
b) They move seasonally with their livestock
c) They depend solely on hunting and gathering
d) They trade high-value crops in international markets
6. What is one of the biggest challenges faced by nomadic herders?
a) Overproduction of crops
b) Government restrictions on grazing land
c) Availability of modern technology
d) Surplus food production
Answers and Explanations
1. b) Herders move from place to place in search of pasture and water – Nomadic herding involves constant movement.
2. d) Pigs – Pigs are not typically reared in nomadic herding.
3. b) Semi-arid and arid regions of Central Asia and Sahara – These regions lack permanent vegetation, making nomadic herding necessary.
4. b) Scarcity of permanent pasture – Herders move to find food and water for their animals.
5. b) They move seasonally with their livestock – Nomadic herders relocate based on pasture availability.
6. b) Government restrictions on grazing land – Many governments regulate grazing areas, limiting nomadic movement.
Commercial Farming
1. What is the primary goal of commercial farming?
a) Producing food for the farmer’s family
b) Growing crops and rearing animals for sale in the market
c) Cultivating crops using traditional methods
d) Farming without the use of machinery
2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of commercial farming?
a) Use of high-yielding varieties of seeds
b) Large-scale production
c) Dependence on monsoon rains
d) Use of modern technology and machinery
3. Which type of farming includes plantations of crops such as tea, coffee, and rubber?
a) Subsistence farming
b) Nomadic herding
c) Plantation farming
d) Mixed farming
4. Where is commercial grain farming commonly practiced?
a) Amazon Rainforest
b) Temperate grasslands of North America and Europe
c) Himalayan foothills
d) Coastal plains of Africa
5. What is the main difference between commercial and subsistence farming?
a) Commercial farming is for local consumption, while subsistence farming is for profit
b) Commercial farming uses traditional tools, while subsistence farming uses machinery
c) Commercial farming is done on a large scale for profit, while subsistence farming is for personal use
d) There is no difference between the two
6. Which of the following crops is NOT commonly grown in commercial farming?
a) Wheat
b) Rice
c) Millets
d) Tea
7. Which of the following is a major requirement for plantation farming?
a) High rainfall and labor-intensive practices
b) Minimal use of fertilizers
c) Small landholdings
d) Multiple cropping on the same field
Answers and Explanations
1. b) Growing crops and rearing animals for sale in the market – Commercial farming is profit-oriented.
2. c) Dependence on monsoon rains – Commercial farming relies on irrigation and modern techniques, not monsoons.
3. c) Plantation farming – It involves growing cash crops on large estates.
4. b) Temperate grasslands of North America and Europe – These regions specialize in grain farming.
5. c) Commercial farming is done on a large scale for profit, while subsistence farming is for personal use – Commercial farming aims for large-scale production.
6. c) Millets – Millets are usually grown in subsistence farming due to their hardiness.
7. a) High rainfall and labor-intensive practices – Plantation farming requires tropical conditions and a large labor force.
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