Environmental Studies · Geography

Deforestation and Land Degradation

2,619 Questions

Deforestation and land degradation address the environmental impacts of human activities on natural ecosystems. Key areas include soil erosion, forest fires, and the consequences of overgrazing. These subjects frequently appear in the geography and environmental science sections of competitive exams.

Causes of deforestationForest fires consequencesSoil erosion factorsDesertification impactsAgroforestry benefitsReforestation advantages

Deforestation and Land Degradation Questions

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation is the major cause of

  1. Transpiration

  2. Genetic erosion

  3. Desertification of habitat

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is the cutting of trees. When trees are lost due to deforestation, the result can be a drier climate and desertification, or the transformation of the once fertile land to desert.

Deforestation is the term that describes the cutting down or clearing of trees from a wooded area. 
Tree roots absorb water from the ground and return water vapor back to the atmosphere. If trees are removed and can no longer contribute to the water cycle and thus, transform into a much drier climate. This dry environment can spread due to a decrease in atmospheric water vapor and results in a decline in precipitation levels in the area and leads to the desertification
Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation generally decreases 

  1. Rainfall

  2. Soil erosion

  3. Drought

  4. Global warming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When forests are destroyed, the atmosphere, water bodies and the water table are all affected. Trees absorb and retain water in their roots and some of this moisture is transpired into the atmosphere, regulates the water cycle. When this process is broken, the atmosphere and water bodies begin to dry out. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation leads to reduced rainfall due to

  1. Level of $CO _2$ in the atmosphere rises

  2. Global warming

  3. Disturbance in natural water cycle

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Green plants lose water by the process of transpiration. This contributes a lot towards atmospheric moisture. Thus, green plants have major contribution in precipitation. Due to this, deforestation leads to reduced rainfall. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

What are the consequences of deforestation?

  1. Soil erosion

  2. Loss of biodiversity

  3. Floods and droughts and climate change due to global warming

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Causes of deforestation are as follows:
  • Clearing land for human habitation and cultivation
  • The need of wood for building houses and factories.
  • The need of wood for making furniture.
Consequences of deforestation are as follows:
  • Soil erosion
  • Depletion of groundwater
  • Flash flood
  • Global warming
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Droughts and climate change due to global warming
Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Desertification is due to

  1. Deforestation

  2. Soil-erosion due to water

  3. Soil-erosion due to wind

  4. Very high temperature and low rainfall
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Desertification is defined as a process of land degradation due to climatic variations and human activities. Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification worldwide. Other factors are urbanization, overdrafting of groundwater and deforestation. Thus the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Destroying a forest means destroying

  1. Ecosystem

  2. Plant life

  3. Population of wild life

  4. Food and shelter of wild animals
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Destroying a forest has many negative effects on the environment. Seventy percent of earth's terrestrial animals and plants live in forests. The most adverse impact is the loss of habitat for millions of species leading to disturbance in the food chain that is an important component of the ecosystem. Thus the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Which of the following involves the clearing of the forest?

  1. Afforestation

  2. Deforestation

  3. Soil erosion

  4. None of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Cutting of trees or clearing the forest is called as deforestation. Deforestation not only affects the land from which it is cleared but it also affects the environment. Trees are very important for the environment because they help in reducing pollution by releasing more oxygen. They protect the environment in many ways and hence, cutting of the tree is harmful and affects the environment.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Which of the following is the consequence of deforestation?

  1. Global warming

  2. Erosion of the top layer of soil

  3. Increase in the level of carbon dioxide in air

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is the process of removal or the cutting down of the trees. The absence of the trees results in an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide which causes global warming. The roots of the plants help in holding the soil and deforestation causes soil erosion from the upper layer of the soil. The plants take up the carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis. When there are no trees, there is increase in the level of carbon dioxide.

Thus, the correct answer is option D. 

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Which of the following are the adverse effects of deforestation?

  1. Reduced rainfall

  2. Soil erosion

  3. Destruction of habitat

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is removal, decrease or deterioration of forest cover of an area. It causes shrinkage of fuelwood, reduced timber supply, change in climate, flash floods, soil erosion, siltation, cyclones, drought, desertification, reduced rainfall and destruction of habitat. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

What is / are the likely consequences of deforestation?

  1. Carbon dioxide in the air increases.

  2. Destruction of habitats takes place.

  3. Mineral salts in the soil are washed away.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is the depletion / destruction of forest resources. Its main cause is the explosion of human and livestock population with the increased demand of the basic needs. The major effect of deforestation is the loss of precious wildlife, rare species of flora and fauna due to loss of habitat, soil erosion, accentuated floods, drought, pollution and increased level of carbon dioxide.

Multiple choice evs let's plant trees damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

What is the effect of deforestation on amount of $CO _2$ in atmosphere?

  1. It increases

  2. It decreases

  3. It remains unchanged

  4. Cannot be predicted
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Seventy percent of Earth's land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Deforestation also drives climate change. Since, trees purify air by absorbing carbon dioxide from atmosphere, loss of trees would result into increase in level of carbon dioxide.

Multiple choice evs let's plant trees damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

Deforestation causes__________ to linger in the atmosphere.

  1. $CO _2$
  2. $H _2O$
  3. $O _2$
  4. $N _2$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation causes carbon dioxide to linger in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide accrues, it produces a layer in the atmosphere that traps radiation from the sun. The radiation converts to heat which causes global warming, which is better known as the greenhouse effect.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us damaging the forests deforestation and afforestation protecting our environment pollution of soil degradation of land

The establishment of forest growth on areas that either had forest or lacked it is known as

  1. Deforestation.

  2. Organic farming.

  3. Forestation.

  4. None of these.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Forestation is the general term for establishing forest growth in an area, regardless of whether it had trees previously or not.