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

Which of the following are the consequences of deforestation? a. Deforestation will lead to a shortage of wood and other forest products. b. Deforestation will cause soil erosion making the soil infertile. c. Deforestation will cause frequent flooding of rivers leading to a loss of life and property. d. Deforestation leads to the extinction of many wild animals and plants.

  1. Only a and b

  2. Only b, c and d

  3. Only a, c and d

  4. All of these

  5. Only b and d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option, as all are the consequences of deforestation.

Multiple choice

Match the following:

a. Deforestation 1. It is the planting of trees in an area in which forests were destroyed.
b. Desertification 2. It is the clearing of forests by cutting down of trees over a wide area.
c. Reforestation 3. It is the process by which fertile land becomes a desert.

  1. a - 2, b - 3, c - 1

  2. a - 2, b - 1, c - 3

  3. a - 3, b - 2, c - 1

  4. a - 3, b - 1, c - 2

  5. a - 1, b - 3, c - 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. All are correctly matched. a. Deforestation 2. It is the clearing of forests by cutting down of trees over a wide area. b. Desertification 3. It is the process by which fertile land becomes a desert. c. Reforestation 1. It is the planting of trees in an area in which forests were destroyed.

Multiple choice

Global warming can be controlled by

  1. increasing deforestation and slowing down the growth of human population

  2. increasing deforestation and reducing efficiency of energy usage

  3. reducing deforestation and cutting down the use of fossil fuels

  4. reducing reforestation and increasing the use of fossil fuels
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 Global warming can be controlled by reducing deforestation and cutting down the use of fossil fuels.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are the main effect(s) of heavy rainfall?

(a) It leads to rise in the level of water. (b) It does not affect the animals living under the soil. (c) The crop fields and forests get submerged.

  1. Only (a) and (b)

  2. <font size="2" face="Arial">Only </font>(a) and (c)

  3. <font size="2" face="Arial">Only </font>(a)

  4. <font size="2" face="Arial">Only </font>(c)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 The main effects of heavy rainfall are:   (1) It leads to the rise in the level of suface as well as ground water.  (2) The crops in the fields and forests get submerged. However the insects, worms and other animals under ground are not significantly effected. The holes initially get filled witn water but are soon aerated again as the water seeps into deeper layers. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following factors plays a role in preventing soil erosion?

  1. Roots of plants

  2. Winds

  3. Flood

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

Plant roots play a role in preventing soil erosion. Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms. In agriculture, soil erosion refers to the wearing away of the topsoil of a field by natural physical forces of water and wind or through forces associated with farming activities such as tillage.

Multiple choice

How can tree plantation reduce noise pollution in residential areas?

  1. Oxygen released by trees absorbs sound waves.

  2. Trees help in creating vacuum so that sound can’t travel.

  3. Trees cut down the sound reaching the residents by absorbing it.

  4. Leaves of trees reflect sound waves and reduce noise.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Tree plantation can reduce noise pollution in residential areas as trees cut down the sound reaching the residents by absorbing it.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a feature of afforestation?

  1. It involves felling of trees.

  2. It decreases atmospheric temprature.

  3. It leads to ecological imbalance.

  4. It increases soil erosion.

  5. It causes the air to become dry.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is a benefit caused by afforestation. The lowering of atmospheric temperature causes more rain.

Multiple choice

How much land is affected by the soil erosion according to the planning commission?

  1. 200 million acres

  2. 100 million acres

  3. 50 million acres

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

This is a factual recall question about soil erosion statistics cited by the Planning Commission. The claimed answer of 200 million acres should be verified against official Planning Commission reports, as such statistics may vary by source and timeframe.

Multiple choice

Soil erosion is�

  1. Man made problem

  2. Nature made problem

  3. The result of the flooded rivers

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

Soil erosion has complex causes - while human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, and poor farming practices accelerate it (making it a man-made problem), natural processes like water and wind erosion also contribute. The question framing forces A as the expected answer despite the nuance.

Multiple choice

The reduction of forests leads to

  1. reduction in rainfalls

  2. soil erosion

  3. desisting and denaturation

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

Deforestation causes multiple environmental impacts: reduced rainfall due to decreased evapotranspiration from trees, soil erosion as tree roots no longer hold the soil, and contributes to desertification through land degradation. All these effects are interconnected and occur simultaneously when forest cover is significantly reduced, disrupting the local ecosystem.

Multiple choice

Deforestation reduces the chances of�

  1. Soil sterility

  2. Soil fertility

  3. Soil erosion

  4. Rainfall
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Deforestation reduces rainfall because trees play a crucial role in the water cycle through transpiration - releasing water vapor that forms clouds. Without forests, this moisture recycling is disrupted, leading to reduced precipitation in the region. Deforestation actually increases soil erosion and reduces soil fertility.