ICSE SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION

SPECIMEN QUESTION PAPER

GEOGRAPHY

H.C.G. - Paper – 2

Maximum Marks: 40

Time allowed: One and a half hours

Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
You will not be allowed to write during the first 10 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

Attempt all questions from Section A and any three questions from Section B.

The marks intended for questions are given in brackets [ ]

SECTION A

(Attempt all questions.)

Question 1

On the outline map of India provided mark and name the following: [10]

(i) Himalayas

(ii) River Ganga

(iii) Chennai

(iv) Western Ghats

(v) Gulf of Kutch

(vi) Malabar coastal plain

(vii) Karakoram Pass

(viii) Black soil area in peninsular region

(ix) Standard Meridian of India

(x) Jharia coal field

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 SECTION B

(Attempt any three questions from this Section.)

Question 2

(i) (a) Give any one use of Manganese.

(b) Why is copper used in electrical appliances? [2]

(ii) Give two advantages of using Natural gas over coal. [2]

(iii) With reference to Bhakra Nangal dam answer the following:

(a) On which river is it situated?

(b) Name any two states benefitted by Bhakra Nangal. [3]

(iv) (a) Mention two advantages of using biogas.

(b) How has the nuclear power contributed in reducing the pressure on
Conventional sources of energy? [3]

Question 3

(i) Mention two ways in which agriculture sector is important for India. [2]

(ii) (a) Name two agriculture seasons of India.

(b) Name one crop that grows in each of the season mentioned by you. [2]

(iii) With reference to Wheat cultivation answer the following:

(a) Name the soil found suitable for its growth.

(b) Name the state that is the largest producer of this crop in India.

(c) Why is this crop not grown in southern parts of India? [3]

(iv) (a) Name the largest producer of tea in India.

(b) What is GINNING?

(c) Why is PRUNING essential for tea crop? [3]

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Question 4

(i) Differentiate between public sector and private sector industry giving suitable
example for each from India. [2]

(ii) Give two ways in which cotton textile industry is important for India. [2]

(iii) With reference to Rourkela steel plant answer the following:

(a) Where is it located?

(b) Which country helped India to establish this steel plant?

(c) From where does it get its iron ore requirement? [3]

(iv) (a) What are the benefits of using petrochemical products? (Any two)

(b) How has the electronic industry revolutionized the entertainment sector? [3]

Question 5

(i) Mention two advantages of using waterways. [2]

(ii) Differentiate between national highway and state highway. [2]

(iii) Mention three benefits of Golden quadrilateral. [3]

(iv) What are the three disadvantages of using air transport? [3]

Question 6

(i) Why is there a need for waste management in India? (Two points) [2]

(ii) Segregation considered a safe method of waste disposal. Explain. [2]

(iii) Mention three ways that may be used in India to reduce waste. [3]

(iv) Mention three reasons as to why the dumping of waste may be harmful. [3]

T22 502 S2 – SPECIMEN 3 of 4

Question No. 1

Index No.……………………………………………. UID……………………………..

(This map, if used, must be fastened with all other answers)

Map of India for Question 1.

ONLY FOR THE EXAMINER

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) Total

T22 502 S2 – SPECIMEN 4 of 4

 Answers
Section-A
1.

(vii)

(i)

(ix)

(ii)

(x)

(v)

(viii)

(iv) (iii)

(ix)

(vi)

Section-B
Answer 2.
(i) (a) Manganese is used in the manufacturing of steel. Manganese gives the steel strength and
hardness.
(b) Copper is used in electrical appliances due to its low resistance and excellent conductivity. It is
ductile and relatively less resistant to corrosion.
(ii) The two advantages of using natural gas over coal are:
1. Natural gas burns almost completely up to the mark, leaving no ash pile behind.
2. Natural gas produces about half as much CO2 as coal to produce the same amount of energy.
(iii) (a) Bhakra Nangal dam is situated on Sutlej river.
(b) States benefitted by Bhakra Nangal dam are : Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
(iv) (a) The two advantages of using biogas are:
1. Biogas is a renewable and clean source of energy, like solar and wind power, which can help
us in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas.
2. Biogas by products are used as organic fertilizer.
 (b) The Nuclear power has contributed in reducing the pressure on Conventional sources of energy
as it is more efficient then burning fossil fuels as the amount of energy released from uranium per
gram, is much more than that of conventional fuels such as oil or coal approx. 8,000 times more
efficient in fact.
Answer 3.
(i) The two ways in which agriculture sector is important for India are:
1. It is an important sector of Indian economy as it contributes about 20.19% according to Ministry
of Agriculture Sector 2021 to the total GDP.
2. It provides the main source of food, income and employment to about 70% of the rural households.
(ii) (a) The two agriculture seasons of India are:
Rabi (October -November to March-April)
Kharif (June-July to September-October)
(b) The crops that grows in each of the season are :
Rabi—Wheat, oat, mustard, barley gram, linseed, potatoes
Kharif—Rice, maize, cotton, jowar, sugarcane, pulses, jute, bajra, ragi.
(iii) (a) Alluvial soil rich in humus and loamy in texture with good structure and water holding capacity
is ideal for wheat cultivation.
(b) Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of wheat in India.
(c) Wheat is not grown in southern parts of India because the temperature require at the time of
sowing wheat is 10-15 degree Celsius which is not possible in these regions. Wheat grows best in
well drained loam and clay loam whereas southern India have laterite and red soil.
(iv) (a) Assam is largest producer of tea in India.
(b) Ginning is the process of removing the seeds and debris from cotton. The cotton gin machine
separates cotton fibers from the seed bools and dust particles which enable greater productivity
than manual cotton separation.
(c) Pruning is the method of cutting branches of tea bush. This method encourages the growth of tea
shoots with softer leaves and to keep the plant about 1.2m high so that the leaves can be picked
easily.

Answer 4.
(i) Differentiate between public sector and private sector industry.
Public Sector Industry Private Sector Industry
In public sector organisations are controlled and In private sector organisations are owned
owned by the government. and managed by the individuals and private
company.
The public sector normally include services such The private sector includes designers,
as military, police, public transit, infrastructure developers plumbers, small and medium size
care, health care etc. business etc.
(ii) The two ways in which cotton textile industry is important for India are :
The industry is the second largest employer in the country after agriculture providing employment
over 150 million people directly.
It contributes significantly to industrial production, 14% of total production of the industry comes
from textile.
(iii) (a) Rourkela steel plant is located in North Western tip of Odisha.
(b) Germany helped India to establish this steel plant.
(c) Rourkela steel plant of Odisha gets its iron ore from Sundargarh and Keonjhar district of Odisha.
(iv) (a) The benefits of using petrochemical products are :
Petrochemical products are economical and cost effective as they are produced on a large scale.
They are durable as compared to the traditional agricultural product and raw material is easily
available.
(b)  Electronic industry with mass scale integration process has produced computers, servers,
displays, TVs, cameras, telephone exchanges etc. It has enabled to capture and broadcast News
 advertisements, cinemas etc. to a large section of population over the country and overseas. Thus
revolutionizing the entertainment sector over the masses.
Answer 5.
(i) The two advantages of using waterways are:
(a) It is beneficial to transport heavy and bulky material on a large scale In this way it is important
for foreign trade.
(b) It is the most inexpensive means of transportation.
(c) It is eco-friendly mode of transportation. (any 2 points)
(ii) The difference between national highway and state highway is.
National Highway State Highway
The major roads constructed and maintained The major roads constructed and maintained by
by central government are known as National state government are known as State highways.
highways.
The important roads connected by national The roads connected by state highways are
highways are state capitals, industrial centers, state capitals to the district headquarters and
major ports and foreign highways. other major cities in the state.
(iii) The three benefits of Golden quadrilateral are :
(a) It provides faster transport networks between major cities and ports.
(b) It provides smoother movements of goods and people within the country.
(c) It enables industrial development and job creation in smaller towns through access to varied
markets.
(iv) The three disadvantages of using air transport are:
1. Air transport is a costly service. Its operational cost is very high.
2. Air transport is prone to accidents as a small mistake can be very dangerous to passengers.
3. Air transport can carry small tonnage but it has high fright charges.
4. There is a whole variety of materials not suitable for such transport example explosives
inflammable gases, batteries, solid and liquid fuels.
5. Air transport runs on petroleum which is a nonrenewable source of energy.  (any 3 points)
Answer 6.
(i) There is a need for waste management in India because:
Waste management reduces the effect of waste on the environment, health and so on.
Waste management helps to reduce the hazardous materials from environment thus preventing from
spreading hazardous diseases and improves public and community health conditions.
(ii) Segregation of waste or sorting of wastes into categories like hazardous waste, biodegradable waste
and non biodegradable wastes etc., helps in preventing toxic wastes from entering the municipal
sewage connected to rivers. This method helps save the life-forms living in the rivers and maintains
a healthy ecological balance too. Segregation helps the authorized waste collectors to dispose the
hazardous waste quickly and safely.
(iii) The three ways that are used to reduce waste in India are:
1. Contribution of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan towards waste disposal is to adopt the 3Rs that is
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
2. Composting in the kitchen and yards. Food scraps and yard debris are composted into fertilizers,
replenishing the soil too.
3. By avoiding even single use plastic and non-biodegradable material for e.g. Food and drink
containers.
(iv) The three reasons why the dumping of waste may be harmful are:
1. T
 he chemicals that are disposed by dumping them into our waterways like streams, rivers and
aquifers make it unsafe to use for drinking and agricultural purposes.
2. D
 umping makes the waste rot and decompose producing harmful gases like CO2 and methane
both of which are greenhouse gases contributing to global warming.
Open dumping also provides a place for germs, insects and other vectors to grow and spread diseases.
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