Question

Picture study

Look at the photographs of a plain and a plateau given here and answer the questions.

1. How does a plain look different from a plateau?
2. Why are river plains thickly populated?
3. How is life in the plains different from life in the mountains?

Answer 1

1. A plain is a flat piece of land where it is very easy to build houses, roads and carry agricultural practices whereas a plateau is a flat raised piece of land with steep slopes and high cliffs from the surrounding land which makes the soil rich in minerals like iron, copper, manganese.

2. The river plains are thickly populated as it is easier to make buildings, construct roads, and have all kinds of transportation facilities. The land is also very fertile, rich in minerals. Thus, making it easier for people to grow crops for their living.

3. Landforms also influence the weather. The higher one goes the colder it gets, while down in the plains and valleys it is warmer. Since landforms affect climate they also affect farming. It is more difficult to grow crops and rear cattle on hillsides than it is in the plains. In the plains, it is easier for people to make roads and houses and to dig wells, unlike in the mountains where it is difficult and expensive to make them and water have to be brought from distant streams. In other words, life in the mountains is more difficult than life in the plains.