Forests Our Lifeline
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KEYWORDS
Forest: A large area of land covered thickly with different kinds of trees.
Decomposers: Saprotrophs
Scavenger: Those animals which eat dead bodies of other animals.
Ecosystem: A self-sufficient unit of living things and non-living environment needing only the sunlight.
Canopy: The uppermost branches and leaves of tall trees.
Understory: The layer of vegetation in a forest which is just below the canopy.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
• Forest is a large area of land covered with natural growing trees.
• About 30% of the world’s land surface is covered by forests.
• Forests regulate the climatic conditions, such as rainfall, temperature and humidity of the area.
• Forest protect soil and landscape from wind, flood and soil erosion.
• Deforestation often causes the habitat alteration of wildlife which leads to depletion and extinction of wild animals
and plants.
Exercises on Forests Our Lifeline
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Removal of top fertile soil by wind or water is called
(a) leaching
(b) weathering of soil
(c) soil erosion
(d) siltation
2. Microorganisms act upon the dead plants and animals to produce
(a) sand
(b) clay
(c) humus
(d) wood
3. The topmost layer of the forest is
(a) forest floor
(b) canopy
(c) understorey
(d) herb layer
4. Which of the following are the cleansing agents of the environment?
(a) herbivores
(b) carnivores
(c) omnivore
(d) scavengers
5. One of the following is not produced by the action of decomposers on the dead parts of plants and dead bodies of
animals. This one is:
(a) carbon dioxide
(b) oxygen
(c) water
(d) nutrients
6. Which of the following help in maintaining the supply of nutrients for the growth of the plants and trees of the
forest?
(a) saprotrophs
(b) autotrophs
(c) carnivores
(d) heterotrophs
7. Which of the following will help in the conservation of forests?
(a) recycling of jute bags
(b) recycling of cotton bags
(c) recycling of paper bags
(d) recycling of plastic bags
Answers:
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. ( ) 6. (b) 7. (a)
Fill in the blanks:
(a) The decaying leaves and animal droppings in a forest enrich the———–
(b) Forest serves as———- lungs in nature.
(c) The micro-organisms which convert dead plants and animals to humus are called———-.
Answers:
(a) The decaying leaves and animal droppings in a forest enrich the soil.
(b) Forest serve as green lungs in nature.
(c) The micro-organisms which convert dead plants and animals to humus are Called humus.