Class 6



Chapter 1: Geography of the Muslim world

 

Q1. Look at the world map in your atlas. Although there are Muslims in every country of the world, there are no Islamic states in two continents. Can you name them?

Ans1. There are no Islamic states in Australasia and America.

 

Q2. There is a tiny state in Southern Europe where 70 percent of the population of three million are of Muslim origin, though only about 20 percent practice the religion. Use reference books in your school library to find out how this tiny, isolated country came to be in an otherwise all-Christian Europe.

Ans2. This is Albania, adjoining Greece. Albania became an independent country in 1912; it was socialist state but it is parliamentary democracy now. It is also a member state of the OIC.

 

Q3. Look at the map given above, and note the details of the natural vegetation in the Muslim world. Make a table, showing the names of the Muslim countries and their natural vegetation.

Ans3.       Name of Country                                    Natural Vegetation

                Pakistan

                Saudi Arab

                U.A.E.

                Oman

                Qatar

                Iran

                Iraq

                Afghanistan

                Indonesia

                Malaysia

 

 

 

Chapter 2 Climatic regions of the Muslim World

 

 

Q1: Describe why the monsoons are important for South and South-east Asia.

Ans1: Monsoons are important for South and South-east Asia because they bring heavy rainfall which is beneficial for growing crops. Also the places which receive rain from the monsoons have thick rich vegetation.

Q2: How is Pakistan affected by the monsoons?

Ans2: Pakistan gets its monsoon rains from the winds that come in from the south-east. These winds reach Pakistan after crossing India, where they have already shed much of the rain. Only the north of the country gets real monsoon rainfall.

 

Q3: Find out where these deserts are in your atlas. Make an outline map of the world and mark them on it.

a)      Sahara             b) Thar             c) Dasht-e-Lut             d) Kyzyl Kum

Ans3: Students to refer to the atlas and complete this activity.

Q4: List the advantages and disadvantages of tropical forests and rainforests.

Ans4: Advantages and disadvantages of tropical forests and rainforests:

Advantages: Forests supply timber, especially valuable hardwoods; renew the atmosphere by providing much-needed oxygen; protect the soil from erosion; and forests are home to a variety of flora and fauna that would become extinct if their habitat was destroyed.

Disadvantages: Forests are unhealthy because of heat and humidity; they engender diseases such as malaria; and when cleared for crops, the soil which is of limited fertility is soon exhausted and more areas have to be felled.

 

 

Q5: What are the benefits for countries that have temperate grasslands? How does this climate affect their products?

Ans5: Countries that have temperate grasslands are excellent for rearing of animals, especially livestock. The climate here is suitable for cereal crops and with irrigation a wide variety of other plants and fruits can be grown.

 

Q6: Compare the kinds of climatic conditions you find in    a) Pakistan       b) Indonesia

Ans6: Pakistan has a wide variety of climatic regions-hot and cold deserts, scrub and semi-desert, monsoon vegetation and humidity. The vegetation found in Pakistan is more wide-ranging.

Indonesia has a tropical monsoon climate. The vegetation in Indonesia is dense and perennial, typical of the monsoon regions.

 

Fill in the blanks:

 

1-      Tropical grasslands are usually found between the desert and the tropical forests.

2-      Temperate deserts are dry lands, getting 50-300 mm rain a year but not as warm as the hot deserts.

3-      Temperate grasslands are areas where it is reasonably warm but with fairly low rainfall - about 400 mm a year.

4-      Monsoons are like land and sea breezes on a much larger scale.

5-      Pakistan also has winds from the west in the December - March period.

 

True and False:

 

1-      In the Muslim world, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and parts of Jordan and Iraq are naturally temperate grassland. (True)

2-      In the Muslim world, only the subcontinent and South-east Asia are affected by monsoons. (True)

3-      Southerly monsoons bring heavy rainfall (over 400 mm a year or more). (True)

4-      Mediterranean climate is a very favorable climate with hot, wet summer and fairly warm, dry winters. (False) Reason: Mediterranean climate is a very favorable climate with mild, wet winters and fairly warm, dry summers.

5-      In the Muslim world, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan are naturally temperate grasslands. (False) Reason: In the Muslim world, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and parts of Jordan and Iraq are naturally temperate grasslands.

 

 

Chapter 7: Transport and Communication

 

Q1. Computer technology has changed our lives. Write of atleast five ways to show how this is so.

Ans1. Some ways in which computer technology has changed our lives:

  • We can solve many problems quickly and easily.
  • Access a vast amount of information on almost any subject.
  • Play games for entertainment.
  • Know much more about our world and its people.

Q2.  Why, do you think, has the number of motor vehicles almost doubled since 1990?

Ans2. Number of vehicles especially cars have doubled or trebled since 1990 due to a number of reasons. The standard of living has risen; most people have more money to spend which enables them to invest in their own transport and make their lives more convenient.

Q3. Make a general statement about the use of road and rail in Pakistan over the period from 1990-2007.

Ans3.

 

Q4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of road transport?

Ans4. Road transport: Advantages: Roads can go right up to the source of goods, for example, farms, factories, etc. They connect smaller destinations to the main outlets such as airports, ports, and railway station.

Disadvantages: In remote areas, especially mountain regions, roads can be blocked by landslides, snowfalls, floods, etc. Also very heavy or large loads cannot by conveniently carried by road.

 

Q5. Can you suggest any problems there might be with pipelines as a means of transport?

Ans5. Problems that might be faced with pipelines as a means of transport:

  • Expensive to build and maintain;
  • As these are above the ground there is always the fear of accidents;
  • Easy prey to terror attacks as these can be blasted, resulting in explosion and damage.

       Q6. What do you think, are the advantages of sending goods by a container ship?

         Ans6. The advantages of container ships is that goods can be loaded at the factory into containers, sealed and not opened until they arrive at their destination. This avoids pilfering which was universal under ordinary transport.

 

Q7. (a) Where is your nearest (i) international, and (ii) domestic airport?

         (b) Find out from the Internet, the cost and the time it takes to get from your nearest airport to several cities inside Pakistan, and to some distant countries of your choice.

Ans7.

 

 Fill in the blanks:

 

1-      Roads, ranging from simple earth tracks to giant motorways, are the lifeline of society today.

2-      People can get on their motorcycles or into their cars and travel wherever they like without having to wait for trains or buses.

3-      In France and Japan, the latest trains can travel for hours at well up to 350 kph.

4-      The oil tanker is really a gigantic floating tank, with engines at one end.

5-      Container ships are now universal for most types of goods except such things as coal, ores, etc.

 

True or False:

 

1-      In the past, almost everything that ordinary people needed was grown or made locally.(True)

2-      Pipelines are of transportation, especially useful for moving oil, gas, and petroleum within a region. (True)

3-      Air travel is very important for short distance travel, either inside a country or to other countries. (False) Reason: Air travel is important for long distance travel.

4-      The sea still carries the largest amount of goods, by far. (True)

 

 

 

Ch 10:  The early Muslims

 

Q1. What was significant about the Umayyad period?

Ans1. The Umayyad period is known mainly for the conquests by the Arab armies and its navy. Under the Umayyads, the Arab empire expanded in all directions.

 

Q2. Why is the Abbasid rule known as the ‘Age of wealth and culture'?

Ans2. The Abbasids ruled at a time of greater political stability and security. Their rule is known for its emphasis on knowledge, research, scientific and cultural growth, and its economic power.

Q3. How did the Europeans benefit from Crusades?

Ans3.

 

Q4. Find out about those places in Spain which have Muslim/Arab history. Look up words that have Arab origins, for example, alchemy, algebra. Can you think of more?

Ans4. Places in Spain that have an Islamic history are Granada, Cordoba, and Toledo to name a few. The influence is seen in the architecture, culture, literature and language, and music as well as cuisine.

 

 

Q5. Find out more about the Mongols. Who were their later descendants in the subcontinent?

Ans5. The Mongols were a mainly Mongolian race from the north of China; due to the harsh surroundings they lived in, they were fierce and competitive. They were nomadic tribes and were nature worshippers.

 

Fill in the blanks:

 

1-      The Umayyad dynasty came to power in AD 661.

2-      Mohammad bin Qasim, the Arabs invaded Sind and captured lands up to Multan.

3-      The Arab rule in Spain lasted till the 15th century.

4-      Two of the most famous Abbasid rulers were Haroon-al-Rashid and his son, Mamoon.

 

True or False:

 

1-      Mamoon established the Bait-ul-Hikmah (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad. (True)

2-      From the 17th to 18th centuries, the powerful Turks also began to rise against the Arabs. (False) Reason: From 8th to 9th centuries

3-      From the 11th to 13th century, the Muslim world was invaded by the European crusaders. (True)

4-      The word ‘Mamlook' means slave, in Arabic. (True)

 

Ch 11 :  ISLAM IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA

 

Q1. How did Islam spread to South-east Asia, and when?

 

Ans1. Islam was spread to South-east Asia by the Muslim merchants and traders of Arabia and India who went to trade in spices and jewels in the 7th century AD. They later settled down along the coasts of Malaysia and Indonesia from the 16th century onwards.

 

Q2. Find out more about the Muslims in Indonesia, Malaysia, and China in present times. What are the common practices and features among them?

 

Q3. Look up the facts about the Central Asian states that are now part of the Muslim world. How have their lives changed over the years?

Answer to questions 2 and 3 are based on student's research from the school library and the Internet.

 

Fill in the blanks:

 

1-      In the Mughal period, Muslim traders increased their activity in South-east Asia.

2-      By 1800, Islam was established on the rich and populous island of Java.

3-      Islam was taken to China by the Persians and the Mongols.

4-      In India, Muslims form 13.4 percent of population of 1.2 billion.

 

True or False:

 

1-      Some of the inhabitants of Malaysia and Indonesia were Hindus or Buddhists. (True)

2-      The period from 1500 to 1800 was crucial in the spread of Islam in South - East Asia. (True)

3-      Today, there are over 10 million muslims in China, living mainly in the western provinces. (False) Reason: 14 million

4-      The great Silk Route is perhaps the most famous route followed by traders and travellers. (True)