by Tiwari Academy Team
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Life on Earth, help students understand how climate and landforms shape living things. The chapter explains terrestrial and aquatic biomes such as rainforests, grasslands, deserts and tundra, along with the biome pyramid and biodiversity hotspots. Students also learn about forest ecotourism, forest dwellers and their livelihoods, GI-tagged forest products, the Forest Rights Act and community conservation models like Mendha Lekha.
NCERT Class 9 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Solutions
Class 9 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Question Answer
Page 21 – The Big Questions
1. How do physiography and climate shape life on Earth?
Answer:
Landforms, altitude, temperature and rainfall determine the water, soil and growing conditions available to organisms. Warm, wet areas support dense forests, while dry areas support drought-resistant plants. These conditions also influence farming, houses, clothing and livelihoods.
2. How are humans and other lifeforms interconnected?
Answer:
Humans depend on plants for food, oxygen and materials, and on animals and microorganisms for pollination, food and nutrient recycling. Our farming, settlement and conservation choices affect their habitats. All are connected through food chains and natural cycles.
3. What is the importance of preserving various lifeforms, and how can we contribute to their conservation?
Answer:
Biodiversity maintains food webs, fertile soil, clean water and livelihoods. We can protect habitats, plant suitable native species, reduce waste, avoid wildlife products and support community conservation. Protecting many species helps ecosystems withstand disturbances.
Page 22 – Letโs Map
Look at the world map in Fig. 2.2 and answer the following questions.
โ Which type of biome is found in smaller, separate regions, and why?
โ Which continent has the least number of biomes? What could be the reason for this?
โ Why are there areas that do not have any specific biomes?
Answer:
1. Temperate deciduous forests occur in separated regions, especially eastern North America, Europe and eastern Asia. Suitable moderate temperatures and seasonal rainfall occur in these widely separated places.
2. Antarctica has the fewest biomes shown. Extreme cold, permanent ice and a very short growing season prevent most vegetation.
3. The simplified map leaves oceans, permanent ice and some transition or mountainous areas unclassified. An uncoloured area does not necessarily lack organisms or an ecosystem.
Page 24 – Letโs Explore
Look at the layers of vegetation in a rainforest. What do the yellow shapes in the figure indicate?
Answer:
The yellow shapes represent the relative amount of sunlight reaching each layer. The emergent layer receives most light. Successively less light reaches the upper canopy, understory and forest floor because leaves intercept it.
Page 25 – Letโs Explore
Observe Fig. 2.5 and explore which of these animals you will find in the grasslands of India.
Answer:
India has elephants, lions and several deer or antelope species, although their species and habitats differ from the African animals pictured. Asiatic lions live in the Gir landscape; elephants use grasslandโforest habitats. Giraffes and zebras do not occur naturally in India.
Page 26 – Letโs Explore
What types of activities do you think people in desert regions generally undertake to sustain their households and livelihood?
Answer:
People rear camels, goats and sheep, grow drought-resistant crops where water permits and practise handicrafts, trade, tourism and mining. Their livelihoods depend on careful use of scarce water and adaptation to extreme temperatures.
With the help of your teacher, explore how do people address issues related to the availability of water.
Answer:
People collect rainwater in tanks, use wells and reservoirs, maintain traditional water-harvesting structures and practise drip irrigation. They prevent leakage and choose crops needing less water. Groundwater extraction must remain within the amount that can be replenished.
Compare the physical features of the Rajasthan camel (Fig. 2.7a) and the Nubra Valley (Ladakh) camel (Fig. 2.7b).
Considering the climatic conditions, why do you think the Nubra Valley camel might have a different fur density than the Rajasthan camel?
Answer:
The Rajasthan camel has one hump and a relatively thin coat suited to a hot desert. The Nubra Valley camel has two humps and denser winter fur, which reduces heat loss in Ladakhโs cold desert. Camel humps store fat, not water.
Page 27 – Think About It
Tundra in polar regions has mosses, lichens, shrubs, etc., while the Himalaya, in the subtropics, is dominated by conifers. What could be the reason for this? What difference do you find in the animals found in these two regions? Which species are found only in the Himalaya? Discuss in class.
Answer:
Polar tundra has extreme cold, frozen subsoil and a short growing season, restricting tree growth. Suitable middle Himalayan slopes have a longer growing season and enough moisture for conifers; higher slopes also have alpine vegetation. Arctic animals include polar bears and reindeer. Himalayan animals include snow leopards, musk deer and Himalayan tahr. Himalayan tahr and Himalayan monal are examples native to the Himalayan region. Snow leopards also occur elsewhere in Central Asia.
Page 28 – Letโs Explore
Explore your local environment. This could be your village, city, town, or residential area. Observe how people, plants, and animals build structures and interact. Complete the table with your findings.
| Component type | Examples observed | Interaction with humans |
|---|---|---|
| Trees/Vegetation/Plants | ||
| Insects | ||
| Animals | ||
| Non-living things |
Answer:
| Component type | Examples observed | Interaction with humans |
|---|---|---|
| Trees/Vegetation/Plants | Neem, peepal, grasses | Provide shade and habitats; people water and protect them. |
| Insects | Bees, butterflies, ants | Pollinate flowers and recycle organic matter. |
| Animals | Squirrels, mynas, street dogs | Use gardens and buildings; people must manage waste responsibly. |
| Non-living things | Soil, water, sunlight, roads | Support growth, drinking needs and movement; human activities can pollute them. |
Page 32 – Letโs Explore
Is there any such ecotourism site in your State/UT? Collect some information and discuss with your friends.
Answer:
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary on the Southern Ridge offers opportunities for nature education and guided visits. Its dry forest habitats, butterfly park and Aravalli Forest Centre help visitors learn about local biodiversity. Visits should follow Forest Department rules and avoid littering, noise and wildlife disturbance.
What should be a touristโs behaviour while visiting any tourist site? What should one be mindful of?
Answer:
A tourist should respect local communities, follow site rules, keep noise low and carry waste away. Avoid feeding wildlife, damaging plants or collecting natural objects. Conserve water, use marked paths and support responsible local services.
Page 36 – Letโs Explore
Try to identify and classify the items for sale in the images given in Fig. 2.18.
Also, make a list of the food and medicinal varieties available in your local market.
Answer:
The pictures show woven baskets, fruits or other gathered plant produce and roots/tubers or small natural products. Classify baskets as handicrafts; edible fruits and tubers as food; identified medicinal plant materials as medicinal produce. The image alone does not establish every species.
In Delhi market list:
foodโamla, ber, honey, tamarind and edible mushrooms; traditional medicinal plant materialsโneem leaves, tulsi and dried amla. Products sold in Delhi may come from other states.
Page 38 – Letโs Explore
Can you explain how GI tagging of the forest products mentioned above connects geography, cultural traditions, local governance, and rural economy?
Answer:
A GI identifies products whose qualities or reputation are linked to a place. Climate and soil influence the product, while traditional skills shape production. Producer groups and public institutions help protect its identity. Recognition can improve market access and local income when producers receive fair benefits.
Can you name some GI-tagged forest products from your state or union territory?
Answer:
Delhi is not identified as the origin of a GI-tagged forest product. Products such as Ramban Sulai Honey or Kandhamal Haldi may be sold in Delhi, but their GI origins remain Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha respectively. A productโs market location is not its geographical origin.
Page 39 – Letโs Explore
You may have heard about the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). How are the benefits of this scheme impacting the health of women?
Answer:
PMUY supports access to LPG connections for eligible households. Regularly replacing smoky solid-fuel cooking with LPG can reduce womenโs exposure to indoor smoke and time spent collecting firewood. Affordable refills and continued use are important for these benefits.
Class 9 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Exercises Question Answer
Page 43ย – Questions and activities
1. Why does India have diverse biomes? How does the local geography connect to the diversity?
Answer:
India has wide variations in latitude, altitude, rainfall, temperature and distance from the sea. The Himalaya support mountain ecosystems, Rajasthan has dry habitats and the Western Ghats and Northeast support wetter forests. Rivers, coasts and islands add freshwater and marine habitats. Local relief and soil further affect vegetation and wildlife.
2. Make a list of economically valuable native plants in your region and comment on their abundance.
Answer:
Model Delhi list: neemโtraditional products and shade, widely planted; berโedible fruits, found in dry scrub and gardens; babulโgum and useful wood, found in some dry areas; dhakโflowers and traditional leaf products, locally present in Ridge habitats. Abundance varies by neighbourhood; these descriptions are not a field count. Record actual numbers during a supervised local survey.
3. Prepare a map of your state or Union Territory showing national parks and sanctuaries.
Answer:
Delhi has Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in its southern part, near the Haryana border. Mark it on the Delhi outline and add the Yamuna, north arrow and a legend. Delhi has no national park to mark; a zoo or biodiversity park is not automatically a national park.
4. Study the impact of forest fires on people dependent on forests. Try to include the causes, losses, and preventive measures.
Answer:
Forest fires may start through lightning, unattended flames, discarded burning materials or deliberate burning, and spread rapidly in dry weather. They destroy forest produce, fodder, wildlife and sometimes homes, reducing income and worsening smoke exposure. Preventive steps include public awareness, safe fire practices, monitored fire lines and early reporting. Communities need evacuation arrangements, relief and habitat restoration after fires.
5. Why are forests often called the โlungs of the Earthโ?
Answer:
Forests absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis. They also store carbon, trap some airborne particles and influence moisture and temperature. The phrase highlights these benefits; forests also respire and ocean organisms contribute substantially to global oxygen production.
6. If large forest areas continue to be destroyed, what do you think would be its long-term effect on the global climate?
Answer:
Deforestation releases stored carbon and reduces future carbon absorption, contributing to global warming. It also disrupts moisture recycling and rainfall, increases soil erosion and can worsen local heat and drought. The loss of habitats further weakens ecosystemsโ ability to cope with climatic change.
7. Discuss some traditional forest conservation methods with your grandparents or an elderly person.
Answer:
Model points for a discussion: communities protect sacred groves, avoid cutting certain trees, regulate grazing and harvest forest produce seasonally. Some maintain ponds and collectively prevent fires.
8. How do forest dwellers contribute to the protection and conservation of forests?
Answer:
Forest dwellers use detailed knowledge of seasons, plants and wildlife to manage resources. Communities protect sacred groves, regulate harvesting, detect fires and report illegal activities. Gram Sabhas and community forest management can combine recognised rights with conservation responsibilities, as illustrated by Mendha Lekha.
9. What is a forest fire? Prepare a plan for prevention and mitigation of forest fires.
Answer:
A forest fire is an uncontrolled fire spreading through forest vegetation.
- Prevention: identify vulnerable areas, educate visitors, prevent unattended burning and let trained teams maintain fire lines.
- Preparedness: arrange warning systems, contact lists, evacuation routes and community training.
- Response: report fires promptly, follow official evacuation directions and protect vulnerable people; students should not fight fires.
- Recovery: support affected families, assess damage and restore suitable native vegetation.
Extra Question Answers for Exam Preparation
Class 9 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Very Short Answer Type Questions with Explanation.
Very Short Answer Type Questions
- How can altitude change vegetation on a mountain?
Answer:
Increasing altitude generally lowers temperature, so vegetation changes from warmer forests to conifers, alpine plants and sparse growth. - What is an ecosystem?
Answer:
An ecosystem includes living organisms and non-living surroundings interacting through food relationships, energy flow and nutrient cycles. - Why are pollinating insects important to people?
Answer:
Pollinating insects help many plants reproduce, supporting fruit and seed production, biodiversity, farming and human food supplies. - How does a forest canopy affect plants below it?
Answer:
The canopy intercepts sunlight, leaving lower plants in shade and influencing which species can survive beneath trees. - What makes temperate grasslands useful for farming?
Answer:
Many temperate grasslands have fertile soils that can support crops where water availability and other conditions are suitable. - Why should a desert not be described as lifeless?
Answer:
Deserts support specially adapted plants and animals that survive limited rainfall, extreme temperatures and scarce food resources. - What is permafrost?
Answer:
Permafrost is ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, influencing drainage, roots and tundra vegetation. - Give two ways forests protect soil.
Answer:
Tree roots help bind soil, while vegetation cover reduces the direct impact of rainfall and slows surface runoff. - What does a wildlife corridor connect?
Answer:
A wildlife corridor connects separated habitats, helping animals move, find resources and maintain breeding links between populations. - Why should tourists avoid feeding wildlife?
Answer:
Feeding can alter natural behaviour, encourage dependence on people and increase dangerous encounters between animals and visitors. - What distinguishes a productโs GI origin from its market?
Answer:
GI origin identifies the place linked to a productโs qualities; its market is simply where people buy it. - How can womenโs forest knowledge support conservation?
Answer:
Womenโs knowledge of useful plants, seasonal availability and harvesting methods can guide sustainable use and community conservation decisions. - Why do communities need rules for shared ponds?
Answer:
Rules help prevent pollution and overuse, distribute water fairly and organise maintenance so shared ponds remain useful. - Name two freshwater habitats found in or near cities.
Answer:
Urban ponds and river stretches are freshwater habitats that can support organisms while providing environmental benefits to residents. - Why should Delhiโs Ridge vegetation be protected?
Answer:
The Ridge provides wildlife habitat, moderates local environmental conditions and preserves an important part of Delhiโs natural landscape.
Class 9 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Short Answer Type Questions with Explanation.
Short Answer Type Questions
- How can rainfall produce different vegetation in equally warm places?
Answer:
Warm places with abundant rainfall can support dense forests, while equally warm but drier places support grasslands or desert vegetation. Water availability affects plant density, growth and the animals that can live there. - Explain one connection between plants, insects and human food.
Answer:
Many insects transfer pollen between flowers, allowing plants to produce fruits and seeds. Humans depend on several of these crops for food. Protecting pollinator habitats therefore supports both biodiversity and agricultural livelihoods. - Why is planting only one tree species insufficient for restoring a diverse forest?
Answer:
A diverse forest provides different food sources, nesting places and ecological functions. Planting one species may increase tree cover but cannot recreate all these relationships. Restoration should consider native diversity, soil, water and natural regeneration. - How can a forest-produce cooperative improve livelihoods?
Answer:
A cooperative can pool produce, improve processing, share transport and negotiate better prices. Transparent rules and sustainable harvesting help producers gain income without exhausting resources, while collective participation can strengthen bargaining power. - Why must conservation consider forest residentsโ needs?
Answer:
Forest residents often depend on local resources and possess valuable ecological knowledge. Conservation is stronger when their rights and livelihoods are respected, and when communities participate in decisions, sustainable use and habitat protection. - How can a village distinguish sustainable harvesting from destructive extraction?
Answer:
Sustainable harvesting takes limited quantities, allows regeneration and avoids damaging breeding sites or whole plants unnecessarily. Destructive extraction removes resources faster than they recover, weakening habitats and threatening both future supplies and local livelihoods. - What can a Delhi school do to support nearby biodiversity?
Answer:
A school can grow suitable native plants, reduce litter, conserve water and observe birds or insects without disturbing them. Students can share findings, discourage wildlife feeding and cooperate with authorised local conservation activities. - Explain why water tanks are also social institutions.
Answer:
Tanks store water, but their maintenance and use require collective decisions. Communities must protect catchments, organise repairs and share supplies. These responsibilities connect water management with cooperation, fairness and local knowledge across generations. - How could a road through a forest affect wildlife?
Answer:
A road can divide habitats, disturb animals and increase collision risks. It may restrict movement between feeding or breeding areas. Careful planning, suitable crossings and protection of connecting habitats can reduce these effects. - Why should an uncoloured area on a biome map be interpreted carefully?
Answer:
A simplified map may omit oceans, ice-covered regions or transition zones. Lack of colour can reflect the mapโs categories or scale rather than absence of life. Always read the legend before drawing conclusions.
Class 9 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Long Answer Type Questions with Explanation.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. A village wants tourism income from a nearby forest. Suggest a balanced plan.
Answer:
The village should begin with the forestโs conservation needs and visitor capacity. Trained local guides can lead small groups along approved paths, while residents provide suitable services. Visitors should avoid feeding wildlife, collecting plants and leaving waste. Part of the income can support habitat protection and maintenance. Community participation, fair payment and regular review can connect livelihoods with long-term conservation.
2. Explain how damage to one part of an ecosystem can affect several other parts.
Answer:
An ecosystem contains linked food relationships and natural processes. If pollinating insects decline, some plants may produce fewer seeds and fruits. Animals depending on those plants may lose food, while farmers may experience lower yields. Changes in vegetation can then affect soil and water. This shows why conservation should protect ecological relationships and habitats, rather than focusing only on a few attractive species.
3. How would you investigate whether wildlife is visiting a neighbourhood because of human activities?
Answer:
I would conduct a supervised observation exercise without approaching animals. I would record the species, time, location and nearby food waste or water sources, and compare repeated visits. Residents and authorised wildlife staff could provide information about habitat changes. I would avoid claiming a cause from one sighting. Findings could guide better waste storage, reduced feeding and protection of nearby habitat.
4. Compare the value of sacred groves and formally protected areas.
Answer:
Sacred groves are protected through community traditions and beliefs, often conserving small forest patches and water sources. National parks and sanctuaries receive formal protection under public institutions and rules. Both can preserve habitats and biodiversity, but their management systems differ. Cooperation between communities and authorities can strengthen conservation, particularly when local knowledge, rights and ecological needs are considered together.
5. Explain why conserving biodiversity also protects future economic opportunities.
Answer:
Biodiversity supports agriculture, fisheries, forest produce, tourism and many materials used by people. Healthy ecosystems also maintain pollination, water quality and soil fertility, reducing damage and costs. Destroying habitats can remove useful species and undermine livelihoods that depend on them. Conservation keeps these resources and ecological functions available, allowing future generations to develop opportunities without inheriting exhausted or unstable ecosystems.
